2002-02-23

One Friday night, my flatmate Michelle and I drove down to Sydney to see the Scientists. For those who don't know, the Scientists were a rockin' band in the eighties. They featured Mr Kim Salmon in their line up, and he went on to keep a career going through the Beasts of Bourbon, Surrealists and his solo work. One thing about them that sticks in their mind was thier conviction that at the time, the Scientists felt the were "the best fucking band in the world" (not a direct quote, mind you).

I came across the Scientists when I was about 19, through, of course, a boyfriend. This fella was about 8 years older than me, was from Perth and into all those cool old Perth bands. I was already into the Stems like there was no tomorrow, but he got me into stuff like the Kryptonics, and the Scientists. So I have in my record collection two vinyl albums of the Scientists. When I heard they were playing shows, now, in 2002, I was fucking amazed. I was less amazed when I found out the tickets were $23 (anyone say "k'ching!") but thank christ they rocked my world on the night.

Michelle and I drove down in the evening, in order to pick up our tickets at 7.30pm. At one point it took us 20mins to get 200m in the fucked Sydney traffic, so we were reminded how much we love being from Newcastle. When we got to the venue, we were again reminded about being from Newcastle - Frammo was there, and he is at most gigs in Newie also.

I didn't really want to see anyone I knew - I've changed a lot physically and mentally since living in Sydney. And I didn't want any of those "what are YOU up to" kind of conversations. Despite being busy almost everyday, I fail to be able to think of a single 'thing' that I have been 'doing'. My mind goes totally blank. Maybe its because I don't have any regular job just now, so can't revert to the old 'working' story, or that they don't want to hear about learning PHP or hanging with dame. So what's to say?

So anyhow, the first person who saw me commented that I looked "like a surfie chick". That's OK. For the rest of the night I simply glued myself to the front of the stage - I hadn't paid $23 to see half the bass player and Kim Salmon's shoulder, I was in for the full deal. Spencer P Jones' band played before the Scientists and they were pretty fucken good - they played Newcastle a few days later, but I missed it. Damn! If only for the young boy backing band he has employed these days.

When the Scientists came onstage, I realised we were directly below Kim, and had the most prime view in the place. In addition, I was leaning on the foldback wedge - this meant I was naturally inclined to head bang, which I did and had a sore neck the next day. There was a point where the rock was amazing, and I was feeling pretty great. I remember looking up at the band, loving it and t hinking "Fuck all that other shit man, I only care about ROOOOOCCCKK!!". (In referring to 'other shit' I mean electronic music, or any strange, trendy hybrid music) It was total rock heaven. After the gig was over, Michelle and I walked back to the car laughing, and all we could say was "My god that was awesome!" or "That was fuckin' choice!" We were truly overwhelmed by the total rock experience. Much of the talk on the way home to Newcastle was about the show, how much they rocked, how good they were and various memories of guitar licks and fuckwit punters. There are always the fuckwit punters, it can't be avoided. Though on this evening most of the crowd was older folk who had seen the Scientists the first time around in the early eighties, dressed in their tight jeans and pointy boots with cowboys shirts on. And they were fairly mellow in general. But there were two different cases of fuckwit on that evening for Michelle and I.

Fuckwit one was probably about 25. I have no idea what he was doing there, as he was attempting to get everyone moshing to the Scientist, even though the rythm of their music does not lend itself to the mosh. But regardless, he was urging everyone "C'mon MOSH!! you KNOW you want to!!!" No one did. But he was moshing on top of everyone, with a beer. At some point, due no doubt to his excitement, he decided to spit his beer out of his mouth and towards the stage - pity Michelle was in the way and wore most of it. She told him he was a "fucking cunt" and was taken a little aback. Yay.

The second dude decided late in the set that he was so caught in the moment he simply HAD to be up the front. He drunkenly barged his way up to the front, barging Michelle from her prime spot. He was obviously waaay out of it, and proceeded to rock out like a guy really off his face. It got gross when he started rubbing up against me. I kept shoving him hard, but he was totally oblivious. After a while he started to fall down, so he left cuz he couldn't stand up anymore. Michelle got her spot back.