#9:30 Club | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

spaceaudyssey · 1 month ago

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It's time for me to talk about my experience on my birthday and at the Fontaines DC Concert on 10/18 in Washington DC

This is gonna be extreeeemely long because I have so much to say and I want to write it down to remember. The concert part of the story I will make very obvious.

I found out in May that they were going to be in Washington DC on my Birthday. I live 3 and a half hours away from there. I don't know if I would have been fully set on going if it wasn't on my Birthday, but since it was I HAD to go. I had only just become a fan of theirs last winter, but I was already so invested in this band for some reason. They had everything that I had been searching for in a band. So I asked my husband, if he could buy the tickets for me as a birthday present.

And it was all I thought about for months, because I was that excited for it

So on the day of, we drove to the DC area in the morning. Check in, to our hotel, wasn't until 3:00 so we killed time at Tysons Corner Mall. I didn't see anything there worth buying, but time did fly by. We went and got a late lunch At Kura sushi in Tysons. It's a rotating sushi place. That was a lot of fun. I've never been to one of those before. I got a pop socket for my phone from the little prize thing you get when you take an x number of plates or whatever. So cool

Then we stopped at the hotel to check in and take a nap because we are in our 30s. I probably could have stayed up the whole time but hubby was worried about it so we napped. The concert wasn't until 10pm.

Got up around 6 and got ready for the concert. I had made a shirt for the concert. It's in another post on my page somewhere. Then we made the walk down to the venue. We were going to drive initially but since the hotel has valet parking, we couldn't really get the car back until we check out. The walk wasn't too bad.

So, here's the thing (that was intended) I was expecting it to be how it was last time I went to a concert at the 9:30 club, where people stood in line and it was generally quiet everywhere else. I was wrong. Howard University had their homecoming weekend the same weekend as the concert. I thought it was just an event at a building somewhere when I first heard about it, but no, it was exactly what it was, students coming back to school and going out on the town. So a good number of food places and such were packed, and there were people everywhere. Which is totally fine, college students have every right to be out and have fun, it was just unfortunate that the concert was that weekend. BUT the food place right next door to the venue looked like it had some space there to eat so we went there. We shared a bowl though, because we were not that hungry, but we knew we needed to eat something. I got a beer because I needed to calm my nerves down. I was wondering if I would casually spot the band somewhere, as they tend to go to pubs and such before a show, but on this busy night, I doubt it.

After we were done, we could see people lining up for the concert so we got out and stood in line. While we were waiting, a car on the street ran into a guy on a bike. We heard a loud crash sound(?, hard to explain, it was like a thud, but a car thud?) and ambulances came. People stood around the guy but we couldn't see him because the car was in the way. From what I heard I think he was okay, alive at least. There were some people in front of us that were talking, and then we hear, "wait, this isn't the line for the so-n- so concert (can't remember the guys name now) ? I guess the two girls in front of us thought this was the line for the concert for the previous show, and didn't realize it was the line for fontaines. So they left the line, and we stood behind this other couple in line. They looked like they had left from work to come here, but not in a bad way, they dressed professionally almost, with nice coats and all. But I also think that's general DC vibes, as most work government jobs. The dude had an English accent. They both were very nice. I had a headband in my hand that said "it's my birthday" in it. It was silver. A woman walking down the street walks by and sees it in my hand and asks if it was my birthday, and I say yeah, and she says "happy birthday!!! ". It caught me off guard, because I wasn't wearing it and forgot it was in my hand. The couple I front heard and wished me happy birthday as well.

The English guy said that it was nice that I got to see them on my birthday, and that they were a great band. And I was like "yeah! I just discovered them last year on tik Tok, and I thought they were really good!!!". The Woman said "oh okay, yeah, Grian (she pronounced it like "Bryan" 😂) Chatten has something weird going on that just does it for me (not sure if those were the exact words but you get the point) I'm into whatever it is". I go "yeah!" Because I get what shes saying about weird, but like a good weird, hard to explain (especially his movements on stage, but it works). And her boyfriend goes "she wants to have s*x with him". I can't remember if he said something like he was okay with that but he said it jokingly. I laugh pretty loud, because, what a thing to say to people you don't know!!! Haha. But it was funny.

All the while I'm trying not to think about peeing, because I had to pee really bad. The beer hit me in the bladder too soon, and we had some time left before the doors opened.

Doors finally open and the line moves and we see people huddled around with their phones at some guy, who ended up being the guy that played before our concert, as the woman in front of me let me know.

The concert

I ran to the bathroom inside, had a long good pee, and went to see if the front row was taken and it of course was (curse my bladder!) but I did get pretty close so that was nice. Hubby went to get me the shirt and patches I wanted and a beer. I ended up standing near a guy that was behind us. He looked to be in his late 40s at least. I was wearing my headband this time, and we had a short conversation about how lucky it was I got to see them on my birthday. I replied with the thing I said at the very beginning of this post about how I HAD to go. He said he never gets to go to a concert on his b day because his was Jan 2nd or something. And that's the time of year where basically nothing happens because it's after the holidays. I told him at least he can get some sales on stuff, to be positive.

Hubby comes back with the goods, and as we are nearing close to the first band starting, a girl in front of me waves her boyfriend to come up, and it's this really tall dude. He stands right in front of me, so I can't get a great view of the stage. So I'm moving my head around while the first band plays. Ben Stellar was good, but I think I have to listen to their songs on streaming first, before I can make a clear decision. I think it helps to sometimes listen to the studio version first to fully understand the live version, as I couldn't fully hear some of the lyrics. They get off the stage and then tech people get up to move stuff and check things. I finally found a spot to see the band better. I'm getting excited. Some other girl wishes me happy birthday and it was her brother's birthday as well, so I wished him happy birthday because he was there too.

Curly, Tom and Deego get on first and start playing the beginning of Romance. Then Carlos gets on. Based on a video I have of him, on that night, he had sunglasses on and sat in his chair to mess with the machine (whatever it's called), and he looked like he could be tired, but I think we may have mistook that for him just trying to look coooooool. At some point Grian starts singing and everything is going as usual for their typical concert. Energy is flowing. By the second song people start shoving each other around but it wasn't a full on mosh. I wasn't sure if anything like that was going to happen or not but I decided to take my chances with it instead of going up to the balcony. I did see the couple from before up there though.

At first it was jarring, since I've never been to a concert where they did that, but afterwards it felt oddly....idk... comforting??? I don't think that's the word. But as I was staring at Grian while he sang, I felt like I was being swallowed in a living breathing crowd. My hand was out trying to reach for something or someone that probably wasn't going to reach back, but we were all moving in unison back a fourth, right and left, being squished and being bumped, all to the same song, and we probably all had the same feelings when listening to the greatness of this music. It felt both dangerous and safe at the same time. Very strange

I think next time, I'll go to the balcony 😜

Then the third song comes on (or maybe the second is where this happens) and they stop in the middle of it because of "technical difficulties", and they had to leave the stage to get it fixed. I personally thought it all sounded fine so I didn't know what they were on about. It probably lasted around 10 ish minutes. A woman in front of me sees my headband and asks if it's my birthday and I say yes, then asks for my name and I tell her. She then proceeded to tell her friends and other people around her that it was my birthday and that she wanted them to help her sing happy birthday. She goes "okay everyone, ready, one two three!" And they all start singing happy birthday. Everyone else who didn't get the memo turned to stare at them and me, maybe some of them also joined in(?). But I was shocked that someone would go out of their way to actually tell people it's my birthday, and sing it, just to make my day a little extra special. They were sooo sweet for doing that. All I could do was just awkwardly stand there with a grin on my face. I told them thank you and I asked what the woman's name was. It was like Era or Erin or something, it was really hard to hear over other people talking. But we had a short conversation about crowds at concerts and her experience at a dropkick Murphys concert.

Not long after that, Curly came back on stage to announce that Carlos was not feeling well and wouldn't perform for the night. But they would try to play as many songs as they could for us. I was bummed, but also didn't know what they could or couldn't play without him. Also when they said it was technical difficulties, it was because Carlos had walked off stage, during the song, which I didn't see happen because my view of the sides were blocked by 2 gentlemen. Anyway, they called up a guy named Griffin ( who is actually a Richmond VA local) to help them play Boys in the Better Land. He did a good job. I always like it when they give young guitarists a chance to play that song for them. So far I think it's happened at least 3 times. He's pretty lucky. I know they played Life Ain't Always Empty, I Love You, Televised Mind Bug, Big Shot? And Big maybe??. But no Starburster or much else off of their new album which is fine. I prefer Skinty Fia more anyway. But it all ended up being a 40ish minute set.

At some point in all of that, they did announce that it was Tom Coll's (the dummer) Birthday! I was like waaaaat?? That's so cool I share a Birthday with the drummer! Being my hyper self, I tried to yell out It's my birthday too! But hubby was like "shh don't, it's fine, they don't need to know" . So we all sang happy birthday to him.

There was no encore. After the last song they said cheers and left. And so did we. I did hear some people screaming back in the venue as we were leaving though, and I'm not sure what that was. We just chucked it off to people just being dramatic. There also was an ambulance outside. Some said it was for Carlos, but others have said that somebody got punched during a song, and so it was for that.

We walked back to the hotel, and found out that we lost the patches in the crowd somewhere because it was missing. And I lost a gibbit stud on my silver Mary Jane stomper Crocs. Oh well. Still got my shirt though.

Coming back from it all, I can't say I feel overly disappointed with the concert that night. The band had to do what they had to do. I think Carlos really wasn't feeling well, as he ended up being able to play for the next show the following night. If anybody went to the 10/19 one, y'all are lucky mfers. I do think that speculating that he was being a diva or that he was on drugs is not helpful and very divisive. I like to hear about drama like any other person, but we gotta learn to stop spreading rumors. I hope that Carlos is at least getting some time for him to breathe and y'know be mindful and whatnot. Constantly being on Tour can take a toll on your body and mind.

But I do think what made my night, and helped make light of the situation, was all of the nice people I briefly met at the concert. The amount of love that was given to me by complete strangers was astounding. Thanks to all who were there and wished my happy birthday in some way. What a way to turn 33!

And I REALLY hope to see Fontaines DC again. They better come back around. Hopefully somewhere closer to me than DC. Sorry this was so long, but if you read all of this, then you're a real one!

#fontaines d.c.#Fontaines DC #9:30 club #spice boys #grian chatten #tom coll #birthday twins #my birthday #Washington DC #Carlos O'Connell

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