My good buddies Bill and Brian offered me an extra ticket to see Garbage at American University on Sunday, October 25. Here's some of the concerts I've been to in the past: Belinda Carlisle, The Bangles, Sheena Easton, Debbie Gibson, and of course The Spice Girls. Was I ready to handle Garbage!?
General Admission means one thing, and one thing only: Pushing and shoving! As we arrived early, we made our way to the front of the arena and positioned ourselves no more than 40 - 50 feet from the stage. The opening act, Girls Vs. Boys. were entertaining, and the crowd was having a good time. Hey, this is pretty cool, I thought. The crowd started to get a bit rowdy near the end of the opening set when the band launched a giant inflatable whale into the audience for some P.C. crowd surfing. Some guy in the front of the audience, took it upon himself to bite the fin off the whale.......Thank you sir!
After the opening act, everyone makes a move to get as close as possible to the stage. Now after standing my ground for almost 2 hours, it was just too crowded down there for me. I told the guys, I'd meet them in the back of the auditorium when the show was over. So I moved to the back of the crowd, I never realized it until then how clostrophobic I am! So I got some space, some fresh air, and hung out in the back.
The lights went out, the crowd cheered, and the show was underway. It began with some prerecorded electronica and a dazzeling display of lights! As I relieved myself from moving out of the mob in the front, the girl standing next to me goes into an epilptic seizure from the strobe lights....Thank you, mam!
Paramedics, security, and event staff all rush in and surround her, rip off her top and begin performing CPR (or something along those lines!) It's going to be a long night, I though!
It turned out to be a great show. I wasn't too familiar with the band, except for a few singles I've heard...but they put on a hell of a show, and I really liked their music. As concerts often do, it converted me into a fan of theirs.
The lead singer, Shirley Manson, is quite pleasing on the eyes. The band doesn't take themselves too seriously, they know how to have a good time, write a damn catchy tune, but not turn themselves into a novelty act. ( I don't think we'll be seeing the movie "Garbage World" anytime soon!) Hey, I had a good time! It's been a while since I went to a concert that made my ears ring afterwards! Isn't that the sign of a good concert!?!
If Bill calls me and has extra tickets to the Marilyn Manson show in November, I think I'd have to pass, though!!!
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