It’s the night before New Year’s Eve, your sick as a dog and you’ve made up your mind that you’re going to sleep and take it easy. What do you do? See Blondie, of course! That’s exactly what happened to me.
Just as I was throwing on my pajamas, I get a call from Ernie Manrique- AAM’s photographer, asking me if I was doing anything. I told him I wasn’t feeling too hot and I was just going to sleep. He said that someone had cancelled on him, his daughter didn’t want to go and would I like to join him at a concert. At first I was hesitant, but when he told me what band it was, literally, without pause I said, “I’ll go!” I jumped up, threw some clothes on, combed my hair, touched up my make-up and off I went to what was going to be a fun-filled evening.
The opening band was local and was named Miss Derringer. I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to hear a cross between Patsy Cline, The Bauhaus and Ghoul Town. If I had to label them, I would put them in the Gothabilly category. I just think of them as straight up rock n’ roll blues.
Now for the main event, Clem Burke strides up behind his cage and the beat starts. The boys fire up their instruments and next thing I knew, Debbie Harry was strutting out on stage in a leopard coat, black stockings, a leopard purse, sunglasses and the blondest hair I’ve seen on her. The first song they hit us with? “Call Me”. The entire evening was just a dream for me because I’m a huge fan of Shirley Manson, and just to see my hero’s hero up close and in person was one for my record books. I know they play quite often, but everyone knows the shows sell out so fast. I was so truly excited and in heaven at the show. They played all their hits, including “Maria”, “Heart of Glass” and “Rapture”. The highlight of their set list, for me, was them playing “The Tide Is High”. When I heard the intro I was so giddy I couldn’t help it. I started dancing and signing along like it was second nature to me. In a way it is because I’m such a music fan. All I did was dance, which is saying a lot for me considering I only dance to certain types of music.
After the show, we all got invited to the after-party in the downstairs club. There I met Rodney Bingenheimer, also known as “Rodney on the Rock” or “Mayor of the Sunset Strip”. I talked with a few of the other fans around me and then Clem Burke walked out. I was really excited because I wanted him to sign the drumstick I had. Stupid me though, I didn’t have a sharpie on me. Which, of course, had to be that night because I always, always keep a sharpie on me just in case. He seemed like he only had one thing to do because he went right back to the dressing rooms after about 2 minutes. Ernie and I met up with the members of Miss Derringer and got invited to another after-party above the Roxy. In all my years of going to concerts, I had never been to the Roxy. Naturally, I was curious so we went. We were only there for about 10 minutes because we were both tired from the standing, the waiting and the cold outside. Not to mention both of us were fighting something in our immune systems.
For me, this was more than just a show review. This was a review and recollection of an experience. I think I might have scared Ernie a bit though because I was constantly barraging him with thank-yous and appreciation for thinking of me. Honestly, I think he was a bit surprised that I knew who Blondie was, and how big of a fan I am. There’s only one type of history that I’m fluent in and that’s the history of music. I appreciate it, I love it and I respect every single aspect of it. I know my bands and I’m happy to say that I’ve now seen Blondie, one of the best bands this country has to offer and a band who has influenced so many of my idols. Thanks again to Ernie and thanks to both Miss Derringer and Blondie for keeping music strong. A big thanks also goes out to the Key Club for hosting such wonderful artists.
