Like any normal human being, I do not particularly enjoy driving in traffic, or rather, being grid locked and not driving very much at all in traffic. I also don't like driving in the rain; people in this part of the country don't know how to drive in rain. Some drivers obey the 1/3 Rule, according to the Virginia DMV we are required to drive 1/3 less than the posted speed limit in rain and make sure our headlights are on. Some drivers decide that the smallest amount of precipitation is treacherous and drive only about 1/3 of the posted speed limit. Other drivers, including me, will drive the same speed in any weather, but safely of course. Needless to say, three different types of drivers on one rainy road is no fun, especially during rush hour.
This past Friday, Leticia and I had tickets to see the Bravery in Baltimore, MD. In normal driving conditions, it takes about an hour to drive to Baltimore. Last Friday, it been raining all day, and although I knew I should have left the house at noon, school and errands made it so I couldn't leave until 5:30 pm. BIG mistake. I'd never driven to Baltimore, it was rush hour, it was raining. It took me nearly TWO hours to get to Baltimore. I'm happy to say I didn't get lost, I only took one wrong turn, and I was even able to stop for food without loosing my way.
The venue for the show is called Sonar, it's a nice small lounge, the sort of places that only exist in cities. The doors opened at 8:00 pm and Leticia and I were able to get in a good place, almost center, behind one other person. It felt like Coldplay all over again, except this girl was about my height, and I don't share the same passionate love for the Bravery. This time I had no problem standing behind someone.
We waited almost an hour for the first opening act. In that time, I scolded Leticia for not letting me bring a sweater. It was Antarctic outside while we waited, and I only had on a long sleeved shirt. We talked about general topics, had a fag. She asked me about other concerts I'd been to, since I've suddenly become the big-concert-goer. Leticia told me that her co-worker also went to the Coldplay concert, and that she SAW, actually WITNESSED Chris Martin TALK TO ME. In Leticia's words, as her co-worker, "That was your cousin? She's so lucky. I saw him talking to someone on the big screen but of course I couldn't see who." THAT made my day. It'd sit in traffic for longer in two hours just for that sort of validation. It wasn't just a mirage in a frenzy of Coldplay passion, it actually happened. Chris Martin talked to me. And everyone there saw it. BE JEALOUS.
The show started finally started with the first opening act, Wakefield. They music was well played, the band dressed nicely, the lead singer is gorgeous. I enjoyed the music, but it's not really the sound I like. The second opening act was People in Planes. They were definitely not as well kept as Wakefield, the lead singer and guitarist had crazy bed head and they all looked like they hadn't showered in a while. But when they announced they were from "south Wales" with an almost unintelligible accent, I was intrigued. I love the UK. I should have it tattooed on my forehead.
Anglo-phile-ness aside, People in Planes were phenomenal. The music was inspired, the lead singer's voice was wonderful, and what I could understand of the lyrics was great too. Leticia and I had multiple musical orgasms; we reached a new level of music-induced high. Just like the lead singer, (I almost cried when I noticed had a wedding band) I was compelled to close my eyes and let me the music rush all over my body and soul. It was beautiful. The guitarist was amazing, at one point he lost his electronic connect and the music just started dying without him. Thanks to some loyal roadies, he recovered and played even harder than before. The guitarist even jumped into the crowed for a while. Leticia, fully mesmerized, tried to grab his crotch. Silly girl. I just patted his back.
By the time People in Planes finished their set, I was more than satisfied. I had a post music-orgasm fag, it was so good. I almost forgot that I came for the Bravery, but I was quickly reminded when the entire population of the venue decided they wanted to be in the front. Even before the Bravery began performing, the crowd became denser and the first signs of moshing appeared. Once the Bravery started performing, all Hell broke loose. I tired to enjoy myself as much as possible, but it was hard when I had to force my arm through people to hold onto the barricades so I wouldn't squash or be squashed. For almost an hour I was being humped, bumped, pushed, pulled, stepped on, looked at, yelled at. I smelled and saw things that weren't very pleasant. The experience taught me that I could NEVER EVER survive a real mosh pit. I would never want to be part of a real mosh pit. Not without full body armor and a weapon.
Despite all the battering, the Bravery performance was satisfying as well. At one point, the guitarist and lead singer jumped off stage and leaned WAY into the barricades. Naturally everyone started clawing at them, they were almost crowd surfing for a while. I nearly suffocated on the guitarist, he was yanked almost onto my face...he didn't smell very good. I also touched the lead singer's very hairy and sweaty arm; he sweats profusely. Early in the show, the lead singer kept stepping onto the speakers on the ground, for effect, and at one point the speaker tipped over and he nearly fell. It was pretty embarrassing, but he played it off pretty well. The bassist seemed scared to get into the crowd, and some of his "moves" set off my Gaydar. The synthesizer guy and drummer were in the back, they just seemed to be doing their job, not much emotion from them. They played some new songs, talked a little, it was good.
Leticia and I were breathless by the time the show was over. As we followed the crowd outside, we were VERY happy and surprised to see three of the guys from People in Planes, handing out a flyer. Naturally I wanted to talk to the guitarist first, and I grabbed a flyer from him, but Leticia grab my arm and yanked me over to the keyboardist. He slightly resembles Johnny Depp, and he was smoking on stage, so she decided to go over and introduce herself, and then propose. She had a flyer too, so we got an autograph. She asked him when they would be back to perform, he said maybe sometime in January. Then we moved onto the guitarist. In my best attempt not to sound like a dork, I told him how much I enjoyed his band, and that I needed more information. He thanked me with a beaming smile, and told me in his beautiful Welsh accent to check out the official
website and their my space. He signed my flyer, and I promised him that I would check out the websites. Then we moved on to the lead singer. There is something about that lead singer that makes me want to hug him and make him my best friend. And brush his hair. He's so adorable, probably why he's married. He was also very very nice; I got his autograph too, praised him, and wished him the best of luck.
Leticia checked out the website as soon as she got home. We had met Gaz, the lead singer, Peter, the guitarist, and Ian, the keyboardist. Gaz, how fucking cute is that? I should have squeezed him. Oh well, maybe next time. There will definitely be a next time. I've already gotten on their mailing list, and downloaded as many songs as possible. I found out they were called Tetra Splendour once upon a time, and even released an album, which I bought on Amazon.com. Their first People in Planes album comes out early next year and then I'm guessing they'll tour, hopefully not as an opening band.
As Leticia and I drove home, we debated whether People in Planes was better than sex. We decided no, but I told her that when it came to Coldplay, there was no contest.
The lead singer of Wakefield
People In Planes
Lisa decided she wanted to have a Roman orgy.
That Chris Martin fellow, he is a very talented young man...
