Talking to Lynx
In February, 80 and I went to LA to see the Lucent L'Amour festival, put on by DoLab. I wrote up the experience, which was a fabulous one, being particularly pleased with the music. I went specifically to see Beats Antique for the first time live and to see Bassnectar again because his show at the 40 Watt Club in Athens blew me away.
Well, the first act we saw was Lynx and Janover. It was a great set and I duly remembered the name for the future. Then Lynx came back out during the Beats Antique set because she does the lyrics for "She's Looking For Something". I really had no idea that she had such a great voice or that she was so incredibly awkward/shy. During the song, she turned kind of sideways to the crowd and would look anywhere but at the audience. When people went wild about the song, she blushed and skedaddled off the stage quick.
I'm always fascinated by performers that are so self conscious. What drives them so to perform, when it's clearly so uncomfortable? There's something in there that makes me want to protect those people. (Goes for just shy people in general. They get passed over so frequently, yet so often have such wonderful personalities.) So, after duly buying the Lynx and Janover cd, I promised myself that I'd make a big deal about Lynx if I ever got the chance. I didn't figure I'd ever get the chance.
Oh, but I did!!
When we went to see Beats Antique in Athens, not only were we lucky enough to have Zoe Jakes performing, but Lynx was the opening act. She did an amazing job with her set; even including some kick ass beat boxing. I stayed front middle stage for her whole act, danced, and sang a long to most of the songs. I don't know if she really knew that attention was from her, since she kept her glasses off through most of the show. The show ended really late, so we just headed on home.
The next day, Beats Antique and Lynx played in Atlanta. Again, I was front and middle for Lynx's set. She did great, as usual. My friends kept giving me heck that I should yell something like, "I think you're pretty!" I don't often have the guts to do something like that. I have a soft spot for shy people because I'm painfully shy and introverted, though can sometimes hide it.
So, after Lynx's set, I ran off to the bathroom and recognized her sneakers in the next stall. Argh! This would be my chance to talk to her! So, there I am, in a club, trying to pee as fast as possible. I calculate that my outfit is easier to deal with and that she'll be stymied for a bit because there's no soap in the restroom. Woo! I literally jumped out of my stall, apologized for ambushing her in the bathroom, but that I wanted her to know how amazing the three shows of hers' I had seen and how talented she is. Strangely, she didn't blush, she looked me right in the eyes, and seemed relaxed and not in a hurry to get away from me. So, we talked about the new album and her beat boxing and I got a chance to thank her. She said, "Thanks" and gave me a huge smile. It was great!!! (So often I see performers where people only want something from them - an autograph, a picture, etc - I just want to be able to thank performers that I like for making music that makes my life better.
Anyway, the question remains why she didn't get at all awkward with me. Was it because I was spazzy enough to charge out of a stall, so I could talk to her? Do I really come across as Safe Girl? Does she have a think for saloon girl outfits? Hmmmm.... Anyway, the net of it, is that I'm so glad I screwed up the courage to talk with her and tell her that she rocks. It felt good.
Well, the first act we saw was Lynx and Janover. It was a great set and I duly remembered the name for the future. Then Lynx came back out during the Beats Antique set because she does the lyrics for "She's Looking For Something". I really had no idea that she had such a great voice or that she was so incredibly awkward/shy. During the song, she turned kind of sideways to the crowd and would look anywhere but at the audience. When people went wild about the song, she blushed and skedaddled off the stage quick.
I'm always fascinated by performers that are so self conscious. What drives them so to perform, when it's clearly so uncomfortable? There's something in there that makes me want to protect those people. (Goes for just shy people in general. They get passed over so frequently, yet so often have such wonderful personalities.) So, after duly buying the Lynx and Janover cd, I promised myself that I'd make a big deal about Lynx if I ever got the chance. I didn't figure I'd ever get the chance.
Oh, but I did!!
When we went to see Beats Antique in Athens, not only were we lucky enough to have Zoe Jakes performing, but Lynx was the opening act. She did an amazing job with her set; even including some kick ass beat boxing. I stayed front middle stage for her whole act, danced, and sang a long to most of the songs. I don't know if she really knew that attention was from her, since she kept her glasses off through most of the show. The show ended really late, so we just headed on home.
The next day, Beats Antique and Lynx played in Atlanta. Again, I was front and middle for Lynx's set. She did great, as usual. My friends kept giving me heck that I should yell something like, "I think you're pretty!" I don't often have the guts to do something like that. I have a soft spot for shy people because I'm painfully shy and introverted, though can sometimes hide it.
So, after Lynx's set, I ran off to the bathroom and recognized her sneakers in the next stall. Argh! This would be my chance to talk to her! So, there I am, in a club, trying to pee as fast as possible. I calculate that my outfit is easier to deal with and that she'll be stymied for a bit because there's no soap in the restroom. Woo! I literally jumped out of my stall, apologized for ambushing her in the bathroom, but that I wanted her to know how amazing the three shows of hers' I had seen and how talented she is. Strangely, she didn't blush, she looked me right in the eyes, and seemed relaxed and not in a hurry to get away from me. So, we talked about the new album and her beat boxing and I got a chance to thank her. She said, "Thanks" and gave me a huge smile. It was great!!! (So often I see performers where people only want something from them - an autograph, a picture, etc - I just want to be able to thank performers that I like for making music that makes my life better.
Anyway, the question remains why she didn't get at all awkward with me. Was it because I was spazzy enough to charge out of a stall, so I could talk to her? Do I really come across as Safe Girl? Does she have a think for saloon girl outfits? Hmmmm.... Anyway, the net of it, is that I'm so glad I screwed up the courage to talk with her and tell her that she rocks. It felt good.