My Fifth Grade Dream Came True: Last Night I Saw Hall And Oates
Yesterday I woke up in my childhood bedroom and ended the day seeing my favorite band from fifth grade, Hall and Oates.
For several years of elementary school, I attended a school built in the 1950s. Carpenter Elementary had lots of windows to open in every classroom, sun streaming in nearly every room, and shiny tile floors to reflect the brightness.
In fourth grade, I transferred to a different elementary school, not very far away but one without any windows and with carpeted floors.
In this windowless space of College Park Elementary where I saw very little daylight during the day, one of the bright spots in my life was the radio (as I only had a few records of my own.)
At the time, the duo of Hall and Oates ruled the airwaves. While I have few nice memories from that era of my life, debating with my friends what the lyrics of “Your Kiss Is On My List” really meant while standing in line for the library was one of the brightest spots.
Luckily for me, the smooth sounds of the duo didn’t bother my parents, and I often turned up the Hall and Oates songs when they came on the radio. Which they did often in the early 80s. It’s likely a good thing that I really enjoyed “Maneater” before my feminist sensibilities kicked in!
So when a friend from college said that the duo was playing in Austin, and that she wanted to get tickets if it was at all possible, I was totally down with the idea.
I had to be out of town, so my friend had arrived in Austin, and had been hanging around the venue, in the hopes of willing tickets to fall out of heaven. I suggested that she check with the box office. She happened upon a few tickets released day of show, and we were in!
It turns out that the duo doesn’t play all that often, and that their show last night in Austin was the kickoff of a new tour after their having been off the road for about five months.
While a lot of times when I go to a show I’m taking pictures of it, it felt very different going to a show just as fan–albeit one sitting sixth row center!)
Even with my new iphone 5s (so new I haven’t bothered to put my email on it yet) I couldn’t be bothered to take very many pictures, even though the mostly middle aged crowd around me was taking lots of photos with smartphones. (It was sort of nice to be at a show and free of thinking of lenses and white balance!)
Back in fifth grade, I didn’t have any conception that bands went on tours, and that you could go and experience them for yourself! With your own ears hearing the singer right in front of you!
My college friend is a big fan of Hall and Oates. She knows all the words to the songs, even to the albums that I had no idea that they put out. She knew all about Live From Darryl’s House, a monthly podcast done by the singer. She even knows about their unreleased songs, something I find very impressive!
To finish out the evening last night, I took a picture of my friend with the band’s drummer after the show, and we waved at the band as they headed for the tour bus. We couldn’t have done things up any better if we had been in junior high!
This morning, we both slept in. Thank goodness neither of us had homework for geography due!
Tonight the plan is to go see the band in San Antonio. As you do.
This is my friend Catherine with the drummer for Hall and Oates, after their Austin show!
