White Rabbits

I saw my second cousin's band last night, White Rabbits. A friend I had invited had to cancel, but one of John's coworkers Jeremy (another ex-navy guy) and his boyfriend lived a few miles from Fitzgerald's in The Heights, so he volunteered to join! I was very grateful to not have to go alone, plus we carpooled so I didn't have to be the one to find parking :) Thanks Jeremy!

I had to consider the fact that I might be pregnant...so I had water :) I was glad to see this posted in the bathroom at Fitzgerald's. Pretty risque for them to say "...alcohol while pregnant can hurt your baby's brain.." 

   I didn't know how large the venue was or if I'd even be able to meet my second cousin, but my mom talked to her cousin on FB, who graciously told Alex--who then emailed me about meeting at the show! It was awesome. It was a surreal moment to be working out at the gym yesterday, listening to their music, and then get a little envelop icon on top of my phone--an email from the geetar player :)

I had literally just met my second cousin (yes I am going to keep bragging) when this girl came up with this poster and camera...she said she worked for Sony and was doing an article or something on White Rabbits, so she asked me to hold it for a picture. I invited Alex to be in it and she said, "Umm okay." ...

And I said, "he's in the band.." lol. She said "oh!"  I got a personalized autograph on this poster, but I left it with Jeremy on accident. Will get it next time :)

    I didn't know they didn't go on until 11:00 pm so just before the other bands were opening for them (War on Drugs) Alex came out when we first got there and we got to talk. I'm a dork. I talked about the same stuff I would talk about to a friend...to this famous guy. (for example--"you should see my kids on my family blog!") I'm sure he was thinking, "yeah, I'll get right on it!".

   We were actually only born a few weeks apart. It's so cool to meet more family. And I thought I came from a large family with 6 siblings, Alex is 1 of 10! I hope I get to meet all his siblings someday :)

      Since I really only wanted to see them play and it was so hot and humid upstairs (and loud and crowded...I'm old...I was tempted to buy the $2 earplugs..jk) Jeremy and I spent the first few hours downstairs. They had an open mic, both for comedy and music. I decided to ask if someone might lend me a guitar to play a few songs and a guy in front was very generous---with his ovation :)
   Getting to play music made the night worth it all by itself! I was glad to have Jeremy there to support me :) The "comedian" before me made some dumb jokes about abortion, and complained about the "war on women" in this country...so after I played my 3 songs and got cheers and applause, (of course I wait til they like me lol) I said,

"oh and one more thing in response to the last guy. You asked who watches the news about the "war on women". I just read an article about a girl in Morocco who killed herself because she was forced to marry her rapist. Because that's how it works there--if you rape someone, you are absolved if you marry your victim. Fair and square right? So quit your bitching about having to pay for your own birth control. Choose life!" 

I did "Destiny"  Zero 7, "Ain't no Sunshine" (Eva Cassidy's version) and "Meditation"  Antonio Carlos Jobim. 

The applause turned to a few boos. How do you boo "choose life"? I mean, what's their alternative.."choose death"? "choose...choice"?! Idiots.
In my mind: "my work here is done." :)

Thanks for being strong enough to stand next to me lol :)

Then White Rabbits started setting up. It was so much to set up and looked like they had done it so many times, that this complex setup of cables and numerous drums  and mics and a million guitars  was second nature to them.

Wanna know what was awesome? While the crowd was so anxious for them to start during set up, Alex saw me and smiled and waved---I immediately felt all the girl's heads in the room collectively whip to turn and see who the hell I was. :) I'm spay-shul! 

They first played "Heavy Metal" and it sounded amazing. They sound exactly like their album. Their harmonies are spot on right off the bat. Very fun to watch and dance to.

(Also fun to watch, the groupie circle of girls in front with their interpretive dancing :)

Very cool guitar no? I bumped into him after the show and he said he liked my shirt. And in true "Samantha" form (I swear it was involuntary) I said, "thanks! it was $9"    ? I told him my relation to Alex and he brought him over. Alex gave me a free copy of their new CD, and I decided to buy a t-shirt.

A sample: (sorry for shakey video...dancing)

   I don't even remember all the odd topics I brought up in talking to him. But it was never dull. I did tell him that I don't listen to a lot of new music but that I thought they sounded like Yeasayer but with better vocals. I asked if he had heard of them---he says they're good friends with them lol. And of course I asked who he was voting for, and he said probably Obama. :( He then asked if I was disappointed. I said,
  "oh. no..well, yeah I am!" lol.
We didn't talk about "politics" too much--he didn't want it to divide us.
I said, "well if we're going to hang out, I'm going to endeavor to make you pro-life!"
He laughed and said alright :)
Yeah, I gave a famous rockstar an ultimatum to hang out. haha.
  Hmm. This might be why I don't have many friends. It's always disappointing when I really like someone and think, wow they seem so compassionate and caring. And then...der. not pro-life?! It's nothing new...I grew up in CA, lived in NY...and even in VA and TX I've always felt I was in the minority. As  I said before, in my eyes, it makes me sad because I see them as tainted by death.

BUT. There's always a chance to change/learn.















Anyway, I really appreciated the time he took to meet and talk, considering their very busy tour list. They are in Austin at SXSW the next few days. I can't help but feel a little jealous that I don't have a band and get to tour etc. Music really is in our family's blood :) Happy to have met him and show my kids.

   Alex was very nice and casually said he wants to meet my family and see Lucas & Olivia. Wouldn't that be so fun? To have him come visit the new house and play music together! I think next time John and I go visit our game night friends in KC, we'll try and meet Alex's mom, (my mom's cousin) who I think is only a few hours from there. I realize that I have so much extended family that I barely talk to, or haven't even met in person. I'd really like to change that :) I regret not finding the time to meet my half-sister Michelle in CA, but I know we will someday. It's amazing to me that her kids in some pictures, resemble our dad more than my kids! I think that will be a new goal (meet more extended family) especially since we are pretty accustomed to long road-trips. Won't it be so awesome for L & O to get to know more family from a young age? Hope they'll be better at maintaining communication with friends and family than I've been thus far.