9.02.2010

She & Him & Him but not so much me

Last Thursday GH and I went to Pioneer Park in downtown Salt Lake with my brother coolboy and his wife A (just realized I don't know if she wants me using her real name here so I'd better not). We were there for the final show of the free Twilight Concert Series, even She & Him, starring GH's girlfriend Zooey Deschanel and some other guy.


Note: we tried to go to the first night of this series back at the beginning of summer when somebody called Modest Mouse performed, but we had to leave because we were all having Food Inc. flashbacks of all the squealing pigs crammed into the slaughterhouse just before the lights went dark and they all died in some terrible way. I wasn't waiting around for that to happen to me. Seriously, they wrote newspaper articles about how insane it was.)

This time it was much less crowded, which was great. We sat on the grass before and during the opening act, during which time I experienced Zen whilst consuming a calamari taco from the Chow Truck and then a Nutella-banana crepe from the good people of Flippin' Good Crepes. Both were excellent. I wanted another taco. And maybe one of those goat cheese crepes.

So far, so good. My problems began during the 45 minutes between the opening act and the main event. By this time the crowd standing in front of the stage had grown so that it reached us. We went ahead and stood up too. But I think maybe a hot pregnant woman who has no more crepes to eat can only stand for so long pressed up against other bodies. I wouldn't let GH touch me because that added heat. He, towering over my head, could feel a breeze, but I couldn't. People were smoking, and the smell was bothering me. Some group behind me positioned a friend of theirs so that he was standing pretty much on top of me, so I had to turn around and kindly inform him that his friends were wrong and he needed to move. The music they were playing through the speakers was really, really weird and unpleasant. (I'm not alone in this assessment, GH agreed with me.)

So as the time stretched on, I started to wonder: "How is this fun for people? And really, how exactly is this any different from standing in line at the DMV? Or perhaps the merchandise returns line at Wal-Mart? We're all just standing here and many of us are socially and/or hygenically offensive. Nothing is happening and there's nothing to do but stand and wait."

Only then I found out how it's different. A plastic beer cup came flying from up front and landed on my foot. GH and I looked down at the cup, and then at each other.

Silence.

Squinted eyes from me.

GH: "Um, at least it was empty, right?"

Me, through gritted teeth: "It wasn't all the way empty."

After eight million years, the band came out and got started. Zooey's hair was very pretty, and made me wish I were a brunette with long hair and bangs just like hers. In honor of her visit to Utah, she was wearing some kind of polygamist dress. Well played, Deschanel.

Of course, once the main event began, more people tried to make their way into the crowd and up to the front. We got more and more packed in. I became more and more cranky as the available oxygen levels depleted. After maybe 10 minutes (but probably more like 5) I was done. I kissed GH and fought my way out of there.

The fresh air was like crack cocaine. Too late, I realized that I hadn't brought GH's wallet out with me, so I had no cash to spend recklessly at the food stalls I had not yet patronized. So instead I called my mom and chatted with her for a little while. Then I listened to the rest of the concert. I was outside of the main body but could still see and hear just fine. So that was nice.

When I met up with GH and C & A immediately afterwards, I found out that they'd been just great without me. As soon as I left they made their way closer to the stage and fully enjoyed themselves, no longer hindered by the about-to-snap cranky lady. I understand that the crowds weren't too much of a problem, as my sweet s-in-law body-checked the people who got into her space.

Later, I told GH that I just don't think I'm ever really going to be the concert-enjoying helpmeet he was hoping for. And that I'm sorry and I hope this doesn't ruin our marriage. He said that's okay. Apparently I have other qualities, like knowing what the Flux Capacitor is, that more than make up for me not liking concerts.

Whew.

13 comments:

Courtney said... [reply]

Shoot. I wish I knew She & Him were performing! I would have joined you on the outer edges of the crowd.

Nemesis said... [reply]

Aw, see, and then I would have had company! Also I would have hit you up for cash and/or foodstuffs. Next time . . .

FoxyJ said... [reply]

We tried going to the Twilight Concert series once a few years ago when it was at the Gallivan center. We brought a toddler and new baby because we were crazy. It was crowded, loud, and we all came home stinking like pot smoke.

goddessdivine said... [reply]

Concerts with no assigned seating can be risky. I'm all about the Delta Center/E-Center type venues where we have assigned seats and you're not being shoved around like a mosh pit.

Sorry you had a lousy experience. I'm sure the fact that your tummy is hanging out a bit didn't help much.

lilcis said... [reply]

I used to be able to stand forever in the middle of a tight crowd for a really good concert. Now I won't go to one unless I have an assigned seat. I'm old!

Bridget said... [reply]

My brother and sister also went to the Modest Mouse concert but left quickly because of the weirdness.

I'm sure you've seen this video (?).

Aubrey said... [reply]

Real name is fine. Or something clever and flattering ;)

In some ways, it's kind of lose-lose...

Outdoor concert= free, and great food, BUT crazy people getting secondhand smoke and beer all over you.

Indoor concert= No smoking, option of sitting, BUT no way to fit all those vendors with delicious foods!

Hornbill said... [reply]

Now, where are the concert photos?

Natasha and Jesse said... [reply]

I really like She & Him. I really liked their music (well, her singing) in "500 Days of Summer".

Natasha
http://days-of-natasha.blogspot.com/

April said... [reply]

"and some other guy"? Ay yi yi.

M. Ward is the other half of She & Him, and he's a phenomenal guitarist and singer. You need to get familiar with his delicious voic!. http://www.mwardmusic.com/

Btw, it's not just hormones. I got in a shouting match with a giant jerk at a concert this summer. He kept shoving people around, and I don't take kindly to bullies. There are concertgoers who are just awful.

Cali said... [reply]

Sounds like you had a good time though...I went to Modest Mouse and yeah, it was crazy. Then we went to the Jewish rap dude, and that was fun...crazy but fun...fortunately I got a boost up on my 6x5 friend to actually see him and breath. It was a good thing you were able to get out and breathe.

Science Teacher Mommy said... [reply]

I really hate stuff like that. No seats? Well, bite me, I'm just not going.

And Zoey's hair is beyond sublime.

emandtrev said... [reply]

It sounds like it would be a fun, in theory, but I too am not a fan of pushy crowds. Or having beer cups thrown at me.

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