Today started lazily. After Cleveland left at what seemed like the crack of dawn, I turned my fan on for some white noise and my cat turned all Dr. Jekyll for a change and settled down for an early morning nap on my buttox. Between the blankets, the noise, and the warm, barely breathing/purring body on top of me, it was like napping in embryonic fluid. Eventually I got up and began to prepare myself for the day: gotta be fresh, gotta have my bowl, gotta have cereal. I didn't do my homework, contemplated skipping class, and went anyway. Some kid in the back row was talking about how he was wicked psyched to go to SPACE tonight. I knew I was going and I knew I was on the guest list, but since I only talk to underclassmen who aren't douchy, I kept my mouth shut.
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| Foam Castle's new EP cover art |
Much, much later, after a few difficulties at my work-study jobs (apparently if I work for a project for one job while on the clock for another job, I can't get paid for both at the same time. In retrospect, it seems sort of obvious, but no one said anything,) I was home and (SURPRISE!) I took a quick nap before getting ready to leave. Mandy specifically said to arrive at 8:00 and that they were going on at 8:30. Usually, when we hang out or meet up at a show, unless she's picking me up I arrive early. Of all nights, this was not the case, and I ran into half of my under-21 Media Studies class, trapped in the entryway until doors 'officially' opened (Foam Castles was finished sound checking.) I sat on a bench and listened to an enthralling episode of This American Life, while trying to not make eye contact with the crazy and/or homeless man sitting across from me.
Eventually, I got in and was able to join the rest of the over 21 portion of the crowd who somehow were already there. Oh that's right, because they were all staff or band members. Foam Castles went on half an hour later, and sounded great. I saw a few friends peppered throughout the crowd, but was excited for my first GAGA experience.
Insiders say that STRFCKR were difficult to work with, and as ensemble big enough that Space needed to create more stage, I'm not surprised their egos were a little inflated. Mandy pointed them out as they were walking up Congress over to Space, while we were waiting in line to get in at PCMH. One band member wanted to know who was playing, and it would've been interesting to hear someone in line explain "Madonna, no, Gaga was playing, no, but just covers. But no, we know these people it happens all the time here." He didn't stand around long enough to hear an answer. The real question is where were they walking from in that direction?
Anyway, we waited in line to get in at PCMH for so long you would've thought Gaga herself was actually going to be there. I just saw on Facebook that it sold out- capacity at that place is like, over 600. But the joke was on everyone that went, because it was awful. If I was drunk enough, I would've demanded a refund. The woman who played Madonna, a middle aged singer songwriter, killed it. She had the charisma, the ponytail, and the voice. But her band... was so bad. I've touched a guitar maybe once after knocking one over, but I know when someone is wailing on a guitar, not in a good way. I also don't really know anything about sound mixing, but they were playing hits from the radio that I've heard a million times. The guitar player and the bass player needed to SERIOUSLY turn it down.
The Gaga band, however, was awesome. It was like this girl was doing bad Gaga karaoke. It was exhilarating to hear the song live... until she started singing. They even put some sort of autotune thing on. I could've had two beers and done a better job. Seriously.
The issue is that I know there are plenty of talented musicians in Portland, and I've been to a few really enjoyable Clashes. But this was back when they were at the Big Easy and Empire Dine and dance. There were so many people and the music was so bad. It was really weird and claustrophobic.
We left mid-song to head back to Space.
STRFCKR reminded me a lot of Muse, but maybe that just means I'm getting old. They projected little sprinkle-sized lines in red, green and blue all over the walls and ceiling. Cool! A lot of kids getting down, but my contacts were really dry, upping my blinks per minute to like, 100. I was having a hard enough time dancing and blinking normally, so I walked home and finished the newest episode of TAL.
At first, at Space, I thought I was a bit out of place, all these under-21 year olds wearing weird hats and things. But then I went to Port City Music Hall, and I couldn't wait to be back with my friends at Space.
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