The playlist stops. The curtain opens. Girls scream. Cameras flash. Graupner starts the "Ladies and Gentlemen," of "Wing on Fire" and suddenly I'm back at the 24k Lounge. I'm back in the studio with them, hearing this song over and over and over. I'm back at the Mint. I'm back at their place after the Superbowl last year, the first time of many. I'm back to death glares and selling merch. Suddenly, it's like they never left.
photo from official page
100 Monkeys played the Viper Room Friday night. I'd debated going. I hate parking on Sunset, and Banana never tells me anymore if I'm on the list or not (which means I'm not, but whatever). But my desire to see this band, for the first time in MONTHS, won out. I'd missed them, and I needed to know if they still remembered me. (In retrospect, they'd have to be pretty cruel and wrapped up in their egos not to...). And they did. It took them a second, but as soon as they did, their faces lit up a bit and I was enveloped in hugs.
We went upstairs to the pit, which was generously packed. So much has changed since that first tiny show at 24k Lounge last December. We took up space to the left of the crowd, near the stage and by the booths occupied by the older generation of fangirls, who still freak out when Jay walks by, even though this isn't their first 100 monkeys show.
When the boys finally take the stage, I'm hit with a rush of nostalgia and pride. The last show I went to was incredibly small, barely any pit formation, and before the release of their album, Grape. This was before their corresponding tour, before NM came out. But NOW. God, they sounded SO MUCH BETTER. They've come so far in the past year, it's astounding. The crowd was singing along to a good majority of the lyrics... and like, audibly! And I will always say they're a band to see live, because their album doesn't match up to the raw energy that drives them onstage.
Jay and Jared, taken with my bb
They played a lot of old stuff, a lot of the songs I've heard hundreds of times, like "Wasteland Too," "Ugly Girl," "Smoke," and "Orson Brawl." These are songs I used to hear every week. I heard some of them at the first show, transformed and improved by miles since then. "Orson Brawl," especially. This was a song Banana, GF, and I used to create moshpits during... Pushing, dancing, all around loss of balance. It was our attempt to get people to stop taking pictures and let loose. To start dancing. So Friday night, I got lost in the song again, swishing my hair around and holding on to the table near me so I didn't fall onto the snap-happy girls next to me. Because Banana was taking a much-needed break from Banana-ing, so there was no one to inspire the dancing. So there wasn't any. Except me and Roomie. These girls are too wrapped up in Jay to enjoy the music. To get lost in it. Who cares if he sees you? Who cares what anyone else thinks? It's a show, not a viewing. Let loose and get over it.
God, I'd missed this band. (and making fun of the fangirls is always a bonus).
If you ever get a chance, go check out a live show. The music is a little different... I like to say it's a combination of Tom Waits, The Kinks, and Jim Morrison... but maybe that's just me, and I am a bit biased. But I'll guarantee it's like nothing that's on the radio now.
Seeing them, it made me just a little bit happier, and was definitely something I needed.
2. Go to 15 shows/concerts (3/15) (100 monkeys)
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