Star Scene

By Elie El Khoury

There comes a time in every boy’s life where he has to try that “something new”. Some go for a cigarette, a sky dive, an experience with the same sex, or simply a Britney Spears album; Don’t act as if you haven’t thought about it!

So this November the 11th, I attended my first ever Rock concert.

I have never been a metal head, not even a mere rock head. But let’s just say I gave in to the Beirut Rock Festival fever/hype and decided to give this thing a go.

Respecting the set curfew, I arrived at 8 pm “sharp” and of course between waiting in line and getting in the concert space, it was 9.

You know how they say that your first time should always be gentle; not too crowded, not too rushing, not too exotic and definitely no too suffocating? Well to my luck, my first was “not too many” of anything!

The turn out was decent, considering a Wednesday night, people filled the standing area but didn’t pack it, the stalls were minimal and around 9 pm the concert kicked off. As for the crowds, the landscape was truly impressive, as it ranged from young teen enthusiasts to the well seasoned older connoisseurs. Amazingly enough, I have been more intoxicated by nicotine and second hand smoke at my family’s Sunday lunches.

Agua de Annique, the Dutch formal vocalist of the alternative band “The Gathering” provided the perfect opening act. She was interacting with the crowd, shouting Arabic words that she spent all afternoon learning (true story!), and telling her Lebanese fans that they are just awesome. Yup, she’s a first-timer just like me!

Then, the long awaited Peter Murphy took the stage to bring the night to its anticipated climax. His somewhat heavier and way more experimental style took the audience on a roller coaster as he switched themes and styles every song and the other. Truly an artist.

Like all first times, the night had to end before the closing act, as my company’s mesmerizing green eyes began fading away under the burden of a long day’s work and late night stay.

So how was my first time? Pretty cool actually!