She Knows Her Way Back Home

So a week ago, I got an email saying that Big D and the Kids Table were playing in the city. I had to get tickets because last time I wanted to see them I had to leave before they started playing to go to work. Epic fail. But not this time. This time I was going to see Big D and the Kids Table for the fourth time and have an amazing time.

After school, I drove to the ferry with everything that I thought I needed: money, the ticket, phone, iPod, and car keys. I got to the venue about an hour early so that gave me some time to walk around and enjoy the city and its people. At 7, I go back to The Fillmore at Irving Plaza and the line starts to go in. I start to search my pockets and lo and behold, I lost the ticket. I flipped out. Long story short, I had to buy another ticket, spending over $60 to just get in the building. But later on, I realized that it was completley worth it.

Unfortunately, they were the opening act for English Beat and Bad Manners, so their set was going to be short. The best show I went to was at Starland Ballroom, Dec. 2007, because Big D played almost a 2-hour show. I can't wait to go to that kind of show again. However, their set was amazing. Here are some of the songs they played:

Steady Riot: Amazing song. "My life consists of words, a good riff, and a beat. Music, a steady riot in my soul. It's always in me."


Fly Away: "The quality of friends is something you should contemplate."


Little Bitch: Song that I fell in love with while dancing to it.


Shining On: "Well I guess I'm single now. Imagine that. ... But I can't help from smiling when that damn sun's shining down on me."


Hell on Earth: Amazing lyrics. "Cultivate and kill, it's our great legacy."


Strictly Rude: (My most favorite song, ever.) This version's dubbed but it's better than people's crappy live versions. "We pop no style. We're strictly rude."
Click here, I couldn't embed it.


The One: "I know you wanna love her for the rest of your life, but this woman her intentions ain't right. Tell me brothers, am I right? That woman is trouble, you gotta wake up."


Noise Complaint: "And then my favorite song it goes yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah!"


So it was an amazing show. Not a lot of people were there for Big D, but that just meant that there was more room to dance. And I danced the night away.

Bad Manners was next, and they were good. It was good ska dancing music, but it all sounded the same. The reason that I love Big D so much is that they're ska, but every song is different and has amazing lyrics. The English Beat played for like 2 hours. They were alright, but I spent the time getting a shirt with the few dollars that I had left after buying another ticket, and talking to Dave McWane, the lead singer. I think he is an amazing lyricist, has an amazing voice, and talented melodica player. So he was hanging out by the merchandise and I told him how I paid for two tickets, but he said that it was awesome that I came, as did the bassist Steve when I talked to him before the show. I asked him to sign my ticket, and this has now become my prized possession.



See, Dave is on the right. Then I'm on the left. I think it captures me perfectly. Regardless, I made absolutely sure that I did not lose this ticket too. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to ask him to take a picture with my on my phone. Oh well. Next time.

I learned a few things tonight. I learned that I definitely need to be more careful in planning, like wearing jeans with buttons so tickets don't fall out of my pockets, not to get so upset when I mess up (things happen, but they usually work out), and to not dwell on something I did wrong (like not jumping at the opportunity to get a picture with Dave). I had a great time. Great's an understatement, but I'm too tired to get a better synonym. I've been awake for 19 hours. Goodnight.