You know this scale of close encounters with UFOs? The first, second, third, fourth and even fifth kind describe how close you get to the alien, the third kind means you have seen beings, and the fifth kind even involve some direct communication between you and the alien. Big rock stars are a bit like aliens, you rarely see them, they travel inside big black vehicles, and you work very hard at getting close to them. But when you get there, it seems surreal. I had a summer of encounters with rock stars, whatever the level of the encounters (and they were all at least of the third kind) they left the biggest impression of the summer on me.
First, early July, I went to Nick Cave’s ’20,000 Days on Earth’ movie premiere at the Egyptian theater, and had the chance to meet him after the event. There was a Q&A and Nick Cave even performed a few songs on piano, everything was already awesome, but when I exited the venue, I saw a group of people waiting in front of a door, which obviously was a theater exit. There were two big black vehicles, a limo and a van, so I decided to wait with them, and barely 20 minutes later, here he was, Nick Cave accompanied by his whole family! Aaawww, he was so sweet, asking if people wanted him to sign something, holding a baby in his arms, and taking all the pictures you wanted. I took mine and I cherish it so much despite its crappy quality. Call me crazy but I still feel Nick Cave’s hand on my right lower pair of ribs… I haven’t washed my jean jacket since.
I have been running around the lake in Silver Lake for a while now, and three times in a row, I literally ran into John Dwyer,… I know he is no Nick Cave’s caliber, but I love Thee Oh Sees. The first time I was so surprised I didn’t even attempt anything, the second time I made a U turn and I tried to shout at him, ‘Are you John Dwyer? I love your music!’… I am certain it was him but he had his earphones on and didn’t hear me,… a minute later he was way ahead of me, well he is a tall and fit guy! I ran into him again today, and this time, I looked at him and said ‘I love your music’… I don’t know if he heard me, he had his earphones on, but I got a large smile and a thumb up! I am happy to know I am running on the same trail than John Dwyer, I am happy to share the same path of sweat and dirt with him, I am happy to know he breathes the same air filled with dust and the smell of pine needles,… he is a runner, and I know I will see him again.
Arcade Fire played two consecutive nights at the Forum early August, I attended one show, and it was big, almost too big for me. I then realized that the band I have observed growing over the years had reached a new level of stardom. But there was Saturday night and their after-party at the tiny Bootleg theater. I am still amazed I got a ticket for this one, and, although it was not an Arcade Fire show, part of the band became a cover band and Win Butler was Dj-ing the whole night,… to 3 am to be exact. After being 3 miles away from the stage at the forum, this was a close encounter! He was standing next to me (and everybody else) behind his DJ table and finally removed his mask, yes it was him! I didn’t ask for a fucking selfie, but I could take all the pictures I wanted, I didn’t touch him but he grazed me while walking by to join his brother who was covering the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Everly Brothers on stage… I am sure we exchanged a few free electrons at this precise moment….
A few days ago, I saw Paul McCartney at the Dodger Stadium, and despite the immensity of the place and its labyrinthic design, I tried very hard to get to the artist exit and get close and personal to the Beatle,… I certainly am a dreamer and it would have looked good on my encounter resume. It didn’t happen but the show was wonderful, the kind of historic concert you remember forever… it was the first time a Beatle was returning to the Dodger Stadium since 1966 – the Beatles played there on August 28th 1966 and it was the second-to-last show they would ever perform together! But last Sunday night was a sort of encounter too, a close encounter with the past, as the setlist included about 25 Beatles songs…
2014 was my summer of many encounters, but it is not totally over right?
