Went to see a band last night.
We rushed to the Old Blue Last from Monument station because doors were at 7pm and we thought there might be a huge cue to get in because they're rather good but it was surprisingly empty when we arrived. I thought it odd but ignored it as we sat with a drink in the downstairs bar. I overheard someone say they might not see the band because it was sold out which set alarm bells ringing so I asked he barman and he said it was a ticketed event. I felt really disappointed but the barman pointed me in the direction of the promoters and I went over to tell them my predicament and they seemed very understanding and told us to hang tight until later because the label had bought fifty tickets and some may not turn up.
So we sat waiting, drinking wondering, hoping. I watched people get turned away and lots of people queuing so when the crowd dispersed I talked to one of the promoters and she said that she didn't know what was going to happen now because the PA had blown and it could be canceled but gain hang tight til later and I'll see what I can do.
Back to the stools to drink some more and hope even more. To be honest I didn't look good and I was beginning to feel a bit low.
Not long after a queue formed and it was huge so my mouth turned down I turned to my jack and sighed.
There was nothing to lose, I waited until the queue lessened to go and have one last try with the promoter. It turned out that there were a few tickets available from the label having people not turn up. and they were going fast but she spotted me and said these guys have been waiting so long and she called us through. Relief flooded through me as I gushed thanks and appreciation to her. We bounded up the stairs and in to the room, it was packed but we found a spot near the front. It was roasting already sweating we waited for the band to come on. I saw a tiny person squeezing through the crowd and climbing on to the tiny stage then I blinked and saw Matt & Kim in front of me just feet away, I roared and the whole room were roaring too.
And they launched in to their high speed set hurtling through the songs getting sweatier and sweatier but stopping after each song to thank the crowd or tell a cheeky little anecdote and an announcement that Kim wasn't pregnant which was greeted with huge cheers.
I was pogoing and moshing out from start to finish and I must say there were times when I thought I wasn't going to make it to the end but somehow (with the help of my inhaler) I found the energy to carry on, I must have been running on pure adrenalin. Matt asked for water for the crowd at the front because it was ridiculously hot and hardly a drop touch anyone's lips because it was thrown over everyone, mainly by me. albeit inadvertantly.
The gig was over, we were told they only get crowd reaction like this in their hometown of Brooklyn. When Kim came off the stage we high fived and she said she noticed me in the crowd, I felt giddy with excitement and was squeeing inside. I felt like I was vibrating from the adrenalin rushing through my weakened body. We sat down for a tick and saw that Kim was out on the floor getting her picture taken with some fans so we waited our turn for a couple of pictures which she was mor than happy to pose for and with that we ade our way out.
I made sure to find the promoters to thank them for getting us in to a sold out gig and said that I would check out more of the gigs they were putting on. I was drenched in sweat and we went around the corner so i could take off my shirt to wring it out and when I put it back on it was freezing but satisfyingly so. I was so excited I couldn't stop talking about the gig all the way home and I still had a smile on my face the next day that I couldn't get rid of.
All in all, at the endof the day, when all is said and done err... anyway This gig was the best so far this year and is shaping up to be one of my most memorable ever. You gotta love Vice and the teeny tiny Old Blue Last and all those amazing bands they manage to have playing there, yay!
