Life is jam-packed at the moment. We're moving. We need to find renters for two houses. Work is a mad rush to complete projects before the end of the fiscal year. The entire summer is planned out with business trips and travel to see family and friends. None of this anything to complain about. It all just feels very scheduled, controlled, and way too adult.
Last night, we had very wonderful friends over to the house. It was Michael's birthday. I poured them prosecco and served them little chocolates, strawberries, cheeses, cakes, and hummus on endive leaves. The sun visited upon us just long enough before we had to walk up the street to go see Moby.
I've been to a lot of Moby concerts--everything from arena events to intimate DJ sets in small clubs. I've even met him a few times and probably reviewed one or two of his albums. Last night, my friends and I, pouring forth with conversation and good cheer, stepped into the Melkweg and as soon as Moby came on stage with a full band armed with electronic instruments (save for his bongos), I was washed over in emotion. Next is the [sentimentalit-]E indeed.
Michael wore his "moby" hat. It's 20 years old. I think we got it through mail order after the first time we saw him--which happened to be in Indianapolis, Indiana in the middle of a food court in a mall after hours. It was a showcase set with Vapour Space, the Aphex Twin, and Orbital (and who said the Midwest has no underground? :-). On the front is a stitched rendition of the little cartoon character self-portrait Moby used to draw of himself.
"Twenty years ago" seemed to be the theme of the night. Moby talked about how he wanted to move to Amsterdam the first time he ever visited it 20 years ago. My friends and I all toasted each other because we felt the same but actually DID move. He said that New York would have been a better place if the Dutch had never sold it. And then he dedicated "In My Heart" to all the old-school ravers. I felt like he was talking just to our little tribe at that moment. I realized in that instant how I could mark large chapters of my life by his music, how good so much of his music is, and how I'd never really realized how prominent is was because I guess he only "belonged" to the ravers for such a short period of time before he started selling his music for TV commercials. A guy's gotta eat. Now he eats in a castle somewhere in California. But I'm not cynical. Quite the opposite. I couldn't remove the dopey smile from my face. Michael and I held hands the entire concert. Pass me the insulin.
So thanks, Moby. Thanks for the joy you brought us when dance music broke our world open 20 years ago. Thanks for the music I listen to at the gym. Thanks for the techno ballads, the ambient CD, and that famous punk rock misstep album. You made us happy. You left us satisfied. You've given us a lot. And last night, we caught up to the whale.
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