So shortly after writing the previous entry, bemoaning missing the last Luna show ever, I got a call from Caryn. I'd mentioned to her that I was in the need of some sort of income, so she asked if I wanted to cover the Luna show that night for Spin. The guy who was supposed to do it decided he didn't want to go. Perhaps it was the impending blizzard. So I went.Basically, all I had to do was go to the show, take some notes, and get a picture of the band. To do this, I was given a pass to go to the after-show party in the lower bar of the Bowery Ballroom. I also had to get a quote or two from the band about the breakup, so I had to insert myself into conversations, which I hate doing. I also hate taking pictures at shows. And I hate talking to strangers. Anyway, the show the last night was probably better than the show I went to the previous night, but I couldn't really enjoy it, since I was "working." I kept having to take notes and record the setlist and whatnot, and angle for pictures and figure out how to use the camera I'd borrowed, and it was all kind of a pain. But still fun. After the last tune they had some champagne toast, and it was sentimental and sad. The crowd was really into it. Someone through the guitarist Sean some panties with "I (heart) Sean" written on them. It was a giant pair of granny panties. That was probably the perfect ending.
So at the after party, I was standing around by myself. Besides a girl who i'd talked to during the show, and Luna's record label guy, I didn't know anybody there, and was feeling a bit awkward. So I did what people normally do in these situations. I drank. More than I'd intended to. I'd decided very recently that I am a terrible drunk. I get loud and talk shit and am generally very annoying I think. But the bartender poured two whiskeys that were probably really four or five whiskeys. I did get a lot more talkative though, and was able to talk to people rather successfully. Of course, listening to the recordings, I sound like a fucking retard. (a minor note of interest for those interested in these sorts of things: I used my iPod and the Griffin iTalk microphone attachment to do all the recording, and it weren't wonderfully. It was pretty surprsing. But I just turned it on, left it in my shirt pocket, and recorded rather inconspicuously. I highly recommend this product).
Anyway, the band people were generally pretty friendly. The guitarist was the least interested in talking, or was at least the least accommodating. The drummer was very friendly. He was actually in a band with this percussionist I hung out with a little bit a few years ago. Dean Wareham was professional and courteous, and Britta Phillips was delightful, though I'm sure the plaid skirt, fishnets, and knee-high boots are influencing my professional opinion.
Besides the band members, the only other sort of interesting person I spoke to was a girl from Japan who'd flown all the way to see Luna's last show. As the party was ending (I stayed too long), I saw a guy I'd jammed with last year, a friend of Matt's, who was filming the last tour for a DVD or something. If this DVD ever comes out, I think my arm is in a few shots.
Some short movies from the previous night, shot with my digital camera, of 23 Minutes in Brussels.
Anyway, pictures:
Sean Eden, Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips, Lee Wall. After the show, at the upstairs bar.
