Sven's Glass House

"The pet names that you once gave me, we had given the pets I still come when you call them, just to be sure"

Flogging Molly on Friday in Kansas City, MO at the Beaumont
I do enjoy the musical styling of Flogging Molly. I hadn't prepped as much as I'd wanted to, but I'd listened to a CD Sullivan burned for me 2-3 times. As a result, the songs got to sound familiar when the band played them. This was the most crowded I'd seen the Beaumont. The show sold out. The audience didn't seem to be much of a community. It was a concert where oh-so-many wore the shirt of the band. Not forbidden, but it does make me wonder. People didn't smile at each other all that much.
I drove Sullivan, Heath and Catherine, we were to meet up with Lara and Lara's dad Bryan. They were to be near the bull. Sarah Chaar was to be there, and I was not certain how I'd find her and her crew. Ashley Johnson, of law school, was also to be there with her crew. We found Lara, and I mused with how crowded it was that I wouldn't find anyone. I described Ashley to Sullivan. Pink pigtails, maybe glasses. I described Liz, the one who invited me. Then, I realized they were the group standing next to us. I chatted a bit, introduced. Ashley and Zarda disappeared quickly. I met Andy. Then noticed Sarah Chaar's crew, too. I knew that Rachel Murray was to be there, but also in attendance was Dawn Gregory. Many people, no?
I talked to Brian about the Roger Clyne shows I'd just seen, Lara had introduced him to Roger. He seemed like a fan. I really enjoyed talking to him.
During one of the opening acts, Lara stood near a leather couch with a man with a camera on it. At this time there was a walking path through our group. Sullivan and I watched as the man pointed the camera at Lara's butt from 2 feet away. I tried to tell her. I tried to cross the walkway. I was held back, I think by Cat. The flash. Then I signalled her over, and told her. She was a little ticked. Then we saw the man zooming in on another ass. At first I thought Cat's, then she reminded me that her coat obscures it. I then noticed the zoom and the angle, it was the girl behind me. I stepped back to obstruct. Lara informed the girl. Their group shuffled to have her boyfriend's ass face him in her stead. I told Rachel the story, she told me to volunteer her ass to him, as she was wearing customized Flogging Molly hot pants underneath her skirt. He accepted. I held her drink, she upped her skirt. The 18 year old next to the old man told her to wait, so he could get a picture, too. He then flirted with her, and that is where we found out his age. After the old man took a picture of Rachel's ass Lara was standing behind her, and the man pointed at her and said "I wouldn't mind getting some pictures of your's." I thought she would beat him up for that.
I chatted some with Dawn Gregory. I told Liz my car/semi/StLou story. Rachel dumped her $5+ drink.
The band took stage. People moved forward, I was at the back of the group, Rachel signaled me over to the bar. She wanted to see if the camera guys would contribute to replacing her drink. Old guy gave me a dollar. I gave that to Rachel and realized that everyone was gone.
A guy walked up to me, and asked me where everyone went. I'd seen him near our group. I didn't know which of the three groups he was with. He helped me piece it together, it was Lara's roommate, Trenton. We adventured forward to find people. I gave up, as I was not going to burrow to a position I didn't earn. I am of the opinion that you earn a spot in a concert by getting up there early, and graciously listening to the opening acts. I will often be a fan of the opening acts in the concerts I bring Hoj to. I retreated. Looked around a bit, and there was Sullivan. We tried to figure out how to have a better concert experience, as it was not looking all that good at that moment. The acoustics were bad where we were, we couldn't see the band. Most of the audience seemed unpleasant. We went forward a distance, and found ourselves in a place where we were pushed past in both directions, still couldn't see the band, still bad acoustics. Then retreated, found Cat and Heath at the merch booth. Chatted a bit, I'd gone to the restroom at some point, and realized that the acoustics were better by the pool tables and there was space to move and breath. I asked Sullivan if he'd be up for it, he was. Eventually most of that group was back there. I was much happier back there. I got bbq turkey sandwich, I got coke ($3). I was doing much better.
I was a little infuriated when I was told I'd have to pay for another coke, no free refills. I've been to about 7 bars in the past month, this was the only one without free refills.
Flogging Molly played a 90 minute set.

In sum, it is rough to see a band live in the same week that you've seen your favorite band (that is also your favorite live band) twice, that you don't know the songs as well, where the bar is more crowded, a larger venue, the audience wasn't as cool. My throat still hurt. The music was good. I would not see another Flogging Molly show at the Beaumont, unless: I went in early, nabbed a spot, and had prepped all the way for the show. I am not unhappy that I went, as I was in good company.

After the show we went to the Westport Coffeehouse, where I defended my right to bow. No point in explaining that. Bryan was very easy to talk to and I realized that I could imagine being friends with him. He explained to me why me bowing to her got under her skin. He laughed when he heard, and said "I used to bow to her, and she'd get upset." Then to the Sullivan/Heath apartment, at the QT on the way back a guy offered to sell us a $100 leather jacket for $10, I declined, and said, "I am rather curious how you could sell it at that price..." to his reply "I am trying to piss someone off."

Then conversations until late. Then home. Then sleep. Then wake from coughing so brutal that tears were forced out of my yes, and I expected to see blood on my pillow and hand. I showered, put on a dust mask and went back to sleep. Then sleep. Then wake. Then now. Off to Lawrence I go.

-Brian Vander Ark, "1229 Sheffield," Resurrection

Advertisement