3 posts tagged “patti smith”
Life's been a bit hectic, so I neglected to write anything about the last couple of Crossing Border Festival days. Thus, I neglected to mention a little band called SoKo. Scheduled between Vic Chesnutt and Patti Smith, she was nervous as hell. Somewhat cutesy, with in your face lyrics, delivered with a french accent. It absolutely rocked, and I was blown away by it. Apparently, I wasn't the only one, as my colleague mailed me this morning to say she's playing the Paradiso in January. Presale starts this Saturday, so I'll definitely go. Excellent stuff.
Of course, Patti Smith and Andrew Bird were class as well, but they're not playing the Paradiso this coming January :)
So I went to this high school reunion this weekend. I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to like it much, because frankly, I didn't really like most people in high school. I know how some people go on about high school being the best time of your life and all, but it really wasn't for me. In fact, it was probably one of the darkest periods I've had so far. In the roughly 12 years since I left that school though, I have grown a little. I have lost some of my insecurities (though plenty remain) and have learned to shrug things off, and not care about what other people may think so much. It wouldn't take much to get me upset, or worried out of my mind. It still happens, but it's a wee bit more realistic now. Still, in general speaking, a lot of damage was done to me in high school. Sometimes I wonder if it was just that, or maybe I got a bit of a blow from that one fairly traumatic experience when I was a kid. But then everyone has their own little tragedies, and despite the horror of mine, I sometimes wonder if I was in fact the lucky one. Life went on, and it did go on.
So where the root of my problems lie... I really don't know. I have always blamed high school though. Being the odd one out, being picked on for physical appearance, and so on. All that caused me to retreat into myself, pull up a couple of fences here and there, and firmly hide in my shell. These days, I consider myself a fairly complicated character, with a huge difference between outer and inner appearances. I play the game well though, and a lot of people never notice, but then some see right through it. And then that's the improved version of me, because 10 years ago, it was much, much worse.
Anyway, back to highschool.... So yeah, a lot of my fucked-up roots seemed to have settled in high school, hence why I was slightly nervous about going there. I did gain some of that confidence over the years though, that makes me realise that yes, I have something to tell, so I went anyway. I knew one of the few friends I had in high school was definitely coming, so I figured I'd just spend the evening with her.
Walking up to the building, brought me right back. It was very surreal. The same cluster of smokers just outside the front door, the same hour schedules in the hallway. The huge foyer, with the fantastic lighting, and even the paintings we put up in '94 or so were still up. The colour scheme hadn't changed, surreal. It brought me right back, and securities arose. And then I spotted my brother, and I felt like a little girl again, hiding behind him. He never really played the big brother role much though, and even less so now. He was pleasant enough though and I said hi to some of his friends that I vaguely remember. Then I spotted the little clique of popular folks... You know, that little clique I never belonged too. I suppose the idea behind reunions is that you go up to people and talk to them and take a walk down to memory lane and all, but I figured I didn't have much to say to these people back then, and 10 years didn't really make a difference there.
And then a guy walked up to me and said hi. Someone I only shared a few classes with and that I don't remember as an actual friend, but more of a "nice guy" in general. He greeted me like a long lost friend, or maybe that's just me that's unable to cope with all that physical kissy kissy shit :-P From there on, the ball started rolling and I spent the evening talking to very intelligent, interesting people that I never really spend all that much time with years ago. Or maybe I did and I just don't remember.
Later in the evening I spent a lot of time talking to my art teacher which was very entertaining. It was a little surreal and slightly time warped realising how I have moved on, grown, started this whole life, and he's, well, still doing the same thing. Maybe there will be a day when I wake up one morning and realise I've been doing the same thing for the past 10 years, but I'm hoping that won't happen.
Strange little trip down memory, and not an unpleasant one at that. I was slightly disappointed to hear they'll be tearing the building down soon, as it has some history and the most amazing lighting. Such is life in the suburbs, I suppose, everything has to go make way for overpriced appartments. C'est ca.
I've finally uploaded some of my Patti Smith pictures. The first batch I have taken with the new lens. I wasn't unhappy wit the result. The only downside was that I was slightly too far from the stage to focus properly, until later in the evening. I'm hoping i'll be able to snap some shots at the Lou Reed gig tomorrow, which was absolutely thrilling tonight!
The Patti Smith gig the other night was in one word: Amazing! I had never seen her before, liked the last album Twelve, but mostly went to see a legend without really knowing what to expect. I ended up being treated to a show full of humour, emotion, good natured banter and even some sing alongs. The Paradiso was well sold out, and it was crammed tight from fairly early on, though I must admit I came in much later than I had intended.
It was kind of funny seeing the mix of people there and how after a few years of going to gigs, you start recognising the faces all around. I ran into a couple I met last year at a Nick Cave gig in Antwerp. Then a handful of others I met at the Joan As Police Woman gig in Haarlem last year. One woman I meet just about everywhere, but mostly 16 Horsepower, Peter Hammill and John Cale related things and there was one girl I swear I met at a Bowie gig in 2002. Quite a diverse audience, so.
The evening went all over the place. Up, down, left, right. From sweeping trashing sound to tender ballad, from Hendrix' "Are you experienced?" to Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" (after a long story about getting lost AGAIN trying to get to Rembrandt's House, finally finding it and having a moment of philosophical insight, then turning around and wandering on to the BlueBird cafe for two cups of mint tea and some cake...).
Then there was the story of being online with Gabriel Byrne the night Keith Moon died and how he looked so handsome and she kept buying him hashies, hoping that if she gave him enough he'd think she was a boy.
Also there's the girl that climbed up on the stage to give her a hug, taken into her arms like a grandmother taking in a long lost grandchild. That image gets scattered a little when she jokes "What can I say? I'm popular with the girls" though.
Peter Buck of R.E.M. is playing the upstairs room with Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus Room later that evening, but joins Patti for a cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Highlight of the evening, however, comes when he sticks around to join in on a unrehearsed cover of.... R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts". Nevermind that she forgets the lyrics halfway through... the audience happily takes over. Such is the stuff from where dreams are woven.
All in all, probably one of the most memorable concerts I have been all year, and a perfect night to test my new lens.
Making a little sidestep to the photography end of things... The music mag setup I am involved in is taking shape, and the layout I have seen so far looks promising. It's kind of nice to be involved in something like that, and it's kind of making me a lot more motivated as well.
This is probably the reason I spent most of my day yesterday putting together a little gallery of pictures. Call it a portfolio if you wish. I may actually set up a website again and pimp it a little, though my site programming skills are rusty. Oh well, it doesn't have to be slick, it just has to be functional.
Tom just got in touch with me too for a copy of a picture I took of Bowie in 2003. It's actually one of my favourite pictures ever. He wants to use it for an article they're doing on his work and it will probably be printed in international engineering mags. How cool is that? Frankly, I'm glad I can finally return a favour to him! I do want a hardcopy though :-]
All in all, life's pretty smashing at the moment. I have actually booked a little holiday on Texel in a few weeks, since my mum wants to celebrate her 60th there, with all of the family. Sounds like an accident waiting to happy, but I am taking Solon as well, so I don't have to spend all my time with the rest of them.
One of my German friends just texted me to say Arcade Fire is playing there August 22 and should she get me tickets. How nice! Some of my Bowie related UK friends will come over for that too, so it'll be a nice little reunion.
And once again, summer is shaping up nicely (and quite unexpectedly!)
