Blog Q1 Blog 4 - Shari Vaidya - My Night at the Warfield (Emphasis on War)
“We can go side to side-”
“EYES WIDE SHUT I ASSUME YOU’RE LOOKING AT ME!”
I scream back the lyrics to the song that is currently blasting through the theatre’s speakers. ‘Nice’ by Los Angeles-based rapper and EDM artist 2hollis, who, as of two weeks ago, found himself in the wonderful Bay Area. Well, I’ll be more specific; 2hollis and Co. found themselves in the iconic Warfield Theatre in San Francisco.
As the bass is reverberating through the theatre (‘Nice’ has been remixed for this tour, and I have been trying to get the beat out of my head to forget that the remix has not been released yet), I feel myself getting dizzy, but like– a nice (can you tell that it is my favorite song?) type of dizzy– a type of dizzy you feel when you’ve just jumped off a swing; the adrenaline just rushing through your body, nerves lit up and on fire.
I had been looking forward to this concert since my blonde angel announced the dates shortly after the success of his set at Outside Lands. I practically jumped in my friend’s car and immediately texted my other friend (the red-headed beauty Finn), seeing if she wanted to come.
After much convincing, I was given the green light to go to the concert, so that’s how I ended up with Finn and some guys (with whom we had met in line) chatting and joking around in the cold San Francisco night air.
I have been following 2hollis’ career for a little over two years now. Since my initial discovery, I have been sucked into the art of other members of his collective, dubbed boyliife. Nate Sib, whom I affectionately dub “Our Generation’s Justin Bieber” (trust me, listen to ‘Go’ or any other song in his discography), and Rommulas, whose music is admittedly for a trained ear (and this ear trained HARD for his opening set. Seriously, I went feral when I heard ‘No Me Importa’), both opened for 2hollis for this tour. Their sets were electrifying, and I genuinely thought I was going to meet god when the smoke machines started and I saw the Mexican Vampire (whom I resemble) jump out to ‘No Me Importa.’
I also just want to point out how CUTE these men are (I'm sorry I can’t help it!). I used to never understand BTS fever (that is a lie, I was CLOCKED IN and the One Direction Factory), but now, when I see boyliife (who are a friend group– not a boyband), I fully understand why my lunch table friends were going crazy over random men in 2018.
It has been two weeks since I saw my blonde beauty, and the only physical proof I have from that is a bruise on my thigh, a recurring migraine, and a plugged ear (don’t be like me, bring earplugs to loud concerts and don’t let people trample you).
I was able to sense the passion you have infused into the very words of your blog while I was reading it and I must say, it takes so much time and energy to be this devoted (“feral”, even) that I commend you for it! I think everyone could benefit from being passionate about something to this degree. Though it’s not always going to be concerts, of course. I, for one, don’t know how you survived the concert without earplugs at all since I sometimes need noise canceling just to live through the school rallies; concerts are probably not my thing.
ReplyDeleteBut you embedded so many links in your blog that I could still go down the rabbit hole of 2hollis’s music and shows from the safe and quiet comfort of my room, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! Definitely the kinds of songs I’d imagine being fun to jump around to at a concert. It’s not the kind of music I usually listen to, but it has that punchy beat I like (and also some aspects of, oddly enough…old video game music? Lame, I know).
I’d also like to take a moment to comment on the photograph you included. I remember you saying in class today that it would be perfect for the cover of your blog, and I agree! The hazy lights cloaking the man in the center, his figure jutting out onto the darker side of the background centering his torso as the focal point… as an art-oriented person I can’t help appreciating the composition there. All in all, good job on your blog!
Hi Shari! I could feel your devotion jump off the screen while I was reading your blog. I’ve seen a lot of people post about 2hollis on Instagram but I had no idea who they were, so thank you for givingg me some information on them. When I read that you and Finn were with random people from the line, fear literally crept inside me. My social anxiety is so terrible—I would be trembling. I desperately wish I were more spontaneous, but those side quests might have to wait a bit.
ReplyDeleteI looked into some of the artists you mentioned in your blog, like Rommulas. I seriously applaud you for not succumbing to only mainstream artists. I, on the other hand, am not that interesting; pretty much only listening to Bruno Mars. Unfortunately, the most niche thing I listen to is the sumo version of “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira. I was so excited to see you mention BTS—it ignited my sixth-grade self.
I hope you were able to enjoy the concert and live in the moment while you were there. Next time I go to a concert I will definitely bring earplugs. I don’t know why it never occurred to me to bring some because my ears always hurt afterwards. Hopefully, your ears will feel normal soon.