My Most Memorable, Emotional & Personal Moment at a Live Show... What's Yours ???
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Artist:mic christopher
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Album:Skylarking
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Track:Skylarkin'
Now I've posted about this artist before - long ways back… & I've also talked about one of the times I've heard it live - though not by the original artist… but it bears repeating in both accounts & it poses a question to all you kiddies out there.
What is your most memorable, emotional & personal moment at a live show ?
Mine was on the last night of the Electric Picnic 2006 at the Stradbally Estate in Ireland. I was with my best friend Deb who was 5 months pregnant with Chase, my Godson & with a fellow music junkie & all around dear & talented photog friend & Corkonian Sean. We began to hear word through the hushed crowds of people that The Frames would be playing one last impromptu set at the Big Tree Stage after all the other acts had finished for the evening & set up our "camp" for the set that followed the Dublin Gospel Choir.
The Frames took to the stage & played their hearts out for us - we'd seen them the second night at the second biggest stage & they blew my mind then as well - but I was much inebriated on So Co thanks to a few cute Scots & Irish lads so some of that show is a bit blurry.
At the Big Tree though - there was many a snafu in their set - didn't bother them in the slightest. They were so happy to be at the EP & so thrilled we all were such a grand audience - that Glen - who can be a bit broody if mood suits, was all smiles & laughter when the mics would shout out interference & his guitar would suddenly quit playing properly. The songs kept coming & coming. A few guests joined in the merriment & thrilled the crowd. Damien Rice (who's stage it was… he designed it & the ecofriendly set up), Lisa Hannigan danced in the crowd & an old Bodran player came up to sing a traditional song with Glen & Colm on fiddle. It was a magical end to the night to be sure - but I haven't gotten to the memorable, emotional & personal moment…
For their final song the lads decided to play a song by the fallen Mic Christopher. Mic passed away a few years back after falling outside a gig, hitting his head on a hard bit of stone & falling into a coma from which he never did awaken. He was best mates with Glen from their days busking on the streets of Dublin (hey, wasn't Glen just in a movie about Dublin buskers) ?!? ;) Glen & Mic's friends & family were all by his side when he passed.
I had never really gotten into Mic Christopher, even at the urging of Sean who sent me his one and only album. But that night changed everything for me.
Glen explains briefly that they will be playing Skylarkin by Mic & he then goes on to say (& I paraphrase)… "we lads have had the best time ever performing live here at the Electric Picnic - it's been the experience of our careers & we don't ever want it to end - as I am sure none of you ever want it to end either." He was right. He then asked all of us to please do them a favor. Since they never wanted it to end - he suggested we not clap at the end of the song. "You see, clapping signifies the end of the song, the end of a show, the end of this festival, but if you all sing along with us, just keep on singing the chorus, as you walk back to your tents & cars, just keep on singing the song, it never has to end - we can take it with us wherever we go & always know that the EP 2006 lives on in our hearts & minds & souls."
Yeah - the Irish are the quintessence of the poetic & romantic experience. No it was not the ciders I imbibed… silly monkeys ;)
So they begin the song & the entire crowd sings every note along with Glen & Joe. It was perfection. It was beyond any word. It was the beginning of my shared memorable, emotional & personal moment times a million.
At the end of the song, Glen reminds all of us not to clap - not to request "one more tune"… but to "keep singing it - just keep singing it throughout your lives as we will - thank you all for making this the most memorable, emotional & personal moment for us lads…" (that last bit is definitely paraphrased ;)
A few months later Glen was touring with The Swell Season (Marketa Irglova) & came to the Philly area & I saw him with my Mum - a huge fan of The Frames & the one who found this - my most favorite band. I got a chance to speak with Glen prior to the show starting & said to him with tears in my eyes, "you will never know what it meant for me to be at the EP this past year. To see all the bands & be in a land my entire being considers home, I was with two of my dearest friends & my Godson who was 5 months in utero at the time of the fest. But what I carry with me is Skylarkin - that stays with me and I think on it daily… it will never stop - no matter where any of us or what we go on to do in our lives - that is our moment & to have shared it with you, the lads & the crowd it's the best moment of my life". As I said those last words - he too got a little teary & said simply, "yeah, it was that, wasn't it ?"
It WAS.
Now yours MOGgers… what's your moment ?!?
PS (take a look at the lyrics as you watch the video - the lyrics kill me they are so beautiful)
Skylarking
You learned a lot when you were out there
About this foolish game
And finding cause to let your nightmares
Get in your way
And watching from your bedroom window
Cause you don't wanna play
You believe in what you wanna
We'll go anyway
Skylarking
Isn't this a way that we can go
So let us never let our relationship
Treat us like fools
Let us never ever wonder
What our friendship could do
'Cause my songs don't know that I exist
And though I give them life it is
A friendship that will never grow
My songs are friends I'll never know
Skylarking
Isn't this a way that we can go
Skylarking
Cause you know we never will grow old
Comments (22)
Hmmm... a close call between when Jenny Lewis' eyes met mine for the whole first verse of You Are What You Love, and my "duet" with Eugene Hutz on Not a Crime...
The arrival of the holy mothership
Damn. Sweet story. I gotta think about it. I don't know if I have one that good. That's priceless.
Lizzie - I was STRAINING to think of this guys name today, and you arrive just in time darlin. Thank you thank you thank you.
reading this gave me goosebumps, so i can only imagine how cool it was to be there.
I'll let you know if something half that amazing ever happens to me.
:)
since i've done concert tours for years, my moments might be a little different than most. i was lucky to work with your faves (Glen & Marketa) at a pre-Oscar bash the night before they won the award here, and that was a blast. there are really 2 moments that come to mind immediately though, and the first one actually happened in Dublin.
1. after a Laurie Anderson show i mixed, Laurie found me in catering and told me that Brian Eno wanted to meet me because he liked my work. i was kind of awestruck, but spent a half hour sitting with him and Bono talking about how i did what i did. i asked to be pinched to make sure i was awake.
2. CBGB's closing night. i worked there during an amazing period in the 70's and 80's. there were many "memorable, emotional & personal moments" spent there, as well as many that i don't remember as well. but i definitely sorted out my chosen directions via that club and i cried when it closed and again when Hilly passed away.
@JoxBridge... I'd say both those are well earned fine live memories
@CodyB... ahhhh yes - the mothership would do it for anyone with true soul my soul brother :)
@Tyler... it was priceless my friend... we've all got them though - think on it - thrilled you liked it :)
@*j*... ANYTIME - always and ever hear for you music bro !!!
@danielle... I will never in my life have a moment like it - marriage, kids - totally different I am guessing - but that musical moment I will gladly carry as mine own & one I shared with three of the dearest people in my life !!!
@Robin... That's too cool - all of it - Glen & Marketa at the pre oscar bash, BRIAN ENO & CBGBs... I still can't believe it & Hilly are gone - doesn't seem right... so thankful I got to see a show there when I was in college - a great show too... Wasabi with members of Blues Traveler & Blind Melon if memory serves.
Saw Billy Bragg and was oh so excited about the whole event. Went alone and sat in the crowd swaying to the music and singing along. Halfway through the show a girl who was next to me grabbed my hand and we just held hands for the rest of the show. Never got her name, never even thought to ask. I think we were both alone for the night and his music made us both want to imagine we were there with someone.
Kev... that's lovely - and quite memorable no doubt !!! For her as well I am thinking... Billy Bragg will do that to you I think :)
He does everytime I go to see him, never seen a bad show
Yeah - Glen is the same way for me... ahhhhhhhhhhh Glen :)
Gaddamnit twin, I had tears welling in my eyes just reading your story & I haven't even watched the vid yet(not sure I'm going to be able to)! I LOVE IT & thanks for sharing it with us all.
I certainly can't top that but I have some myself. My firsts(& only) time seeing David Bowie live at Moby's Area 2 Festival, Erykah Badu last year & Radiohead on the 'Amnesiac' tour & The Cure at Download Fest last fall. I couldn't beieve I was finally getting to see them after years of fandom. Transcendant, each one of them.
It still makes me teary just thinkin onit !!! Glad you loved Twinbro :)
I'd say all three of your moments are gooduns... I know seeing The Cure floored me... & I am still kicking myself for missing Bowie on that Area 2 Fest a few years back... ah well - I can live that one vicariously through my twins - twins are good like that you know ;)
Doing Security for Across the Sky, Mark Schultz, and Avalon -> Seeing all the fans come up to the stage and worship at the foot of a cross, crying out to God with all their hearts, completely caught up in the Spirit. I was the front & center guard for this set because I was biggest, and I got so caught up in the whole Atmosphere of worship, that I shirked my duty for a moment, fell to my knees crying with the rest, my hands in the air. Very powerful moment, first time I acknowleged God, felt his presence and felt my heart burn with life for the fisrst time in my life. They let me keep my security shirt because I wiped my tears and blew my schnozz all over it!
great account of your special night Lizzie, you once again helped bring out the best in us again, always a fun chat here in your MOG-lounge. Thanks
@Tyler... wow - that is a special & spiritual moment indeed !!! Miss you - you know I took up your idea & wrote my first children's book the other week - posted it here... check back a few weeks or so & let me know what you think !!!
You're too sweet - much hugs & love T !!!
The Cure at Download Fest:
Erykah at Harmony Fest:
Couldn't find the Bowie or Radiohead on youtube that I was at. And thank goddess for vicarious living through twinkies!
Lizzie, another great post, you darling.
i have made many MOG mentions of my favorite concert (i've only been to a few, because of where i am located) - Radiohead, with Sigur Ros opening, Belgium, year 2000. (or was it 2001?)
2000, man. no one knew Sigur Ros. they had to be introduced. Thom Yorke was endorsing them. the crowd was like, WHO?!?, and not many of them dug it at the time. oh, but i so did. i got lost in them totally. opening act and i was already sold.
anyways i was the one and only Asian in an arena-ful of pale-skinned, pale-haired Europeans. i figured as much so i thought i'd play it up by wearing some top with huge Chinese characters or something. it probably worked cuz i soon found my way right in the very front row, right of center, and even the huge burly bodyguard kind of let me lean on the railings although he was shooing everyone else.
so Thom Yorke, who was being painfully shy and not making eye contact, was just looking one way or another the whole time. and i could swear, delusionally so, that he just made eyes at me and no one but me all night. well, that's my side of the story, feel free to ask him his version. ;d
while we're talking about Irishmen, is it so wrong that i'm in love with James McAvoy? just a thought.
Now that's a moment ilay! Unknown Sigur w/Radiohead, damn! No wonder you da shizzle!
hello there, my co-illustrious A. i'm sure i just played it up and Thom has forgotten me by now, the bastard. oh, well, he and i have our memories. [grin]
No co-illustrious about it i, you are the only ii around since the alliteration works far better w/your name anyway!(although illustrious August doesn't sound too bad either now that I say it out loud. But I gave you that name so own it, damnit, hehe)
James McAvoy is a Scotsman but it is DEFINITELY wrong - I too share that mad crush !!!
Wonderful post lizzie thanks for sharing that moment with us x