That line always cracks me up.
I love The Who… and I am confident I have my Midwest roots, and brother’s record collection I frequently stole from, to thank for my love of 70s rock. So, I was psyched to get to go to VH1’s Rock Honors: The Who last night… partly because of The Who, but mostly because Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Tenacious D and The Flaming Lips were doing the tribute. Like, WHAT? Yes, please!
I’m a lucky girl, and frequently get to go to these kind of awesome events, thanks to Mark… and Mark’s reps. I didn’t know it was going to be just a concert concert type thing, and I also didn’t know there were so many real deal Who fans… I mean, everyone loves The Who… but who still has or buys Who concert T-shirts? Whoooooo are you? Hoo hoo hoo hoo!
Some work friends of Mark were sitting in front of us, and they were very nice. Though every time I am around “industry” (in the non-creative sense of the word) people, I just feel so out of place. I feel like I am back in college, smoking on the steps, and bitterly judging people. I was also reminded how my tattoo sort of divides people into people who “get it” and people who don’t. I have a tattoo on my arm that says “beautiful girl” in script. I got it about 3 or 4 years ago, and during a time of intense, intense emotional pain. I don’t really like talking about it with strangers, and I often forget that having a tattoo makes you a ripe target for people to talk to you.
Woman and Man: What does your tattoo say?
Me: Oh. Um. Beautiful girl. (turn to show)
Woman and Man: Oh. Ahh. I couldn’t see it.
Me: Oh. Uh. Yeah. Uh. I often forget that it isn’t just there for me. It’s a long story. Most people think it is some sort of narcissistic thing, which it’s not. And… Uh. I always like to make some sort of horribly inappropriate joke to those people… like…
Woman and Man: Hmmm?
Me: Like… ‘oh, I got this right after I was molested by my uncle’
Woman and Man: (silence)
Me: I mean, I wasn’t molested by my uncle… I just mean… it is sort of funny to see people’s faces when you say that…
Woman and Man: (go back to talking to each other)
Ooof.
Thankfully, David Duchovny soon came on stage and introduced the Foo Fighters. I’m gonna say this… yes, they rock… but moreover, Dave Grohl seriously turns me into a 12 year old fan girl…. he is SO HOT!!! He is also on my short list of people who can wear black jeans and look sexy. Oh, Dave Grohl, I love you. Gaz from Supergrass came out to sing a song, but the sound was a little dodgy and it wasn’t that great.
Next Rainn Wilson dressed as TOMMY came out to introduce The Flaming Lips… who had a set up like the Javanese Gamalan, and Wayne Coyne was in a BUBBLE… like a big bouncy ball, and he was inside, crowd surfing. This was the best part, because their performance felt rushed and out of sync.
Incubus was next and was totally forgettable… with the exception of capri jeans, ripped white muscle shirt, and keds.
Then Sean Penn came out… which had me say “WOAH!” as is. He introduced Pearl Jam, with a not surprising dig at VH1. Then Pearl Jam came out and did their AWESOME (in the awe sense of the word) cover of Love, Reign O’er Me, with a mini-orchestra and light show. Their set ripped us all a new asshole of ROCK. They are still so amazing… and I am not just saying this because I was obsessed with PJ back in the day, and still hold Vs. as one of my top 10 albums of all time. Maybe I’ll load some photos of my high school and first year of college room which had WALL SIZED posters of the band. I really thought I was going to marry Stone Gossard. Hmph.
After Pearl Jam, Adam Sandler came out to do one of those Adam Sandler type songs and introduce The Who.
(Note: About this time, AFTER Pearl Jam, these two girls came in… and one of them was the SVP who interviewed me a few weeks ago for a position I didn’t get. UGH!!! Of course, I wanted to yell… “YOUR JEANS ARE TOO TIGHT! WHEN THEY MAKE THOSE LINES IN THE BACK, THEY ARE TOO TIGHT!!!” I feel more and more when I look into doing publicity, it just grosses me out. The interviews are always like rushing a sorority. A sorority of ALMOST pretty girls, who just hang out together saying unfunny things. Yep. There I am back smoking on the stoop, being rude)
So, The Who came on… which I was honestly dreading. Without Keith Moon and John Entwhistle, is it really The Who? Also, after an evening of montoges of Rodger and Pete in their prime, adorable, true punk rock ways… seeing a couple dudes in their 60s come out and sing the same songs, it is just uncomfortable for me. I am not saying they didn’t SOUND good, they did. But Pete Townsend, in a suit, doing the same loop-de-loop-arm playing made me pray he wouldn’t tear his rotator cuff. It’s just awkward. I mean, YES, it is THE WHO… but it is also like watching someone’s DAD remembering his glory days. It is enough merely to honor them. I mean, would we honor the Baseball Hall of Fame players by having them suit up and take the field? No, that would just make everyone sad. They should do something more low-key, in an Eric Clapton sort of way. Something age appropriate.
I am also just against continuing using a band name, when IT IS NOT THE SAME BAND.
Despite a possible gift bag, we skipped the after party at The W. As much as I love drunk, pretentious people, I have to be in the right mood to mingle.
Plus, I have to swim this morning! In fact, I better get in a suit, stat!
Have a wonderful Sunday!
xoxoxox
