Stage Left

Music is an escape exit.

No matter what mood, music has the ability to alter it. Music uplifts and understands. The sound, the sight, the feeling, I had settled for on the record player, radio and CD. Until I experienced it live.
It was my first rock concert, “The Rolling Stone’s: A Bigger Bang’’, April of last year. It felt surreal that I was at a Rolling Stones concert. Though I was precariously perched on a hill with a tree obscuring the view, it’s something I’d never miss.
Incredible! Mick Jagger was. Tinier then in person, but I could hear him. Keith Richards was incoherent at times; still we knew he wanted to play us a song. Who cares what he was trying to say? I was there, so were the Stones. That was all that mattered.
I thought nothing could top that. But at 2pm, 26th September while first in line outside the TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, It felt different. I knew that something incredible was going to be witnessed. I’m talking about the “INXS: Switched On” tour, of course.
I was right. It was incredibly different. Not better then the Rolling Stones; they’re a whole different show entirely (with numerous costume changes and a revolving stage in tow).
No. This was more intimate. And it had a lot to do with my position; the lone mike stand had been my direct view. I was front and centre. When the black curtain dropped and ‘‘Suicide Blonde” began, the atmosphere was exciting.
INXS were on and it didn’t seem real. I don’t know if it’s because you know who they are and what they do, but they have a presence about them, these ethereal rock stars.