Bat For Lashes.

So I'm not much of a writer, which is why I neglect this blog . It's an empty box asking me to fill it with my words which is a very daunting thing, especially when the header of my blog is the title of a compilation of Ray Bradbury works and my first ever post is a quote from Alice in Wonderland. How the hell can I compete with that? I think I've set the bar too high for myself! However, what I experienced last night was something I had wished for a long time and to not write about it would be a very sad thing that would totally undermine the experience if I wasn't to write about it adoringly and document it forever, so I will brave the empty box and this terrible intro to try and explain last night, August 25th 2009, in Vancouver, at the Bat for Lashes show and the events leading up to it.

The only concerts I've been to have been Britney Spears, N'sync, (I was 10 , blame my parents) Def Leppard, (blame my deprived youth) Primus (blame no one this concert was awesome!) and Coldplay , which I wasn't particularly excited about and don't care for much. When my friend and I found out that Natasha Khan was coming to Vancouver and that I would finally be able to go to a show, to see someone who I was genuinely inspired by, in an intimate setting, we tried our very best to get tickets but they sold out. Not to get our hopes down we decided to make the journey down there by bus and skytrain (hassled by a crazy drunk old men who found it necessary to slap me on the knee and say "hey you!" when I was trying my very best to ignore him) , and see if there were none being sold at the door or scalped. We went to the back of a veeeery long line of trendy looking black legging wearing, leathered jacket, hippy headbanded people who had been sitting there for a good hour. My friend, after she and I had decided waiting in line was not very productive and no one appeared to be scalping them, ran to the front asking if they had any tickets for sale. After being told by a very sympathetic promoter that no, in fact, there was nothing left we exited the line and stood to the side feeling very dejected. It must have showed since a guy very quickly approached us "what's the matter girls you look sad!". "We can't get tickets", we explained. He turned around and yelled out to the people "does anybody have any tickets they can sell to these girls?! I know some of you got some tickets you can sell!" A guy came out of the line and offered one ticket to my friend, she was tentative about it because it's only one and I said "take it damnet!" having a feeling we'd get another one and right away our kind new friend said "I got one I can sell to you". I was elated! I was ready to go home and cry and my night had turned around completely! He high-fived us a couple times each and promised us he'd "give you guys a fat doobie inside when I see you!". We were stamped, verified that we were of legal age and allowed to enter. Headed straight for the Bat for Lashes paraphernalia to pick up our souvenirs (after making a mad dash to the bathroom) , grabbed a beer each and proceeded to wait for the opening band to get off the stage.

The Stage was set up with little lights wrapped around the mikes and whatnot, two large porcelain dolls holding hands in the back that reminded me of the little girls from the shining. There was a huge and beautiful backdrop of a wolf howling against the moon and little jesus figurines, small details like that which gave the whole thing a mystical and spiritual kind of feel. The lighting was "romantic" and "like a highschool disco, will he dance with me tonight?" Natasha joked halfway through the show.

The Lights dimmed and cast a blue glow on the stage and the audience erupted in cheers and howls and catcalls as the band came on, Natasha last. She smiled at the audience and then turned her back on us and a ghostly beautiful voice ...

"I will rise now, and go about the city
In the street's, Broadways I seek
Him who my soul loveth"

Her dancing was totally unique and beautiful. Unfortunately most of the Vancouver crowd was to cool and pretentious to dance for it (aside from cheering loudly and clapping enthusiastically at the end of each song) . They just stood there and watched or filmed it with their cellphones and cameras and fat heads in front of me until near the end of the show. Which upsets me because I wanted her to remember this show as a good one where people are responsive, not just standing there staring at her. There was a scattering of people dancing and getting into it but I was disappointed with the general audience. Nevertheless she put on a fantastic show and I think live they are even better than the album. She played a beautiful kind of solo performance of Prescilla on some weird instrument, I don't even know what it was.

This is going to sound kind of silly and like the wishful thinking of a 14 year old, but a few times while she was playing the piano I think she made direct eye contact with me and if she did I hope she realized how much we truly enjoyed it and got some encouragement although I doubt she needs it. We did stick out being the few people dancing and getting into it so I wouldn't be surprised if she noticed us, I hope she did!

Well that's that. I'd write more detail but I'm getting tired and hungry!

goodnight.