August 26, 2009
No, no John Lennon songs from me today, no matter how brilliant they are.
Rather, imagine a dark concert hall.
Imagine the press of bodies all around you. Holding you tight in your spot. But that’s okay. You want to be there.
Imagine the white spotlight. Four of them, one on each band member. And darkness in between. But not real darkness.
Now, close your eyes. FEEL the music wash over you. A wave. A wall that breaks over your head and collapses down your body.
It takes you somewhere new. Old. Safe. Dangerous.
Imagine the longing. To climb inside the music. To be noticed by the men making that music. To be Someone Important.
Imagine the power. The way you feel more alive than any human being ought to feel. The way it’s not just the air that’s crackling, it’s you, too. From your arm hairs down to that center core, the one where you hide the shit you don’t have the guts to let anyone see.
Feel your lips move as you sing along. Hell, you’re not even fully aware that you’re doing it, or that you’re pumping your fist in the air. That’s because you’re not inside that body that’s crackling with vitality. You’re… over it. Inside it. Under it. On the stage. In the pit. In the nosebleed seats.
See the sweat glisten on the bare, tattooed arms of the men in those white spotlights. Watch drops of it fly off long hair, wetted into tiny spears that barely block the light and yet manage to eat the light for dinner. Don’t be blinded by the glare off their teeth, even the ones yellowed by cigarettes.
Imagine the way you scarcely dare breathe as they run from end to end of the stage. You’re afraid to blink, afraid of missing something. You couldn’t even begin to explain what that something is. You’ll know it if you see it.
The hands in the front row, reaching for a hand slap, a pick, a drumstick. From where you stand, you can see the fingers trying to wrap around a wrist, to hold on. To prolong the contact. To find a deeper meaning in it — for him on stage and for you, down below.
And then it’s done. You’re as spent as they are; you let the crowd carry you out in their swell, outside, where the air is somehow sweeter and thinner and it fills your lungs and washes it all away. All of it. Except the memories.
Imagine.
netta
August 27, 2009 12:26 am
Amazing entry. I love it.
.-= netta´s last blog ..Dear Momma =-.
Thomma Lyn
August 27, 2009 2:50 am
Susan, an incredible piece — just reading it jazzed me, energized me, revved me up, then made me say, “Yyyyyeah.” 🙂
.-= Thomma Lyn´s last blog ..Red Ghost Flowers =-.
CountryDew
August 27, 2009 8:27 am
Very nice, a different way of doing a TT! I enjoyed reading it!
.-= CountryDew´s last blog ..Thursday Thirteen =-.
sherilee
August 27, 2009 8:34 am
Very creative and inspiring! Really enjoyed reading that.
.-= sherilee´s last blog ..Thursday 13: Thirteen books of summer =-.
Tamy ~ 3 Sides of Crazy
August 27, 2009 9:10 am
Awesomely done – felt like I really was there.
.-= Tamy ~ 3 Sides of Crazy´s last blog ..Food for Thought =-.
Julia Smith
August 27, 2009 9:10 am
‘See the sweat glisten on the bare, tattooed arms of the men in those white spotlights. Watch drops of it fly off long hair, wetted into tiny spears that barely block the light and yet manage to eat the light for dinner.’
That is so freakin’ fantastic, Susan. I love watching the sweat shoot out like helicopter blades when dancers pirouette. You’ve captured it so perfectly.
.-= Julia Smith´s last blog ..Thursday Thirteen – 121 – 13 Views of Hurricane Bill =-.
Jannie Funster
August 27, 2009 9:32 am
The epitome of every great concert ever played anywhere. Could’ve been the Stones, as well as The Beatles. Could’ve been AC/DC. The Eagles. Coldplay. Just awesome! I personally have not experienced the energy of a huge concert, maybe some day I will.
.-= Jannie Funster´s last blog ..Post-Vacation Contemplation =-.
Janet
August 27, 2009 9:44 am
well done, Susan, OMG!
.-= Janet´s last blog ..What Is It Wednesday #178 =-.
Hazel
August 27, 2009 10:13 am
I love the finale of all this imagination! The entire T13 piece is a treat.
.-= Hazel´s last blog ..It’s Raining Awards! =-.
PopArtDiva
August 27, 2009 10:28 am
You have perfectly described the experience of going to a rock concert!
My TT this week is: Thirteen Fun Sites for Totally Wasting Time
.-= PopArtDiva´s last blog ..13 FUN WEBSITES & GAMES FOR WASTING TIME =-.
life's journey
August 27, 2009 11:13 am
A great one post for T13…happy week ahead.
.-= life’s journey´s last blog ..Thursday Thirteen – Phone Etiquette =-.
JO
August 27, 2009 1:52 pm
great post! happy thursday!
.-= JO´s last blog ..Thursday Thirteen #59: Movie marathon =-.
Adelle Laudan
August 27, 2009 4:05 pm
Brilliant!
Happy T13!
.-= Adelle Laudan´s last blog .. =-.
Celticlibrarian
August 27, 2009 5:41 pm
*holds up a lit lighter*
.-= Celticlibrarian´s last blog ..13 Fairy Tales Retold =-.
Patty Reiser
August 27, 2009 5:58 pm
Wow! I feel like I just stepped back in time and relived one of my favorite concerts. Very well written.
Wishing you a scent-sational T13!
Patty
Patty Reiser
August 27, 2009 6:00 pm
Wow! I feel like I just re-lived one of my favorite concert moments. Very well written.
Wishing you a scent-sational T13!
Patty
.-= Patty Reiser´s last blog ..13 Items NOT in my Camera Bag yet! =-.
jillconyers
August 27, 2009 7:29 pm
excellent writing!
.-= jillconyers´s last blog ..Personality Quiz and Character Strengths =-.
Alice Audrey
August 27, 2009 11:37 pm
Thanks. This does a great job of getting me in the right mood.
.-= Alice Audrey´s last blog ..In the Crucible =-.
Jane Doe
August 30, 2009 10:08 am
This was amazing! I got goosebumps just reading it. Climb inside the music (I love how you put that, btw), yes please. Then can I climb all over the band? lol Or at least the lead singer if he’s cute.
susan
August 30, 2009 10:39 am
If it’s my fictional band, Jane, Trevor would be MORE than glad if you climbed all over him. No worries there.
.-= susan´s last blog ..Susan’s Cool Shit: If you Love an Author =-.