Leaving the Academy

What are you sad about?
Every day you make the sun come out.

A tip: if you want to see the band, don't stand behind me. I'm taller than you. My head is not going to suddenly become transparent when the band come on stage. Trust me on this, I've been taller than you for twenty-four and a half years, and I've never been transparent.

Despite my resolution to attend more live music this year, yesterday marked my first gig of 2004. My ex and I watched The Charlatans at the Bristol Academy.

(and yes, I realise that I've spent pretty much all weekend with her)

The support act say they are Engineers, but I don't believe them. Sure, they do a fairly good job of boring me, and they're an unattractive bunch, but there are not nearly enough checked shirts in evidence, and at no point do they talk about reinforced concrete or risk analysis. The small stage at the Academy is crowded with all of the Charlatans' equipment, and it looks like Engineers are playing out of the back of a removal van. I'm fairly sure the drummer is actually playing from the disabled toilet at the rear of the building.

The Charlatans are better. Plenty of songs I recognise, which is helpful, because I don't own any of their albums. My ex touches Tim Burgess' hand (and she's since told everybody about it). I think taping a carrier bag around your hand is a little extreme, but there you go, she's quite the little fan girl.

I'm unable to understand the significance she attaches to merely touching a pop star. I can envisage getting excited if your idol actually shook your hand or had a conversation with you, but being one of dozens of people who reached out and grabbed him when he walked around at the barriers during the show? I don't get it.