Nine Days Later
* ANTISAINT * BRAINIAC * VITAMIN R * GET SOME * COMFORTABLE LIAR * PROVE TO YOU * THE RED * WELL ENOUGH ALONE * CLOSURE * STILL RUNNING * THE CLINCHER * THE FAD * SEND THE PAIN BELOW * FORFEIT * I GET IT *
(encore - "Thank you so much Denver. If there's anything else we can do for you, let us know." ANOTHER KNOW IT ALL)
That's the playlist as best I can remember it. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't play Saferwaters, but I can't have it all. It's always a thrill to see them live; Pete performs like he's making love. Seriously, watch a live performance or feast your eyes on some live photos: the way he throws his head back, the way he nuzzles at the microphone, and his adorable Porno Smile. (see below)
[pic taken from chevelleinc.com]
God, I feel like I'm on fire if I look at it too long. (dammit, I'm just another stupid fan-girl.) It hurts every time; no one brings it quite like Chevelle does.
Another thing that made the show special was that there was no autographed snare-head thrown... Mine is truly a unique treasure. And in a gesture of thanks, I bought Layla the most expensive clothing item from their merch booth (I've rarely stopped there, if ever, even at other Chevelle shows). I got her a black hoodie with their name in white on the front and their red logo on back. Gorgeous.
The first act, God or Julie, was a nice surprise. I didn't think I'd care for them at all, but they're quite exceptional. And the biggest surprise was Finger 11. Perhaps hearing the crowd's lackluster response to God or Julie's prompt about Finger 11, they turned up the charisma to a fever pitch. Jon and I had previously discussed the live blending of original songs into covers, and the Canadian band did it with not just one other song, but THREE. They began playing Paralyzer (all their songs sounded WAY better live than on the recording) which made a seamless transition into Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out". It then became a song I didn't recognize, but eventually it turned into Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall". We exchanged vocals, singing the part of the unruly children from the song, and then Paralyzer was resumed. It was spectacular.
Chevelle wrought one of the friendliest mosh pits any of us had ever been in... It only lasted about five or six songs before the crowd was too exhausted, but it was interesting. The shoving and slamming was as hard as any pit I'd been in, but each time I got knocked or elbowed in the face, I yelled out with a big smile "FUCK YEAH!!!!" Because it was a great experience and we should all be happy to be there. I mean, where else can we erupt into an anonymous orgy of ecstatic violence inspired by the music we adore??? Certainly, it is a rare thing that should be savored and wrung for as long as the flesh is willing, and beyond.
I can't wait to see them again, but I hope they play a smaller venue. This was the first time at the Fillmore for both Jonathan and Sly - their first concert in Denver at all, in fact. I was quite honored to have treated them to it, and they were happy to have attended. It was Sean's first Chevelle show, and of course he didn't appreciate it as much as Jon and I did, but I was glad he came with us. He lost his glasses at one point in the pit, and I almost got knocked to the floor when I went to pick them up. I realized afterwards that I wasn't in too great a danger of getting trampled to death - as I said, it was a friendly mosh pit. Someone from a slamming circle had actually noticed that his specs fell, and came over later to ask him if he was able to recover them. It's also amazing that they weren't smashed, because the both of us could have sworn we saw the kids in front of us jump on them once or twice. Sly told us after the concert that he watched as someone near him dropped his cell phone, and how everyone around them actually drew back in order to help him find it and pick it up. I've never before seen, heard, or experienced mosh behavior like that, and it was another thing that made this show stand out.
I suppose I should have written this sooner, but I needed an excuse to experience it all over again in a time when I'd need it.
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