Activity for the Young

Saturday, my friend Lacy and I went to a concert. It's rare that my town gets a decent concert, so we felt compelled to support the fledgling scene. We got to the door about 45 minutes early, to grab a spot in the tiny venue (the headliner is a pretty popular Utah band) and sat and chatted while the place filled. Things to note.

1. It's been a LONG time since I've seen live music in a venue that tiny. A couple hundred people packed into a space about as big as my living / dining room space.
2. We were, without a doubt, on the older side.
3. Somehow we've gone from being hit on by the young'uns to being hit on by the only 50 year old there.
4. I'm too old for headliners that don't come out until 10 pm. Seriously. (Rock...earlier, people!)
5. Fun times were had by us both. But just sitting and talking with Lacy is always fun.
6. I always seem to manage to end up sitting by the couple auditioning for the make-out scene. Sigh...

There were three support bands (gotta love the local musicians!). The first, Mermaid Baby, was...um...he had great hair. Sound-wise, I could almost see me liking random songs. But lyrically? On par with ...I don't know. A junior high creative writing class? They were very pedestrian and too poppy for my liking. Band two was Battleschool. We both liked them MUCH better. A little harder music. Sound lyrics. I wouldn't mind actually exploring and seeing if I like them still in the light of day. Next up was The Moth and The Flame, whom apparently have quite the following in Provo. They weren't bad, though they reminded both Lacy and I of someone else we couldn't quite place. I think the closest we came was a mix of Radiohead and bad Coldplay with a little Beck thrown in. And he seemed a little full of himself, for a local haven't quite made it yet guy. And they may have been the reason both Lacy and I were yawning before Fictionist made it out. They were MELLOW...

Fictionist finally hit the stage just after 10. They sadly came down on the floor (instead of the 'stage') which meant Lacy and were trying to climb on our chairs in skirts to see them. We were the picture of decorum! However, the song and quality difference? AMAZING. You can see why these guys were just signed and the others are still local and working on it. Total difference. And a lot of fun to hear live. I liked them better live than I have with anything I've just heard in snippets here and there. So still not sold as a die-hard fan, but I can definitely appreciate them more, now.

It was a good night. It was a good reminder of my once life and limitations! It was great to spend some time with Lacy, just hanging out. And I definitely wouldn't mind doing it again.


(still reaching, fictionist)