Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5H0wUo37RY

I was recently invited to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Madison Square Garden and I hesitated.  Should I go? 

I grew up listening to bands like Tom Petty, Crowded House, Michael Penn, The Police, They Might Be Giants.   Now, I love music as much as the next person, but if I didn't grow up with two sisters who were into 'obscure wussy crap' like in the list above, I think I'd only be into The Police.  Goes to show how your environment can shape your tastes, because I actually like these bands.  Tom Petty is a great musician, no one has a sound like him and he has that ability to turn folkie, country lyrics into rockin' shit.   But I have to confess a major reason I like him is because he is from Gainesville, FL,  my hometown.   So is my friend Nat, who invited me to his concert.  So why was I hesitant?  I'm not much of a concert goer.  I don't think I have ever pro-actively bought a ticket to a live music event.  Either a friend has invited me or my crazy older sister who is a live music junkie drags me to out.   But once I get there, I generally have a great time..nothing can compare to hearing a live band.  It's the impromptu-ness that your MP3 players just can't achieve as you press 'skip' on hearing the first notes of the song you swore you would never get sick of because you know exactly what the next 4:32 will entail.  After attending two live concerts this year, I realized what the problem was.  It's not the music, the bands rock.  The reason I don't like going to concerts is because of the people.

First of all, when you attend concerts like The Police and Crowded House, you become painfully reminded of your age.  As an actor, you are surrounded by youth.  The young people are young, the old people look and act young...very Peter Pan.  New York is like that too, but that's another story.   But when you attend concerts from bands from 'back in the day' the old people are old and there are no young people unless one of the old people couldn't get a sitter.   Attending The Police concert was like stepping into a Delorean..and I don't mean like going Back to the Future, I mean like actually finding a Delorean from the 80's and sitting in it TODAY.  People looked like they were from the 80's, the hair, the clothes, but aged..more wrinkles..worn.  80's glam this was not...rusty..sun worn and in need of a paint job was more like it.    I'm scared of getting old for sure, but when I see others my age look old, not older, but old...I freak out on the inside.  I want to run out of The Fillmore and hang out in Union Square, watch the skaters and soak up their vibrant energy.  There is no need to get into how aging effects me, we all have our own ways of dealing.   Time marches on, but do I need to consciously choose to be reminded that it does? 

Nat was on the phone awaiting my response and I said..."Sure, I love Tom Petty!"

Those dancing girls.  You know who I'm talking about.  They travel in groups of three or four, just enough to make a herd.   You inevitably sit behind them.  I'm a sitter, not a stander.  I stand when everyone else stands, but I'll be damned if I'm going to stand in front of people who are sitting behind me...but no, not the dancing girls.   It could be a concert hall full of wheelchair bound midgets and I swear these girls will stand up to dance in front of them.  It's reminiscent of a religious experience where it starts with one girl getting possessed by the music, she darts up and cries "wwwwooooooooooooooo!"  At this signal, the other three jump up and they scream in unison then start dancing as hard as their bodies allow in such a confined space.  There is only so much you can do when you face one way, have a bag at your feet and are sandwiched between two people.  It's like watching a line of those dancing potted plants.  What I like is that everyone has their own signature move that they repeat..one takes it slow, another is popping with every beat like a squirrel on crack and of course, there's the SEXY one.  The Sexy one will take Sarah Mclachlan's "Angel" and turn it into "Pour Some Sugar On Me" with her moves.   I don't mind it when people go nuts at concerts, the music is very moving and who am I to judge someone's experience, but in this case, it's a respect thing.   Don't block someone's view.  Dance in your chair, bob your head, go into the aisle, just don't stand up and reduce someone's $100 ticket into an 'Obstructed View.'   Oh those dancing girls.   You know who I'm in love with?  She's normally on the end..her friends grab her arm, try to pull her up..coax her to join in the dance, REPEATEDLY...but she's not having any of it.  Maybe she's embarrassed, or maybe she takes others into account before making decisions, either way, she's good in my book. 

When I see others reacting to the same song that I've attached to so many memories and enjoying them in their own way, it lessens the experience for me.  "That's MY song, not your song!,"  I think to myself, addressing the 25,000 other people around me who actually know the lyrics better than I do.  That's MY SONG NOT YOUR SONG!  You're singing it all wrong...why are you yelling the words?  You're dancing to fast!  She broke my fucking heart, how can you dance like that?  Don't scream that part, you have to sing it slowly, otherwise I can't elicit the emotional response that I want and like...I need to relive the joy of that moment and you are fucking ruining it!  You get the idea.  

When Nat and I walked into MSG last night we had just missed Steve Winwood who was the opening act.  It was dark, but already I could see the teased hair silhouettes bobbing up and down nearby.  I prepared myself mentally.  When Tom Petty came on, the stadium became electric, the crowd erupted in applause.   Tom Petty is now sporting long hair and a beard, always  hiding behind something it seems.  He immediately went into his classics.  The dancing girls went wild, blocking some poor souls immediately to my left.   I was brought back to High School in my mind and thought to myself "No, Tana, don't reminisce.  Don't be like this crowd.  As soon as nastalgia rules your life, you're dead.  I can't believe I'm here with the rest of these people.  They live in the past.  What are they trying to re-live?"   Then Tom played "I won't back down" from Full Moon Fever, and it reminded me that Malisa, my sister, liked this song...so I called her so she could hear it.  It was really good.  I felt good.  I hadn't heard this in a while.   Hit after hit after hit...until he really got me...."Don't come around here no more."   This was my favorite Tom Petty song.  I began thinking about the video...the Alice and Wonderland masterpiece that I hadn't seen in years.   When we got home I had to watch it.  Nat and I sat in front of my computer quietly taking in all of the fun twists and silliness that made the video so great.  Even in it's new pixelated form, we both both agreed, it's a timeless video. 

Were we blinded by our own nostalgia?  Could we really believe that the youth of today would appreciate this?   At the moment, we did, we really did.  I think we wanted to feel young(er) again. 

You watch the video...you be the judge. 

My wife recently asked me to go see Billy Joel in concert.  In Amy Winehouse style, I said a NO..NO..NO.

 

When did I last blog, when did I last blog?  OMG, when did I last blog!!!!   Oh...May 21st... PHEW!!!!! Not quite a month yet.  Yes Peachey, it seems this is becoming a once a month thing.  Hey 12 Blog entries a year...that's not so bad.   I haven't responded to anyone either..the thoughtful few...the very few who have put forth the effort to comment on my blogs.  Cheers to you!  May you live a long happy life and continue to comment on my blog entries without expectation of response!!!  No, I kid...I will surely respond.  I will surely check out your sites. 

I'm reading my blog right now and thinking, WTF?  Who says CHEERS?  Who uses the word SURELY?  What cheezy literary style am I trying to pull off here?  Do I want to sound cute?  WTF?  Anyways, more to come.  I will begin linking this site to my acting page...www.tananyc.com

Check it out, let me know what you think!   I love all 4 of you.

Tana

I don't mean to complain...but wtf is up with yet another Asian guy willing to make a complete ass of himself in front of all America promoting  yet another sexless, goofy, subordinate stereotype?  If you were watching the 2008 American Idol finale, you know what I'm talking about.  2008!!!! WTF!!!! 

On a personal level, it's a bigger WTF that I'm even watching this garbage.  I can't believe the unbelievable CHEEZ that emanates from this show.  The medleys, the ass kissing tributes, the wanna be's hacking up classics..and even worse, the has beens that are forced to revisit songs their aged voice boxes can no longer handle.  That said, the show IS on in the background...there is something to be said about the American dream and how it can be achieved for anyone in this country.  There is always a chance...anyone in this country has a chance.  Some better than others, but the opportunity is there.  Many places don't have that.  QUE MUSIC: "Proud to be an American." 

Thank your parents.

Over and out.

In classic style, I have started an online presence and then let it slowly fade away..neglected.   But if you subscribe to the idea that people can't change and that we are genetically hard wired and that it's futile to break away from billions of years of evolution, like mice in a maze, unable to learn, making the same mistake over and over again, well keep your eyes on this mouse!   This blog is coming back baby!  Back from the DEAD...flatline....my blog was having dinner with Jesus and Abraham Lincoln and I'm yanking it back to this earthly existence.   Stay tuned...

I should write more.  This IS a blog I guess.  Nothing new here, except the craziness of juggling, what seems like an infinite number of things in my life.  I'm just numb, not even sure if I'm more myself when I do these things, or losing a big part of me.  It's hard to tell, because I love doing what I do.  It's not all work, most of it is acting or film related, so I know what's driving it.  I guess what I'm contemplating lately is if I will regret not spending more time with my loved ones.   I guess if you have to write about it in your blog, then you clearly have to address it.

Nevermind.  Question answered. 

Wow, I should charge myself $250 an hour.

Okay, well, more to come regarding this showcase that I'll be on with wonderful actress Pamelyn Chee and Director Wendy Cheng.  They are both on Alive Not Dead as well.  Supposedly, Wendy's blogging about our theater piece.  If you live in the New York/NJ area, you should come to check it out!  We are going up December 1st to the 3rd, and it's FREE!

http://www.myspace.com/closeencountersplayfest