 |
| Philly's Beach Slang played the last set at Asbury Lanes before it closed for renovations. |
Thanks
Friday, October 2nd, 2015
He had big plans. The rain was really coming down, and the wind was howling. It was a perfect evening to listen to some records and dig into that new bottle of whiskey his wife just bought him. A couple of beers with dinner had gotten him started when he got the message: "Brick + Mortar playing tonight."
He'd seen the band a few times, and he knew they really brought people out. It was the next-to-last night at the place, a good chance to see everyone one extra time. He stopped 3/4ths of the way through his second beer, packed up his camera bag, and got in the car.
Wow. The rain was vicious. He could feel the wind buffeting the car as he drove. "The gods are angry. They don't want anybody messing with the place." He thought that was pretty clever and tried to think of a way to work it into whatever he was going to write.
There was one last spot right out front. Bob and Jenn greeted him as he walked in. "You made it in time for Super Dad!" He thought that was pretty funny -- and appropriate. "Super Dad."
Super Dad was Josh from Snack World, the guy with all the great t-shirts, the guy who would skateboard around on the hardwood floors of the lanes after shows. Super Dad was comedy, music, performance art all rolled into one. Super Dad smoked. Super Dad stripped from a bathrobe and pajamas down to a pair of briefs emblazoned with the place's logo. Super Dad climbed onto the bar in the lounge where the set took place. Super Dad threw his body into the spectators. Super Dad burned a dollar bill and almost set his clothes on fire. Super Dad gave him a pretty hard bite on the shoulder. It was funny. He could feel a lump forming in his throat.
Gentleman Jim showed up, disappointed at having missed the surprise performance by his friend and co-worker. He talked with Gentleman Jim about their kids and the school. He talked about the little spark of activism rising in his daughter over her indignity at the sexism of the school's dress code and felt himself feeling kind of proud of her. He thought about all the times he'd spent talking with Gentleman Jim about the place. He thought about how they wouldn't have it to talk about anymore. Gimme Drugs started in the lounge.
A few more people had filed in by this time, and the lounge was more crowded. Jenn sat cross-legged on the floor. He got a spot from where he could snap a few pictures, but he didn't take as many as he normally would have. It was dark. There were other photographers. Even Zak brought his camera. Pete took videos on his phone. This was a reunion for Gimme Drugs and it was his first time seeing them. He'd seen Michael Jackson & The Beetles before, but never Gimme Drugs. They were good.
He floated around, mostly hanging and talking with Gentleman Jim until Brick + Mortar came on. They're a popular band who don't play locally too often. He'd see Brandon or John at shows sometimes. May have even spoken to them once or twice. He presented them with an Asbury Music Award once, but they didn't really know him. Brick + Mortar packed out the lounge. There were projections. There were unicorn puppets. There were big "HEY" signs. He thought he saw some crowd-surfing, or at least shoulder sitting, after he wormed his way out of the crowd.
When it was all done, he talked with Zak and Gentleman Jim for a while. Gentleman Jim appeared a little down about not being slated to work the show the next night. He had a feeling Gentleman Jim would find a way. He headed out to the car, happy to find that the police didn't appear to feel like writing tickets in the rain.
Saturday, October 3rd, 2015
The next day had a weird feeling about it. The weather was still terrible. The gods were still angry. The girls slept in, and his oldest never even put pants on all day long. She's turning into a real teenager. His wife ribbed him a little bit about his desire to get there so early like she always does.
They walked up the steps past Brian, Deaglan, Matt, Nick, and a few others. As they walked in, they spied Gentleman Jim hard at work. It was going to be a long night, and he didn't want her to be uncomfortable. They staked out a space in the lounge and chatted with Jeff for a while. Eventually, Emily came in. They talked and had a couple of drinks. He didn't meet Emily, Justin, Andy, Nick, Matt, and Rudy at the place; but they shared some good times there. He was happy and grateful that they were his friends.
Sammy Kay started his solo set. The crowd was pretty big for it being so early. As usual, several people stayed by the bar while some -- Including him. Always including him. -- moved up front. Sammy asked everyone to put away their phones for the night. It was a futile but thoughtful request. Somewhere in there, Scott tapped him on the shoulder.
"No Tim?"
"No." Apparently, young Tim wanted to rest up for his pee wee football game.
Sammy climbed down from the stage and unplugged for a campfire-style sing along at the end of the set. The people at the bar probably couldn't hear much. He loved it.
He weaved through the crowd. Hugs. Chit chat. They hadn't eaten. His wife ordered a grilled cheese from Snack World. Jalapeño and tomato.
He moved up front again for Lost In Society. There were lights tonight. Rare for the place. Mostly from behind the performers. He got lots of silhouette shots. So many that it would become obvious he just couldn't handle the lighting and wasn't being arty. Lots of photographers now. Climbing all over the place. Flashes. He stayed put. No flash. Like usual.
Lost In Society were all over the stage, constant motion. The people loved it. Brownie found him; shook his hand. Zach climbed on top of the monitor and jumped back to the stage. Chris was there pumping his fist and singing along.
He found his wife and friends again. Offered to get drinks. Was gone for a long time as he talked to people in the crowd. Kiley hugged him.
Back up front for The Holy Mess. The Philly portion of the evening had begun. They were funny. Personable. He liked the music. Punk / pop punk / rock. K8 tore up their setlists, laughing, throwing them back at the band. The pieces mixed in with the confetti that Carrot Topple was throwing around. A mosh pit started up. The band confirmed that Beach Slang were the special guests. He'd known, but his excitement built.
He didn't leave the front of the stage after their set. He didn't want to give up his spot. Yes. He's still a grown man, husband, father of two. His wife found him and stayed.
"Will I be ok here? Am I going to get thrown around?"
He thought she'd be fine. Emily pushed her way up with them, too.
James, Ed, Ruben, and JP took the stage and James said something like, "We're just the background music. Just do what you're doing and we'll be up here making it loud." Then James giggled in that nervous way he does. It made Emily and his wife laugh. They started their set. "Filthy Luck."
He screamed the lyrics. He snapped pictures. He started to sweat. His eyes got watery. He looked over at his wife getting jostled and squished. He felt the crowd at his back. By the time he was singing, "I'm screaming out my lungs with my best friends!!" he was a ball of sweaty emotion. His wife had had enough of the stage diving and jostling, so she took a few steps back. He was disappointed when he didn't see her anymore, but he got it.
The crowd wanted more. Beach Slang didn't have any more. James suggested someone come up and play while they convened to figure out what they would do. Deaglan, Matt, and Brian from Corrina, Corrina were goaded into going onstage. So nervous. "Boxcar." Nervous banter. Gentleman Jim on the PA giving them a hard time. "Can't Hardly Wait." Ruben came out and played lead guitar with them. They were over the moon. So much fun.
The bassist from The Holy Mess came out and did Against Me!'s "Joy" solo. Nice. Beach Slang came back. The crowd wanted more covers. "Game of Pricks." Then they did all-time Jersey classic "Anything, Anything," and the place went bananas. He was pinned to the stage and thrown from side to side. He tried taking pictures. Topple, Ed the Punk, Jason all dove off the stage at some point. The band closed with a new song from their upcoming record. That was it. The last set.
"The last set," he thought.
He found his wife again. "I want to get a picture of Gentleman Jim at the board," he said. Alex was over there and showered him with kisses. He did a little series of shots with Alex -- Gentleman Jim, Corrina, Corrina, Emily, Scott, selfies. He really loves that guy.
His wife was spent. He wanted to stay and say his goodbyes, take more pictures; but the crowd was so big. Quick snaps of Ed the Punk, Leeann, Nikki. An emotional hug from Dave. Bob not sure what he was going to do with his weekend evenings from now on. Handshakes and hugs with Chris and Amy. Texts from Allyson. Texts from the other Bob. "Where R U?"
He was driving home with his beautiful wife. They'd probably be spending a lot more evenings together doing something other than going to shows now. No small thing, that.
The Aftermath
The next day felt so strange. Sunday. 9:30am Jets football from London. They won.
He had fatherly commitments that kept him from heading down one, last time. He never quite felt like he had as much of a claim to the place as other people. He'd been going to shows there for less than half the time they'd been throwing them. He loved it so much, though. Sold-out shows. Shows with 12 people in the crowd. It didn't matter. It meant so much to him. It took him in like he'd been there all along. It saved him at a time when he was lost.
It surprised him, how much difficulty he had sleeping that night. He felt weird. Maybe he was worried he'd get lost again. He didn't know, but he was pretty sure that the place had helped him build something in himself that made that impossible.
Maybe the gods put a scare into the powers that be. Maybe they'll do the right thing.
A few tears rolled down his face when he wrote about his last two nights at the place.
You can go to
Flickr to see shots from the last 2 nights at Asbury Lanes.
