I Heart Aqualung

Wendy & I went to the Aqualung (or try this for the North American site) concert at Mod Club last night. Let me say, Aqualung = GOOD TIMES :) even the 2nd time around!

I was really excited because Matt Hales was so charming the first time around so I was looking forward to what he would say in a larger setting. Also, the concert was at the Mod Club Theatre, which I have been dying to check out for a long long time. Anyways, all signs pointed to a great concert experience....

and it was!

We got there an hour before doors opened but there was no one lining up so we checked out Rogers Video and Blockbuster for any pre-viewed movies we might have been interested in buying. We didn't find any. Then it was 7:25 pm and we saw there were already some people lining up - shoot! It's ok, we were still 6th or so in line. Nothing to do, nothing to do...then at 7:40 pm, I looked up from where I was sitting and saw Matt & the band! I nudged Wendy and we just stared as they walked past the front of the club...they were a good 10 feet away because the lineup actually started on a ramp back from the sidewalk, so we couldn't say anything to them. But that was extreme excitement for me! He was wearing the same blue outfit he wore at Drake Hotel (or a very similar outfit - he must love blue a lot). Anyway, we figured they were all going to dinner so we didn't disturb. Luckily there were no annoying teenie boppers in the line that would have broke that respect.

8:05pm, doors opened, we walked in to a freezing dark club decorated with what looks like to be a throwback to 60's, complete with psychedelia-inspired paintings along the walls & even in the hallway to the washrooms. It was cool. It was exactly how I expected it to look, and I was not disappointed (now to go there on UK Thursdays!). We headed to the front left, of course.

Wendy & I actually didn't know who was opening for Aqualung. I tried to do a bit of research before heading down, but I didn't have time. Anyway, we were in for a surprise. This unassuming guy in a baseball cap came on stage with an acoustic guitar, accompanied by another guy named Jason on the electric guitar. He was pretty cute, and his songs were along the same mood as Aqualung's. I tried to catch his name, but I missed it, so I thought that I would just go to the merch table later on to find out...

Near the end of this guy's set, Matt Hales suddenly walks on stage and starts accompanying him on the piano!!! Lots of cheers (good audience, btw). As if that wasn't exciting enough, after that song finished, the rest of Matt's band came on stage for the last song....and hat boy starts singing "Blue Eyes." I got really excited when I realized the opening act was Cary Brothers!!!! OMG I was ecstatic. Naturally, we had to buy his EP All the Rage, with "only four songs because that's all I could afford." hahaha.

Aqualung went off stage for about 10 minutes after Cary finished. Then they came back, including Dan who didn't make it last time because of visa issues, and launched onto one of my favourites, "Good Times Gonna Come." The rest of the night, I couldn't get over how charming Matt Hales is. He "finished" the Toronto song, although he modified it and made it the Canada song. He asked Ben what rhymed with Canada and Ben said panda so the song was about how if Canada were an animal, it'd be a panda. Awww. I liked the Toronto song better at Drake Hotel because it seemed more spontaneous. This one was probably more rehearsed. Ah well. At least he gave a nod to his fans :) BTW, it seems everyone who was at Drake was also at last night's show. Although everyone at the front where Wendy & I were didn't seem like they were at the first show.

Here are some pics which suck because I can't hold a camera still to save my life :( Ah well, I tried!!


Cary Brothers

Cary Brothers with Matt


Matt


They ended the show with a surprisingly rocking version of "Brighter Than Sunshine." The encore he did 3 songs, including a solo of "Extra Ordinary Thing," which was absolutely beautiful.

When the concert ended, Wendy really wanted the set list but it was not very reachable. She overheard the girls next to her saying they wanted her so without even thinking she leapt on stage and grabbed Ben's copy of the set list!! WTG. She also hurt her toe..hahaha. Good job, good job.

We went to the merchandise table and bought Cary Brothers' EP, All the Rage. We then asked for his autograph (he spelled my name with a "C" unfortunately :( ) and a picture! He told us his first full-length album is coming out this fall and he will be back in Toronto in September. Yeah!! I was very curious, so I asked him, how he got involved with Garden State since it seems that's the only place anyone might have heard of him. He then said how he and Zach Braff were music buffs and they encouraged each other to pursue their respective careers...I remembered it as they went to school together but Wendy says she doesn't remember him saying that. But what we both remembered was how Cary referred to Zach Braff as his buddy Zach. OMG!!!!!!! My one degree of separation from Zach :) That was amazing. Cary said it was amazing how Garden State worked out - he seemed very happy about that. Anyway, that was definitely the highlight of the night for me ;) When he comes back, I wonder if he'll remember "The Sisters" ;) hahahahaha. Hey, he's the one who called us that as we said goodbye.























I am so happy my concert season has gotten a LOT better than the beginning of the year. For the first few months of 2005, it was looking pretty ugly and I even thought I might be outgrowing concerts. But last night, the audience was great (hardly any background talking!) and the music was even greater. My faith in the concert experience has been restored. Next up: Coldplay (or Hillside Festival if I can find time??!!)