Your Hand in Mine

Last night James and I went to the Explosions in the Sky concert and it was truly amazing. I was expecting something great, from the reviews I read, but it was much better than expected.

James was already tired by the time he picked me up, because he’d been working all day. We parked at the station (lucky we found a parking spot, but it might have been because it was Sunday evening and it’s not that busy) and caught a train to the city, where the theatre was located. Since I had a bit of cash left on the refund card James gave me a while ago, we decided to spend it on a bit of food. We bought some beef jerky and dark chocolate.

We had walked past the theatre at 6:30 and no one was there, so we had a chicken bun and a pork floss bun. I brought a banana with me and ate that as we walked. James said it was like an emergency banana. XD

We arrived back at the theatre at around 7:00pm. The doors were due to open at 7:30pm. We hadn’t been gone long and there was already a line at the door. We joined the line and before long – only about ten minutes – the line behind us got much longer.

We walked into the theatre and stood at the front, right in front of the stage. James wasn’t too keen on standing so close to the speakers. He warned me that if the music got too loud for him, he’d move to the back but I could stay at the front. I secretly hoped he wouldn’t want to go to the back. Since I’m very short, I always try to go as close as possible to the front. Even in the third row at my previous concert, tall people were in front of me and my friend Dylan had to carry me at some point so I could see.

James was notified by a security guard that he had to put his backpack in the cloakroom. So much for eating beef jerky through the concert… nah, haha. We weren’t that disappointed and he felt better without it anyway.

The concert had sold out last week, so we were expecting a huge crowd behind us. The theatre wasn’t full until the show nearly started at 8:15pm. The opening act, Charge Group, are a four-piece from Sydney. Usually I don’t know what to expect from homegrown talent but most of the time they are pretty good. We were surprised to see that this band played music very similar to Explosions in the Sky. EITS’s music is instrumental, and their music is of the post-rock genre. Their music is hard to describe, but think of modern symphonies. Your classic music greats – Mozart, Beethoven – mixed with rock music, beautiful piano melodies and highly intricate guitar melodies. Charge Group were a bit more on the rock side of things, but with their violinist, they had a great edge to their sound. All of the songs they played were varying as well – some had words, some didn’t – and they varied in style. One was very catchy, others loud, and some really progressive.

The bassist of the group was so dull; he seemed way out of it, and he didn’t have any enthusiasm. (Maybe he had a bad day.) The lead guitarist/singer and the violinist made up for his dullness though. They were so enthusiastic and I was completely intrigued by the lead – he was moving around and really putting all his energy into his playing. He moved his neck around and back and forth. I enjoyed watching him and the violinist, and the drummer was so swift and excellent.

During the intermission, while the stage was being changed, the curtains closed. James and I had a chat and as we were talking and looking at the crowd, I recognised a girl behind me. She was Diana, a girl I went to primary school (ten years ago!) with. After finally asking her, “Hey, are you Diana?” she gasped in shock and exclaimed, “Oh my god, Georgina! I haven’t seen you in over like seven years!”

We had a small chat before EITS played. What are the chances of seeing her, right behind me, at an Explosions in the Sky concert? Of all the places. :’)

Explosions were just amazing. Just incredible. They turned on the fog machine. At this point the crowd whistled and cheered loudly. The whole time they had been rather quiet. People barely moved. I was glad there were no moshpits or people jumping.

During the first couple of songs, there were photographers in the section between the audience and the stage who had photo passes so they could take photos on their professional cameras. I was so annoyed at this one guy who didn’t move from his position and blocked my view of the lead guitarist, Michael. The other photographers moved around. Thankfully they were only allowed fifteen minutes of photographing before they were ushered away by security guards.

EITS didn’t play my favourite song, So Long, Lonesome; they didn’t have a keyboard on stage and it does play a major role in that song. However, they played some of their best hits and they played well. They were wonderful live; just like how they sounded on the recordings. Standing in the audience I felt amazed by their playing, and I saw that they had their eyes closed as they played. It felt like the times I had listened to their music at night as I drifted off to sleep.

They played for ninety minutes straight. During that time, I felt like I was floating, I felt numb, I stared into space – I was just blown away. I nearly cried. I think I would have, but my antidepressants have been making me feel less emotional, so my emotion didn’t hit the extreme of tears coming out of my eyes. It was upsetting that they just put down their instruments and only Munaf (one of the guitarists) farewelled us. There was an extra stage guitarist (not in the band) who waved at us. I could see they were so exhausted though; Michael was sweating so much sweat was dripping down his guitar.

I took a lot of photos; I’ll be sure to share a bunch of them or post them on my photoblog so keep an eye out. ♥️

James and I had some beef jerky and dark chocolate on the way home. It was a wonderful night. I’m glad I could have such a wonderful experience and could share it with James. /love

Comments on this post

Hi, Georgina!
Remember me? I’m Sunny from re-dream.info, but I have a new blog now. Hehehe ^^ I really missed reading your blogs!! How is life?
Anywho, the Explosions In The Sky concert sounded amazing!!! You had some pretty good pictures too on your photoblog! ^^ I’ve never heard of the band though… are they like a local band?
Yea, the world is such a small place, right? :P You meet old friends in the oddest of places.
I’ve actually never really heard music that is like Mozart mixed with rock. Sounds pretty interesting though, I think I’ll give this Explosions in the Sky band a try! :D
Yea, I totally get you. I am really really short too and I always get mobbed and can’t see anything during concerts T____T

The concert sounds even more amazing than when you described it to me. /love

I had to Google pork floss. /um

Oooo Explosions in the Sky! I remember when you show them to me! I think that’s amazing the line wasn’t so long by the time you joined. I usually think concerts would have terribly long lines maybe even a day before it’s supposed to start.

I’d love to see a EITS concert though it’s like a cross between a formal concert and a nonformal I’m assuming. Between the concerts where people sit and enjoy and the concerts where people SCREAM over cute boys. You can’t really sing along with an instrumental band.

That is so awesome you ran into someone from so many years ago. I think I’d like that just to see where the person has gone all these years. Too bad most people from then went to my high school and hate me.

I haven’t listened to EITS for a long time but I’m sure they would’ve sounded wonderful and I would’ve literally cried. So amazing that you went to their concert. <3

I have never been so into concerts… don’t know why… maybe I just haven’t found the right moment or event to see. Sounds like you had a great time. I hope someday I can have that kind of hype over a concert. :P The world is sooo big, yet it can also be small in ways. :P Life has its own humor. lol.

Wow, sounds like a great cute night. How come bandsss you go to see NEVER play your favorite songggg, has happened to be when I went to see U2 and others (not English)! But anyway, its been a long while since I went to see someone or some band in concert. I had sold my Lady gaga tickets because I had to go abroad! I’m glad you had a wonderful night with James =D I want to see the photos. I’ll be sure to keep a look out =D Btw, im not really loving the new wordpress update…uggghhhh lol im so aggressive today

Hello Georgina /eee It Seems Like You Had An Amazing Time With James Last Night ♥ I’ll Keep Checking Back To See Pictures From the concert Or Check Your Photoblog /eee I Agree That The World Is Such A Small Place You See People You Haven’t Seen In A While And Everything. You & James Are Absolutely Adorable ♥ /love !.

Hey Georgina, remember me?? u had hosted my site on floriental about 2 yrs ago…..How are you?
I see this EITS concert seems to be really good but me being in India we usually don’t get such stuff here….hehe! XD

Hey georgina will you plz help me a bit with wordpress….. plz? if u can plz reply to my site!! plz plz!! 🤮 🤮 🤮

Wugs!
Charge group were quite good, really. I’ll be hearing more of them in future, tahui

EITS was awesome; there were moments I just shut my eyes and let myself be carried away. /bounce
see you tomorrow! /wuw
not much to say because I was there. /ummo

(Y)

Sounds like you had a awesome evening with James. Shame on the beef jerky though. I know how it feels about being short that’s why I never go to any standing concerts, most of the time I can’t see much :( Being short can sometimes be well annoying.

It’s such a small world that you met someone from primary school. I’m surprise you recognised her. I barely remember what my primary school friends look like. Definitely won’t recognise them at all, doublt they can recognise me either.

Sounds wonderful :) (the show & dark chocolate especially, not so much the beef jerky)

That sounds awesome! I guess that you didn’t have to watch any racecars after all. :P

Reading this has me excited for my next concert. Ha ha. I’ll get a press pass thanks to the band and everything so I’ll get to use my 35MM – cannot wait!

Usually I get to a show a few hours before just in case we get lost. Which always seems to happen. And we just sit outside the doors until they open. This upcoming concert we’ll get there about three hours before the doors open, but my friend Tony will be there and I’ll get to hang out with him as well as the band. :) Haven’t seen Tony since May and I’m going to stay with my friend Anna in PA – I just got back from Pittsburgh and I’ll be going back next week! Ha ha. I think it’s a sign I need to move there.

Can’t wait to see pictures! I’m sure I’ll have lots of pictures after my concert next week. Two digital cameras, 8GB of SD cards, a 35MM SLR and three rolls of film. Ha ha!

YAY! I’m glad you really enjoyed Explosions in the Sky! I’m typically iffy about opening acts, too, but lately they’ve been very good and I’ve discovered a lot of new music from them :D

I get what you mean with being short and wanting to be as close to the front as possible! I like going with pushy friends to shows, so they do all the shoving to the front for me. Hahaha. They tend to look tough so people just part to let them through and I just follow :P

I’m really glad you got to spend some time with James since you mentioned missing him in your last post. I hope you guys see more of each other! That would be my holiday wish for you :)

Violin always does a good job in adding spices to the music, be it classical or, as you mentioned there, rock. I admire violinists actually; that instrument’s so complex and I don’t think I will have the patient to study it… seeing how I get all pissed with piano too, which is clearly an easier instrument than violin, lol XD
Seems like you have such great time at the concert. I really want to go to a music concert. Believe it or not, I’m 16 AND not allowed to go watch a concert.. what the– parents always have this retarded idea that I will be dead because of all the crowds and stuff. Talk about exaggeration much. /argh I wasn’t even allowed to watch Linkin Park last time… 😢 I sure cried a lot. Bah.
And it seems like anti-depressant pills work quite…erm, well? I might try em just to stop being so damn emotional about everything and everyone who’s stupid. who knows… /ho
—
Also, thanks for your compliment on my videos. I don’t think they are very great but seeing how you, an awesome blogger, commented on them like that, I was flattered I guess. /love Thank you, Georgie~
And yeah, it takes hours or even days – for me, it’s usually one whole day though – to create a music video that can fit well with the beat of the music. /ehh Tough work, but it’s worth the time.
Ah, Indonesian language isn’t very….erm, nice? I don’t know. A lot of bad, dirty words ugh I just dislike speaking it too.