out of retirement
A gig, the first in many years. Fucked up, no babysitter, so it’s just me, no Becky, down in Indigo waiting for Minuit.
Same alt-crowd, but younger. No smoke. Strange.
Waiting.
Have money these days, buy t-shirt for me & a couple badges for my girls, asleep at home… (chat with band member on t-shirt selling duty).
I’m sorry baby, your dreams never come true and your nightmares maybe
...and…
Even if you’re lying please tell me everything’s gonna be fine
I can just see Bella & Rosa with these pinned to them.
Will anyone I know walk through the door?
Find a comfy chair, observe some people. Young sexy geeky boys and girls. Some old farts like me. Some even older farts, parents?
A bit pissed, disco lights making me dizzy, obscure New Order remix pounding, another pint please.
Shit, that was the taxi money.
Waiting.
Support. Feedback. Migration to the front. Tadpole reincarnated. Who are they?
I’d forgotten what fun this is.
Not Tadpole reincarnated. An all-chick band. Pixies in the bottom of their garden? Loud. Passionate.
But going a bit too long…
Finished now, what next? Roadies. Another support? Or the main event?
Toilet. Geekboys bladdershy queue like girls for stalls.
Position now at front, ready for the Real Thing.
But not quite yet… So So Modern, boys in decontamination suits, sounding great like the bastard children of Franz Ferdinand & the Super Furry Animals. EP soon, one just gone, watch these boys ‘cause they rock.
So many girls at the front, how times have changed, moshing politely.
Right ear already muffled & deadened, the perils of age apparent.
Waiting. Midnight. Time flies …
Three girls behind me, most drunken one taps shoulder:
– can I try on your glasses?
– uhhhhh, Ok. Warn you though, make you look like a fucking geek… (to her friend) yeah, she looks like a geek now
Later, another tap.
– why you wear a watch? No-one else here does – they use their cellphones instead.
I cast around. It’s true. Things have changed.
– I guess it’s because I’m an old fart.
– How old are you then?
– 37.
– Nahh, that can’t be right: my Mum is 39.
Put in my place. I’ve been going to gigs since before this girl was born. Scary stuff.
Minuit. Pretty damn good, I’d not see them before, although I have a lot of their stuff. Maybe too close, down the front: although technically brilliant did not feel the crowd behind it as much as it could have been. Maybe not pissed enough. Great music though.
Get home via Taxi, credit card to the rescue. Becky sick with worry ‘cause it’s 2am. T-shirt too small. Badges too weird.
It’s bedtime.
Ben
1 April 2006, 12:39 #
Quite a review.
Alan
1 April 2006, 17:13 #
Ha. I wrote most of it down there, on my phone. Re-reading it this morning it reminds me of this song, although obviously not quite so gone.
Martha
1 April 2006, 17:13 #
You should take my old husband with you next time you go out. He’ll make you look very young. Which is the secret to my youthful demeanor – contrast.
susan
1 April 2006, 23:29 #
My friend; dad of toddler and small baby, says that since firstborn was born he hasn’t had the time to get around to doing lots of things, so he puts them in a mental list and he figures that one day, maybe in 18 years time when newborn has own life (even if still living at home), he’ll start doing stuff on the list. People then will think “Mid Life Crisis Madman!” but he won’t have changed one jot.
Your children are only a year or so older than mine and you’ve been to a band that wasn’t playing a wedding; I’m hopeful his 18 years might be a little pessimistic.
Caro
3 April 2006, 16:21 #
I was thinking that entry reminded me of exactly the same song!
Alan
3 April 2006, 16:41 #
I’m not much of a rapper though, am I.
That song is amazing – The Streets Blinded By The Light in case no-one clicked through on the link above – saw the video once and bought the album the next day. Had many a written evening like that (although sans the e) living in Dunedin years ago…
Jessie
5 April 2006, 14:21 #
Sounds like a good night out!
pauanui
6 April 2006, 19:45 #
our “is-anyone-taking-our-name-in-vain-on-the-net” detector tracked down your blog….yah! thanks for coming fella…hope your neck isnt too sore..yes we have live footage..its gonna happen if you’re in the front row! tho it looks like you enjoyed yourself immensely…if the T’s too small, lemme know and i’ll get you a bigger one…...of course!
paul – (the tshirt sales guy..)
Alan
6 April 2006, 21:59 #
Funny that, because my neck was very sore for two days afterwards.
llew
7 April 2006, 09:10 #
Ha ha!!
Tom
7 April 2006, 09:47 #
Reminds me a bit of our attempt to see Recloose on Saturday night at Sandwiches. Got there at 11, they didn’t even open the dancefloor until 12, and by 1am there was still no sign of the band getting on stage and we’d had enough of the mediocre DJ so we flagged it. I could blame it on being an old fart at 37, too: though the fact that I’d been out and drinking since 4:30 might have something to do with it.
Alan
7 April 2006, 10:54 #
Obviously you are less of an old fart than me, Tom.
Drinking since 4:30pm?! Oh, the luxury!