I’ve been on vacation this week. The week has of course flown by. At the same time though, I feel like it’s been a long time since I was at work. Therefore, time passed as it normally should, and not in warp speed. I’m happy about that.
I didn’t stray too far from home this week, but my best friend came and visited me for a few days. Stacey did her first solo drive into Toronto, and did not get lost or have anyone honk at her for not driving like a Toronto asshole. I was very proud of her for that. However, an hour-long traffic jam in Cobourg delayed her enough that I was beginning to wonder when she was going to actually get to my place. Once she got here, we did a lot of talking, shopping and giggling, and not necessarily in that order. I won’t discuss the wine-induced talk here – what is discussed at my kitchen table, stays at the kitchen table. I was so happy that she came up – we had such a good time together. One thing we didn’t do was take any pictures together. I realized that about five minutes after she left – d’oh!
Sean and I also went to see the Slayer/Marilyn Manson show that came to the Molson Amphitheatre yesterday. I’m not a huge Slayer fan – I like the big hits in small doses and that’s about it. Sean said they did a good set so I’ll assume it was a good show. The rest of the crowd seemed to like it.
Manson was a more entertaining show, with several set changes and a couple of costume changes (the change into a boxing robe and setting up a mini-ring during “Fight Song” made me giggle). Most of the Marilyn Manson fans seemed so young. It was kinda like that line Matthew McConaughey (as David Wooderson) says in Dazed and Confused: “That’s what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age.” Sean was feeling old because he first saw Marilyn Manson back in 1994 when they opened for Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails at Molson Park. At that time, he couldn’t tell if they were women or men. And they played in daylight with very little makeup. I guess this is an example of “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”
I spent most of the Slayer set people-watching. How could I not with all the hilarious fashion choices being made by both fanbases. Black PVC clothing in August is just not a good idea people. A fashion choice I didn’t expect was that I wasn’t the only person who was carrying a pink purse – Sean pointed out a girl who was carrying one too.
I was also surprised at how many young kids (like, under twelve years old) were there. This one kid was there with his dad and dad’s friend and it was pretty neat to watch him rock out as hard as the older fans – wearing a kid-sized Black Sabbath shirt to boot. I also saw a goth family with the mum and dad in full regalia and the kid following along in less goth-y outfit.
I think it’s great for these parents to take the kids to the shows if they want to go – as long as these kids were wearing earplugs. (That habit needs to start early.) The kid sees what happens at concerts so he’ll know how to behave when he/she goes unattended (seeing a big drunken guy acting like a goon and missing the show due to being thrown out for his drunken antics *might* prevent the kid from drinking in the parking lot with his friends before the show). The kids and parents develop a bond over a shared love of a favourite band, and the kid isn’t embarrassed to be seen with his folks. I hope any kids Sean and I have like at least some of the music we do so we can bond with them over it.
