2 posts tagged “avalon”

We get into the city, spring D from work and drag him along to meet G for the sound check. It's fucking hot, and humid, and the city is FULL of Red Sox and Yankees fuckers. OMG, I wanted to fucking commit homicide. Seriously. Yankees games are the worst. Every single person I saw was wearing a tee shirt or a hat or something insane that was supposed to be insulting to the other team. Random Yankees fans were slapping each other on the back in the middle of Landsdowne, because they are just that fucking strange.

Finally got out of the heat, waited for about 30 minutes inside with about 20 other people. The boys came out, and we were able to go down front. Everyone was lame, though, and was hanging back in the center of the floor. I went really close up front, and was psyched, and the drummer toasted me with his glass of champagne. Also, the guitarist? The dark-haired one? HAWT. He said hello to the crowd, and only a few of us were like, "HIYA!" and again, I was all, "What's with the LAME people here?!" They were all acting tragically hip, it was so stupid. Anyway, Pelle came out and I was all smiles and shouted hello and he winked at me, etc. *beams*

Anyway, they started fucking around, played some random riffs, worked out some kinks in the amps, etc. They called out for requests (o_O) and someone asked for "AKAIDIOT," and Pelle was like, "It's too early in the morning to play that. Something easier." So someone asked for something off the new album (at this point, I was too flabbergasted to call out for a song), and they ripped through "No Pun Intended." They sounded really good, and Pelle was totally hamming it up – singing off key and strutting around the stage, sitting primly on the drum kit, etc.

After that song, Pelle chatted us up and the audience started to come a little more alive. I had been grooving, but holding it in somewhat, because there really weren't that many people there, and honestly, when I break it out, it's definitely distracting. Ask C. Anyway, then they launched into a cover of an old-school Bad Brains song, which CRACKED MY SHIT UP! He said that when they were kids (14 years old in '93 – making them nearly my age! CRAZY!) they used to play those songs, and they completely fumbled through it, but they were having loads of fun. Then he asked for requests again, so I asked for "Find Another Girl," and he started laughing, and said that one was too hard, too, and that the two guitarists always manage to play in different keys whenever they give it a try. The drummer then was all, "Hello, I know it! Don't blame me!" all pointing toward me, begging for my forgiveness. It was quite amusing. Pelle did say that it was a great song, and he always screwed up the words, anyway, did I have another song I'd like to hear, so I asked for "Supply and Demand," and they were like, "Ah, yes, we can do that one!" and they jumped into it. EEEIIIEEE! Anyway, that was the last bit, but we got to meet them afterward, and because we were with the retail folk (J's job has great perqs), we got a little extra time with them. When Pelle came over to sign my SPIN, he apologized about not playing the song again, and the drummer was like, "I knew it!" I told them I really wanted to ask for "Diabolic Scheme" from the new album, but I didn't think they'd play that live, because of the string arrangements. And Pelle was like, "Oh, we could have played that! He wanted to play that!" indicating the drummer. I was bummed, but then Pelle said that they might play it that night, and it was like someone held up a sign that said "Cue Squeeing Fangirl." Yes, I fangirled. Shut up.

Anyway, later, the head label rep corralled them together and I got my picture taken with them. YAY. However, it was all cramped into the staircase, and I really home I didn't blink, but WHATEVER! Because, because, because, hold up, I have to get to that part of the story…

So, show was great. We stood near the back – normally I go for the pit, but I had too much to eat at dinner, and loads of drinks. Wasn't feeling my best, but we could see really well from where we were, and that was fine. Honestly, I got my time with them earlier, they knew I dug them, so that's really one of the reasons I go down front at shows – to connect with the performers. So the crowd was really good, the people were crazy, and Pelle kept climbing the speakers and stage diving. Honestly, he's insane. Just the shit he was saying in between songs: "Did you like that?! DO YOU WANT SOME MORE?! I KNOW YOU DOOOO!"

Honestly, so funny. He's insane.

Moving on. They played pretty much everything I wanted to hear, but I was, like, internally hoping and praying they'd play "Diabolic Scheme," because that would just be fucking cool. Anyway, they come out for the encore, play "No Pun Intended," and then Pelle is like, "You like it when we play fast? Well, we're going to play a slow one first, and then play a fast one, right after it, so it seems even faster!" Then he goes on to say, "This first one is for the people at the sound check! The second one is for everyone else!" AND THEN THEY LAUNCH INTO "DIABOLIC SCHEME."

o_O

O_o

*fangirls*

*feels faint*

*fangirls some more*

Dudes. I just don't even know what to say. I mean, it wasn't like they singled me out, but after that conversation I had with them at the signing? Let me just pretend it was all my doing.

*fangirls some more*

Anyway, after My Song (note the capitalization), they launched into "AKAIDIOT," which was great, because it's kind of the original, old-school Hives. Definitely more punky and frantic than the new stuff. If that's possible.

Anyway, all you haterz out there who think they're fakers and completely Svengali'd and not serious about the music can just go and…I dunno. Do something unfun.

Yeah, so it was cool. Of course, I was a lot drunker than I thought, and ended up stalking out of the bar after the show. I just got enraged by a fairly random comment about my profession (and it's lack of "coolness") by someone who doesn't know me at all and is a fucking flake. Well, it was either leave or starting a bitch fight. I know I put J in a weird position, and that was lame of me. I'm definitely feeling a little bit ashamed about just getting up and leaving on this, the day after, but I'm not really sure how I should have reacted. And I'm a little pissed off that I let some fucking punk piss me off so easily. I could chalk it up to coming down off the concert high, PMS, the heat, tiredness, and mixing beer and liquor, but I dunno. I'm a little disappointed in my lack of telling that bitch right off when it happened and my abundance of obvious rage when it comes to people who think they are too cool for school. And I really do have a fucking low tolerance for disrespect, I guess. Whatevs. Gonna try and focus on the positives, of last night and all the people involved that I'm NOT pissed at are completely aware of that fact, so that's good.

In other news, someone reminded me about The Music last night, and I'm quite glad, because I forgot how much I really do like them. Fans of Muse and Interpol should check it out. They're a little bit harder (a la Mars Volta, without the really insane vocals), but still a really great, layered, textured sound. So all you peeps out there, check 'em out!

J is going to hit the local circuit tonight to see Seemless, and I was considering meeting him there, but I think I might need a night away from the crowds and the brews. *flails*

There are no words.

Well, that's a lie.

Short of it?

Opening bands rocked; Franz rocked; C and I danced our hearts out; Alex called the crowd "charming"; in between songs, we yelled out for "Shopping for Blood," got Alex to laugh and say "Maybe later!"; they played so much that's not on the album, which made me happy; then they played "Darts of Pleasure" and I ripped off my sign from my shirt, held it up, and Nicholas laughed. (Sign read: EMOTION AVENGER.)

They came out for the encore, played "Shopping for Blood" (YAYYYYY!!!), during cheering, held up my sign again, Alex gave me props, laughed, pointed, and said, "You are an emotion avenger." Got Paul's set list off a roadie, tried to stop shaking, failed. I then proceeded to piss off everyone who came over with me in our car (including my lovely, long-suffering husband by waiting for the band to come out, which they did! We got to meet all four of them, plus got pictures with Nicholas and Alex.

Nicholas was all like, "Oh, that was you! Brilliant!" Alex was also really, really pleased with our tee shirts, and demanded we take a picture. It was ridiculous. They were all so kind! It was a small crowd waiting, so we all got to talk to them, it was really cool. So, I have a signed and battered set list, and will hopefully have some pictures to mark the event.

But, honestly? OMFG. Best. Show. EVAH. (For pictures, C on left, me on right.)