A Journey to Lonesome Island
There's music floating around in the universe that pumps itself into your blood
circulation at once, if you like it or not. Music you can only consume
intravenous from then on, 'cause a lower dose would not bring the desired effect
anymore.
I have several bands who do this to me, but last summer I had a very special
experience of this kind. I was at a concert without having ever heard a single
word about the main act. Or only in a subconcious mind, because I actually had
the feeling that I knew some of the songs.
It was in June. The whole day I didn't have time to even think about the evening
because of a Himalaya full of work. Suddenly I found myself in Munich, a bottle
of beer in my hands, in front of the small Elserhalle and was waiting
to get in together with a managable bunch of people and a man I barely knew.
Next door, at the bigger Elserhalle, a considerably bigger crowd of considerably
younger people was waiting for the Bright Eyes. At first I was a little jealous
on the Bright Eyes-Guests and was damning the decision not to go there. Then I
was hoping, the average Fan age of the Bright Eyes will not stay 14 in the
future. After this I turned my head and forgot there are Bright Eyes existing.
Because in this very Moment some tattooed guys armed with beer as well ran out
of the halls and almost hit us. I would have never recognized this unless my
attendant advised me to look at the band. Or the band with it's band, but more
about that later.
Finally we came to stand in the very cosy little Elserhalle. I was so anxious
about it...what if I don't like what I hear? And I'm standing here next to a
person I want to spend the evening with and I can't tell him I think his
favourite band is boring me to death? And how can I hide I'm the only one not
knowing all the lyrics?
By the time Chris Carraba stepped into the headlights I knew all my sorrows
where baseless. A small wave of alleviation ran through my bones. Instead of an
average supporting band Mr. Carraba performed solo with his guitar. Happy
smiling and shining bright. Making jokes every now and then. He got me instantly
with his charisma, and finally somebody has good ideas noone had before!
Later the band (Chris Carraba and his guitar) with it's band came back and the
main performance started. In the very few silent moments between the songs I had
an extra lesson in band structures. As I heard, Dashboard Confessional
first existed only of Chris Carraba, but then he found a bunch of nice people he
worked well with and so they decided to go on together making people happy.
I can't even describe how the rest of the evening in this crowd of fans felt
like. It was like I was lying on an airbed somewhere in the sea, with a cocktail
in my hand and sunstroke in my head, happy and lost at the same time. Some small
islands around me, lying peacefully and shady. I felt very attracted to one
special island so I got out of the airbed, left my companion sailing on, laid
down under a palm tree, turned on the radio and stayed there forever. And took
Dashboard Confessional with me...
ally