Chasing yesterday
As the second half of the year begins, the summer of live music continues.
Tonight it was Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds at The Beacon Theater. It’s not the first time seeing him live. My first concert was Oasis at MSG in December 2008 as a long time fan of the band. By sheer luck, the paths would cross again in November 2015 on Noel’s first solo tour. That night almost didn’t happen as the prize for the Fuse sponsored contest was for two people. It nearly came to arrangements for a solo prize but my sister, my hero graciously went with me that night. I was at full roar to compensate for her catching up on sleep.
The next time by would be in support of his second solo album, Chasing Yesterday in 2015. He performed at Webster Hall prior to his set at the Governors Ball on Randall’s Island that June. But in the blink of an eye, the show sold out. Then came the announcement of dates in North America for summer 2016 and I was determined to get a ticket to the concert this time around. On January 14th, I was on my lunch break but had no luck finding a ticket. My break was almost over and I gave it one last shot, if not I would let it be. To my relief, I broke through.
Which brings us to tonight. I was a sleep deprived zombie thanks to the combination of the work day and the lack of sleep from the fireworks going off last night in celebration of the 4th of July. But I had enough energy to see this night through. After a nice dinner at the Mediterranean restaurant Tessa and a glass of rosé, I was ready to go.
With “Everybody’s On The Run” the opening track from his first album, it set the tone of night. The twenty tracks that followed were a combination of solo songs, Oasis b-sides and their best known songs. Noel mad it clear from the start of the show that this was deliberately the same set list from last May’s show in order for the crowd to get its money’s worth. It didn’t faze us in the audience as we hung on every word. That fact was especially true during the last song of the set, “The Masterplam” and the encore of “Wonderwall”, “…AKA What A Life” and “Don’t Look Back In Anger”. It also didn’t hurt that his banter was on form, most notably when his drummer threw his sticks into the crowd and a eleven year old caught them. Noel was passively trying to get them back, saying in jest: “the merchandise sales paid for those sticks”. An hour and a half later, I felt vindicated for splurging on an orchestra seat as certain nameless people questioned my financial and work priorities leading up to tonight and every time I go to concerts. The experience of live music matters more to me than all the clothes put together. I took the steps to insure that both worlds wouldn’t mix.
In an attempt to hold on to the euphoria, I walked from the Beacon to Columbus Circle before getting on the subway. This area became my stomping grounds during the years at John Jay as the campus wasn’t what it is now then. The euphoria would turn into nostalgia and then my least favorite question popped up in my head, “what’s next?”.
There was one last twist to the night. I arrived at the Roosevelt Avenue subway station to get the bus home. Between the lack of taxis, no Q33 and the line for the 49 bus growing longer, frustration and exhaustion set in. That was until I see my sister come out of the livery car and I perked up again. She and her friend Denise were on their way home from a poetry slam when they saw me. As we arrived home, it put a hectic day to a positive end.
