My great adventure: Day One
My day started at 2 a.m. I'd packed the day before; because I wasn't sure what I was going to be allowed to bring into the venues, everything I was taking was in a 10'x10" shoulder bag. It was packed tightly, without any room to spare!
I didn't want to chance missing my 5 a.m. flight. I parked at the off-site parking lot, and they had me shuttled to the air port by 3:00 am.
When the tours were announced, I'd bought tickets to the first two shows announced, San Jose and Houston (I believe). When the next three shows were announced, I agonized over the decision of which, if any, I should tried to make it to. I finally realized I couldn't make a decision because I didn't want to make a decision - I wanted to attend all the shows! So I planned out a flight path, bought my tickets, and then debated if I was crazy with myself. Two weekends; Five cities; Five nights; Five Shows; One band.
Now, I felt excited, yet worried. Decades had passed since I last had an adventure like this, where I had a plane ticket and nothing else planned. Adventures that were easy when I was 32 might be impossible now that I'm 47, and nearly died a few years previously to boot. I didn't know if I could do this now.
But I knew I'd hate myself if I didn't try.
The security checkpoint finally opened at 3:30, and I passed quickly through, even though I forgot to empty my pockets and ended up slowing down the procedure some.
Finally, I was at my gate.
I planned on sleeping as much as possible on the plane, so I kept my contact lenses out and my glasses on.
I ate a quick breakfast, and settled in to wait for my flight, anticipation growing. Finally, boarding began at 4:30, and shortly after 5, we were in the air.
Snacks were served.
After a short layover and plane change at Dallas/Fort Worth, I was back in the air again on the way to Houston.
Because I traveled without any luggage, boarding and disembarking could hardly have been quicker. Google maps sent me outside to find the bus that would take me to the venue.
And I was promptly rained on and soaked.
At least Pandora knew how to brighten my day:
My bus fare totalled only $1.25, which I didn't think was bad for an hour trip. I settled in, cold and wet, and managed to pick a seat directly under the air conditioner. But after a bit, the heater came on, and began to feel a bit better, although convinced I smelled like a wet dog.
I easily found the venue. Hello, Revention Music Center!
I'd talked to Claudia, the fan liason for Alphaville, before the concerts, and she told me I was on the backstage list. I checked at the will-call window, but the gentlemen informed me the list hadn't been provided yet; please check back closer to 5 p.m.
I was hungry anyway, and started looking for a place to eat. A walk around the block showed me that all the near restaurants were far above the exceedingly casual style I was dressed in. So, while I had hoped to escape the cliche ...
Hard Rock Cafe Houston it was!
The restaurant was nearly empty, and service was with me in a snap. I ordered and updated Facebook while I waited for my food, which didn't take long.
The food was great, albeit a little messy. I even had dessert, and the waitress was kind enough to give me a cup of ice water to go.
It was 4:30, so I went back to the venue to check on my pass ... which was still not there! To make matters worse, I could hear the sound check. I leaned back against the doors for a bit, and just soaked it in.
This was happening. It was real.
I sent a text to Claudia; she quickly responded and told me to go to the backstage doors. I wandered around knocking on various doors, wasting precious time, before I finally found the backstage. Christian, Alphacille's manager, was waiting for me. We shook hands, my bag was checked and I went through the metal detector, and Christian introduced me to John, the concert promoter. John thanked me eagerly for coming to the show, especially when he found out I'd flown in from Albuquerque to see it. I told him I wouldn't have missed it for the world! He told me to hang out backstage and in the venue for as long as I liked, and if anyone had any questions or gave me any trouble, to tell them to speak to him.
I wandered around to the front of the stage. And there they were.
David on guitar, Marian on the mic, Jakob behind the drums, Alexandra the bassist behind Carsten on keyboards, and Christian watching over everything.
Carsten started playing Forever Young, their signature song. Marian sais something to the band, and left the stage.
Carsten then switched to Romeos. Romeos! My favorite Alphaville song of all time, and I was hearing it live for the first time. Unbelievable.
And then, something amazing happened. I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye.
Marian Gold, lead singer of my favorite band Alphaville, one of my heroes and literal teen idols, monumentally influential in my life, was coming right towards me with a huge smile on his face. He embraced me in a huge bear hug, laughing.
"I'm so happy to see you!" he shouted.
"I'm so happy to see YOU!" I shouted back.
He laughed. "I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING YOU'RE SAYING!"
"i CAN'T EITHER!" I shouted in return. We both laughed, and he said he'd talk to me after the sound check. At least, I think that's what he said. I really couldn't hear him, and my head was swimming. I hadn't been sure he'd recognize me, let alone say hello.
He returned to stage and joined the band, full swing into Romeos, where he promptly came in at the wrong part.
Click to viewThey continued the sound check, and I continued watching, having trouble believing it was actually happening.
Christopher Anton came on stage to do his sound check.
I wandered backstage, and caught up with Marian as he was leaving the stage. He pointed at my boots, and said "These boots are made for walking!" I pointed at his beer, and said, "That's not the only thing that doesn't change." We both laughed.
Yeah, these boots.
John, one of the stagehands for Christopher Anton, asked Marian why he wasn't going to perform one of the popular songs, Universal Daddy. I laughed loudly; Marian started laughing too. I don't remember what Marian said, but later I told John how much he hated that song.
Marian and the band were whisked off by Christian, and John the stagehand took me on stage to see the setlist for the show.
I wandered around the venue, and found the seat I'd purchased a ticket for, then quickly decided that was not where I'd be watching the show.
Really?
John the promoter had told me I could stand wherever I wanted, so ... front row center stage it was!
Besides, how could even I resist a center stage selfie?
I hung out and relaxed for awhile, and then as the saying goes, I was ready for the show.
The crowd was small, but enjoying themselves almost as much as the band. The man beside me pointed to my blue Dreamscapes tour shirt from 1999, and mentioned that I must be a fan, if I had that shirt. He then asked me if I got it off eBay; I shook my head and told him I'd been there live. He said he's missed that show, even though he'd wanted to go, and when he'd heard about this one, he wasn't going to miss the chance again. He was there with his family; they'd driven eight hours from Oklahoma! He and his wife were obviously enjoying the music, as were his teen age goth daughter and proto-punk son! It was absolutely adorable.
The graphics incorporated into the show really enhanced the meaning for me for a number of the songs. "house of Ghosts", which I'd interpreted as a song about a man stuck in a house after a failed relationship, seemed now to be more about the loss of one's parents, and how it changed the feelings towards a boy's childhood home. "Around the Universe", which I thought was about saying goodbye to friends, had a military themed graphics show, and took on an entirely new meaning of the sadness of war. The new intro to "Mr. Nevermore" combined with the creepy clown images ramped up just how uncomfortable the themes of the song really were.
The crowd, of course, went wild for "Big in Japan" and "Forever Young", but my personal highlight was hearing "I Die For You Today" live for the first time. It was fantastic.
The band wrapped up with "Beyond the Laughing Sky". I made my way back to where the meet and greet was happening, and Marian asked me if I enjoyed the show. I said yes, of course, and did he enjoy the show? He laughed and said yes, it was fantastic. I told him I still wasn't sure if "Beyond the Laughing Sky" was the most beautiful love song ever, or the saddest. He nodded and said it was the most beautiful, of course, but with some sadness as well, because everything beautiful contained something sad.
Fan after fan came through to meet Marian. Most of them told him how this was their dream come true; one woman was crying to hard to talk, another had him autograph her forearm, so she could have it made into a new tattoo! It was great seeing him interact with the band's fans; he was patient and had a kind word for each one.
Talking with John the stage hand, I learned that the band's flight to New York was also at 5 am the next morning, although they had a direct flight, where mine had a plane switch in Charlottesville, NC.
The meet and greet finished, and John the concert promoter enthusiastically thanked me again for coming. Marian started up the stairs, and told me to follow him.
We walked into the green room, where all teh catering was set up. The rest of the band was there; Jakob was attacking a cheese tray with great hunger. (Considering how he plays, he probably burns 5,000 calories on stage!) Marian asked me if I'd like a drink, and started rattling off everything that was there ... stunned, I said a coke was fine. He handed me the can, and told me it was a little warm, did I want any ice? I just shook my head no.
He sat down, and intriduced me to the rest of the band, telling them I wrote "99% of 'I die for you today'!" I just shook my head, and said that Marian had written the best 1%. Someone, David maybe, said, "So Marian's the 1%?" Marain laughed and said, "Yes! I am the 1%!" Everyone laughed. I took out the booklet from my Strange Attractor CD, dated the first page, and somewhat shyly asked Alexandra if she'd autograph it for me. My plan was to have a different member of the band autograph the booklet each night.
Christian arrived and started hustling everyone together to return to the hotel, since their flight left so early in the morning. I followed them to the backstage entrance, told them I'd see them all in New York, waved and walked off into the night.
Goodle maps directed me to the nearest, proper bus station, and after a short wait, I was on my way back to the airport. My head was still swimming with everything that had happened. I tried to relax, but tired as I was, the adrenalin kept my heart pumping, and the show played over and over in my head.
Once at the airport, I found a bench with a power outlet, plugged in my phone, and tried to rest for a couple of hours. I napped fitfully, but by 3 am I was fully awake once more, and lined up at the security check point once more. The next step of my great adventure was about to happen, and I was ready for it.
Even though I did still smell faintly (I hoped) like a wet dog.