Well, Neurotics, I promised change, and change you shall have.
First of all, let’s recap for those just joining us. I am a neurotic. I have GAD, OCD, phobias, panic disorder, and major depressive disorder. These “afflictions” have been present in my life in some way, shape, or form since … well, probably forever, but I was diagnosed when I was 14. I am now going on 32.
For the last four years, these issues have grown in intensity. I am terrified of dying. Well, to be honest, I am terrified of everything, but the dying thing is what we are talking about today. Anyway, this fear has been so intense that it interrupts my life.
I quit shooting concerts due to fear. I stopped shooting everything due to fear, actually.
I’ve come to the realization that I will die. I am not immortal like I felt I was when I was in my 20s. I WILL die, and that will suck. So, I have to acheive immortality in some other way. Art.
That said, I emailed Evan of Lestat and asked if I could photograph their show on 11/24. He said that I could. The day of the show, my brain tried every tactic to talk me out of going. I didn’t listen. And that is HUGE. But, enough about me, without further ado, some of the fruits of my labor:
Petals and Thorns opened up the show in their debut live performance. I definitely enjoyed their set, and I recommend checking them out if and when you find yourself in Cleveland.
Next up came Bath. I’ve seen these guys play once before, and I didn’t know who they were. Never found out, actually, until last night. You know when you keep hearing a band on the radio and you love the song, but the DJ never tells you who they are? That’s about how this one went for me, except it was at a show. If you like electronics and you like music, these are your guys. I caught myself dancing, and I’m not dancey, so that should tell you something.
The Azoic came up next. Remember that thing I said about not being dancey? Out the window. They have a video coming out on YouTube soon, you should definitely check them out.
Also, I must add here that when Evan came out on stage during The Azoic’s set to sing “Obsession”, Melissa damn near peed her pants. “I will have you, yes I will have you…”? Uh, yeah, you already do.
I’ve been a fan of Lestat since high school. I used to doodle LESTAT in big gothic letters on my homework folders.
Unfortunately, I never saw them live back then. So, of course, you can imagine my joy and exuberance when, out of the blue, I looked them up in my Rhapsody app and found Vision of Sorrows, the album I loved in high school. This prompted me to look them up on the Google and I found that they were putting out a new album! Well, great timing, huh? It was fate! Anyway, I went to their CD release show earlier this year. Yup, back in love with Lestat. I vowed to shoot them. And, well, as I suppose you’ve gathered, my time came on 11/24.
Seeing Lestat live is definitely something that can only be experienced and not described, for how do you explain Evan’s sultry dancing? How do you describe Susan’s otherworldly presence? Yeah. You can’t. Shakespeare couldn’t write about it, and neither can I. If that doesn’t make you want to experience it, I don’t know what will. Of course, this is my first time writing about a show experience, so I don’t know how much convincing you readers will actually need.
There is something … how to describe it … dark. Aggressive, yet ethereal, mystical … erotic … about Lestat’s music.
So, I promise I will work on my descriptive writing skills for future posts. In the meantime, go to www.lestatmusic.com and get obsessed.
Special thanks to the bands for putting on a fantastic show, and I hope all my readers enjoy. Please, by all means, share with your friends!
phuktneurotic 