Ever Fallen in Love - with Nouvelle Vague?

Oh dearie me. It's one thirty in the morning, I have a weekend of homework ahead of me, and yet here I am writing up a post. Why, do you ask? Well, let me tell you: I just got home from the Nouvelle Vague gig! And holy crap on a stick. It was amazing beyond belief.

My night started out a little stressed out. I was at the Grand Kemang Hotel in the front lobby, waiting for my friends to get there, and with no money on my phone with which to call them and find out why on earth they were an hour late. Fed up, I went on inside, through the ticket takers and out to the back, where the pool was, and where the band would be playing. What greeted my eyes was nothing less than absolute indie heaven.

The stage was essentially ON the pool, and Nouvelle Vague had already started. As I came in and pushed and squirmed my way through to the front row (determination and elbows are your best friends, although not quite so for the people you're determinedly elbowing past), they were playing "Teenage Kicks", one of my favourite songs of theirs. The two girls singing were adorable to the max. One, Phoebe, had long dark hair and wore this somewhat frilly black dress, black stockings, and the brightest red flats imaginable. The other girl, whose name escapes me, had a little less spunk but a lot more "Awww!" factor. A gorgeous silvery backless dress and also black stockings, and short curly hair.

The cool thing about a show right on a pool? I ended up kicking off my shoes, sitting right on the edge of the water and put my feet in, with a glass of semi-decent house red wine in hand. I don't think I've ever been more chilled out, yet simultaneously ecstatic.

It doesn't take a genius to know this, but regardless, I have to say that nothing compares to a live show. The intensity of the band members, the energy of the crowd, the power of the music; it all combines to make this crazy euphoria that made me dizzy with elation, and made me grin like an idiot throughout the show.

One of the highlights of the show was when they played "Too Drunk To Fuck." Everyone around me was singing along to every word (yes, I was too - I'm just that much of a dork), and at times the girls would just stop singing and let the audience take over, which we did with much enthusiasm. Phoebe at one point, getting lower and lower to the ground with each "too drunk, too drunk, too drunk to fuck!", eventually was lying on her back in the middle of the stage, and all you could see were these two bright red shoes kicking around in the air while the other girl declared, "Yeah. She's a little too drunk to fuck." What attitude.

Finally, my friend showed up, right in time for her favourite song: Love Will Tear Us Apart. During this song also, the crowd took over the chorus. The girls kept getting quieter and quieter, as the guys played louder and louder, then faded out halfway through the song. Everyone ran offstage, at the disappointment of the crowd, but then they ran back on and picked up the song halfway through. A little odd, sure, but certainly amusing, and the song ended on that much more of a high note.

Other songs played: Dancing With Myself, Bela Lugosi's Dead (slowed waaaay down, and just.. wow.), Heart of Glass, Ever Fallen In Love?, others that I absolutely can't remember for the life of me.

The song I wish to death they played: I'll Melt With You. Why they didn't, I shall never know. It broke my heart.

When they finished their last song, "Ever Fallen In Love?", the whole band just leaped into the pool, along with a couple of audience members. I was extremely tempted, but had no where to leave my bag, so I stayed dry.

Then Amber and I went around the side of the stage and met them all! Marc (brainchild behind the project, a music producer, and also played keyboard), who I talked to a few times over Myspace, recognized me, exclaiming, "Hey, you're that girl, Annabelle, from Myspace!"

Why yes. That is me. And you, sir, are my hero of the night.

They all dried off, then I chilled and talked to Marc and drank wine with him for half an hour or so. It was so great, chatting about music and how he liked Asia, the joys of touring but the expensiveness and exhaustiveness. Some great techno tracks were playing, everyone was hanging around and having a great time, and I danced it up like a silly un-coordinated fool with Amber. And of course, of course, I had my camera with me, and worked up the courage to finally ask people if I could take their pictures! Some definitely amazing clothes there.

I'll post the band pictures, which aren't the greatest but are still cool, and the clothes pictures in two seperate posts.

Show boo-boos: Outrageously expensive price for a relatively short set - they only played for about 2 hours or so. Cheaper than Muse though, which was Rp. 500,000. Not being able to be RIGHT in front of them was also a down-side; it made them feel a little removed from the audience. Also, wine and other drinks were about Rp. 50,000 a glass! Maybe I'm just a cheapass, but still, for a poor kid like me, that's expensive!

Show yay-yays: They're Nouvelle Vague, and they're awesome. Being able to dip my toes in a pool! The small show size made it more intimate for the crowd. Having wine available, regardlesss of price.

And they're Nouvelle Vague. And they're awesome.