Thursday, March 1, 2012
Dry Time
We're coming into the part of the year that, in my youth, I'd always considered the onset of springtime...until more recently that is. It's March 1st today.
Before the days of global warming, there was a time many years ago in the city where I live, that the month of March meant the riddance of snow, greener grass, and maybe a bloom or two- or buds on the trees, to show that spring had arrived. But now, thanks to our depleted ozone layer and greenhouse gases, the month of March in Alberta means winter is about to arrive with a vengeance. We can usually count on our annual "spring storm" .. a wet heavy snowfall that usually comes just in time to screw up any fun plans you may have had for St. Patrick's day. It shuts the city down for a day or two and then melts just as quickly and forcefully as it arrived, which generates flooding in certain parts of the province. More snow usually follows, by the foot, and the grass doesn't start to get green up with tulip bulbs rearing up to catch the sunlight until sometime around.. oh I don't know - let's say Mid May.
So just when you think that you have come around the corner of winter and milder times are just around the bend, whack. And so comes the onslaught. More waiting for those joyous signs of spring.
This is kind of how I feel about Duran Duran right now. They are spending time overseas, touring and such in South America and Asia, and I'm seeing Facebook and Twitter posts about concert dates upcoming. And I'm feeling as though I'm waiting for the thaw, while my cohorts on the other side of the world are in full bloom. To draw a different comparison, I would say it's like being an alcoholic while being surrounded by people that can drink whatever they want.. I'm in the biggest, most well stocked bar in the world, and I'm in "dry time".
Dry time was once explained to me as this: While you are trying to "kick your habit", you are still surrounding yourself with the people and things that support your addiction. So while I'm trying to think about things that are not associated with Duran, i.e. ) touring, Roger, front row, backstage, blah blah blah, I'm surrounding myself with sources of information that are feeding me nothing but. And between John and Simon tweeting their butts off and announcements coming regularly, I'm feeling my Duran itch start to twitch. Hell, it's only been since December and I feel somehow deprived. Has this addiction become an obsession? At what point do I acknowledge my desire for all things Duran has gone too far?
I also fully admit that it's also got something to do with my decision to pass on Coachella Festival this year. It's a mere month and a half away and the fact that I'm missing 2012 is making me ache in my bones. I didn't have the money or the vacation time available to justify it, and now I'm feeling like the greatest party in the world is about to happen - and a grade 7 girl that was the only one to not get an invitation to the birthday party. Yes - it's a choice I'm making for my own reasons, but I've become so engrossed in these things that I'm finding it hard to let it go.
So I'll confess. I'm jealous. I'm jealous of the friends I know that are going to Coachella, the tweeps and Facebook peeps that have tickets to the overseas shows and are getting out there to see the boys. As happy for them as I can be that they get to have their share, I am, in the famous words of Oliver Twist, holding up the empty bowl of gruel, and begging, "I want some more".
There wasn't really much more point to this blog other than to bitch and whine. My apologies if you had expected something more.
TG
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Am I missing something?
Before leaving for the UK I saw an annoucement on Live Nation that the almighty funk man Prince was touring in Canada, and I'd always wanted to see him perform live. A true 80's nostalgia junkie in every sense of the word, I'll pretty much risk life and limb to relive my all time favorite decade and the music it generated, given opportunity. And Prince is truly the stuff of 1980's legend. Even though there was no performance scheduled for Calgary, it was water off a duck's back for me. I was willing to hit the road to catch this show, no questions asked.
SaintC was scheduled to be in San Francisco for her husband's company Christmas activities, so as a twosome Lady E and I got some tickets for the Victoria show and decided to make a weekend out of it. I am fortunate that I can expense the flight and hotel for myself as I can parlay it into a work trip - and help cut some costs for both uf us. So although our dear Lady left for the airport to go home a couple of hours ago, I'll be hanging out in Vic on my own until Tuesday. But I don't mind. The shopping here is fabulous and the mild weather provides a much needed respite from the snow in Calgary, even for only a day or two. And despite the fact that Prince booked a Calgary date a few days after we'd made the arrangements to come here, I was really happy to have a fun little getaway with Lady E, since she missed out on our 2nd trip to the UK.
Naturally, going to concerts and gearing up to see live shows always holds a certain amount of anticipation and excitement for me. But it was a relief to not stress out about what I'd be wearing or worrying about running around after the show to try and find/meet/run into/stalk the band i.e. Duran Duran. We just wanted to go to see Prince, and that would be that. We heard about the after party happening at a local club, but truth be told, we were so tired after the show I doubt we'd have lasted long anyway. It was really fun to just go see a show without a lot of pressure and expectation associated with it.
The concert was everything I'd hoped it would be. Prince gave a fabulous, energetic, James Brown-inspired dance-fueled performance with 4 encores, and managed to play snippets of each of the songs that were his biggest hits (he mentioned during the show that if he'd played all his hits start to finish we'd be there all night, sad but true). It was a wonderful fun filled night and an electrifying performance. His band and back up singers were fantastic. It was 3 hours of funk, dancing, and a stadium full of fans screaming and cheering. I had a fantastic time.
We had seats in the section off to the right of the stage, about 25 rows up - with great views displaying the full width of the stage and the light/sight show that accompanied the performance. There were jets of steam shooting up from the stage. Lights going off from one end of the stadium to another. And an explosion of purple and gold confetti that floated in slow motion all around us like a dream. This is the predictable stuff that ALWAYS invokes a strong reaction for me, and usually produces ear-to-ear grins and little tears of joy.
What is interesting to me is this show made me realize that with my desperate need to be as close to the stage as possible, I'm probably missing out on some of the cool effects to be seen throughout a Duran Duran performance. I have to admit that while in Portland I didn't even know the 4 digital faces above us existed until the encore. But everyone in the arena behind us had a plentiful view and got the full effect. Not so for me. I had a plentiful view of Simon's bright blue trainers and the occasional eyefull of Dom's backside.
It made me wonder - am I so obsessed with getting so close to the band that I'm kind of missing the point?
Of course the music is important. The live performances are important. The songs and the writing and the albums are the things that keep me coming back. The stage shows and their effects are part of what makes the live music experience fantastic. But I'm also willing to admit that I pursue the boys in the band as aggressively as I pursue and appreciate the music. After coming home from Cardiff I heard myself tell the tale of the meet and greet, drumstick catching and backstage tour stories again and again, with the occasional mention of, "Oh yeah, that concert I went and saw. That was good." So I confess - I AM MOTIVATED BY MEET AND GREETS. I STALK THE BAND AFTER SHOWS. And yes, the occasional hotel has been booked with no consideration aside from the thought of where the band may be staying in mind. Hello - my name is ____ - and I'm a Duranaholic.
Maybe this isn't the right comparison - (since I'm not doing anything I'd be ashamed to admit to my grandmother) - but like Pamela Des Barres in her feverish attempts to get close to her favorite music icons by ANY means possible
(including offering herself up to be consumed like a slice of pumpkin pie) I think that I've been spending more time being a "fanatic" than I have being a true music fan in some of my recent Duran associated activities. And maybe that ratio is keeping me from experiencing what I could be, or should be, from the Duran Duran music experience. So now that I've managed to scratch all the things I wanted off my Duran bucket list (front row centre, drumsticks, meeting the band etc.) maybe I should take a step back from being a crazed "Duranie" and start being a Duran Duran music fan again, to see what that's like.
I wonder if that will be anywhere near as much fun. Hmmm.
That Girl
SaintC was scheduled to be in San Francisco for her husband's company Christmas activities, so as a twosome Lady E and I got some tickets for the Victoria show and decided to make a weekend out of it. I am fortunate that I can expense the flight and hotel for myself as I can parlay it into a work trip - and help cut some costs for both uf us. So although our dear Lady left for the airport to go home a couple of hours ago, I'll be hanging out in Vic on my own until Tuesday. But I don't mind. The shopping here is fabulous and the mild weather provides a much needed respite from the snow in Calgary, even for only a day or two. And despite the fact that Prince booked a Calgary date a few days after we'd made the arrangements to come here, I was really happy to have a fun little getaway with Lady E, since she missed out on our 2nd trip to the UK.
Naturally, going to concerts and gearing up to see live shows always holds a certain amount of anticipation and excitement for me. But it was a relief to not stress out about what I'd be wearing or worrying about running around after the show to try and find/meet/run into/stalk the band i.e. Duran Duran. We just wanted to go to see Prince, and that would be that. We heard about the after party happening at a local club, but truth be told, we were so tired after the show I doubt we'd have lasted long anyway. It was really fun to just go see a show without a lot of pressure and expectation associated with it.
The concert was everything I'd hoped it would be. Prince gave a fabulous, energetic, James Brown-inspired dance-fueled performance with 4 encores, and managed to play snippets of each of the songs that were his biggest hits (he mentioned during the show that if he'd played all his hits start to finish we'd be there all night, sad but true). It was a wonderful fun filled night and an electrifying performance. His band and back up singers were fantastic. It was 3 hours of funk, dancing, and a stadium full of fans screaming and cheering. I had a fantastic time.
We had seats in the section off to the right of the stage, about 25 rows up - with great views displaying the full width of the stage and the light/sight show that accompanied the performance. There were jets of steam shooting up from the stage. Lights going off from one end of the stadium to another. And an explosion of purple and gold confetti that floated in slow motion all around us like a dream. This is the predictable stuff that ALWAYS invokes a strong reaction for me, and usually produces ear-to-ear grins and little tears of joy.
What is interesting to me is this show made me realize that with my desperate need to be as close to the stage as possible, I'm probably missing out on some of the cool effects to be seen throughout a Duran Duran performance. I have to admit that while in Portland I didn't even know the 4 digital faces above us existed until the encore. But everyone in the arena behind us had a plentiful view and got the full effect. Not so for me. I had a plentiful view of Simon's bright blue trainers and the occasional eyefull of Dom's backside.
It made me wonder - am I so obsessed with getting so close to the band that I'm kind of missing the point?
Of course the music is important. The live performances are important. The songs and the writing and the albums are the things that keep me coming back. The stage shows and their effects are part of what makes the live music experience fantastic. But I'm also willing to admit that I pursue the boys in the band as aggressively as I pursue and appreciate the music. After coming home from Cardiff I heard myself tell the tale of the meet and greet, drumstick catching and backstage tour stories again and again, with the occasional mention of, "Oh yeah, that concert I went and saw. That was good." So I confess - I AM MOTIVATED BY MEET AND GREETS. I STALK THE BAND AFTER SHOWS. And yes, the occasional hotel has been booked with no consideration aside from the thought of where the band may be staying in mind. Hello - my name is ____ - and I'm a Duranaholic.
Maybe this isn't the right comparison - (since I'm not doing anything I'd be ashamed to admit to my grandmother) - but like Pamela Des Barres in her feverish attempts to get close to her favorite music icons by ANY means possible
(including offering herself up to be consumed like a slice of pumpkin pie) I think that I've been spending more time being a "fanatic" than I have being a true music fan in some of my recent Duran associated activities. And maybe that ratio is keeping me from experiencing what I could be, or should be, from the Duran Duran music experience. So now that I've managed to scratch all the things I wanted off my Duran bucket list (front row centre, drumsticks, meeting the band etc.) maybe I should take a step back from being a crazed "Duranie" and start being a Duran Duran music fan again, to see what that's like.
I wonder if that will be anywhere near as much fun. Hmmm.
That Girl
Monday, December 12, 2011
Cardiff - Redemption and Reward
I haven't blogged in a while.
When Lady Elaine, SaintC and I decided to start a blog account a while back, the original intent was so we could follow other bloggers, and put up the occasional humorous, Duran Duran or music or man related post. The idea that anyone else would read the blog was secondary. In fact, the thought of having several people reading the blog was unsettling and a tad unappealing. But I've continued to post even though we only have one follower on our blog (R and A - you know who you are) and my two dear cohorts have chosen not to write anything else since the first month we opened the account.
For me it's this - if there's been a significant event in our Duran lives - in my Duran life - I need to write about it. I want to document the details so I can go back and read them weeks or months later, and remind myself of how everything unfolded. So I can relive the moments through my own perspective and feel what I felt so strongly at those amazing times over again. And this time around there is a part of me that fears I won't be able to blog about anything this cool in the future, because while our NYC 2007 Duran experience was phenomenal, the UK show in Cardiff topped it for me. So I'm laying it out in cyberspace for myself, my two best friends, and for anyone else that would be interested enough to read it.
We were venturing back to the UK for Duran Duran's rescheduled tour, flying overseas a second time, for a chance to see the band perform in their home country. The first time we showed up earlier in the year we weren't very hopeful the concert would even take place. And when it was postponed I was sad, but made the most of my time in London and sucked it up. This time around felt different. We knew that this was it, what we'd been looking forward to for years. We arrived in London on Sunday the 4th of December - mid morning - after a pretty good flight. I was fortunate that SaintC's sweet husband had some business travel points he needed to use before year end, so he upgraded me to Executive class on the plane. We had a bit of sleep on the flight but we pushed through to stay awake after arriving, and power shopped around Oxford Street into the evening and headed to bed after dinner and drinks. Tuesday looked much the same - more shopping, more eat and drink, being treated like queens by our lovely host on the club floor at the hotel - but Wednesday was the day we were both really looking forward to. That was our Cardiff travel day.
The Duran Duran show was scheduled Thursday, but we were up very early on the Wednesday morning to get the 7:55 am train from Paddington Station to Cardiff Central, so we could sightsee a bit in Cardiff. However, without Lady Elaine in tow for this trip due to the surgery on her foot and also the costs involved with having that work done privately, this day held some melancholy for me. We've always tried to do as much as possible as a trio when it comes to Duran Duran, and it weighed on my heart that she wasn't along. And as the train moved in the dark to the outskirts of London, I thought about her a lot. I hoped that by having her on top of mind she could somehow be along for the ride.
Our strategy when we first bought tickets for the UK tour that was supposed to happen in June was to increase our chance of getting to meet the band as much as possible. We always find a way to justify doing a VIP ticket for each show - but once the VIP tickets came in different levels of status, we had a few options to consider. Only 4 shows came with a meet and greet opportunity - and only with Platinum level tickets. So we could spend more money at a bunch of shows at a lower level ticket status, travel all over the place every day, become exhausted, and at a substantial cost, and do our best to chase the band around after the shows for a chance meeting. Or we could take a chance on one of the smallest venues possible, in an out of the way location where there would be fewer attendees, fewer Platinum VIPs, and better odds of having the ultimate fan experience. This latter strategy paid off. Both SaintC and I were awarded meet and greet wins, and were informed the week before the show was to take place. When the tour had to be rescheduled for December, we contacted the Artist Arena fan experience people to ensure that our win would be upheld should we choose to return to the UK for the new dates. After they reassured us we would still get our meet and greet, it gave us ample justification to come back.
What I didn't realize is how much st
Thursday arrived. We needed to be at the venue at 4:30 pm sharp to check in with our hostess Lucy, and get our credentials. We learned earlier in the day that we'd also been awarded the Backstage Tour in addition to the meet and greet. We wondered if we were the only Platimum VIP's in attendance! But upon calling our cab to the venue from the hotel, two other ladies were in the lobby for the same reason, and we made introductions and shared the taxi. Diane and Kelly from LA, who were also awarded the tour and meet and greet. We had comrades! While waiting to start the backstage tour we met the other VIP folks - a total group of around 12 people. They included Aileen and Phillippa from Scotland, who'd seen the band over 30 times. One lady from Europe was on her 89th show. That blew us away. With that knew the other VIP's there were all hardcore Duranies, and we were glad.
The Backstage tour was a true highlight, starting with the rear stage area, and taking us back to the rooms holding their wardrobe and apparel for the tour. We meet Jeffrey Bryant, their wardrobe designer, who has also designed costumes for the Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga. He showed us the bands' blazers, pants, jackets, Anna's dresses, we even got pictures of the tour shoes, including Simon's famous bright blue trainers, and his snake skin dress shirts. Then we moved into the bands dressing room where they had bottles of water, organic juice, snacks, and piles of "road vinyl" - albums they take along for inspiration - including Bowie and Depeche Mode. So awesome. They also have a warm up room to jam in before the show. It was such a thrill to see it all.
Incredibly we were allowed on stage to take pictures and look at the equipment as long as we didn't disturb anything. It gave us a chance to stand where the band stands - by mics, around equipment, Nick's synth, John's guitars - and yes, Roger's drumkit. We got pictures of ourselves sitting on the ledge where the drums are perched, the giant D emblazoned on the front, and it was unforgettable. I even saw Roger's coffee cup and a washcloth sitting out ready for him, and was so tempted to stash it in my purse, but I wanted to maintain good karma so I left everything untouched. SaintC peeked at the set list taped to the stage - a couple folks took covert photos of it - and in doing so were told, "you can look at that and photograph it, but you better bloody well not tweet it"! I walked off the stage a little teary because it was such a thrill.
We then made our way up to our VIP lounge for a 3 course dinner that included free drinks, white linen, waitress service and socializing. We had a chance to get to know Lucy and ask her how she entered the business, and although it turned out her father is a music journalist in England, she started as a lowly personal assistant and worked her way up. Then down to merch to pick out our purchases. Got a Girl Panic tee and some postcards as I needed something for the guys to sign. Picked up another one to bring home for Lady Elaine. Then back up for more drinks. We took pics with our new friends and waited for the meet and greet.
They shuttled us down at about 7:30 and the venue was already starting to fill up. We were side stage in a line, with cameras and Sharpies in hand. We waited for what seemed like forever and were told there were delays for the band due to traffic issues. Not everyone was there yet. Gradually they took us backstage and lined us up against a wall directly in rear of the main stage area. We were told there would be individual pictures taken with our own cameras, no group shots. Lucy offered to help take shots but reminded us she was only one person, so we knew we were on our own. Thank heavens I'd bought a new camera before leaving town so we both had one, and had agreed to just take pics of eachother with each member and make sure we didn't miss anyone. First I talked with Nick, who was not as chatty as the first time I met him but so sweet. Then John, who was the one that was late, and unfortunately he wasn't in a great mood. Didn't say much and didn't really smile for pictures. He was the only one not in wardrobe and you could sense his frustration at being late and rushed, but he was still polite, signed and posed. Then Roger approached me.
My experience with Roger in Palm Springs was still bothering me. When I asked him for a photo at Coachella and he had to walk away in a hurry, I was a bit crushed. In the week before leaving for the UK this time, I'd even had bad dreams about meeting him again, saying the wrong thing, and him walking away from me in disgust. So I had thought hard about what I really wanted to say to him. When he approached me, he looked gorgeous and was all smiles. I said hello and then congratulated him on his newborn son. I asked how he was doing and he told me he was great but that he'd had a cold at the moment. Asked about his wife, and how she was doing and he said she was lovely, adjusting quite well. Then he said, "your accent - where are you from?" I told him I was from Canada and that we came to see the show, but that in fact we'd met before. I said we had done a meet and greet on Broadway in NYC in 2007, but we really wanted to see the band play in the UK. He said "you came all the way here, just to see us play"? And when I said yes, he grinned and shook his head and said that was great. We posed for a picture and as he walked away Simon was approaching, but I was still a bit stunned. Simon was great also, he asked where I was from, I told him and also said we'd met in NY once before, but I was so happy they could resume the tour, and so happy to be there. Then when I posed for our picture, he gave me a huge squeeze and rested his head on mine for a cuddly shot. I was beyond happy. As they finished signing and did the last minute pictures we waved, called out our thank-yous and goodbyes, and then needed to motor back to the VIP lounge for our belongings left upstairs, and get down to the show. No matter - I was practically floating.
On the way into the venue we bumped into Alison and Jules, who I know from the Twitter Duraniverse, wearing their sparkly hats they told me they made. It was so fun to introduce myself and chat with them in person. We took position and the show started almost immediately after we took our seats. Once the music started we were allowed to stand at the barricade and there was tons of room. For the first time, we were front row centre. It may have had something to do with the fact that we got up at 1 am our time to buy the tickets on line from DDM and were probably the first Platinum VIP purchases that went through. But from the moment the lights went down, I was in heaven. We were so close, so in the thick of it all, it felt like the show was just for us. I was barely aware of the crowd but the people around us at the front were also equally into it and we danced and sang along. After the first song, there was a lull in the cheering and I whistled really loudly with my two fingers. Most women don't have this talent but I have it mastered. It rang out so clearly, above any other noise, and John Taylor's eyes went straight to me, wide open in amazement! He laughed when I waved at him and shrugged. It was hysterical. When they played Is There Something I Should Know I was dumbstruck. I couldn't remember the last time I heard it live, but it sounded amazing. All the new stuff, particularly Leopard really struck me as well. I bounced and danced and cheered and clapped. The lights flashing during the start of White Lines was so cool. I really enjoyed the mix of video footage behind the stage - and all the different lighting concepts they used during the show. It felt different than the Portland show. Of course since we had our roaming turned off on our phones due to the astronomical costs, so we couldn't tweet during Tiger Tiger. But our dear Lady Elaine was trying to tweet on our behalf from home. We didn't see those tweets come up on the screen, but we saw a few from other Tweeps we knew, which was great fun.
When the show finally wrapped and the encore began, I knew I had my heart set on getting drumsticks from Roger at the end of Rio. I had called out to him and tried to get his attention at other shows, but I'd never been centre stage before, and I knew that was where he usually went to toss them out. I'd always been too far away in the past. I was hopeful and praying inside my head, and I knew this could be my only chance. I felt I'd made an impression on him at the meet and greet, and I just told myself if it's meant to be it will be. When Roger got up from his kit and waved and began walking up front for his bow, I called out to him and motioned in a drumming movement and waved for him to come over to me. He looked at me, smiled, walked right down in front of me, and tossed the sticks right to me. I was in awe. The sticks came close but the barricade was somewhat far from the stage and they fell just short of my hands. Another person snatched up one of the sticks, and the other fell down in front of the barricade just past my reach. My heart was in my throat. But the security guard, who saw without a doubt that Roger meant those sticks for me, grabbed it, walked to me, and put it in my hand. I looked up at Roger and screamed out a barely audible "Thank you, thank you!" And as the lights came up I had to wipe my tears away. It was the one moment I'd hoped for and I'd never imagined it would actually come true.
We met up with Diane and Kelly where they had been standing and they were so happy for me. Aileen from Scotland caught up with us to say goodbye and share hugs, and said it was so nice to see a "real Roger girl" get the sticks. We walked with D and K back to the hotel and shared our experiences and memories of the night, and then collapsed into our room in exhaustion. We laid in bed and had a tough time getting to sleep. We were both wound up, and I let the evening swirl through my head again and again, barely believing that the moment I'd hoped for had happened, in exactly the way I would have wanted.
Of course if I'd caught both sticks directly when Roger tossed them my way it would have been perfect - and almost TOO good to be true. So I'm grateful for the imperfection in it all. In the pursuit of something you dream about and want so badly, there will always be a stumbling block, a change of plans, a turn of events that can trip you up. Things won't ever turn out like a dream because life isn't a dream - and doesn't work that way. It's got pitfalls. Flight delays. Overdue bills. Union strikes. Traffic jams. Barricades.
And laryngitis.
But maybe the learning in the whole thing is if you go after what you want and put it out there into the world, it can happen for you. Maybe not when you want or in exactly the way you imagine - but it's the not knowing, the great surprises, the unexpected twists and turns, that make what we desire that much more exciting. And I couldn't have asked for anything more out of that day, except that I wanted our Lady E to be right along there with us. And I know in her heart and in ours, she was there, and I'm sure she'll be along for our next great DD adventure, which I'm hoping won't be far away. Because even though Cardiff brought me a much needed redemption and an incredible reward, as crazy as it seems, and as much as it costs me in many different ways, I'm still anxious to do it all over again.
That Girl
When Lady Elaine, SaintC and I decided to start a blog account a while back, the original intent was so we could follow other bloggers, and put up the occasional humorous, Duran Duran or music or man related post. The idea that anyone else would read the blog was secondary. In fact, the thought of having several people reading the blog was unsettling and a tad unappealing. But I've continued to post even though we only have one follower on our blog (R and A - you know who you are) and my two dear cohorts have chosen not to write anything else since the first month we opened the account.
For me it's this - if there's been a significant event in our Duran lives - in my Duran life - I need to write about it. I want to document the details so I can go back and read them weeks or months later, and remind myself of how everything unfolded. So I can relive the moments through my own perspective and feel what I felt so strongly at those amazing times over again. And this time around there is a part of me that fears I won't be able to blog about anything this cool in the future, because while our NYC 2007 Duran experience was phenomenal, the UK show in Cardiff topped it for me. So I'm laying it out in cyberspace for myself, my two best friends, and for anyone else that would be interested enough to read it.
We were venturing back to the UK for Duran Duran's rescheduled tour, flying overseas a second time, for a chance to see the band perform in their home country. The first time we showed up earlier in the year we weren't very hopeful the concert would even take place. And when it was postponed I was sad, but made the most of my time in London and sucked it up. This time around felt different. We knew that this was it, what we'd been looking forward to for years. We arrived in London on Sunday the 4th of December - mid morning - after a pretty good flight. I was fortunate that SaintC's sweet husband had some business travel points he needed to use before year end, so he upgraded me to Executive class on the plane. We had a bit of sleep on the flight but we pushed through to stay awake after arriving, and power shopped around Oxford Street into the evening and headed to bed after dinner and drinks. Tuesday looked much the same - more shopping, more eat and drink, being treated like queens by our lovely host on the club floor at the hotel - but Wednesday was the day we were both really looking forward to. That was our Cardiff travel day.
The Duran Duran show was scheduled Thursday, but we were up very early on the Wednesday morning to get the 7:55 am train from Paddington Station to Cardiff Central, so we could sightsee a bit in Cardiff. However, without Lady Elaine in tow for this trip due to the surgery on her foot and also the costs involved with having that work done privately, this day held some melancholy for me. We've always tried to do as much as possible as a trio when it comes to Duran Duran, and it weighed on my heart that she wasn't along. And as the train moved in the dark to the outskirts of London, I thought about her a lot. I hoped that by having her on top of mind she could somehow be along for the ride.
Our strategy when we first bought tickets for the UK tour that was supposed to happen in June was to increase our chance of getting to meet the band as much as possible. We always find a way to justify doing a VIP ticket for each show - but once the VIP tickets came in different levels of status, we had a few options to consider. Only 4 shows came with a meet and greet opportunity - and only with Platinum level tickets. So we could spend more money at a bunch of shows at a lower level ticket status, travel all over the place every day, become exhausted, and at a substantial cost, and do our best to chase the band around after the shows for a chance meeting. Or we could take a chance on one of the smallest venues possible, in an out of the way location where there would be fewer attendees, fewer Platinum VIPs, and better odds of having the ultimate fan experience. This latter strategy paid off. Both SaintC and I were awarded meet and greet wins, and were informed the week before the show was to take place. When the tour had to be rescheduled for December, we contacted the Artist Arena fan experience people to ensure that our win would be upheld should we choose to return to the UK for the new dates. After they reassured us we would still get our meet and greet, it gave us ample justification to come back.
What I didn't realize is how much st
Thursday arrived. We needed to be at the venue at 4:30 pm sharp to check in with our hostess Lucy, and get our credentials. We learned earlier in the day that we'd also been awarded the Backstage Tour in addition to the meet and greet. We wondered if we were the only Platimum VIP's in attendance! But upon calling our cab to the venue from the hotel, two other ladies were in the lobby for the same reason, and we made introductions and shared the taxi. Diane and Kelly from LA, who were also awarded the tour and meet and greet. We had comrades! While waiting to start the backstage tour we met the other VIP folks - a total group of around 12 people. They included Aileen and Phillippa from Scotland, who'd seen the band over 30 times. One lady from Europe was on her 89th show. That blew us away. With that knew the other VIP's there were all hardcore Duranies, and we were glad.
The Backstage tour was a true highlight, starting with the rear stage area, and taking us back to the rooms holding their wardrobe and apparel for the tour. We meet Jeffrey Bryant, their wardrobe designer, who has also designed costumes for the Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga. He showed us the bands' blazers, pants, jackets, Anna's dresses, we even got pictures of the tour shoes, including Simon's famous bright blue trainers, and his snake skin dress shirts. Then we moved into the bands dressing room where they had bottles of water, organic juice, snacks, and piles of "road vinyl" - albums they take along for inspiration - including Bowie and Depeche Mode. So awesome. They also have a warm up room to jam in before the show. It was such a thrill to see it all.
Incredibly we were allowed on stage to take pictures and look at the equipment as long as we didn't disturb anything. It gave us a chance to stand where the band stands - by mics, around equipment, Nick's synth, John's guitars - and yes, Roger's drumkit. We got pictures of ourselves sitting on the ledge where the drums are perched, the giant D emblazoned on the front, and it was unforgettable. I even saw Roger's coffee cup and a washcloth sitting out ready for him, and was so tempted to stash it in my purse, but I wanted to maintain good karma so I left everything untouched. SaintC peeked at the set list taped to the stage - a couple folks took covert photos of it - and in doing so were told, "you can look at that and photograph it, but you better bloody well not tweet it"! I walked off the stage a little teary because it was such a thrill.
We then made our way up to our VIP lounge for a 3 course dinner that included free drinks, white linen, waitress service and socializing. We had a chance to get to know Lucy and ask her how she entered the business, and although it turned out her father is a music journalist in England, she started as a lowly personal assistant and worked her way up. Then down to merch to pick out our purchases. Got a Girl Panic tee and some postcards as I needed something for the guys to sign. Picked up another one to bring home for Lady Elaine. Then back up for more drinks. We took pics with our new friends and waited for the meet and greet.
They shuttled us down at about 7:30 and the venue was already starting to fill up. We were side stage in a line, with cameras and Sharpies in hand. We waited for what seemed like forever and were told there were delays for the band due to traffic issues. Not everyone was there yet. Gradually they took us backstage and lined us up against a wall directly in rear of the main stage area. We were told there would be individual pictures taken with our own cameras, no group shots. Lucy offered to help take shots but reminded us she was only one person, so we knew we were on our own. Thank heavens I'd bought a new camera before leaving town so we both had one, and had agreed to just take pics of eachother with each member and make sure we didn't miss anyone. First I talked with Nick, who was not as chatty as the first time I met him but so sweet. Then John, who was the one that was late, and unfortunately he wasn't in a great mood. Didn't say much and didn't really smile for pictures. He was the only one not in wardrobe and you could sense his frustration at being late and rushed, but he was still polite, signed and posed. Then Roger approached me.
My experience with Roger in Palm Springs was still bothering me. When I asked him for a photo at Coachella and he had to walk away in a hurry, I was a bit crushed. In the week before leaving for the UK this time, I'd even had bad dreams about meeting him again, saying the wrong thing, and him walking away from me in disgust. So I had thought hard about what I really wanted to say to him. When he approached me, he looked gorgeous and was all smiles. I said hello and then congratulated him on his newborn son. I asked how he was doing and he told me he was great but that he'd had a cold at the moment. Asked about his wife, and how she was doing and he said she was lovely, adjusting quite well. Then he said, "your accent - where are you from?" I told him I was from Canada and that we came to see the show, but that in fact we'd met before. I said we had done a meet and greet on Broadway in NYC in 2007, but we really wanted to see the band play in the UK. He said "you came all the way here, just to see us play"? And when I said yes, he grinned and shook his head and said that was great. We posed for a picture and as he walked away Simon was approaching, but I was still a bit stunned. Simon was great also, he asked where I was from, I told him and also said we'd met in NY once before, but I was so happy they could resume the tour, and so happy to be there. Then when I posed for our picture, he gave me a huge squeeze and rested his head on mine for a cuddly shot. I was beyond happy. As they finished signing and did the last minute pictures we waved, called out our thank-yous and goodbyes, and then needed to motor back to the VIP lounge for our belongings left upstairs, and get down to the show. No matter - I was practically floating.
On the way into the venue we bumped into Alison and Jules, who I know from the Twitter Duraniverse, wearing their sparkly hats they told me they made. It was so fun to introduce myself and chat with them in person. We took position and the show started almost immediately after we took our seats. Once the music started we were allowed to stand at the barricade and there was tons of room. For the first time, we were front row centre. It may have had something to do with the fact that we got up at 1 am our time to buy the tickets on line from DDM and were probably the first Platinum VIP purchases that went through. But from the moment the lights went down, I was in heaven. We were so close, so in the thick of it all, it felt like the show was just for us. I was barely aware of the crowd but the people around us at the front were also equally into it and we danced and sang along. After the first song, there was a lull in the cheering and I whistled really loudly with my two fingers. Most women don't have this talent but I have it mastered. It rang out so clearly, above any other noise, and John Taylor's eyes went straight to me, wide open in amazement! He laughed when I waved at him and shrugged. It was hysterical. When they played Is There Something I Should Know I was dumbstruck. I couldn't remember the last time I heard it live, but it sounded amazing. All the new stuff, particularly Leopard really struck me as well. I bounced and danced and cheered and clapped. The lights flashing during the start of White Lines was so cool. I really enjoyed the mix of video footage behind the stage - and all the different lighting concepts they used during the show. It felt different than the Portland show. Of course since we had our roaming turned off on our phones due to the astronomical costs, so we couldn't tweet during Tiger Tiger. But our dear Lady Elaine was trying to tweet on our behalf from home. We didn't see those tweets come up on the screen, but we saw a few from other Tweeps we knew, which was great fun.
When the show finally wrapped and the encore began, I knew I had my heart set on getting drumsticks from Roger at the end of Rio. I had called out to him and tried to get his attention at other shows, but I'd never been centre stage before, and I knew that was where he usually went to toss them out. I'd always been too far away in the past. I was hopeful and praying inside my head, and I knew this could be my only chance. I felt I'd made an impression on him at the meet and greet, and I just told myself if it's meant to be it will be. When Roger got up from his kit and waved and began walking up front for his bow, I called out to him and motioned in a drumming movement and waved for him to come over to me. He looked at me, smiled, walked right down in front of me, and tossed the sticks right to me. I was in awe. The sticks came close but the barricade was somewhat far from the stage and they fell just short of my hands. Another person snatched up one of the sticks, and the other fell down in front of the barricade just past my reach. My heart was in my throat. But the security guard, who saw without a doubt that Roger meant those sticks for me, grabbed it, walked to me, and put it in my hand. I looked up at Roger and screamed out a barely audible "Thank you, thank you!" And as the lights came up I had to wipe my tears away. It was the one moment I'd hoped for and I'd never imagined it would actually come true.
We met up with Diane and Kelly where they had been standing and they were so happy for me. Aileen from Scotland caught up with us to say goodbye and share hugs, and said it was so nice to see a "real Roger girl" get the sticks. We walked with D and K back to the hotel and shared our experiences and memories of the night, and then collapsed into our room in exhaustion. We laid in bed and had a tough time getting to sleep. We were both wound up, and I let the evening swirl through my head again and again, barely believing that the moment I'd hoped for had happened, in exactly the way I would have wanted.
Of course if I'd caught both sticks directly when Roger tossed them my way it would have been perfect - and almost TOO good to be true. So I'm grateful for the imperfection in it all. In the pursuit of something you dream about and want so badly, there will always be a stumbling block, a change of plans, a turn of events that can trip you up. Things won't ever turn out like a dream because life isn't a dream - and doesn't work that way. It's got pitfalls. Flight delays. Overdue bills. Union strikes. Traffic jams. Barricades.
And laryngitis.
But maybe the learning in the whole thing is if you go after what you want and put it out there into the world, it can happen for you. Maybe not when you want or in exactly the way you imagine - but it's the not knowing, the great surprises, the unexpected twists and turns, that make what we desire that much more exciting. And I couldn't have asked for anything more out of that day, except that I wanted our Lady E to be right along there with us. And I know in her heart and in ours, she was there, and I'm sure she'll be along for our next great DD adventure, which I'm hoping won't be far away. Because even though Cardiff brought me a much needed redemption and an incredible reward, as crazy as it seems, and as much as it costs me in many different ways, I'm still anxious to do it all over again.
That Girl
Friday, September 30, 2011
Finally - A Show!!!
As loyal Duranies, we do a lot of waiting. We wait for DDM news. We wait for new albums. We wait for the announcement of tour dates. We wait for our VIP swag in the mail. We wait for John Taylor to bless us with replies to our feeble tweets. We wait for updates on the condition of SLB's vocal chords. And now FINALLY, we weren't waiting. The Portland, Oregon show on the US tour HAPPENED this last weekend. And we were there!
After our trip to Coachella in April had been a disappointment on the Duran front, (where our Artist level status and backstage access didn't get us diddly squat when the band performed their set) - we were salivating for some proper DD action. For the US leg of the tour we were only able to see one show (it was just SaintC and me, as our dear Lady Elaine had foot surgery recently and needed recovery time). So this particular event was long anticipated, and well worth the wait! It fell over a weekend, so I didn't need to ask for even more time off from my employer (I'm already in the red on my holidays) but it was going to have to be whirlwind. We would fly in Saturday afternoon, power shop (when Canadians get access to places like Macy's and Nordstrom, they MAKE the time for shopping) eat dinner, get ready for the show, see the show,(!!!) find an after-show activity (hopefully involving the band in some way) and then do a bit more shopping the next morning and fly out in the afternoon. Officially, only a 22 hour trip. But Oh. So. Worth. It.
When we arrived at the venue we went into see what the seating arrangements were at Theatre in the Clouds. Seating has been a bone of contention for us in the past. When we get bashed up by the crowds against the stage barricade, (hello, the Joint in Vegas?) we usually come away with an affliction we have affectionately coined "Duran Elbow"..bruises and marks up and down the backs of our arms. That sort of lambasting hardly qualifies as a VIP experience. This time around, we had first row floor tickets on the right hand side, in front of Dom (where we always end up - for the love of Pete - can we sit in front of John for once?). The good thing was that the row of chairs was very close to the front of the stage, and the seats were set up in such a way so there was no room for any other rows to rush - and security kept everyone in their place. For this reason we had prime views and lots of space to dance without getting the crap beat out of us by the pushers and shovers. Thumbs up! When we went to collect libations, we ran into some other DDM pals and had a drink or two; talked about hanging out after the show. We'd find a pub, a bar at a hotel, something. Works for me.
The opener was Neon Trees and admittedly, we completely skipped it. None of us were interested, and knew we could just head down for our seats right before DD was to take the stage. We also had another mission - SaintC had an extra pair of tickets she had bought and ended up not needing. They were great seats (2nd row) and while she could have sold them, she thought maybe it would be fun to head up to the nosebleeds and just gift them to someone that looked like they would truly appreciate them. We meandered up to the top tier and looked around, not seeing anyone that looked like a hardcore fan and was deserving, or anything resembling as such. We were making our way out and looking around for the exit to go back downstairs, when a sweet, adorably dorky woman, around our age, offered directions and pointed us the way, unprompted. She looked like a genuinely nice person. I said to SaintC, "That's her." She agreed. I ran after her and asked if she was with only one other person, and she said yes. After offering her the floor seats she couldn't believe it. She ran away tearful and grateful, and a few minutes later showed up on the floor to collect her seats, with her MOM. They were both absolutely floored and said they'd never sat so close to the front at a show before. It was pretty cool to make someone that happy. Good to have karma on our side.
When the lights went down, I had THE BEST time from start to finish. I won't recap the set list in it's entirety, but it was mainly ANYIN material with a smattering of old stuff (Planet Earth, Hungry Like the Wolf, even Tiger Tiger) and the Wild Boys mash-up with Relax by FGTH. That was actually pretty cool. And of course I got a tear in my eye during Ordinary World - that goes without saying. A lot of people have crabbed about the set list being comprised of all the new stuff. But I have to say, I really enjoyed hearing those songs live. Leave a light On, Safe, ANYIN, Leopard, genuinely loved listening to them all. During Sunrise, Simon was standing directly in front of me on top of the speaker for that pinnacle point in the first chorus where the lights blaze white, and we all reach up for the sunrise - BLISS. Yes, I know it's terribly cheeseball and predictable - but I get off on that sort of thing.
The audience vibe was awesome, and everyone in attendance seemed truly into it, and while others commented after that Simon's voice had a few "blips", I never noticed. The only thing I noticed he did was forget the lyrics a couple of times, which - let's face it - happens every show anyway. But he hit some notes during OW that I thought would have been off limits, and I was really proud of him. I think of how nervous he must have been those first few shows.
They encored with Rio - and the lights came up. Over too soon. But for me it always ends the same. I'm happy, full of energy, and a little sweaty.. knowing that seeing live music, particularly by Duran Duran, always brings me joy. However, while I usually obsess over Roger at every show, I was completely blown away by JT this time around. Even when Roger came down and handed his drumsticks out at centre stage like he always does, I still had John in the corner of my eye. Even though it makes me happy in the same way every time, it's always a new experience that crops up different feelings for me.
After the show we went out for pints with our DDM pals, where they introduced us to Simon Willescroft, DD's very sweet saxaphone player. He has that sort of rumpled, unshaven, English hotness about him. We sat and chatted over a pint or two, but by this time it was 1:30 am and our cohorts were ready to call it a night, as were we. We said our goodbyes and headed back to the hotel.
The next morning, we stopped in at Target by the airport for some last-minute shopping as we were getting ready to leave Portland, and it felt like we'd been there for days. I think I love these fast trips the most. That's how our second New York trip was, back in 2007, which was totally unforgettable - and holds a special status that would be difficult for any other show experience to come close to. That said, I'm still hopeful that our next totally mind-blowing, unforgettable Duran Duran moment is right around the corner. This was pretty damn good by comparison. I am afraid to get my hopes up for the UK just yet. December is a long way off. But now that I've had a savory little taste on my palate, I'm more excited about heading across the pond than ever.
That Girl
After our trip to Coachella in April had been a disappointment on the Duran front, (where our Artist level status and backstage access didn't get us diddly squat when the band performed their set) - we were salivating for some proper DD action. For the US leg of the tour we were only able to see one show (it was just SaintC and me, as our dear Lady Elaine had foot surgery recently and needed recovery time). So this particular event was long anticipated, and well worth the wait! It fell over a weekend, so I didn't need to ask for even more time off from my employer (I'm already in the red on my holidays) but it was going to have to be whirlwind. We would fly in Saturday afternoon, power shop (when Canadians get access to places like Macy's and Nordstrom, they MAKE the time for shopping) eat dinner, get ready for the show, see the show,(!!!) find an after-show activity (hopefully involving the band in some way) and then do a bit more shopping the next morning and fly out in the afternoon. Officially, only a 22 hour trip. But Oh. So. Worth. It.
When we arrived at the venue we went into see what the seating arrangements were at Theatre in the Clouds. Seating has been a bone of contention for us in the past. When we get bashed up by the crowds against the stage barricade, (hello, the Joint in Vegas?) we usually come away with an affliction we have affectionately coined "Duran Elbow"..bruises and marks up and down the backs of our arms. That sort of lambasting hardly qualifies as a VIP experience. This time around, we had first row floor tickets on the right hand side, in front of Dom (where we always end up - for the love of Pete - can we sit in front of John for once?). The good thing was that the row of chairs was very close to the front of the stage, and the seats were set up in such a way so there was no room for any other rows to rush - and security kept everyone in their place. For this reason we had prime views and lots of space to dance without getting the crap beat out of us by the pushers and shovers. Thumbs up! When we went to collect libations, we ran into some other DDM pals and had a drink or two; talked about hanging out after the show. We'd find a pub, a bar at a hotel, something. Works for me.
The opener was Neon Trees and admittedly, we completely skipped it. None of us were interested, and knew we could just head down for our seats right before DD was to take the stage. We also had another mission - SaintC had an extra pair of tickets she had bought and ended up not needing. They were great seats (2nd row) and while she could have sold them, she thought maybe it would be fun to head up to the nosebleeds and just gift them to someone that looked like they would truly appreciate them. We meandered up to the top tier and looked around, not seeing anyone that looked like a hardcore fan and was deserving, or anything resembling as such. We were making our way out and looking around for the exit to go back downstairs, when a sweet, adorably dorky woman, around our age, offered directions and pointed us the way, unprompted. She looked like a genuinely nice person. I said to SaintC, "That's her." She agreed. I ran after her and asked if she was with only one other person, and she said yes. After offering her the floor seats she couldn't believe it. She ran away tearful and grateful, and a few minutes later showed up on the floor to collect her seats, with her MOM. They were both absolutely floored and said they'd never sat so close to the front at a show before. It was pretty cool to make someone that happy. Good to have karma on our side.
When the lights went down, I had THE BEST time from start to finish. I won't recap the set list in it's entirety, but it was mainly ANYIN material with a smattering of old stuff (Planet Earth, Hungry Like the Wolf, even Tiger Tiger) and the Wild Boys mash-up with Relax by FGTH. That was actually pretty cool. And of course I got a tear in my eye during Ordinary World - that goes without saying. A lot of people have crabbed about the set list being comprised of all the new stuff. But I have to say, I really enjoyed hearing those songs live. Leave a light On, Safe, ANYIN, Leopard, genuinely loved listening to them all. During Sunrise, Simon was standing directly in front of me on top of the speaker for that pinnacle point in the first chorus where the lights blaze white, and we all reach up for the sunrise - BLISS. Yes, I know it's terribly cheeseball and predictable - but I get off on that sort of thing.
The audience vibe was awesome, and everyone in attendance seemed truly into it, and while others commented after that Simon's voice had a few "blips", I never noticed. The only thing I noticed he did was forget the lyrics a couple of times, which - let's face it - happens every show anyway. But he hit some notes during OW that I thought would have been off limits, and I was really proud of him. I think of how nervous he must have been those first few shows.
They encored with Rio - and the lights came up. Over too soon. But for me it always ends the same. I'm happy, full of energy, and a little sweaty.. knowing that seeing live music, particularly by Duran Duran, always brings me joy. However, while I usually obsess over Roger at every show, I was completely blown away by JT this time around. Even when Roger came down and handed his drumsticks out at centre stage like he always does, I still had John in the corner of my eye. Even though it makes me happy in the same way every time, it's always a new experience that crops up different feelings for me.
After the show we went out for pints with our DDM pals, where they introduced us to Simon Willescroft, DD's very sweet saxaphone player. He has that sort of rumpled, unshaven, English hotness about him. We sat and chatted over a pint or two, but by this time it was 1:30 am and our cohorts were ready to call it a night, as were we. We said our goodbyes and headed back to the hotel.
The next morning, we stopped in at Target by the airport for some last-minute shopping as we were getting ready to leave Portland, and it felt like we'd been there for days. I think I love these fast trips the most. That's how our second New York trip was, back in 2007, which was totally unforgettable - and holds a special status that would be difficult for any other show experience to come close to. That said, I'm still hopeful that our next totally mind-blowing, unforgettable Duran Duran moment is right around the corner. This was pretty damn good by comparison. I am afraid to get my hopes up for the UK just yet. December is a long way off. But now that I've had a savory little taste on my palate, I'm more excited about heading across the pond than ever.
That Girl
Friday, August 5, 2011
The Cost of it All
My boyfriend and I just returned from a trip to see my family in Eastern Canada. It's one of several trips I've taken this last year or so, but one of only a handful I've taken that don't involve music or a show or a band of some kind. We had a great time, visiting my parents and relatives, sightseeing along the East coast, eating out, enjoying the local cuisine... my first lobster roll ever was decadent. If you've never tried one, and are ever able to, you must.
While waiting in the airport to head home, we had time before boarding and I decided to pick up a book. Normally SaintC and Lady Elaine swap books back and forth and chat about their latest page-turner, while I'm nowhere near as well read. We'll say I'm more of a TV person. But one book by Gail Vaz-Oxlade caught my eye. She is a TV show host for several Canadian programs dealing with money, overspending, savings, and getting your finances under control. In watching her shows I've always appreciated her approach. The book is called "Never Too Late - Take Control of Your Retirement and Your Future." I have retirement savings and some equity in my home, but I confess I've always been confused at investing and understanding what I would really need to do in order to be secure in my retirement age. I am not looking for any magic tricks here - just clear direction. So I grabbed it hoping for an epiphany.
My eyes were opened. What I like about the book is that it takes into account your overall net worth, not just savings or earnings, in determining what your needs would be. It estimated based on net earnings and not gross income, and helped you determine what you were spending, vs. how much money you made - whether you were in a positive or negative state (spending more/less than earnings consistently). Then you would calculate your "Personal Savings rate" needed, per month, to be in order to build savings that would provide around 70 percent of your income during retirement. Keep in mind this was based on a 5% rate of compound interest, which I don't think is always realistic, but an average.
The harsh light of reality: Turns out I am negative 17% on my Personal Savings Rate. I need to be saving about $500 MORE per month even to come close to catching up to where I should be. Ouch. All this time I thought I was doing ok. But I did the calculations - and although I'm responsible, pay off my credit and my other bills each month, and contribute to monthly savings, I'm overspending like a fricking demon. The numbers don't lie.
Of course I know what's to blame, and where the cashola is going. When I looked back at what I spent on travel for flights, hotels, food, taxi, concert tickets, VIP experiences, in the last 2 years or so, it was disarming. I mean, I knew it would be a lot- but what I hadn't realized is how far back all this spending is putting me off of where I need to be in the future. The book does encourage balancing enjoying your life in the moment, while being ready for what comes ahead. The problem is the scales are tipping way deep on the enjoying life side. More than maybe they should be.
And yet this past week I went ahead and booked a ticket to go with SaintC to see Duran Duran in Portland. We are going in and out overnight, no shopping or extra costs, save for taxi and food expenses, so we're looking at around 1200 bucks per person for the 24 hour jaunt. Plus our 2nd trip to the UK is just around the corner.
I can't seem to help myself when it comes to indulging in Duran Duran related activities. I'm like a junkie that keeps coming back for the next fix. But I’m faced with the possibility, like any junkie, that the cost of all this travel and entertainment and excitement could be coming at my detriment. Do I need to figure out when enough is enough, maybe kind of like hitting bottom?
But how much harm is Duran Duran doing me? And not even just to my pocketbook.. is all this band chasing and fantasizing and pining and striving and reaching for something unattainable just a way to stave off having to grow up and get serious? Or is it just a way for me to have an escape from the day to day of working, saving, exercising, investing, cleaning, dog walking, weed pulling, errand running? Why the hell should I deny myself that? Unless of course, it does me a disservice in the long run. Hmm. After writing and going back and reading this, my head hurts and I feel spent. $pent. Interesting choice of words.
Maybe next time I'm at the airport I'll pick up a copy of Vogue instead.
That Girl
While waiting in the airport to head home, we had time before boarding and I decided to pick up a book. Normally SaintC and Lady Elaine swap books back and forth and chat about their latest page-turner, while I'm nowhere near as well read. We'll say I'm more of a TV person. But one book by Gail Vaz-Oxlade caught my eye. She is a TV show host for several Canadian programs dealing with money, overspending, savings, and getting your finances under control. In watching her shows I've always appreciated her approach. The book is called "Never Too Late - Take Control of Your Retirement and Your Future." I have retirement savings and some equity in my home, but I confess I've always been confused at investing and understanding what I would really need to do in order to be secure in my retirement age. I am not looking for any magic tricks here - just clear direction. So I grabbed it hoping for an epiphany.
My eyes were opened. What I like about the book is that it takes into account your overall net worth, not just savings or earnings, in determining what your needs would be. It estimated based on net earnings and not gross income, and helped you determine what you were spending, vs. how much money you made - whether you were in a positive or negative state (spending more/less than earnings consistently). Then you would calculate your "Personal Savings rate" needed, per month, to be in order to build savings that would provide around 70 percent of your income during retirement. Keep in mind this was based on a 5% rate of compound interest, which I don't think is always realistic, but an average.
The harsh light of reality: Turns out I am negative 17% on my Personal Savings Rate. I need to be saving about $500 MORE per month even to come close to catching up to where I should be. Ouch. All this time I thought I was doing ok. But I did the calculations - and although I'm responsible, pay off my credit and my other bills each month, and contribute to monthly savings, I'm overspending like a fricking demon. The numbers don't lie.
Of course I know what's to blame, and where the cashola is going. When I looked back at what I spent on travel for flights, hotels, food, taxi, concert tickets, VIP experiences, in the last 2 years or so, it was disarming. I mean, I knew it would be a lot- but what I hadn't realized is how far back all this spending is putting me off of where I need to be in the future. The book does encourage balancing enjoying your life in the moment, while being ready for what comes ahead. The problem is the scales are tipping way deep on the enjoying life side. More than maybe they should be.
And yet this past week I went ahead and booked a ticket to go with SaintC to see Duran Duran in Portland. We are going in and out overnight, no shopping or extra costs, save for taxi and food expenses, so we're looking at around 1200 bucks per person for the 24 hour jaunt. Plus our 2nd trip to the UK is just around the corner.
I can't seem to help myself when it comes to indulging in Duran Duran related activities. I'm like a junkie that keeps coming back for the next fix. But I’m faced with the possibility, like any junkie, that the cost of all this travel and entertainment and excitement could be coming at my detriment. Do I need to figure out when enough is enough, maybe kind of like hitting bottom?
But how much harm is Duran Duran doing me? And not even just to my pocketbook.. is all this band chasing and fantasizing and pining and striving and reaching for something unattainable just a way to stave off having to grow up and get serious? Or is it just a way for me to have an escape from the day to day of working, saving, exercising, investing, cleaning, dog walking, weed pulling, errand running? Why the hell should I deny myself that? Unless of course, it does me a disservice in the long run. Hmm. After writing and going back and reading this, my head hurts and I feel spent. $pent. Interesting choice of words.
Maybe next time I'm at the airport I'll pick up a copy of Vogue instead.
That Girl
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Hoping for an Encore..London left me wanting more.
Our flight landed back home in Calgary Saturday at about 12:30 pm, after spending 6 really fabulous days in London, England. The flight was 9 hours, and my hope was to push through without sleeping until late evening to fight the jet lag - but I could only stay awake until around 6:30 pm. I was wide awake at 4:30 am Sunday, and have been waking up at 4 am each morning since. I still feel foggy...almost like I have tunnel vision. I think maybe the experiences of last week are still overcrowding my brain, and my wee pea of a mind doesn't have room for much else just yet.
By the time we landed the 3 of us were tired and fully worn out, since we were sightseeing and shopping every day as though our lives depended on it, cramming in as much as we could before having to head home again. It was a super trip and I saw more and learned more about London than I ever expected.
When we came to the UK to embark on the Duran Duran adventure we'd been discussing for about 5 years, it was all the while knowing about Simon LeBon's laryngitis and the shows that had been postponed to date; it was given that going to Cardiff to see the band perform may not be a possibility. Further to that, to make it more heart wrenching, we'd received emails from the Fan Club two days before our departure that SaintC and I had both been selected for the Meet and Greet, so had the show taken place, all 3 of us would have had the Duran experience in the UK we'd always dreamed of. We were thrilled about the win and hopeful, but didn't let ourselves get too excited.
And so it was on our first evening in London we got the news. We learned the entire roster of UK dates would be rescheduled. We took the approach that we had to be grateful for where we were and the opportunities of the week that lay ahead. We shrugged it off, in keeping with the phrase SaintC loves so much, "Keep Calm and Carry On". We cancelled our hotel in Cardiff and decided to make London and area our general stomping ground for the week.
And did we cover a lot of ground! It was, truly - a great education.. filled with beautiful structures, history, natural wonders and surprisingly, great weather. I couldn't imagine the privelege of spending every day in a city that is surrounded by and constructed of so many works of art.
I loved seeing the palaces, and the Abbey... London Eye was cool too. We took a tour to Windor Castle and Bath (probably the loveliest city I've ever laid eyes on) and also Stonehenge... now that was really impressive. I've seen pictures of Stonehenge in books and seen them on TV. But when you get there - and really see the landscape and space where these stones are located, surrounded by farmland, it really hits home that there is no earthly explanation as to how they ended up in that spot. It's quite uncanny.
One day Lady Elaine and I walked from Mayfair where we stayed, on through Hyde Park and towards Kensington Gardens, spent some time at the Princess Diana Memorial, made our way along the Flower Path to Kensington Palace, and wandered through the Enchanted art exhibition they had inside. The Prince Albert memorial was fantastic as well. Our last full day was spent at the Tower of London and visiting Trafalgar Square and Picadilly Circus. So fantastic. I took a lot of pictures and could have taken more, but I really enjoyed just walking around and taking it all in.
The shopping. Oh the shopping... Every possible indulgent item you could want is readily available. Let's just say I was blown away, as were the funds in my chequing account. But the crowds of people were overwhelming to me. I had been in New Delhi, India in 2005 and I felt it was worse in London. In the Primark store I was surprised to learn it was like a Boxing Day (for those south of the border - think Black Friday) feeding frenzy all the time. The one benefit of a crowd that size is to see every type of fashion being worn. I adored the UK styles, and tried to fit some new ideas into my wardrobe with my purchases.
So here I am, home again, with a giant pile of fantastic pictures in my camera and in my head, a mound of dirty laundry, and a duffel bag of new clothes that I have no room for in my closet. And the question remains about what to do when the UK shows are rescheduled. Our group of three have had a few discussions about the timelines suggested online so far, and whether it will be realistic for any of us to return to see the Cardiff show. If the Fan Club will uphold our meet and greet wins, I can't imagine not making the effort - but the costs involved combined with the lack of my available vacation time makes the prospect daunting. I also risk alienating my spouse with yet another holiday that doesn't include him, followed by alienating my employer and my fellow staffers ("What is that bitch making to allow her to travel the way she does?") But it seems inevitable. When push comes to shove...whenever we learn about a new show, a tour, any opportunity to see Duran Duran, we usually find a way to make it happen. The "you only live once" addage gets thrown out here and there.. along with "F**ck it, I'm going, and I'll deal with the fallout later."...and on and on.
While Simon's health remains in question there is a small part of me that would like the delay to be as long as possible, so I'll have a better chance of saving and planning to make the second trip. But I know that's not the right attitude to have in this case. For now I'll have to accept that what will be will be, and if the timing is right for us to get to Cardiff for what would surely be the Duran Duran event we've always wanted, then the music Gods will work their magic and we'll be there. And at the very least, I'll plan to come back to the UK someday, after enjoying it so much, and I can say with some confidence that Duran Duran or not, London will always be waiting.
That Girl
By the time we landed the 3 of us were tired and fully worn out, since we were sightseeing and shopping every day as though our lives depended on it, cramming in as much as we could before having to head home again. It was a super trip and I saw more and learned more about London than I ever expected.
When we came to the UK to embark on the Duran Duran adventure we'd been discussing for about 5 years, it was all the while knowing about Simon LeBon's laryngitis and the shows that had been postponed to date; it was given that going to Cardiff to see the band perform may not be a possibility. Further to that, to make it more heart wrenching, we'd received emails from the Fan Club two days before our departure that SaintC and I had both been selected for the Meet and Greet, so had the show taken place, all 3 of us would have had the Duran experience in the UK we'd always dreamed of. We were thrilled about the win and hopeful, but didn't let ourselves get too excited.
And so it was on our first evening in London we got the news. We learned the entire roster of UK dates would be rescheduled. We took the approach that we had to be grateful for where we were and the opportunities of the week that lay ahead. We shrugged it off, in keeping with the phrase SaintC loves so much, "Keep Calm and Carry On". We cancelled our hotel in Cardiff and decided to make London and area our general stomping ground for the week.
And did we cover a lot of ground! It was, truly - a great education.. filled with beautiful structures, history, natural wonders and surprisingly, great weather. I couldn't imagine the privelege of spending every day in a city that is surrounded by and constructed of so many works of art.
I loved seeing the palaces, and the Abbey... London Eye was cool too. We took a tour to Windor Castle and Bath (probably the loveliest city I've ever laid eyes on) and also Stonehenge... now that was really impressive. I've seen pictures of Stonehenge in books and seen them on TV. But when you get there - and really see the landscape and space where these stones are located, surrounded by farmland, it really hits home that there is no earthly explanation as to how they ended up in that spot. It's quite uncanny.
One day Lady Elaine and I walked from Mayfair where we stayed, on through Hyde Park and towards Kensington Gardens, spent some time at the Princess Diana Memorial, made our way along the Flower Path to Kensington Palace, and wandered through the Enchanted art exhibition they had inside. The Prince Albert memorial was fantastic as well. Our last full day was spent at the Tower of London and visiting Trafalgar Square and Picadilly Circus. So fantastic. I took a lot of pictures and could have taken more, but I really enjoyed just walking around and taking it all in.
The shopping. Oh the shopping... Every possible indulgent item you could want is readily available. Let's just say I was blown away, as were the funds in my chequing account. But the crowds of people were overwhelming to me. I had been in New Delhi, India in 2005 and I felt it was worse in London. In the Primark store I was surprised to learn it was like a Boxing Day (for those south of the border - think Black Friday) feeding frenzy all the time. The one benefit of a crowd that size is to see every type of fashion being worn. I adored the UK styles, and tried to fit some new ideas into my wardrobe with my purchases.
So here I am, home again, with a giant pile of fantastic pictures in my camera and in my head, a mound of dirty laundry, and a duffel bag of new clothes that I have no room for in my closet. And the question remains about what to do when the UK shows are rescheduled. Our group of three have had a few discussions about the timelines suggested online so far, and whether it will be realistic for any of us to return to see the Cardiff show. If the Fan Club will uphold our meet and greet wins, I can't imagine not making the effort - but the costs involved combined with the lack of my available vacation time makes the prospect daunting. I also risk alienating my spouse with yet another holiday that doesn't include him, followed by alienating my employer and my fellow staffers ("What is that bitch making to allow her to travel the way she does?") But it seems inevitable. When push comes to shove...whenever we learn about a new show, a tour, any opportunity to see Duran Duran, we usually find a way to make it happen. The "you only live once" addage gets thrown out here and there.. along with "F**ck it, I'm going, and I'll deal with the fallout later."...and on and on.
While Simon's health remains in question there is a small part of me that would like the delay to be as long as possible, so I'll have a better chance of saving and planning to make the second trip. But I know that's not the right attitude to have in this case. For now I'll have to accept that what will be will be, and if the timing is right for us to get to Cardiff for what would surely be the Duran Duran event we've always wanted, then the music Gods will work their magic and we'll be there. And at the very least, I'll plan to come back to the UK someday, after enjoying it so much, and I can say with some confidence that Duran Duran or not, London will always be waiting.
That Girl
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Coachella - I'm forever changed
Long before heading out to Indio, California for the 4 day trip that would forever change how I feel about music festivals, live music and music in general, I had promised Rhonda and Amanda ( our Daily Duranie blog pals ) that I would blog about it and share the experience. Here I am two weeks after said festival, completely blown away by my time at Coachella, and I've been hesitant to write about it. The reasons for my delay have something to do with time ( finding time to actually sit and write..since my birthday fell almost immediately after coming home and there were activities keeping me busy around that, plus my work is a tad chaotic right now ) but also to do with the fact that my enjoyment of the Coachella experience had (GASP) very little to do with Duran Duran. Shocking I know.
I will admit that Duran Duran was a primary catalyst in our decision to attend Coachella, and I thoroughly enjoyed their set (Lady Gaga covers not withstanding). But unfortunately as these things go, our hopes for prime views and interaction with the band whenever we attend a DD show were as usual, inflated. We were met with some pitfalls that kept us from having the experience we hoped for with our favorite Brits, and while there really is only one man to blame (KANYE) and I do intend to hold a lifelong grudge, I'm at rest with the fact that there was enough to thrill me that weekend to offset my negativity about the DD debacle.
From start to finish the weekend was a whirlwind of great music, searing heat, tired feet, great people, celebrity spotting and new experiences.
Having never attended a festival before, we decided to make the most of it.Since SaintC and I are not really rough it in the mud types, and staying at a hotel and commuting every day in and out of the festival seemed like a giant waste of time, we elected for the Safari Tent camping accomodations. While this comes at a substantial cost, the main appeal is that you get Artist level (backstage) access to the festival for the full three days, plus furnished air conditioned tent accomodations (two queen size beds, fridge, dresser, nightstand, lamp, mirror, electricity), free breakfasts and late night snacks, water and pop in unlimited supply, free massages (a pleasant surprise) and golf cart concierges that drive you to each stage and drop you at the backstage entrances, where you can freely enter. The tent compound is just a brief walk from the grounds, but there is considerable distance between the stages, so getting a breezy ride in the heat versus dirty blistered tootsies was a huge plus.
Our first day, Friday, I was up at 6 am. Too excited to sleep. Took pictures at sunrise and mentally prepared myself. We had a few daytime acts we wanted to catch from early afternoon onwards, starting with Rural Alberta Advantage on the outdoor stage. Highlights for me that day included standing on stage for Cee Lo Green's performance (which he was late for) and seeing Usher show up right behind us to catch the set. We were watching from a few feet away as Lauryn Hill prepared to go on stage.. she looked and sounded incredible. Earlier in the day Cold Cave played at one of the tents and were totally impressive. It was nice to just casually check out bands we had never heard of and learn about new music. A quick break and then we launched into evening .. more celeb spotting including Tara Reid and Paris Hilton. We got started with the Black Keys. We only stayed for a few songs as the stage was on lockdown and the crowd was unruly, but within minutes of leaving the set we saw Paul McCartney coming from a backstage entrance and he gave us a wave (that was completely surreal). Plus I got to chat with Danny Devito during a golf cart ride. We dashed back to our tent to change into running shoes for the Aquabats and Robyn's utterly fantastic set. Her energy was infectious! In between all this activity we somehow managed to scrounge for food and didn't drink anything but bottled water on the fly (strange I know since most people booze it up at Coachella) but there just wasn't time for cocktails and lounging. Too many acts to see! That the next morning SaintC informed me that at the end of the night I was fast asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
On Saturday I met up with some other Safari tent folks for a yoga session in the morning before we headed out. That started the day off properly. This day held the promise of a bit more free time as we had some breaks between sets, and there was less pressure since we weren't as familiar with the acts playing. It was easy to roam in and out of the stages and tents to hear music that was new to us - and in doing so, we were introduced to some unreal acts, Freelance Whales being one. What a unique band. Such an easy listen but so interesting and so many layers to their sound at the same time. It was the hottest of the 3 days and we tried to stick to acts in the tents to take advantage of the shade. Being outside for any period of time was pretty unbearable. It made me appreciate how lucky we were for the perks we had (A/C, free water, golf cart rides) compared to the folks that were out in the blazing sun for every set. That day we also caught a British band called Elbow, that were so awesome I've already bought both their albums. Later we meandered over to the VIP area and had a bite to eat, which also offered some much needed shade, cleaner porta potties, and a ladies only freshen-up lounge where you could use sunscreen, hairspray, etc for the cost of tip for the attendants. Definitely handy. This day we also discovered our access to the Artist's camping area which was great. Tables and lounging areas, lots of artists and celebs wandering around, terrific people watching. Didn't really have the nerve to approach anyone in there until the next day, but I'll get to that. Anyhoo....
Saturday's evening set brought an onstage viewing opportunity for Bright Eyes and Mumford and Sons, with 30,000 people in the crowd and us looking down from above, and I have to say it was awesome. The sound quality from backstage was pretty good considering. We had thought it might be bad but we could hear just fine. After M and S we slipped away to see the London Suede in one of the tents, knowing they were going to lockdown the Mainstage for production only, so we weren't in a rush to get back there for the headliners. We made our way back and entered via backstage, intent on heading down to Guest viewing for the Arcade Fire set. However it seemed our friends at security were confused about what wristband allowed what access. So in the melee, we managed to steal a spot in the "media only" pit, at the very front of the stage, surrounded by photographers and their massive professional cameras. I admit I looked like a bit of a tool with my tiny digital Samsung pocket camera, trying to make like I was supposed to be in the photo pit when I clearly had no business being there. Alas, four songs in we were ushered out along with several others that were lucky enough to steal their way in. Arcade Fire's sound was rich, fun, inspiring and just made you feel good and want to move. I was just happy to be there regardless. But as we made our way down the guest viewing area that was barricaded off from the rest of the crowd, I was stopped in my tracks when we walked right into Rhianna and her security crew. Yet another mind blowing star struck moment. We stood right behind her for the bulk of the set and enjoyed the rest of the show. When Arcade Fire dropped 300 massive balloon-type bouncing balls that contained LED lights that glowed and flickered different colors, I was having so much fun that I was almost on another plane. The balls bounced over and around us, and just watching all these massive glowing balls move through and over the crowd was stunning. It was just one of those times where you lose yourself in the chaos and craziness of a moment and just let go and enjoy it like a little kid. That was probably my favorite part of the whole weekend.
On Sunday, even from the time we got up in the morning, SaintC and I were both aware of the pressure. We had cut our teeth in the 2 days prior and knew enough about how things operated now.. we knew there was a good chance Duran Duran's stage would be on lockdown for their set, and that viewing from the stage (which SaintC has always dreamed about) may not be a possibility. Kanye West was headlining. We knew he had the power and was just egotistical enough to demand the stage be locked out a full 4 acts ahead of his set. But we remained hopeful and ventured out for a noontime set. Gord Downie (vocalist for the Tragically Hip, pretty much the most important Canadian rock act ever to exist) had a solo set which was attended by a group of about 50 Canadians. It's still so shocking to me that the Hip have played with the Rolling Stones to sold out sports stadiums in Canada, but only draw about 200 people (mostly Canucks) to small bars in places like Texas, since they just never caught on in the US. Regardless the set was terrific, and Gord was kind enough to stand for photos with us and say hello. Following a short break City and Color was playing, an offshoot of Canadian band Alexis on Fire, headed by Dallas Green. From the stage they sounded fabulous. Gord Downie joined in the set. The only disappointment was the hip hop sounds bleeding through from the mainstage and drowning them out. Dallas's wife Leah, a well known TV host in Canada, came on stage to shoot some pictures and briefly said hello. One of the band members of Cage the Elephant showed up and started chatting up SaintC. It was a great afternoon. But after that the pressure was on.
We knew that we'd need to be back at Mainstage and be ready to take a position for stage viewing for Death from above 1979 in order to have a chance to secure a spot there for Duran Duran, which was starting around 7 pm. So as we started milling about and lingering by the stairs that led onstage (usually you wait in line there and then when production/security says it's ok, they let you up). One of the security guys tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Just so you know, the stage is on lockdown the rest of tonight for production staff only. Each band requires special credentials and you have to have that in order to get on stage. Sorry." With that our hopes were dashed. And what sucked even more is that guest viewing was already crammed with a bunch of people that were just jockeying for position to see the Strokes, which followed DD's set, and didn't even care that DD was playing. We ended up standing beside Simon LeBon's kids for the set (even THEY didn't have band credentials). Our position was lousy, and taking pictures and videos was really tough. However I still rocked out of course. They played a lot of my favorites.. Planet Earth which is a mainstay for me. The Chauffer was played to a big screen video accompaniment which was awesome, and Scissor Sisters even showed up to sing with some songs from ANYIN with them! (Side note - Scissor Sisters had played the night prior, but their set conflicted with Arcade Fire on another stage, so we had to miss it unfortunately) DD wrapped with Girls on Film and a View to a Kill medley; they even included a quick cover of Lady Gaga's Poker Face. This met with mixed reviews but all in all a great performance.
After DD we weren't interested in seeing the Srokes and we pretty much decided we were boycotting Kanye West for the rest of our days on earth. So we made our way to the Artist's Compound just in time to see Duran Duran arrive to applause and appreciation from everyone inside. They moved to the back of the compound swiftly so SaintC and I sauntered over to the lounge area by the Lake to sit in the grass and have a rest, and figure out our next move. Lots of great celeb watching from this area. Earlier in the day I'd seen Nick Simmons, as we stood in line for an organic blueberry smoothie. He is tall and skinny but cute as they come. In the compound Kelly Osbourne walked by with a group of friends too. As we reminisced about our day and took a few pictures, we noticed John and Simon walk out, presumably to catch the Strokes set. Then we bumped into another Safari Tent camper and struck up a chat. While standing there consoling this poor camper about her douchebag boyfriend, I saw Roger Taylor walk past with one of his handlers.
Earlier in the day during our morning yoga session, our instructor Blake had told us to put our intentions for the day out into the world. I asked for the courage and confidence to ask for/and-or attempt to obtain what I wanted from the day. Remembering this from a prior discussion, SaintC said to me, "There he goes. What was it you said this morning? You asked for courage and confidence. Go. GO." So I walked behind Roger and quickly caught up to him. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he could take a moment for a picture. He shrugged and kept walking saying, "Sorry we're not doing that right now.. I have to go"... He jogged to catch up to his handler and walked back into the trailers.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but I couldn't really expect another outcome. It's not always the right time or place to approach a famous person, but I still followed all my rules: He wasn't working at the time, and wasn't with his family, (I knew the woman he was with wasn't his wife) so I took the opportunity to try and get a photo, but came up empty handed. Even still I did speak to him. That in itself was something.
Upon heading to the exit of the Artist's compound we bumped into another Safari camping bunch, Donna and her family. She and her husband had brought their two sons to Coachella from Ontario, who had both managed to make like they weren't with their parents the whole weekend. It became a bit of a joke at the campground about Donna's "secret" kids. They were really great people. We gathered around a big screen TV watching Kanye's set with a few of the other artists and folks hanging around, stayed for a bit to chat, and shared a few laughs about the experiences of the weekend.
From there SaintC and I went our separate ways so she could catch She Wants Revenge at the Gobi Tent, and I ventured over to the Sahara Tent, where rave and dance electronica plays all day and into the night. I cut loose and danced a little bit on my own in the crowd until they shut it down, and then caught up with SaintC at the Gobi tent for the tail end of the last band, which was great. We met up with some fellow Safari Campers there and decided to cap off the night with a few cocktails on the deck chairs in front of our tent. We stayed up and talked with our new friends until we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore. The next day I didn't want to leave. I wanted another day, another few days of great music, fun, dancing, relaxing, celebrity watching and general mayhem. It felt like the last day of summer camp.
Coachella has converted me full-on to the music festival experience. I will be back next year and intend to get a Safari Tent again, hopefully with a big group of friends in tow. To be honest I'm not even really concerned with next year's line up. Sure, it would be great to see a band I'm crazy about (are you listening, Airborne Toxic Event?) But it doesn't matter to me who is playing because it will be a chance to see some great bands and people watch, make new friends, and enjoy the sunshine and the mountains of Palm Springs. To me the Coachella experience was pretty magical.. a few days of getaway where you see things you'd never expect (one of the Beatles just strolling past you can be quite overwhelming) and can have the freedom to try something new. Even with Duran Duran being there - who we always fervently pursue, it can be said that their involvement wasn't what made Coachella fantastic for me. It was part of it, but not all of it, and for this reason it's changed my outlook on the music experience from here on in.
And with that, this being the longest blog post I'll likely ever make, it can safely be said I'm forever changed.
ThatGirl
I will admit that Duran Duran was a primary catalyst in our decision to attend Coachella, and I thoroughly enjoyed their set (Lady Gaga covers not withstanding). But unfortunately as these things go, our hopes for prime views and interaction with the band whenever we attend a DD show were as usual, inflated. We were met with some pitfalls that kept us from having the experience we hoped for with our favorite Brits, and while there really is only one man to blame (KANYE) and I do intend to hold a lifelong grudge, I'm at rest with the fact that there was enough to thrill me that weekend to offset my negativity about the DD debacle.
From start to finish the weekend was a whirlwind of great music, searing heat, tired feet, great people, celebrity spotting and new experiences.
Having never attended a festival before, we decided to make the most of it.Since SaintC and I are not really rough it in the mud types, and staying at a hotel and commuting every day in and out of the festival seemed like a giant waste of time, we elected for the Safari Tent camping accomodations. While this comes at a substantial cost, the main appeal is that you get Artist level (backstage) access to the festival for the full three days, plus furnished air conditioned tent accomodations (two queen size beds, fridge, dresser, nightstand, lamp, mirror, electricity), free breakfasts and late night snacks, water and pop in unlimited supply, free massages (a pleasant surprise) and golf cart concierges that drive you to each stage and drop you at the backstage entrances, where you can freely enter. The tent compound is just a brief walk from the grounds, but there is considerable distance between the stages, so getting a breezy ride in the heat versus dirty blistered tootsies was a huge plus.
Our first day, Friday, I was up at 6 am. Too excited to sleep. Took pictures at sunrise and mentally prepared myself. We had a few daytime acts we wanted to catch from early afternoon onwards, starting with Rural Alberta Advantage on the outdoor stage. Highlights for me that day included standing on stage for Cee Lo Green's performance (which he was late for) and seeing Usher show up right behind us to catch the set. We were watching from a few feet away as Lauryn Hill prepared to go on stage.. she looked and sounded incredible. Earlier in the day Cold Cave played at one of the tents and were totally impressive. It was nice to just casually check out bands we had never heard of and learn about new music. A quick break and then we launched into evening .. more celeb spotting including Tara Reid and Paris Hilton. We got started with the Black Keys. We only stayed for a few songs as the stage was on lockdown and the crowd was unruly, but within minutes of leaving the set we saw Paul McCartney coming from a backstage entrance and he gave us a wave (that was completely surreal). Plus I got to chat with Danny Devito during a golf cart ride. We dashed back to our tent to change into running shoes for the Aquabats and Robyn's utterly fantastic set. Her energy was infectious! In between all this activity we somehow managed to scrounge for food and didn't drink anything but bottled water on the fly (strange I know since most people booze it up at Coachella) but there just wasn't time for cocktails and lounging. Too many acts to see! That the next morning SaintC informed me that at the end of the night I was fast asleep before my head even hit the pillow.
On Saturday I met up with some other Safari tent folks for a yoga session in the morning before we headed out. That started the day off properly. This day held the promise of a bit more free time as we had some breaks between sets, and there was less pressure since we weren't as familiar with the acts playing. It was easy to roam in and out of the stages and tents to hear music that was new to us - and in doing so, we were introduced to some unreal acts, Freelance Whales being one. What a unique band. Such an easy listen but so interesting and so many layers to their sound at the same time. It was the hottest of the 3 days and we tried to stick to acts in the tents to take advantage of the shade. Being outside for any period of time was pretty unbearable. It made me appreciate how lucky we were for the perks we had (A/C, free water, golf cart rides) compared to the folks that were out in the blazing sun for every set. That day we also caught a British band called Elbow, that were so awesome I've already bought both their albums. Later we meandered over to the VIP area and had a bite to eat, which also offered some much needed shade, cleaner porta potties, and a ladies only freshen-up lounge where you could use sunscreen, hairspray, etc for the cost of tip for the attendants. Definitely handy. This day we also discovered our access to the Artist's camping area which was great. Tables and lounging areas, lots of artists and celebs wandering around, terrific people watching. Didn't really have the nerve to approach anyone in there until the next day, but I'll get to that. Anyhoo....
Saturday's evening set brought an onstage viewing opportunity for Bright Eyes and Mumford and Sons, with 30,000 people in the crowd and us looking down from above, and I have to say it was awesome. The sound quality from backstage was pretty good considering. We had thought it might be bad but we could hear just fine. After M and S we slipped away to see the London Suede in one of the tents, knowing they were going to lockdown the Mainstage for production only, so we weren't in a rush to get back there for the headliners. We made our way back and entered via backstage, intent on heading down to Guest viewing for the Arcade Fire set. However it seemed our friends at security were confused about what wristband allowed what access. So in the melee, we managed to steal a spot in the "media only" pit, at the very front of the stage, surrounded by photographers and their massive professional cameras. I admit I looked like a bit of a tool with my tiny digital Samsung pocket camera, trying to make like I was supposed to be in the photo pit when I clearly had no business being there. Alas, four songs in we were ushered out along with several others that were lucky enough to steal their way in. Arcade Fire's sound was rich, fun, inspiring and just made you feel good and want to move. I was just happy to be there regardless. But as we made our way down the guest viewing area that was barricaded off from the rest of the crowd, I was stopped in my tracks when we walked right into Rhianna and her security crew. Yet another mind blowing star struck moment. We stood right behind her for the bulk of the set and enjoyed the rest of the show. When Arcade Fire dropped 300 massive balloon-type bouncing balls that contained LED lights that glowed and flickered different colors, I was having so much fun that I was almost on another plane. The balls bounced over and around us, and just watching all these massive glowing balls move through and over the crowd was stunning. It was just one of those times where you lose yourself in the chaos and craziness of a moment and just let go and enjoy it like a little kid. That was probably my favorite part of the whole weekend.
On Sunday, even from the time we got up in the morning, SaintC and I were both aware of the pressure. We had cut our teeth in the 2 days prior and knew enough about how things operated now.. we knew there was a good chance Duran Duran's stage would be on lockdown for their set, and that viewing from the stage (which SaintC has always dreamed about) may not be a possibility. Kanye West was headlining. We knew he had the power and was just egotistical enough to demand the stage be locked out a full 4 acts ahead of his set. But we remained hopeful and ventured out for a noontime set. Gord Downie (vocalist for the Tragically Hip, pretty much the most important Canadian rock act ever to exist) had a solo set which was attended by a group of about 50 Canadians. It's still so shocking to me that the Hip have played with the Rolling Stones to sold out sports stadiums in Canada, but only draw about 200 people (mostly Canucks) to small bars in places like Texas, since they just never caught on in the US. Regardless the set was terrific, and Gord was kind enough to stand for photos with us and say hello. Following a short break City and Color was playing, an offshoot of Canadian band Alexis on Fire, headed by Dallas Green. From the stage they sounded fabulous. Gord Downie joined in the set. The only disappointment was the hip hop sounds bleeding through from the mainstage and drowning them out. Dallas's wife Leah, a well known TV host in Canada, came on stage to shoot some pictures and briefly said hello. One of the band members of Cage the Elephant showed up and started chatting up SaintC. It was a great afternoon. But after that the pressure was on.
We knew that we'd need to be back at Mainstage and be ready to take a position for stage viewing for Death from above 1979 in order to have a chance to secure a spot there for Duran Duran, which was starting around 7 pm. So as we started milling about and lingering by the stairs that led onstage (usually you wait in line there and then when production/security says it's ok, they let you up). One of the security guys tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Just so you know, the stage is on lockdown the rest of tonight for production staff only. Each band requires special credentials and you have to have that in order to get on stage. Sorry." With that our hopes were dashed. And what sucked even more is that guest viewing was already crammed with a bunch of people that were just jockeying for position to see the Strokes, which followed DD's set, and didn't even care that DD was playing. We ended up standing beside Simon LeBon's kids for the set (even THEY didn't have band credentials). Our position was lousy, and taking pictures and videos was really tough. However I still rocked out of course. They played a lot of my favorites.. Planet Earth which is a mainstay for me. The Chauffer was played to a big screen video accompaniment which was awesome, and Scissor Sisters even showed up to sing with some songs from ANYIN with them! (Side note - Scissor Sisters had played the night prior, but their set conflicted with Arcade Fire on another stage, so we had to miss it unfortunately) DD wrapped with Girls on Film and a View to a Kill medley; they even included a quick cover of Lady Gaga's Poker Face. This met with mixed reviews but all in all a great performance.
After DD we weren't interested in seeing the Srokes and we pretty much decided we were boycotting Kanye West for the rest of our days on earth. So we made our way to the Artist's Compound just in time to see Duran Duran arrive to applause and appreciation from everyone inside. They moved to the back of the compound swiftly so SaintC and I sauntered over to the lounge area by the Lake to sit in the grass and have a rest, and figure out our next move. Lots of great celeb watching from this area. Earlier in the day I'd seen Nick Simmons, as we stood in line for an organic blueberry smoothie. He is tall and skinny but cute as they come. In the compound Kelly Osbourne walked by with a group of friends too. As we reminisced about our day and took a few pictures, we noticed John and Simon walk out, presumably to catch the Strokes set. Then we bumped into another Safari Tent camper and struck up a chat. While standing there consoling this poor camper about her douchebag boyfriend, I saw Roger Taylor walk past with one of his handlers.
Earlier in the day during our morning yoga session, our instructor Blake had told us to put our intentions for the day out into the world. I asked for the courage and confidence to ask for/and-or attempt to obtain what I wanted from the day. Remembering this from a prior discussion, SaintC said to me, "There he goes. What was it you said this morning? You asked for courage and confidence. Go. GO." So I walked behind Roger and quickly caught up to him. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him if he could take a moment for a picture. He shrugged and kept walking saying, "Sorry we're not doing that right now.. I have to go"... He jogged to catch up to his handler and walked back into the trailers.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed but I couldn't really expect another outcome. It's not always the right time or place to approach a famous person, but I still followed all my rules: He wasn't working at the time, and wasn't with his family, (I knew the woman he was with wasn't his wife) so I took the opportunity to try and get a photo, but came up empty handed. Even still I did speak to him. That in itself was something.
Upon heading to the exit of the Artist's compound we bumped into another Safari camping bunch, Donna and her family. She and her husband had brought their two sons to Coachella from Ontario, who had both managed to make like they weren't with their parents the whole weekend. It became a bit of a joke at the campground about Donna's "secret" kids. They were really great people. We gathered around a big screen TV watching Kanye's set with a few of the other artists and folks hanging around, stayed for a bit to chat, and shared a few laughs about the experiences of the weekend.
From there SaintC and I went our separate ways so she could catch She Wants Revenge at the Gobi Tent, and I ventured over to the Sahara Tent, where rave and dance electronica plays all day and into the night. I cut loose and danced a little bit on my own in the crowd until they shut it down, and then caught up with SaintC at the Gobi tent for the tail end of the last band, which was great. We met up with some fellow Safari Campers there and decided to cap off the night with a few cocktails on the deck chairs in front of our tent. We stayed up and talked with our new friends until we couldn't keep our eyes open anymore. The next day I didn't want to leave. I wanted another day, another few days of great music, fun, dancing, relaxing, celebrity watching and general mayhem. It felt like the last day of summer camp.
Coachella has converted me full-on to the music festival experience. I will be back next year and intend to get a Safari Tent again, hopefully with a big group of friends in tow. To be honest I'm not even really concerned with next year's line up. Sure, it would be great to see a band I'm crazy about (are you listening, Airborne Toxic Event?) But it doesn't matter to me who is playing because it will be a chance to see some great bands and people watch, make new friends, and enjoy the sunshine and the mountains of Palm Springs. To me the Coachella experience was pretty magical.. a few days of getaway where you see things you'd never expect (one of the Beatles just strolling past you can be quite overwhelming) and can have the freedom to try something new. Even with Duran Duran being there - who we always fervently pursue, it can be said that their involvement wasn't what made Coachella fantastic for me. It was part of it, but not all of it, and for this reason it's changed my outlook on the music experience from here on in.
And with that, this being the longest blog post I'll likely ever make, it can safely be said I'm forever changed.
ThatGirl
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