End of Harbour Fest -Mourning After My Ticket Stubs

Hong Kong

(reedited) I am doing that mourning-after-a-really-good-time-and-knowing-it’s-over sulk. Moping over my ticket stubs, pouting as I put away the Rolling-Stones-Licks-Rolling-Paper in the “Concert Souvenir” Box.

When is the next time I am going to randomly meet so many music freaks? I met people from Taiwan, Japan, Holland, San Francisco, who came all the way to see Neil Young and the Rolling Stones. I met people who skived off work to go to the sound check, and a blond bombshell of a woman who yelled so loud that we got Mick and Keith to wave at us (so lucky I was walking pass to get the tickets). I met people who wouldn’t hesitate to tell you they saw the Beatles, Neil Young when I was only four years old, Deep Purple and share loads of cool stories of bands and shows. Things I could sit and listen to for hours.

When else will I ever see a band (Gypsy Kings) let a member of the audience onto a mike and sing with them –lucky womaaaan, living Rock Star Dream for a song. Or Mick Jagger stand in front of the character “STAR” in Chinese –what an image! Too bad they didn’t allow cameras. Hear Neil young say, “I am pleased to be able to play for the Brothers and Sisters in China” –okay, there wasn’t that many Chinese people there, and China today isn’t the China of his youth, but I was there representing!! Neil Young’s guitarist wears a Jimmy Hendrix T-shirt, how cool is that?

Not to mention the fantastic outdoor location with the habour on one side and the high rise buildings behind the stage. What a look! Better than any million dollar get up. (Which they are taking down as we speak, sigh).

Since the idea of Harbour Fest is to prove it is safe to visit post-SARs Hong Kong. (Not heroin, not partying too much, not the rock and roll life style that killed Keith Richard, no no, it was Hong Kong!)

I think I might be able to deal with the nightmare better, if those dire predictions SARS might return this winter becomes a reality, if the government and AMCham promises me more bands afterwards.

I feel so personally and individually pissy at the press and public for blasting this thing because I am so sure they will never ever do this again. Had we played nice, they might have thought to do this every year or something.

And if anyone is listening, my friends and I have already made up huge lists of people who we haven’t seen and would die to: David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Sex Pistols (don’t laugh, they toured this summer), Pearl Jam, Mariah Carrey (that is NOT me), Red Hot Chilly Peppers, BECK, Madonna (I’d seen her), Eminem, Britney (that is me), Missy Elliot, Lou Reed, but make him do Velvet Underground songs and not some of his “concept” albums, please.

Also if they do, instead of hiring more security to walk up and down the aisles hassling everyone, including legitimate tickets holders, in an attempt to control leakage from the allocated seats. I suggest either doing the flat price -first come first serve- deal or use color coded wrist bands.

And stop being so mean spirited by closing off the flyover. It’s tax money after all, and if someone can’t afford the show, and are willing to stand outside. Let them. You just might want to make sure there are no bootlegging camera people that’s all.

I can go on about how incredulous the level of nitpicking was but I won’t. I feel embarress for and of those people, as it shows how skewed a section of HK’s piorities are. Come on, find some real things to be outraged about. The whole thing proves once again BIG MONEY people gets in the way of GOOD music.

Anyway back to the humdrum existence of the world. Exhale-Sigh-Pout.

I shall leave you with the image that sums up the ending of the Habour Fest for me.

A friend opens his arms and goes in this totally wistful and slightly pained voice, “Yaaaaan, the concerts are ovveer. Time to go home…” so I tuck myself in and he says in my ear, “We had such fun.” to which I reply by nodding into his shouders.