the white stripes

This morning I found myself doing something I hadn't done since I was a much younger. I set my alarm for 4am and after only a few short hours of sleep made my way to Irving Plaza to pay my dues and stand in line for tickets. A day or so ago it had been announced that The White Stripes were playing this intimate venue (1200 capacity) and tickets were only available there at 10am today. I have only seen this band once, on Easter of 2002 with Brendan Benson at the Trocadero (1200 capacity). Shortly after they became hugely popular and despite how much I loved the band, I could never bring myself to purchase tickets to their huge arena and festival tourdates. Being my last week in NYC, I was thrilled when I found out that they were going to play Irving before I left and made plans to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to make sure I would be in attendance.

On the subway at 5am I sat with those coming from last nights party, drunk and barely able to keep their eyes open. I arrived around 5:30 and took my place in line behind some who apparently got there at 9pm the night before.



Five hours later, the line is wrapping all the way around the block and we're escorted in groups of 25 (we received numbers) into the venue to "hang out", purchase water/beer, and continue waiting to actually purchase vouchers that are good to redeem on the day of the show.



by 11:30 I walk away tired but satisfied. It feels good to finally be really excited about a show again.