"are you a teacher? you were really good at that..."
so, i went to see iron and wine last night. probably the first time i've seen a complete audience transfixed, even if it was just for one song.
the first guy on was good but not great. he started off well but did a lot too much wailing.
iron and wine, as predictable were absolutely magical. but there was one, rather substantial problem. it was thus.
i got into the venue early, ordered a drink and seeing there was no space on the benches, i sat on the floor infront of the stage (used loosely - it was after all just a floor space). eventually, everyone else came and joined me, cross-legged on the floor in front of the band. this worked well for the first act, everyone sat down, and everyone could see. after he finished, we all stood up, went to get drinks etc, but when it came to iron and wine to play, a lot of people sat down (us included), whilst quite a lot of people remained stood. these people, being taller than the band who weren't raised, no-one could actually see anything without a lot of craning taking place. a woman a few over from us was almost in tears because she couldn't see even if she was stood up.
i took matters into my own hands.
during a break while they sorted the levels, i attempted to sing, quite loudly, a rousing chorus of "sit down" by james (vinny will know it, right, son?). i'd had a bit too much to drink so it wasn't word perfect, but the general message of sit-the-fuck-down got around. the band asked "did you say 'turn down', or 'sit down'?". i replied, in my most patronising voice "i said sit down, because if everyone sits down everyone can see". gradually all the gits sat down and we all cheered, then iron and wine played a killer set for another 45 minutes.
i will post camera phone pictures when my data cable arrives from hong kong.
ps. i really, really really hope you didn't vote republican. on your own heads be it if this goes very very wrong. good luck, my stateside compadres.
the first guy on was good but not great. he started off well but did a lot too much wailing.
iron and wine, as predictable were absolutely magical. but there was one, rather substantial problem. it was thus.
i got into the venue early, ordered a drink and seeing there was no space on the benches, i sat on the floor infront of the stage (used loosely - it was after all just a floor space). eventually, everyone else came and joined me, cross-legged on the floor in front of the band. this worked well for the first act, everyone sat down, and everyone could see. after he finished, we all stood up, went to get drinks etc, but when it came to iron and wine to play, a lot of people sat down (us included), whilst quite a lot of people remained stood. these people, being taller than the band who weren't raised, no-one could actually see anything without a lot of craning taking place. a woman a few over from us was almost in tears because she couldn't see even if she was stood up.
i took matters into my own hands.
during a break while they sorted the levels, i attempted to sing, quite loudly, a rousing chorus of "sit down" by james (vinny will know it, right, son?). i'd had a bit too much to drink so it wasn't word perfect, but the general message of sit-the-fuck-down got around. the band asked "did you say 'turn down', or 'sit down'?". i replied, in my most patronising voice "i said sit down, because if everyone sits down everyone can see". gradually all the gits sat down and we all cheered, then iron and wine played a killer set for another 45 minutes.
i will post camera phone pictures when my data cable arrives from hong kong.
ps. i really, really really hope you didn't vote republican. on your own heads be it if this goes very very wrong. good luck, my stateside compadres.