groupie up close

Last week I saw an amazing concert at Tupelo Hall - The English Beat, The Fixx and The Alarm.

The tickets went on sale while I was in Italy and not 'wired' so when I got back to Zurich and got the email about the show, I panicked, hoping that there would still be tickets ... there was only one left and I immediately grabbed it.

I had never been to a concert solo before and was somewhat apprehensive about it as the date of the concert drew near, but when the day arrived, I felt confident and v. excited.

I stopped and picked up some Newcastle on the way to Londonderry, pulled into the Tupelo and had great parking karma as I skillfully parallel parked into a spot v. close to the entrance and in a great place to exit quickly later. I freshened up my makeup, grabbed the six pack and headed in.

The place was already packed as I walked in and picked up my ticket. The audience was going wild and singing along with Mike Peters of The Alarm as he stood on a chair in the middle of the audience singing The Stand.

I found my seat, - between a married couple video taping the show and a group of guys singing every word of the song out loud - fell into the vibe and sang at the top of my lungs as well.

What a great venue for bands like these. It was evident that they were loving it too - I think it probably feels like the days when they were just starting out and playing in small clubs. Though we are all about 20 years older than when these bands were 'big', you'd never know it from the way both the musicians and the crowd danced, sang and even got airborne a few times.

Not having planned well enough to bring a bottle opener, I turned behind me to ask one of the guys drinking bottled beer behind me. I expected to have someone use an opener, but one guy took the bottle and tried to open it with a lighter and failed - in front of his buddies no less - then the guy directly behind me took off his flip flop and effortless popped the cap with the bottom - brilliant - my kind of shoes - (must remember to get some of these for a few people who remain nameless...)

The Fixx was up next. Also a great show - they played all their big 80's hits: One Thing Leads to Another, Red Skies, Secret Separation, Saved by Zero and Stand or Fall. Lead singer Cy Curnin didn't disappoint with his signature 'vogue-ing' and dramatic stage presence, though their set was a bit more more subdued and chill than that of The Alarm (and the English Beat, who finished the evening out).

I was getting v. excited about The Beat being up next and spent the brief intermission chatting with some v. cool women at the merchandise (swag) booth. One of the women was from LA and traveling on the tour bus with the bands as a summer job. Sweet! She was so cute - and totally unaffected by the 'fame' she was surrounded by - she told me she was really into 60's music (thus her total shag doo) - like Herman's Hermits and The Monkees. She is in love with Peter Tork! How hilarious.

I purchased a black tee with the Special Beat Service logo just as the fire alarm began to go off. The Beat continued playing initially, but once everyone started exiting for real, they stopped and went outside too. As I was kind of 'with' the women who were 'with' the band, I exited with them and we all congregated by the stage door.

While we were waiting to be able to go back in, I was introduced to Dave Wakeling the lead singer of The Beat and Wayne Lothian, who plays bass. They were v. cool - I told Dave that I wanted them to play for my 40th b-day and that, while I would love to fly them all to Zurich, we would have to make arrangements to do the concert in LA. (Where they are now based) He smiled and nodded his head as he asked for a pen and paper. I scrambled and found both, gave them to him and he scribbled his email address and said, "Just drop me a line - we'd love to play at your party." (somehow I also recall him alluding to the fact that there was no way I would soon be 40 ... and calling me 'love' - in the way that only Brits can - but perhaps that was a conversation I had with myself as I drove home alone later ...)

Just before we were allowed to reenter the building, Wayne introduced me to his girlfriend, a super-cool woman from just outside of New Paltz, NY. We immediately clicked as women often do and delved into a many-branched discussion of music, age, motherhood, LA, relationships and beer. Damned if I can't remember her name, though. I hate that.

The Beat set, though too short, was amazing and the crowd was on its feet the entire time. I was even invited to the front to dance by a group of people I had also met outside and had seats v. close to the stage. They found out I was flying solo and they (apparently) found me amusing so I took them up on their offer and sang all the words out loud back to Dave and Wayne and the rest of the band like a true groupie.

After the show was over, the people who were in the first 3 rows and had paid $100 for their tickets got to have a 'meet and greet' with the bands. I was hanging out with Wayne's girlfriend (I almost had her name for a second there) and she introduced me to Rhythm, another member of the band and also v. cool.

I told them I should be going, but they invited me to hang out and Wayne then joined us and we had a beer. We hung out on the side lines watching the fans ask for autographs and photos with Dave and Cy and Mike and tried to make Dave crack up as though we were all 12. It was a blast.

I finally bid them all adieu and we promised to email ...

I confess (then) I confess (now)I have now reached a new level of groupie-dom. Cool.