Wednesday 4 February 2009

Peachy Keane


How old do you have to be before it is considered passe to stand at the front of a concert, staring wide eyed up at the band with adulation, completely caught up in the moment and waving your arms in the air with frantic abandon? I suspect the answer is "You're never too old", and even if there is a numerical limit attached to this conundrum, I shall not pay any attention to it!

Other Half and I went to see Keane last night and, as we said goodbye to Mother In Law who was babysitting, we joked that we would probably be the oldest ones down in the mosh pit. Yep... after my fifty minute wait to get through to ticket sales last year, in a fit of delayed teenage abandon, I plumped for standing tickets  - it was either that or the sheer euphoria at hearing a human voice as opposed to a computer telling me I was 36th in the queue, that made me loose all sense of reason! 

As we walked into the auditorium, once I'd gotten over my excitement at realising that we were only third row back from the stage, I took comfort in the fact that we appeared to be considerably younger than a number of fans and would even go as far to say that we fitted in! I also silently awarded myself some fashion kudos for the carefully chosen lace up boots over skinny jeans and two thin layers on the top half, one being for peeling off later! Before you think I am kidding myself that I can still "groupie" with the rest of them, please don't forget that due to a little thing called childbirth, I had to preplan a specific time to stop drinking water that afternoon and then squeeze in as many loo visits as possible before taking our place down at the front! I do know my limits people.

Keane.... what can I say? I love you!!! You were fantastic, talented and put on the most amazing live show I have ever seen. We were totally caught up in the euphoria of it and as Other Half wisely said later, if only you could bottle that feeling up and store it away, to be poured out later, a bit at a time, when you need it! The band clearly love playing live and I have never before seen that come across so much in a performance. Let it be stated for the record that lead vocalist Tom Chaplin was very easy on the eye and has officially knocked McDreamy off the top spot on my laminated Top Five!  

Let it also be stated that that is my sole excuse for pushing my way forward to make hand contact with him when he got up on the barrier and leaned out into the audience! Tsk..... and me being nearly forty and all.... disgraceful behaviour! But I shan't be washing my hand for a while!

12 comments:

Jean said...

Glad you had a great time - you just can't beat live music, the atmosphere is brilliant. I love going to see live concerts and I'm older than you - so the answer is "no, you're never too old".

Tim Atkinson said...

As long as you're younger than the band, it's fine. (And with all the ancient rockers still going that'll never be a problem!)

TheOnlineStylist said...

NSM - Glad you're with me on this one! It's been a while since I saw a live band and every time I go again I vow not to leave it so long next time! I need to vow to stick to my vow!
Dotterel - in this case, the lead singer is 29 so I have ten years on him! Oh well... who am I to ever listen to the rules?!? I guess it would count when I went to see Van Morrison just before Small Child was born! Actually, I do wonder if thats the reason she came early.. all that jumping about to Brown Eyed Girl might have set some things in motion!

Home Office Mum said...

I am in awe that you went to a live concert and that you were three rows from the front. we don't even go to the cinema, too loud. So god help me at a concert. You've laid down the gauntlet. I'm going to find something to go to and dig out some remotely trendy clothes and shriek with girly abandon. (and I'll take earplugs and maybe one of those little folding chairs)

TheOnlineStylist said...

HMO - Do it, do it! Its a natural high that lasts for ages! I look forward to hearing who you throw your gauntlet at! BTW - I really ached all over this morning from standing so long, jumping around and shouting myself silly! But you know what.... worth every minute!

Mom/Mum said...

I lovbed this post - you caputrued that feeling of the gig europhia so very well. Wish I'd been there.
You are NEVER too old or too young to enjoy live music.
And I wouldnt wash that hand ever again if I were you! x

TheOnlineStylist said...

Mom/Mum - It was truly a fab gig and even today I'm still buzzing from it! It's only a matter of time before Small Child tells me to stop playing their CD's in the car and put Girls Aloud back on!

Anonymous said...

I'm way older than you and I was right at the front at Manchester and wouldn't have missed it for anything. When I get to the point where I'm unable to stand - that's when I'll consider myself too old. There's no way I could obey that "as long as you're not older than the band" rule.

nappy valley girl said...

Sounds great. I like Keane too and I bet they are fabulous live.

We went to see The Feeling at Somerset House in the summer - to our surprise the majority of people were not only our age or older, some had brought their kids along too! Was a fabulous gig.

TheOnlineStylist said...

Anon - thanks for stopping in to comment and Im with you on that rule breaking thing! Glad you enjoyed the gig in Manchester... if they tour again next year then I am definitely going again!
NV Girl - ooh... I like The Feeling... one of them is married to Sophie Ellis Doodah I think? (Too much Grazia intake!) We are indeed a bunch of trendy gig going mummies and daddies!

Robin M Anderson said...

You are too cute!! I am ashamed to admit I saw my first concert, yes first only a few months ago. I know unheard of!!! But......it was George Michael and it was AMAZING!!! I was like a 30 year old virgin having sex for the first time, I finally knew what I has been missing!!!!!

I am so glad you had so much fun!!!

ps thanks for the award my from my sister across the pond!!

TheOnlineStylist said...

YM - I think it may have been worth the wait to save yourself and lose your concert "virginity" to George! He is one I haven't seen but have heard that he's amazing! x