It's been awhile since I wrote anything, 2014 to be exact. Life is funny sometimes with all of it's ups and downs and crazy detours. Two jobs put away, a baby in tow, and my life has went in reverse to eleven years ago when I had my first son. Even though life has taken a detour, I still love music and going to shows. My last show was in July 2015 seeing Morrisey in Bloomington, IL. I was six months pregnant and for the first time I wasn't worried about getting an autograph or fuming with adrenaline. Maybe it was the hormones, maybe it was the fact that I felt like a beached whale; but it was a good show regardless. It's now April of 2016 and I've already put one show under my belt, which is saying something when you have a baby and an eleven year old! Last night I went to see Kurt Vile & the Violators in Bloomington, IN. I must admit I'm not a long time fan of Mr. Vile or have every album he's ever made. I don't even remember how I came across him, but after discovering him I couldn't stop listening. The best thing was that my baby loves his music too and it calms him down. Of course, my son already had great taste in music in utero. He loved listening to the Talking Heads and got to hear Morrissey perform live from the womb. Kurt's music sounds effortless even though you know there's monumental effort behind each effect and chord played. He reminds me of that long haired stoner dude who would shuffle into class right before the bell rang. He just seems like a guy that everyone knows and I have to say he is. We went to Bloomington early just to thumb through records and enjoy some tasty Soma coffee. After our coffee stop, record shopping, and a bit to eat we headed up to the Bluebird where Kurt's performing. His tour bus was already parked and I started to get a little glee with anticipation of the night to come. We had about two hours to kill before doors opened so we found a sweet parking spot by the bar and just listened to crappy radio in my jeep. No seriously, the midwest has to have the shittest radio stations. Absolutely dreadful. We were bored from channel surfing so we headed over to the Bluebird to see if a line had formed or to just walk around in hopes of time passing us by faster. I usually have a record sleeve and a sharpie in my arsenal, but I was just going to wait till after the show because I've never ran into any band beforehand. This was a mistake and I'm kicking myself. The line was short, but I just wanted to stay put there. Walking aimlessly around Bloomington didn't appeal to me anymore. I was ready for the night before it was ready to reveal itself to me. While waiting in line a few guys descended from the tour bus and as they were coming closer I realized one of these shadowy figures was Kurt Vile. I believe I said, "Holy balls it's him!" He kept coming closer and I stared like an idiot. Like I was in the desert and saw a mirage. I didn't utter a word or grab my phone..nothing. I did absolutely nothing and I'm still pissed at myself. While passing me by he's whistling and just going about the town. No one in line said a thing to him. No autographs. No photos. Nothing. I don't think anyone batted an eyelash. After he passed us, we just looked at each other in amazement and realized we missed our opportunity. Of course trying to play it off cool, I said I didn't want to bother him cos he's probably going to get some food. Wow I'm so nice and cool. Yeah right..I'm a dumbass. You would think after completing one act of dumbassery I would be prepared for the next time if it presented itself, right? No, strike two for Angela. After getting a shirt from the march table and a beer he passed us once again going backstage. Fuck! Yet again I did nothing. This man that I wanted to get an autograph from and possibly a photo just walked by yet again. I didn't even say something cool like, "Have a good show man." I thought to myself okay just wait till after the show you'll see him. You will get your record signed and probably a crappy photo of you sweaty and him looking awesome. I guess I'm just use to seeing these legendary untouchable performers. I mean, you'd never see Mick Jagger or Morrissey walking down the street for a bite before a gig. I understand why because they'd be mobbed, but it was refreshing to see and a shock all the same. He was surprised that no one said anything to Kurt while walking by because he has witnessed the massive obsessive culture of fandom that is Morrissey last year for the first time. I had to clarify that a Morrissey fan is a different breed and you will never understand that kind of following if you yourself are not a huge fan. That's another level and I just don't think there's that fan base banging on Mr. Vile's door. I'm perfectly happy with that. After the opening acts his crew started rolling out all of their gear. His pedalboard is something else and if you're into that kind of thing go YouTube his rig rundown. By the time Kurt hits the stage it's been a long day for us. We drove over an hour to Bloomington, spent about three hours shopping and eating, an hour in line outside, an hour sitting in the bar, and two hours of the opening acts. Let's just saw we were beyond ready for it all to go down. Let's face it, I'm not young and I have a baby. 10 at night to me is the wind down time before I pass out from exhaustion. You realize how old you are when you go to a show or a bar. Your generation is the old people. It's a cycle and some of us are fairing well while others didn't make it out alive. As Kurt and the band stepped on stage the crowd whistled and roared with excitement. He started things off with one of my favorites of his, "Dust Bunnies" from his current album. He followed it up with "Outlaw" and "Pretty Pimpin" also from his current album. The band was tight and he flowed effortlessly through each song with his humorous facial expressions. We were amazed by his guitar, bass, saxophone player Jesse Trbovich. Is there an instrument this guy can't fucking play? Transitioning from new to a few older songs of his, he played "Jesus Fever" and "On Tour". The crowd was full of drunken sweaty happiness and loving his set. The house was full that night, which was awesome to see. You always kind of wonder if there will be a crowd on a Sunday night. He kept things going with one more track from his new album with "Wheelhouse". He slowly starts into his song "Goldtone", which has this 70's heavy riff that leaves you hanging and takes a left to a slower trippy vibe. It sounds rougher live than on his record. Sounds like some Deep Purple shit live. He played a little on his Martin guitar before deciding he didn't like what he heard. He played it off as a little intro to another song with a different Martin guitar from his collection. The bar smelled and felt like a sweaty rave. My leather jacket finally made it off my body after sweating through the Fender shirt I was wearing. I still would like to know if Kurt uses anything in his hair to make it not into a giant ball of frizz ball while playing places like this. I'm sure his lovely wife may have introduced him to some sort of wonderful concoction. Kurt remarked how hot everyone was referring to the sweaty mess we had all become. A female fan yelled, "Not as hot as you!" Which Kurt shyly awkwardly replied, "I mean physically." Oh female fans I know he has locks that make you envious and he's that cool talented badass guitar player, but he's been married for over a decade and has kids. If you've read any of his interviews you realize he's not the typical rockstar. He's not whoring it up, boozing it up, or shooting it up. Or at least that's the vibe he's putting out, but I think he's the real deal. I admire him even more for being that guy. He's like Johnny Marr in that respect. Johnny's been married to the same woman for years and has kids, but he's not living that rockstar life either. He's humble and just out doing what he loves. Kurt, thanks for being one of the good guys in rock and I hope all the touring gets easier one day. Kurt played "Wakin' On A Pretty Daze" and "KV Crimes" to much acclaim and finished off with "Freak Train" and "Wild Imagination". They all took a much needed breather while the crowd chanted for more. They shuffled back on stage after a few minutes to play an encore. "Peeping Tomboy", "Hunchback", and "All In A Daze Work". He thanked the crowd and disappeared into the back. What a show and how lucky we were to be right up front to witness it all. The usual plan after a show is to go directly to where the tour bus is and stand helplessly waiting for the band to pass by in hopes of a signed record or a photo op. Unfortunately we had a long drive home and a baby waiting on us. We had no time for being on some rockstar's nuts. I call it being a fangirl, but whatever floats your rowboat. I was hoping to hear "Life Like This" and "A Girl Named Alex", but maybe they change up the set list, which is good if you see them for more than one night on tour. Maybe I'll see him again in Indianapolis in July, it would be a nice birthday present for myself. The next time I will say something if I see him pass me by! images
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AuthorAngela Marie. I like writing. I like music. I have thoughts falling from my head. Archives
July 2018
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