carnivalnights

Adam Brazier as Frank with his glittery nipples, hairless body and succulent thighs.

Oh. My. God. I have a new favourite musical. The Rocky Horror Show was last night and it was PHENOMENAL. It has been a long time since I have laughed that hard throughout a show, and I was completely captivated by the performance. We were in Row CC Orchestra Center, and that was literally a few feet from the stage. I am so happy I got those tickets for that specific performance because although it would not have been less enjoyable further away, it really enhanced my enjoyment. I know I would have enjoyed the show no matter what but wow, does being that close ever make a difference. The acting was absolutely amazing; it was rare to see anyone come out of character for even a second. The singing was what impressed me most; beautiful, beautiful voices from all of the characters, especially my new idol, Adam Brazier (Frank-N-Furter). Ugh, was he so perfect for the role. He was arrogant, sexually-charged and dominant. He was so brilliant. And sexy. He is coming out with a solo CD sometime soon too. *drools*

Before the show, they had the Phantoms dressed as theatre attendants (well, sexy ones with short skirts and skin-tight leotard), wearing grey wigs and hats. Now, these "creatures" were extremely weird. They ran around everywhere and were pretty much acting like they were on high doses of speed. On the site there is a list of props you are told you are allowed to bring (noise-makers, feather boas, fishnet stockings, rubber gloves, etc.)... and all of the people wearing feather boas got mauled by these Phantoms. The Phantoms ran around humping random people but also tried to eat people's feather boas. The pulled off wigs (some people were dressed up, mostly as Magenta), they sat on people's laps, they scared the crap out of old ladies. I have no idea why but the audience was almost all 55-60+. I realize it was still part of that generation but I thought there would be mostly baby boomers there, in their 40s/early 50s, and then this generation's late teens, 20s and 30s. But the majority of the audience was definitely elderly, and we were definitely a minority. So yes, the Phantoms were freaking hilarious and everyone was just twisted in their seats watching them. It was bizarre and a really interesting element to the show while everyone was being seated. I have definitely never seen anything like it.

After the show started it was non-stop laughing and clapping and mouth-dropping. Men humping men, women in their bras, simulated sex, simulated masturbation, boob-grabbing, humping, Frank in his corset and garters, Brad running around in his underwear... and on top of all this, the audience was allowed to shout out things to the actors, which was funny. People danced during "Time Warp" and did the arm thing in their seats (when they did "Time Warp" at the end a lot of people stood up and danced--the show just had that much of a feel-good effect). It was just so great because this truly was a collective experience. They even made you hug your neighbour at the beginning of the show. Hah. It was just really neat to be in a room full of people who were having the time of their life, no matter what age or gender. It was funny because before the show, the Phantom introducing us to the interactive parts (what we had to say and when) made a crack about Stephen Harper and everyone started boo-ing. You know damn well no one who voted for Stephen Harper was in that room! (For those outside of Canada, he is our Conservative Prime Minister and sucks major ass.) It was comforting being with a group of people who were all a part of this fandom, this 'cult' following, and were there sharing it with you and were just as comfortable with sex and transvestites. I know conventions (comic book, Star Trek, etc.) get a bad rep, but I honestly do understand it. I think this experience just confirmed that. The best thing about Rocky Horror is that in order to like it, you have to be a bit crazy and perverted. It is rare I am in a room full of people like that, so it was really neat.

It was such an amazing experience that less than 24 hours later I already have tickets again for next Wednesday. I went with Cathy this time around but I am dragging Sean. He is not really a big fan of Rocky Horror but I am taking him anyway because I know he will enjoy it. There is no way I would let this show close without seeing it again. It only runs until the first week of May. :( I would honestly go three or four times if it was possible. I cannot say enough good things about this show.

Frank and Columbia (Christine Rossi).

Anyway, Placebo was last Friday and I did not have time to write about it before so I will quickly recap. Sean had to arrive late due to an exam, so I was there by myself for the first two hours (but that includes lining up outside, the opening act, and only a few Placebo songs). Sadly, there were three times as many people as last time. Last time I would say there were about two hundred people at the show. This time there were about five hundred. I foolishly thought I would be able to handle being near the stage, about ten rows of people back. I was inwardly suffering but it was not too bad during the opening act. The opening act was Evaline and I am sorry but I have nothing good to say about them. They were horrible. Perhaps they are bad live and are okay on CD, I do not know. But they were loud and obnoxious, and I did not like them at all. Placebo came on about half an hour later, and that is when things started to get bad. I never go to standing-room only concerts due to back problems, so I imagine this may be normal for these shows. These fucking idiots kept coming from the back of the crowd and literally pushing their way to the front. Packs of them. Every few minutes. It got pretty violent at times, and I was flung forward and almost completely pushed over on to the floor several times. Like, these people just had no concept of human safety or respect. I was fuming mad and not enjoying the show by this point. Every few minutes my gaze would go from Brian Molko to the idiots scrambling around trying to push their way up. I was praying for Sean to get their faster because I could not take it anymore. Eventually, when he did, we could not find each other (talking on cell phones is useless at a concert, so we resorted to text messaging) and I had to leave my place (close enough to see Brian sweat) to go to the very back by the soundboard. In the end though, it was the best thing to do. It was so much cooler back there (not so many bodies packed together) and no one was pushing. It was like going from one concert to another because the back was so mellow while the front was filled with disgusting pot-smokers and stupid wannabe goth girls.

My god. The younger girls at this show. The guys were the ones smoking pot, but it was a lot of the younger girls who needed a bitch-slap. Some of the girls were fine, but most of them were screaming and jumping and pushing. Like, you do not mosh at Placebo. There was no moshing last time and there was no moshing this time, except for these immature girls who obviously had too much sugar (or crack) before the show. I have decided I hate all ages shows for this very reason. I realize it sounds ageist (and sexist), but I could not take it and it wore my patience thin. People that ignorant should not be allowed in. If you are going to push and shove, get the hell out and go to a Limp Bizkit concert, okay? After the show, the older girls (mostly my age) in the bathroom were friendly and even started up conversation as we all waited in line. The younger ones just seemed to be in attack-mode all night. A Placebo concert is not the place to be acting that immature and rude. It gets to the point where bands like Radiohead make it clear they will not tolerate moshing or behavior like that, and they will actually stop the show if they see it happening. Good for them. Placebo should do the same thing.

Anyway! Brian's voice was phenomenal, even better than last time. (Although I enjoyed the last show more because I would have been able to stay at the front without being trampled, if I had chosen to... it was far more mellow last time.) Even Sean commented on his voice and how crisp and trained it sounded. He has not lost any of his ability to perform with age, none. So that was a really great bonus, him just pelting it out and never faltering. The complete setlist thanks to secretcircus: Meds, Because I Want You, Drag, Sleeping With Ghosts, I Know, Song to Say Goodbye, Follow the Cops Back Home, Every You Every Me, Special Needs, One of a Kind, Without You I'm Nothing, Bionic, Blind, Special K, The Bitter End, Running Up That Hill, Taste in Men, Twenty Years. "Special K" was awesome. It is one of my favourite Placebo songs and Brian let everyone sing the "ba da bop bop ba da na naa"s. Stefan is so cute because he always does the over-the-head-clapping thing during "No hesitation, no delay..." at every live show during this song; I have yet to see a live rendition where he does not do it. They did a great job with "Without You I'm Nothing" as well (which I have now dubbed a good sex song). It had a real opiate effect on me. Unfortunately they did not really do any of my favourite songs because, to be honest, Meds is not one of my favourite albums. Most of the songs they did were from Meds, obviously. I enjoy a lot from Sleeping with Ghosts but generally speaking, I like old Placebo better. Regardless though, Brian's voice was great and Stefan, as always, put on a great show. He always comes so close to the crowd and really interacts with the audience. I suppose he gets overlooked due to Brian, but Stefan is awesome and I love him. Brian is a great performer but this time he kept his eyes closed most of the time and did not interact with the audience as much. Heh. Stefan dances, makes faces, touches hands with audience members, etc. He is really great and I always enjoy watching him. You can tell he loves being on stage, and you can tell he appreciates his fans (I am not saying Brian does not, I am just saying this time around Brian seemed a little under the weather). I could not see Steve at all from where I was... poor bloke. But he was good too! The rest of the show from the soundboard area was much better, and with Sean there I felt a lot safer anyway. If his arm is around me, I feel less anxious and panicky.

So all in all, I did really enjoy the show but the first part was ruined for me. I was so impressed with Brian's sensational voice and he kept it up throughout the entire show. What was worse than the first part of the show was actually the aftermath of standing for six hours straight (the wait in line, the wait for the opening act, the opening act, the wait for Placebo, then Placebo--in total it was six hours of standing). I cannot even stand for one hour without pain in my back and feet, let alone six. So on the way home I was in so much pain. You know when you are walking forever and then your feet hurt even more when you sit down? Well that is what was happening to me and I was almost in tears, no joke. But I had to endure it because it took over an hour to get home by bus and subway. When I got home, I put my feet in a basin of scalding hot water and just let them soak for about four hours, periodically changing the water when it went warm. That was the only way the pain seemed to subside. Needless to say, I have no idea if I can do it again whenever Placebo decides to come back. They will only play at the Kool Haus, which is a club so it is always standing-room only. It is unfortunate but a fact I just may have to face. I am glad I went, regardless, because I still had a good time during the last half.

I just wish I could get Placebo to play at a seated venue...