Tuesday, December 8, 2009

They Might Be Giants, but I was the one who felt out of place

A few weeks back Maggie had to go on a weekend training retreat. This left me home alone. I enjoy my alone time and try to make the most of it. I go see movies that Maggie has no desire to see, get take out Maggie would not like, watch whatever I want to on TV, and try to get out and enjoy the city. This particular weekend I read in City Weekly that They Might Be Giants were doing two shows in Salt Lake. One at the Depot on Friday Night and a Matinee Saturday at the Murray Theater. I purchased my ticket for the Saturday matinee at a discount price and was excited to see TMBG.

I arrived at the theater, parked my truck and walked to the end of the very long line that had formed. While I made this sojourn to back of the line I noticed something was strange. There were kids in line for this show...lots....and lots of kids. I figured that well, this is a matinee perhaps parents are just kids along for fun. I have seen kids at late night shows for the Aquabats and Flogging Molly so it makes sense there would be a lot of kids there. As I stood in line longer it became clear that every adult was attached to a child in someway...except of course for me. This was the beginning of my feeling awkward.

I entered the theater and took my place among the general admission audience. The band has released two children's CDs that talk about things like science, colors, and proper nutrition. I had no idea of this I just wanted to hear Build a Little Birdhouse. There were kids going crazy for songs I had never heard of. I have had fun at children's concerts before. One of the most fun times I have ever had was at a DJ Lance Rock ,from YoGabba-Gabba , concert. I jumped my sillies out, and sang along to Its a Party in My Tummy along with my wife and the several hundred other adults and teenagers there. However, being at a children's concert all on your own is an irony of a different color. I tried to make myself appear less strange by texting my Maggie and my cousin Britta. I was fairly sure that parents thought I was a child molester. This made me uncomfortable.

The saving grace of the concert was that they played Particle Man and Istanbul. The streamers were fun, and I will buy their albums when I have kids. The other highlight was the sang a song about evolution called Your Friend the Ape, and there was a mom in a BYU sweatshirt making her kid cover his ears. This alone might have been worth the price of admission.

7 comments:

Jules AF said...

I hope you had a beard. That'd make it so much better.

aunt ho said...

If you don't acknowledge/learn/understand evolution it's not true!

Markie said...

I love their kids CDs - always a fan of kids music that doesn't make me want to rip my ears of of the sides of my head (and I promise I don't cover my kids' ears).

Lucy said...

Britta, Katy, and I once went to a concert at the fairgrounds. We couldn't see so we ended up in the back just dancing. Much more enjoyable than trying to squeeze through to the stage.

Also, my friends in high school and I would do what we called the suicide polka to Instanbul. Basically trying to polka to the entire song is dangerous. One recruit called it moshing with partners.

Lucy said...

Whoops- that comment from Lucy was actually from me, Maiken. Sheesh!

Crystal said...

BYU moms are the best.

Britta said...

I was highly entertained by your texts - I did send you a picture of my kids to use as beards in case things got desperate, but obviously you survived.

I never knew TMBG had kid albums either - I've always thought their regular albums were pretty kid friendly. They teach valuable lessons like: Triangle wins!