So, after many promises to Laurah that I would write a blog, “this weekend,” “next weekend,” “as soon as I finish grading this batch of papers,” “as soon as I finish this story I’m working on,” I’m finally writing my first blog for Sub-Lit—long overdue! (What can I say—I’ve been going through some serious life changes recently.) The blog that I had intended to write, was supposed to have been entitled “Me and Mandy Moore” after I attended a concert in which she was the headliner (I was there to see the opening act—Rachael Yamagata: one of my favorite musicians). I was very very sick that night and getting very very annoyed by the little dude standing in front of me with Mandy Moore wallpaper on his cell phone (I noticed this because he was waving it about), but that was months ago, and to write about it now would be pointless.
Instead, allow me to ramble on incessantly about ideas directly and not-so-directly related to my very first show at Masquerade. Now before you judge me, please keep in mind, I grew up in a very conservative, Korean, Christian family. My parents wouldn’t even let me go to a New Kids on the Block concert when I was younger, which sadly shows how NOT rock n roll I am—but I don’t fret it because Laurah is rock n roll enough for the both of us. I went to see The Honorary Title, a band that I’ve been listening to for about two months now ever since I saw them on an episode of One Tree Hill. (Yes, I watch lots of bad TV. Get over it.)
So, anyway, one of my recent goals has been to try to reclaim some semblance of my youth, especially since I feel that most of it was wasted on my loser ex-boyfriend (Yes, I am still bitter. No, I will not likely move past it anytime soon—he stole my twenties from me, and I want them back, I tell you! I want them back!). I must admit, trying to edge my way closer to the stage amidst a flock of high schoolers pretty much did it for me—the whole reclaiming my youth bit. I felt just like I was back in not-so-good ‘ole Roswell High where I could count the number of Asian kids in my class on one hand; in the whole school, probably on two. Our senior prank consisted of a bunch of guys driving their riding lawnmowers in circles on the street in front of our school, backing up traffic—but I digress…Back to the show…The lead singer’s skater-boy haircut was reminiscent of all the cool skater/rock star wannabe bad boys whom I had major crushes on back then but who never noticed me because I was, afterall, the loner Asian chick who snuck her food into the library and did homework during lunch period.
Sadly, I must admit, it seems I haven’t come very far since those days. After the band finished playing, the lead singer first, and then eventually the rest of the band, came out to mingle with the crowd, pimp their merchandise, pose for pictures, and sign autographs. Kristen, my freakishly tall White friend who went to the show with me (Sorry, Kristen—but you know I love you!) insisted that I go talk to the front man. But I couldn’t. I was too shy to speak to the big bad rockstar (even though I’ve got to be, like, eight years older than him) and too afraid of losing a limb in the swarm of hovering high schoolers. We did eventually try to approach him and say something clever, but—and this is after he actually glanced at us and then turned his back—what ended up coming out was, “Uh, really great show tonight!” To which his reply was a polite, closed-mouthed stretch of a smile he tossed our way before resuming what I can only assume was the most engrossing conversation ever with the merchandise pimping guy. Of course, it wasn’t until much later that Kristen leaned in and said to me, “I totally should’ve said something like, ‘I really enjoyed your pube anecdote—very clever!’”
So, this is the point in the blog where I completely lose my momentum and concentration, thereby reverting to bullet points to describe the rest of the night…
What I could’ve done without:
- The Masquerade itself. I’m sure a lot of you have been there—you can’t all be as complacently sheltered as I am. Does it not look like that building is about fall down around you any second?
- The realization that besides the moms who brought their kids to the show, I was probably the oldest person there.
- The realization that many of those chain smoking high schoolers were way cooler than I. I bet they all watch One Tree Hill.
- Crazy Camera Girl, who was all over the place snapping pictures of the band.
- Overhearing, at the end of the night, the front man proclaim to a staff person, “…I know, but I can’t anymore. I’ve been hanging out here with them all night.” Which I took to mean that he no longer wished to mingle with the common folk.
- Losing the twenty dollar bill that I had shoved haphazardly into my pocket.
What I enjoyed:
- Finding my crumpled up twenty on the ground next to the bar.
- Hanging out with my freakishly tall White friend, Kristen.
- The show, which was really really good. Although I have very little experience at concerts, Kristen confirmed that it was indeed a really good show, and she should know—her husband’s in a band.
- The mom sitting in the back, reading a book. I so desperately wanted to go up to her and ask what she was reading and how she was enjoying it. A couple days later I finally had the courage to admit this to Kristen. Her reply: a very enthusiastic, “Oh my gosh—me too!” That’s why she’s my friend.
- The very enthusiastic boy standing to my right, wearing a cap with buttons, who belted out the words to EVERY SINGLE SONG and then followed each song with a loud whoop, clapping, and fists punctuating the air above his head. At one point, he screamed out, “We love you!” which I thought was a little odd since the band is all dudes. At the beginning of the show, this guy was very annoying. After three vodka tonics, I found him strangely endearing.
- Tuscaloosa Girl, who looked about twelve years old despite the fact that she stood there with a Budweiser in hand, telling Kristen and me that she had driven all the way from Tuscaloosa just to see The Honorary Title play. I think she was alone, as she looked a little lost and lonely. She was also among the throng of admirers hovering around the lead singer after the show. I sure hope he was nicer to her than he was to us.
- Knowing that since I had the foresight to program the timer on my VCR (yes, I hear there’s this new thing called “tivo” that is totally not worth me getting, since my tv is not much larger than my laptop), a new episode of American Idol was waiting for me at home.
If anyone wants to take up a collection to send me to the American Idol finale show, I will totally blog about it.
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