by DirtyMartini on 02 Jul 2008 14:49
Folks have done a great job recapping this fabuloso day, so just some random, belated Hyde Park notes and flaggish bidness:
Hyde Park had to have been the crappiest festival line-up in existence. From the frightening Mickie Free (ah, yes -- my countrymen make me so proud) to the insipidly average Bangles (whose only member that either Hannah or I gave a crap about (a redhead named Michael) had been replaced by (as Hannah so aptly put it) some young Riot Grrrl) to the MOM-GET-OUT-OF-MY-ROOM Starsailor (oh, for fuck's sake). None of us could believe that the Flying Padovani's and The Stranglers were over on the second stage while we were enduring hours and hours of blech. The only pre-Tunstall enjoyment for me came from a nameless 3some with a minimalist cajon-and-snare drummer. They went on a bit too long at times, but they had some chops. If only we knew who the hell they were.
(Tunstall's performance was better and banter more sensical in Belfast (I think her brain was tired in London), but she was fun. And The Police were rockin'. Not perfect certainly, but a great performance, and Stewart was just slamming throughout, right from the moment he hit the stage.)
So between the -- and I use this term loosely -- music and the physical contortions of finding space on the pitch, it was indeed an endurance test, as Helen said. But the company of folks was simply divine, and it was incredible for both Mo and me to get to spend some time just hanging out with the London Coven.
Plus, smax is simply adorable. A total Flag Floozie, but adorable nonetheless. I'm really hoping my photos from that day survive because I caught some really sweet ones of smax. In fact, he may just be the most photographed Flag-Bearer in existence as I simply could not stop taking his picture.
[quote="smax"]Then the flag was handed over, cameras appeared and the moment was captured. We were joking around with mock-sincerity and pomp. I was smiling and joking, but inside i was thinking "oh crap. this is it.".[/quote]
Heheh. You had that on the outside as well, sweetheart. *snicker*
[quote="smax"]sub-standard lennie kravitz-looking 'dude'. He is a twat with a feather in his hat, tattoos and shit jeans.[/quote]
Yup. That's about right.
[quote="smax"]the crowd goes nutso. Copeland is there with his mallet teasing the gong through its vibrating crescendo, he points at Andy. We're off.
I'm holding the flag up. Can he see it? Can he see it?
Then. He. Sees. It.
A Copeland eyebrow is raised. He slowly and deliberately points at ME. WE have eye contact. I don't know what to do. I point back. The moment's gone. The tune continues. I look at Mrs Smax "Did you see it?". I look at DM. She smiles knowingly.[/quote]
Have I mentioned how adorable smax is?
Brilliant description, boy-o.
[quote="smax"]Fuck. Right, here we go then. He points again. I nearly fall to my knees. I kinda crouch down so i'm below everyone, it gets darker, the sound muffles and i can just hear my own voice saying "fucking hell" over and over while laughing to myself.[/quote]
Truth.
[quote="smax"]I cannot believe it. All of a sudden this enormo-tourzilla, years of fandom and forum-joy have culminated in simple contact between two yuman beans. All that STUFF concentrated into one second of contact.[/quote]
Beautifully said, smaxy.
[quote="smax"]"do you wanna siiiiiing". Walking on the moon.
Mrs smax says that she can see him looking at us. I'm sure he puts in a couple of extra quiet flams in while looking at us and smiling a little to himself.[/quote]
When Stewart flammed at us, I thought smax might have pissed himself.
[quote="smax"]He. points. again. I point back. All the nutters point back and there is a roar in my ears as smudge, dm, mrs smax and daftart all scream at once. He points again.
We become aware of Gordo talking and stewart's head whips to the right to look at gordo. Gordo is talking about " the flat was over there in bayswater, thank you stewart for bringing me to london". Stewart hasn't heard him 'cos he was fooling around with us. Gordo looks front again and, i swear, looks in the flags general direction. Gordo appears not happy.[/quote]
I do feel really bad that we kinda missed Sting's mini-speech to Stewart. The one moment that Sting goes off-book -- and he does so to say something sweet -- and we miss it cuz we -- Stewart included -- are being dorks. Loving and friendly dorks, but dorks with really bad timing.
Sorry, Sting.
[quote="smax"]No percussion just backing track at the start of 'king of pain', weird.[/quote]
Yeah, I gotta admit that I'm not on board with that. Just didn't work for me.
I did indeed yelp at the moment where Stewart would have run from the percussion riser to the kit, though. Just cuz.
[quote="smax"]"can you keep the flag down? You're being an asshat. I'm sure you'll get another point, sweetie."
fuck! sorry, sorry, i turn and apologise to DM, she smiles beatifically, we hug.[/quote]
Haha. This still cracks me up.
I did indeed have to give smax a gentle "mind your manners" reminder partway through the show, as smudge had just whispered in my ear that the folks behind us were getting rather pissed off. Smax and MrsSmax had also asked that we help try to capture a Flag Point photo -- and we all tried -- but it didn't help that smax had this habit of spastically, repeatedly blocking our cameras with said flag.
*ahem*
[quote="smudge"]2) Flagbearer smax and mrs smax moved backwards for the police set to give the substantially shorter Sid and Heather a better view. Classy couple.[/quote]
YES. That was just lovely. Only minutes before gong, and smax and MrsSmax are switching places, bringing Sid and Heather closer to the stage and bringing the flag and the Smaxes a couple of "rows" back to stand with the rest of the green posse.
[quote="dafttart"]The best thing about the show for me was seeing Smax enjoy the sheer exhilaration of being flag-bearer. All of us who were nearby had had our turn at representing sc.net by waving Le Drapeau Vert and knew how out of this world Smax was feeling. [/quote]
You know, it hadn't occurred to me, but you're right -- all of us in that group had been flag veterans. And between Stewart's enthusiasm and appreciation and smax's enthusiasm and appreciation, you just couldn't help but share in the joy. At times I got a bit teary just watching smax react. In the middle of all these crazy chords and rhythms and the screeching crowds and the singing, to watch this heartwarming, personal interplay between stage and audience -- incredible. Mind-blowing and incredible.
Thank you for the great report, smaxilicious, and for showing all of our love to Stewart at your last Police show and his last UK Police performance. You've done us all proud, soldier, and I am honored that I got to be there to witness it.
Thank you, smax!
Thank you, Stewart.
Dramatic highlights & a unique musical cosmos. Guaranteed.
!
