Have I mentioned I'm kinda into music? I'm one of those walking encyclopedia guys, like Jack Black in High Fidelity. I've been to about three and a half gazillion concerts, but tonight I experienced something so amazing that it tops every other thing I've ever seen or heard.
It was as if every possible thing aligned to make the night turn out badly. The temperature was in the low 30s (that's freezing, ya know!), and the doors opened forty-five mintutes late. Standing in line was an endurance test...I felt like Admiral Peary. We make it inside and my wife decides to get wasted and quickly succeeds. Since I don't drink, this is obviously pure joy. Finally the concert starts...75 minutes late and with three (3) opening bands. They were three of the worst bands I've ever heard. It was painful and it lasted for far too long. By the time it was all over I was in a piss poor mood. I really wanted to pound in the face of the lead singer of the last band.
But then, just as the sun comes out after a storm to clear away all the clouds, awk took to the stage. I can't very well explain what was unleashed on us, but whatever it was I want it unleashed on me everyday. Intense. Brutal. Uplifting. Life-affirming. Cathartic. Pure power. Raw. Unbelievable. When the smoke cleared, my wife had been picked up and spun around in mid-air by the man, a guy out of the crowd got to play piano, after awk dove into the crowd (on top of me...) I got to pass him over to the next guy, and myself and about fifty other people rocked ONSTAGE with the band, all of us singing "Party Hard." Wow. People were welcomed onstage during the entire show, awk would hand them the mike and let them sing, pick them up and carry them on his shoulders, hug them. It was un-fucking believable. Am I repeating myself? I can't help it. It was the by far the best concert I've ever been witness to, and I've been witness to a lot of them. Those of you who know me know what it is for me to say this one was the best. And it was the best.
It was the first time for us, but it will not be the last. Rock the fuck on.
