it’s funny how a song can bring you right back
to a specific place, or time, or even emotion.
today it was tied, a song by a band named Tribe (not A Tribe Called Quest which is a common question when i mention them) - they were a boston band that was wonderful and awesome, and i saw them live often in college. there’s even a tribe track in rock band - outside - because some of the former band members work for harmonix.
but tied makes me think of one specific show that i went to, right in lowell - the city i went to college in. i went with carla, and her boyfriend rob, and some other people who i just don’t remember. we must have arrived super early, because we managed to be right at the stage. and when the band took it, they took my breath away.
the lead singer (janet lavalley) had a command of the stage - strong and sexy in a way i may not have truly seen since. she was self confidence with a singing voice and she was right there in front of me. she was real and raw and amazing.
right next to her on keyboards was terri barous - just as beautiful as janet but in a different, more demure way. she was almost the foil to janet’s on stage persona, a quiet and almost gentle force that gave you another alternative for your female role band girl role model. she sang sometimes too, and never looked completely comfortable; it only added to her charm. between the two of them i never wanted to be a rock star so bad in my entire life as i did at that show, and never since.
the other reason this particular show is memorable to me among the other tribe shows i saw is that before the encore a fight broke out right behind me. dude wanted to get to the front of the stage and no one was having it, so he was forcing the issue. i was punched in the back, and shoved - hard - right into and onto the stage. my friend’s boyfriend came to my aid, and then climbed up on the stage to see if i was alright (as you might be able to visualize this was NOT a high stage, if i had looked straight ahead i was knee level to them). security had been slow when i stumbled on the stage, but with two of us up there they quickly escorted us out.
backstage, someone who i believe was the drummer asked me if i was alright, as he had seen the entire thing. he quickly grabbed a set list, and asked if i wanted it - perhaps the only thing he could offer at that time, and i took it thankfully like a true fan girl. i was alright after all, and getting to speak to someone who at the time (and really still now) was in one of my favorite bands i was sort of star stunned. security came over and took both rob and i to escort, and i heard the drummer tell him to bring us back to the audience as we had done nothing wrong.
security either didn’t hear him, or didn’t care. next thing we knew we were outside in the cold night air, alone with a handle-less door slammed in our face. we had been kicked out of the show.
we didn’t care. we started to laugh, and with only two or three more songs remaining we knew that we would not only see the band again in the future, but had a story to tell. i think of all the shows i’ve ever been to, that stands still as my absolute favorite.
all that from one song. i never doubt the power music has on us.
i couldn’t find the song that came up this morning, but this is sing to neptune which is among my favorite songs by tribe (which really isn’t fair because i love almost every one of them), and rescue me with terri singing too. i’m not sure if they’re on itunes, but i you ever want to hear them i have the cd’s still and am always happy to lend.
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