Melanie and I stood out like the proverbial sore thumb that night at The Summit. Quite possibly we were the only two nerds in attendance coupled with the fact that we weren't clad with the requisite head to toe black nor did we even own any leather garments or chains to loop across our jeans. True to cliche form, we had crappy second tier seats, but we spotted a couple of girls from our high school close to the front row, sidestage, who definitely were dressed for the occasion. Both of them had black leather miniskirts on, halter tops, biker boots, and more black eyeliner than you could shake a stick at. We watched them intently in their awesome first tier seats as they sidled up seductively to the roadies during the intermission. We knew we had a chance, and sure enough the two disappeared backstage hand in hand with the band entourage undoubtedly to discuss English Literature and The Fall Of The Roman Empire. Never did I think that the phrase carpe diem could actually apply to me, but we did just that and took full advantage of the newly vacated seats. What an incredible show. It far surpassed my expectations and greatly surpassed the quality of my second concert experience featuring M.C. Hammer and Vanilla Ice. No, I wasn't high, just a sadly misguided teen giving in to oppressive peer pressure.
Out of curiosity, what was YOUR first unchaperoned concert event? Leave nothing back, even if it's embarrassing, because we here at The House Of The Smiling Infidel enjoy good gossip.
12 comments:
Uh... I didn't go to concerts until I was married, and then I've only been to a couple. The best one was Joe Walsh. He's pretty fun in concert.
Now days, no way would I let my kid go alone with one friend. But maybe when we were kids it was safer?
My first gig (unchaperoned or otherwise) was Iggy Pop in Glasgow Scotland - I was 29 years old.
Ahh what a sheltered life.
Well pondiki, exciting news....This blog is celebrating a 'We Love Canadians Week', and you're just in time to join in with the festivities including a Celine Dion look alike contest. In fact I'm having difficulty typing what with all the confetti and cake crumbs stuck in the keyboard.
No mimo, it wasn't safer, we didn't have cell phones, and we live in Houston which has been targeted as the one and only city in the World that meets all seven criteria points to be the next victim of a terrorist strike. I'm not a concert goer either(I think it totals up to 12) but something reminded me of Queensryche yesterday.
pisces, I have to know, did Iggy keep his clothes on? It's disturbing to see his bony, sickly frame half-naked most of the time. Even in his prime, he's was never an attractive specimen. Tell me pisces, do you enjoy The Smashing Pumpkins? Will your next screen name be Siamese Dream or Mellon Collie?
Good for you and Melanie, scoring the close-up seats! Hey, I remember Suicidal Tendencies ("Institutionalized"). They're still around, I think.
I was never into the leather stuff and dark make-up you described.
It's been sooo long since the first time I saw a concert I hardly remember. I'm painfully old, ya know. As a kid, I used to win loads of concert tickets on the radio and I longed to go- I was an oddity out of my friends at my pre-teen stage, winning tickets to go see many of my R&B/Soul faves. My dad said no way was this little blonde girl going to the Isley Brothers. Oh well. They did allow one Beach Boys concert, because a friend's older (responsible) sister was going. Early high school was my first "unchaperoned" (no older sibs of friends) - Peter Frampton. After that, I was a live music junkie. I also have seen Iggy Pop but that was loooong ago. One time while visiting another unnamed state (which was very backwards to me at the time) which seemed to require girls to still wear long pants even in 105 degree weather, I saw a great stadium concert, wearing my hawaiian print shorts (and they were short- this was loooong ago, ya know)- it caused an uproar and I did stand out as the tanned, blonde California girl- the BBC cameraman was fascinated and followed me around, filming me. Sammy Hagar (pre-Van Halen) sang to me. My 15 minutes (or seconds?) of fame. Oh yeah, Van Halen used to play local parties. Probably virtually everyone my age that grew up around the San Gabriel valley can remember it was fun to see before the big fame.
Had friends in bands, so it was a big part of my life way back when.
My kids don't go as often as I did. I have taken them before to see live music. These days, it seems when bands play small venues, many band members have family there watching- so it's not so weird to see moms. That would never have happened when I was young! I still see live music, though smaller venues. Last time was probably in L.A. a few months back for Dennis Quaid and his band, the Sharks. Been to a Battle of the Bands not too long ago. Don't go often anymore to the larger venues, though. Too pricey. Too crowded. Too hazy.
Mine was REM in 1988 or 1989. I don't remember. The second was the Cure in 1989 for the Prayer Tour which was the ultimately best show I've think I've ever seen. I saw the Pumpkins many times and they rocked!
Let me add how old I really am (yikes)- I saw INXS play at a high school gym in Palm Springs (dragged my clueless friends along on a two hour drive to see a band only I'd heard about). They opened for Adam Ant - (ouch).
I LOVE The Cure, but I've never seen them live. Thought of you and severe heartburn this morning patrick as the radio played Burning Inside.
wendela, I love the Isley Brothers too. I play so much R&B around here, Papi teases me and asks me if I have a black soul. Sounds like you're pretty diverse in your musical tastes. I don't like X at all, neither Joy Division which I think they're both comparable. INXS has been a longtime favorite of mine, I actually felt a sense of loss at the untimely passing of Michael Hutchence. Their new singer, JD, is really good though and reminds me of Michael. miss biotech and I went to see Aleks Syntek last May. Wow, he puts on a fabulous show, and you can tell that he really enjoys being onstage, just a lot of energy and fun. Aleks reminds me of my husband, both kind of nerdy looking Mexicans that play the piano. Sounds like you were hot stuff wendela. Me? I'm the kind of girl that they seat immediately because if people notice someone like me milling around they might think that they stumbled into a nerd convention.
Iggy lost the battle to keep his denims up half way through the gig - unfortunately he was wearing a pair of very un-rock'n'roll grey underpants.
Yes elastic (may I call you elastic) I do enjoy Smashing Pumpkins (along with a plethora of other artist - eclectic, you might say)
My screen name remains Pisces (for reasons of birthday) Iscariot (for my betrayal of everything I was taught to believe in.)
PS Iggy's body IS rock'n'roll
Grey Underpants? That's sooooo disappointing. I was expecting that he goes commando or at least with a rock and roll approved leather thong.
Since we're explaining screen names, mine is in reference to the clothes snob I used to be where I regarded anything with an elastic waist to be inferior and a slobby look. Then I had 6 kids in 7 years and discovered that elastic was a thing of comfort and beauty. Elastic around the middle is forgiving of all the sins of a weight watcher. I hope that we never go to war with China because they're the main producers of this miracle product.
I am nothin' but a nerd/geek girl, elastic- that's what I've always been. I had a very brief run as semi-hot. Years and babies have taken their toll. I now have the detailed road map of the greater L.A. area on my abdominal area (serious stretch marks) and a whole lotta me where there never used to be!
:) You're too funny. I can appreciate the elastic, too.
Oh, as for mimo's Joe Walsh comment, I would like to see him- never have. But even after years of sobriety, the guy sounds crazy stoned whenever he's on a radio interview.
I purchased ridiculously expensive stretch mark prevention cream and still got them. Most embarrassing is my toddler son who saw me naked and commented, "Wow Mommy, you look just like a tiger". Yes, the marks do resemble tiger stripes in a way.
First "unchaperoned" concert Evanescence, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, & Seether.
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