(Note: The writer of this blog, was delayed in writing up to the minute information due to that fact of driving for 41 hours straight from Austin, Tx to Boston, MA. The story is a long one, but this is the last night and after recovering from all the crazy hours and abuse in every known way, here we are writing once again.)
We left the garage loaded with all our gear, suitcases, garbage and with three extra people. In the small dark Scion there was Chris, Regina, Evan (The Points North) , Paul, Andrew and Al who was at the wheel. They slowly went down garage ramps toward the exit, waiting to see the attendants face when their eyes came across this menagerie on wheels. For some reason there was no one in the garage attendants booth and the gate was open, so we quickly made our way out of the garage and into the street.
Al drove as smoothly and as stealthily as possible by 3 or 4 state troopers with their typical large brimmed hats and slowly but surely made it to 21st Street, but then had to find parking. He managed to find a beautiful spot that someone was pulling out of very near to the 21st Street CO-op. He parallel parked the car with ease while the motley crew inside the car were being more annoying than helpful.
They had arrived!
As the group walked down 21st street it was evident that this secret Andrew W.K. party/show was really no secret at all. In fact when we arrived at the gates of the appartment complex the lawn, the walkways , the stairs , the sidewalks the rooms and the roofs were all filled with eager indie bohemians! There was no where to go except into the crowd.. The group immediately split up trying to makes sense of the mayhem. Al, went his way with his video camera on a mission to document everything he saw, which included a fight between what looked like a male shirtless security guard and a punk girl with a bull nose ring through her septum. The girl was trying to get up the stairs, to a place that seemed like everyone was (perhaps this is where Andrew W.K. would play). The male guard did not want to let her through, so he kept keeping her away with his leg. The girl finally gave up the struggle cursed at him and walked away. But as soon as she was leaving the guard swore at her calling her a "fat bitch". This was the wrong move, cuz the girl came back after him with such a force that they almost went up the two flights of stairs fighting and flailing about like animals. People tried to break it up, but it really became a spectacle. Al moved on to find some answers, as to whether or not Andrew W.K. was really going to play that night.
Andrew and Paul had stayed back with the group who seemed to be astonished and amazed at the on goings of the night. There were literally hundreds of kids everywhere. Andrew seems to have left the group also wanting to find a way into the show.
Al was able to get upstairs and find out that if Andrew W.K. was going to perform, that he would be doing it in a small room that already contained a stage.
The 21st Street Coop as Al learned from some kids on the stairs, is a place that always puts on parties and shows for the local community. They are always pretty wild and many times have free booze.
Al, made his way to another staircase that led right to the platform of the entrance of the 21st Street Venue. There were hundreds of people pushing and trying to get into the room. There were two girl guards at the top of the stairs who were fighting back aggressive boys with punches and pushes. There was no stopping this whirlwind of bodies. There Al saw Michael Potvin of #1 Dad and DJ Fred Mertz fame, holding a video camera as well and documenting the whole mess. Andrew made his way to the staircase and so did James. We all tried our best to get to the door of the show.
Al, finally made it past the guards by acting oblivious and handing out free StreightAngular stickers. When, he got to the door he had to make friends with two cool male guards who had been keeping things under control. It really was a sight to be seen. It was incredible to see such organization amongst chaos. It still was uncertain if Andrew W.K. was going to show up.
Al filmed the whole event. He got into the venue. Andrew got into the venue. James got into the venue and Michael got into the venue and the night continued to get crazier. What went down next will be out on the Polk Records in SxSw DVD coming out sometime this year.
As, they left the party later that night, Andrew, Paul, James and Al pulled up to a stop sign that was across by the most beautiful site they had ever seen. It was a mural of the Daniel Johnston cover art of "Hi, How Are You". It was on a wall across the street. Now since it was 5 AM, there was no one else on the street. The guys ran across the street like little kids, taking pictures with their cell phones and laughing all the way.
It started to rain. They were back on the road to Boston. 36 hours of travel and road awaited them. They were ready. They knew nothing was the same anymore. They knew it was only the beginning.
Fantastic story!
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