Well, I don’t want to drop names…. You know I hate doing that…..
What the hell am I saying? I don’t ever have names to drop! Let the dropping begin. Sit back.
So my friend Brooke and I go to see the Songwriters concert: Dar Williams, Patti Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Shawn Colvin. An incredible line-up, but in my heart, Dar was the headliner. I’ve been a fan of hers for what feels like forever but what is probably more like eight or nine years.
Brooke’s her pal. I mean it. From the stage, Dar plugged Brooke and her book, at which point it was all I could do not to squeal. The women standing behind us talking (which had been annoying most of the evening, but was tolerable at this point) said, “Oh, are you Brooke?” Brooke nodded, the picture of modesty. I heard a stage whisper and saw out of the corner of my eye a finger pointing in my direction, “I think I know her, too. The one in the white sweater.” I straightened a little and dropped my eyelids, trying to look a little famous.
Oh, yeah, get this: AFTER Dar plugs Brooke, she mentions that Amy Ray is in the audience. You know who she is. If you don’t, go buy ANY Indigo Girls album and get back to me in an hour. You need to be not only familiar with their music, but also be familiar with the fact that I LOVE THEM to understand this story.
Now, let me say that I understand I LOVE THEM is a strong statement. But think of your favorite musical artist in the whole wide world, the one that has shaped you the most as a human being, and then just imagine that you get to watch a Dar Williams concert with her.
Yep. Table for six at the Warfield? Amy, her girlfriend, two of their mutual friends, Brooke, and ME!
And what I was most proud of? That I lectured myself beforehand and really convinced myself that great as it was, Amy Ray is just a woman who likes good music and I was glad to meet her and talk with her. Doesn’t hurt that she plays good music, too. I didn’t feel starstruck, just happy to be there.
And backstage later (okay – I’m going to get over myself in about six minutes, I promise), I got to chat a little with Dar and her friends. I got a hug.
(Only regret – didn’t ask for pictures after the show – I was really trying to maintain my “I Could Never be a Stalker, Don’t Worry” pose, but I would have liked one with Amy and/or Dar. There. I said it.)
It was cool. Doesn’t that sound like an understatement? I know. But it’s appropriate. If I were over the moon right now, giddy and unable to speak, or moved to tears, I think I would worry about myself. That’s fandom, that’s too much, too far. But I will never be as jaded as to think that the chance to meet admired artists isn’t great. I had a fantastic evening.
Whee!
Well I know myself well enough to know that I couldn’t have had your sensibility about the whole thing. It would have been way more than just cool to me. Good for you for being so level-headed. And WOW.
I’ve been reading your blog for a while, so I know you’re not giving me a snow job, so just let me say OH MY GOD! I’m not sure what I expected to read this morning, but this sure wasn’t it. I am going to listen to all my IG cd’s all day today while programming (something to ease all that pain!) Congratulations!
oh.my.god.
what an amazing experience! congrats and thanks for sharing it with us all.
: )
Wow…That must have been one great evening! I am listening to one of my IG CD’s and just imagining sitting at the same table as Amy Ray…Oh, how great that would be! Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us…:)
I think you were darned restrained in your report, girlfriend! Of course I am SO envious, but at least I got to see the show (but our venue had seats, not standing). How’d the gift go over?
Allow me to interject that Rachael is pretty much my only friend I have ever taken backstage that I NEVER worried about embarrassing me. She was charming and warm as ever, made Amy and Dar feel at ease, and oh, was looking very very famous. I almost asked for her autograph. And c’mon Rach, tell them Dar’s comment about the sweater. The secret is so out.
tell it!
Oh my god!!! Amy Ray!!! So very, very cool! Can I have your autograph! I keep thinking of that Brady Bunch where Marcia’s gets kissed by Davy Jones and is never going to wash her hand again. Lol!
Ok, so NEXT year, when they plug YOUR book from the stage, I hope I am standing next to you so I can say (flip my hair and look casual) YEAH, and she knit that sweater, too. Isn’t she just the COOLEST?
do tell the story…
c’mon…
you KNOW you wanna!
I wanna hear the story!
Thanks, Brooke! And do tell, Rachael!
See?!?! You are wayyyy too hip and cool!! What did she say about your sweater?!
I bet she said something about the sweater belonging on the runway in Milan, or about Rachael being a genius. You know, stuff we all know anyway but coming from DAR…wow!
What. An amazing story. Thank you, doll.
Okay, I just had to express my jealousness for a minute. 🙂 How exciting that you got to hang out with such great people. IG music is amazing and each song reminds me of a person or time in my life. Congrats on the sweater, too! Thanks for sharing!