Live, I'm Not Dead!

Growing up music was always a part of my daily life. My tastes were always a little eclectic and bordered on "uncool" but I had enough pop likes to avoid complete humiliation from my peers. Living in Sydney during my pre-teen years I managed to see Roxette live on their Joyride tour as well as *cough*Vanilla Ice*cough* where even I was shocked by the fight over his dirty, sweaty, little towel. I also enjoyed more than a few live theatre shows, including the obligatory Phantom of the Opera and Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even when I moved down the coast I made an epic journey (2hrs in a taxi and another couple on the train) back up to Sydney in order to go to Madonna's Girlie Show. Maybe I took this all for granted.

As I got older I was a little pickier about what shows and concerts I went to, since I was now the one paying for them. Janet Jackson was my first concert as an "adult" I think. I enjoyed many different types of shows and concerts, I only ever walked out of one show and that was a little play that I don't remember the name of in a dodgy backalley theatre, no surprise. I'm among the first to be offered spare tickets to anything musical by my family, since chances are I will like whatever it happens to be. I saw UB40 and Bette Midler for free (I wouldn't have paid the price of the tickets anyway), because my Aunty couldn't use the tickets, but I was pleasantly surprised in both instances. I don't get to many concerts these days but if there's someone I really want to see I make it happen.

I am getting to a point somewhere here, I think...

A few weeks ago I was tossing up whether or not to get tickets to see Pink (my fascination/crush had been growing for weeks) when the new dates went on sale for her ever growing I'm Not Dead tour. My only concern was who I'd take with me as several people had already been and I didn't want to go with someone who didn't even like her nor did I want to go by myself. So the night before the tickets went on sale I decided to call my elder little sister and if she'd go then we both would. She said "yes" in a heartbeat and by 9.10 the next morning I had the tickets. It was only in those following days when I was getting excited text messages that I realised my darling little, 19yr old, country bumpkin sister had never been to a concert.

So sis arrived on Sunday and we spent most of the evening with Pink blaring from the stereo (not unusual for my place) and deciding what to wear. We'd basically been ordered to stay in the City on Monday after the concert by her (over-protective?) boyfriend and our (over-protective?) father, who didn't want us catching a train home at midnight. With Little Boy being taken care of by my older sis we headed in to the Motel (very conveniently owned by a family friend) by early afternoon on Monday. By the time we left to make our way to the concert venue to say we were excited would be an understatement. We skipped down the street, giggling and singing like a pair of schoolgirls. That was remedied five minutes later when we stood scratching our heads and lost. While my country bumpkin sis has an excuse I just have no sense of direction whatsoever.

We were back on track and at the venue just a few minutes past six and joined the back of the line. Long waits in line tend to take the thrill and excitement out of an occasion quite quickly; as do loud, drunk and rude lesbians standing behind you in said line. Eventually we made it inside and were told to sit down on the dancefloor and continue waiting. It was at this time that my country bumpkin virgin concert goer little sis realised that we were sitting a matter of metres away from where Pink would soon be standing and singing on stage. It dawned on her how close we'd be and the look of shock and awe that spread across her face was priceless!

When we stood and were even closer to the stage I think the wind changed, because a huge grin was plastered on my little sister's face from then on. We endured the support act and screamed with everyone else when Pink began. Pink is super fucking hot and one hell of a singer and entertainer, but I think it was being able to experience my little sister's very first concert that made the night that much better!

Dodgy phone photo's of great performance!