(no subject)

[rusty_halo]

Last night, soulmate815, thefangirl, fruitynut, and I took the LIRR out to Long Island to see Common Rotation. It was so freaky. We all rushed right after work to catch the train at 6:30 at Penn Station, then we took this hour train ride out into the wilds of suburban Long Island.

They were playing this summer arts festival where they have some kind of performance each night. It's free, in the park; people sit on blankets or lawn chairs. (Though it's fenced in because apparently the park is overridden by geese.) The audience consisted almost entirely of elderly people and very young children. We city girls very much stood out.

So, at first we were sitting on the grass (icky) but when the band started we were informed that the pit area was open for "dancing." No one else was going up there, though, so thefangirl and I were debating about whether we really wanted to be the only ones. Finally fruitynut just got up and went, so the rest of us followed. And we started a trend! Several other people also came down to the front area.

Meanwhile, behind us, the elderly folks were reclining in their chairs, and little children were running around everywhere with glow sticks. Yes, it was a strange show. Apparently lots of the band members' friends and family were there, too; I guess they're originally from Long Island. It was Eric's grandmother's birthday, so they all wished her happy birthday from on stage.

The show itself was very good; they played a long set and clearly had fun interacting with the crowd, changing the lyrics to fit the situation, and so on. They chatted with us afterwards, too, which was cool. Adam didn't seem bothered by the fact that we're, like, following them around a bunch of places; he said they've done the same thing with bands they like, and was telling us how they followed a certain band around to five shows, and spent two days seeing Phish, or something like that. So I feel less weird about it now.

We took the LIRR home and didn't get back until after midnight, so I'm completely wiped out today. I think I'm going to make today a day of rest (after work), but then tomorrow we're going to go see them again in Woodstock.

Comments

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

Ah, that makes a lot of sense. glassslipper mentioned all the old people, which sounded so odd to me, but if it was family, that explains it.

Heh, at the Saint Paul show, Adam was telling the crowd that we needed to drive to Omaha with them to see their show the next night. He was all "It'll be a caravan! Our sound check is at 5ish, but you don't need to be there until 7, but drive with us anyway!" I wish I could have. Stupid work.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's so neat. They really do seem to "get" the music fan thing. I'm sorry you couldn't go. (I'm so annoyed that I'm going to miss them when they play the Bitter End next weekend! The Bitter End is a 15-minute walk from my house!)

There was a *ton* of old people. Not just family members. They were all just sitting in the back in their lawn chairs. And many families with little kids. I think these people just come to these things regardless of who is playing; it's like a local social/cultural event. Didn't look like there was much else to do in that town.