Yes, you guessed it, I went to a concert last night. The SO’s and I tripped down to Hotlanta to see my Lady’s favoritest band ever, Duran Duran. I like them well enough for my part but I admit that her presence in my Life has brought me much more exposure than I ever would have sought out on my own. We saw them in Columbus, Ohio about 3 years ago. At that time I didn’t know much of their music at all and had remarked about feeling like a poser lost in a sea of Duranies. This time I actually knew most of the songs and could sing along a bit. I danced and sang and shouted and had much fun right along with the other 30 to 40-somethings that were there shaking their asses and longing with every bit of their being for a chance to be alone with one or all of the hunky Brits that were on stage. I love live music. Truly I don’t even care what genre, if the band is good and they love what they do I can find some enjoyment out of it. But when they’re great, when they know how to engage the crowd, it’s truly phenomenonal. Last night’s concert certainly was.
We started the evening with dinner at a fairly decent Mexican restaurant with two of our very good friends who live near Atlanta. K introduced us to a new love of his, Mexican Mojito’s! Then we checked into the hotel to rest up a bit and get ready for the concert. My Lady was giddy and nervous and completely beside herself waiting for the time to come for us to go. She looked stunning and was absolutely glowing. K and I were tickled to see her so excited but we looked forward to it as well. We knew from our experience in Columbus that regardless of how you feel about their music, Duran Duran knows how to put on a damn good show. So we prepped and the time finally came for us to make our way to Chastain Park.
We’d never been there before, so we had some awkwardness and uncertainty about where to go but we finally got it figured out, found a parking spot, and, with tickets in hand, made our way to the amphitheatre. When we saw them in Columbus it was inside a large auditorium, we had floor seats in the last row of the house. Waaaay in the back. This time my Lady got tickets on pre-sale through the fanclub so we were in the pit, 13th row. It was the closest seats any of us had ever had for ANY show at such a large venue so we honestly didn’t know what to expect. The entrances to the amphitheatre are at the top and the seating basically goes downhill toward the stage so we began our long decent toward our seats. It seemed the closer we got the tighter my Lady gripped my hand and the bigger her eyes got. When we finally reached our seats she was nearly breathless, and not just from the 200 steps we’d just walked down either, our seats were a stones throw from the stage. I laughed, “You’re going to be able to see Nick’s sweat from here lovie!” And we could. Sitting that close to the stage was nearly as intimate as having had them play a local bar or club.
We waited patiently for the show to start. The opening band was fantastic and a good warm up but it was clear that the crowd was there for one thing only, their Duran fix. Soon the lights dimmed and the first member poked his head out from backstage. This is what I love about a good concert. The energy level rises to near tsunami proportions and the moment the artist first arrives it is unleashed in a mad wave that crashes toward the stage. The noise was nearly deafening. I could feel it vibrating inside my ears (which probably is NOT a good thing) and when the wall of excitement hit me my breath escaped me and tears filled my eyes as a huge grin spread slowly across my face. I know why it is so easy for people to get caught up in this lifestyle.
I spent a lot of time watching the people in the crowd around me. Most everyone danced and jumped and sang along, but there were so many that had their faces upturned toward the stage completely enraptured in their adoration and worship of the men that were performing in front of them. I saw women weep and scream uncontrollably. I watched and giggled and played along myself as the band pulled the crowd in and encouraged them to sing and participate in the concert.
They opened with my favorite song from their new album, The Valley. It didn’t take long for me to dance myself into a sweat. I couldn’t possibly remember all of the songs that they performed, but it was a nice long show. I do remember that they played my favorite of all Duran songs, A View To A Kill. And they played the first song I’d ever heard by them, Ordinary World. It was then that I sat down, closed my eyes, and sang along with Simon; remembering, for a few minutes, what it was like as a teenager sitting alone in the solitude of my purple bedroom, listening to the radio and writing poetry. *laugh* Later in the concert, I leaned over to kiss K and saw the Moon rising over the top of the stage and again smiled. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was the only one there who noticed that Moon beyond the musicians dancing and singing below Her.
It was a nice weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed the brief get-away but now, I’m afraid, it is time to focus on what is ahead and get on with it. I’m going to focus the majority of my energy now to getting a new job; continuing my Spiritual work; and incorporating time for creative outlets for myself in my routine.
