I am early everywhere I go, but
yesterday lots of people got there even earlier than I did, and there was a
long line outside the park. After a while, the line came to a stop, and didn’t
move again for several minutes. People got a bit nervous. And when
the line started moving it, it moved quickly. And that got people even more
concerned. Word came that the venue was at capacity, and no one else was being
allowed in. I stayed in line anyway, but the rumor proved true. Lots of folks
stood outside the gates and walls, and I made my way as close to the entrance
as possible. There was a little playground area to the left, and the fence
leading to it was not very tall. But if I got in there, then I’d still have to
get through a small opening into the concert area, which was guarded. A guy
across the way jumped over the wall, and two guards went over to him and
escorted him out (after a woman behind me got their attention, ratting out the
guy, which weirded me out). But the guard at the opening remained at his post. A
few people in front of me left, so I got even closer. Soon another guy across
the playground jumped over the wall, but this guy ran, which caused all the
guards to chase him, leaving the opening in the wall clear for me. So I stepped
over the fence and walked in through that opening. I walked quickly, but did
not run, and soon I was in the concert area. The Sh-Booms, who opened the show,
were already on at that point. I was digging them, but I needed to pee, and so
got into another long line. Someone outside the venue had told me the capacity
of the place was 6,000. There were ten toilets. Dark boxes of despair. I
fumbled with my cell phone, trying to use its light to guide my movements, and
of course making sure it didn’t slip from my grasp. If it had fallen, that
would have been the end of that phone. No way would I have retrieved anything
from the floor of that hellish chamber.
The Sh-Booms were good, and I
enjoyed their cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” though I think they
maybe stayed on one or two songs beyond what was needed. And then there was a wait for
The B-52s. A helicopter circled overhead, and then there was an announcement
aimed at those outside the gate, asking them to leave. Weirdly, those inside
were asked to help with this announcement, asked to yell at those outside to
leave. No one complied with this insane directive, at least no one near me. Instead,
people booed the idea. And I learned later that everyone stayed, and that
several other people jumped over the walls and fences at various points along
the perimeter. It did get a little crowded inside, and my claustrophobia kicked
into gear. There was a moment when I thought it might get to be too much to
bear, but once the band started, everything was fine. My superb dancing skills usually cause others to move away in alarm and fear. And I danced my ass off, gaining
more space as the show went on.
I didn’t write notes during the
show, or take any photos (sorry). Instead, I just danced and smiled and enjoyed
the concert. So I can’t include the complete set list here, but I do recall the
band played “Mesopotamia” early on. What a fun song! The set also included “Lava,”
“Private Idaho,” “Summer Of Love,” “Roam” (which is one of my personal
favorites – it just makes me so bloody happy), “Channel Z” (another highlight)
and “Wig.” Early in the show, Fred gently chided the audience, “Put down your goddamn phones and dance.”
Seriously, it was weird: the moment the band started, like two hundred cell
phones suddenly were held up in the air. Most of them were put away soon, but I
don’t think there was ever a moment during the show when there weren’t at least
a few dozen phones in the air. So Fred kept on people, sometimes telling
individuals directly to put their phones away and enjoy the show. He also
teased the people near the front who were seated. “Why are you sitting down? Are you old or something?” Apparently,
someone responded that he or she was only sitting between songs. So Fred asked
if he was boring or something. Yeah, I totally fell in love with Fred during
this show. He did repeat his suggestion to dance, and often added, “Hello?” After a while, folks around me
echoed his “Hello” playfully. How could you not love the guy? Hello!
They ended the set with “Love
Shack.” I joked with the girl next to me, “I
wonder what the encore could be.” She thought about it for a moment, then
responded, “Rock Lobster.” “I was being sarcastic,” I told her. I
mean, was there any question of their playing that song? A guy behind me,
however, wanted to hear “Strobe Light,” and I realized there were actually a
whole lot of tunes the band could play for its encore. Fortunately, they did a
three-song encore, starting with “Planet Claire,” the lead-off track from the
first album, and a song that I love. They followed that with “6060-842.” And
then Fred said, “That leads us to ‘Rock
Lobster.’” It was said with a
certain amount of fatalism, I felt. Perhaps they’re sick of this song, for they
didn’t do a very long version. Only one “Down,
down” section, and while I did crouch down, I didn’t get completely on the
ground. Fucked up my knee at work, and who knows what shit is down there?
Anyway, the show was excellent. Their energy was wonderful, and their voices are still really strong. And I’m glad Fred was okay after falling off
the stage. He said that moment would probably be on You Tube today, and
it is.
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