so, i’ve been getting these reminder emails, once a month, for years now, and almost no one ever posts.  i spent the night listening to Mojave 3, and while I know it’s not slowdive, I figured it was close enough, and it inspired me to write about the one life-experience I’ve had related to the band.  i’d love to hear others…

i don’t remember exactly what year it was, but maybe 1999 or 2000, and i was home from college for the summer.  i heard neil halstead was playing at the beachland ballroom, and almost shit my pants.  i instantly bought tickets, terrified that the show would sell out, and forced my friend (who’d never heard of neil or Mojave 3, but vaguely realized that slowdive was once a band), to buy a ticket as well.  relieved that i’d gotten a ticket before they’d all been sold out (how could neil halstead not sell out a show at beachland?), i waited for weeks, and really looked forward to the show.

jon (my friend who i was bringing along to the show) and i played Frisbee golf before we drove up from Medina to go to the show.  the shins were playing at the grog shop that night, so he figured there wouldn’t be much of a turn out at beachland.  “i don’t care.  we’re going in early and getting a good spot.”

we got there before the doors opened, and wandered around the area.  just up=2 0the road was one of those overpasses that is entirely enclosed by aluminum fencing, and we sat above the cars drinking sports drinks, spitting it onto cars below, and talking shit about ex-girlfriends.

we got back to the beachland tavern, and grabbed a table in the nearly empty bar.  neil was talking to the sound guy, so i went and said hello, asked him to sign my “Excuses For Travelers” cd insert.  i think he kind of laughed at me, but regardless, he signed it “Thanx for coming down – Neil”, and drew a smiley face on the featureless figure from the cover.  that’s the only autograph i’ve ever gotten in my life.

neil played for drinks.  anyone who bought him a drink could make a request.  i don’t know how he could play by the end of the night…even the drinker i am now, i couldn’t handle all the requests he took that night.  they weren’t all perfectly played, but they were all great to listen to.  between drinks and requests, he covered Damien Jurado’s “Ohio”, which was fitting, for a number of reasons.  he told a few jokes about some dude in Arizona with a harmonica, i bought a shirt, and that was it.

we pulled out of the parking lot, and i told jon to shut the fuck up as i put “ask me tomorrow” into my cd player.  i’ve never enjoyed 71 south more.

-jeff

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