For most, last Tuesday the 24th February was probably like any ordinary start to a working week. Monday was done and dusted and Tuesday was well on its way into becoming Wednesday. For me however, Tuesday was something quite different…
If I could pick a phrase that would sum up my day it would be “Don’t be that stereotypical fan-boy Pete! Be cool.”
I had only been asked the Thursday previous whether I could lend a helping hand to the team who made all of this possible. I think I responded, “Yes!” even faster than the time it took for the show to sell out! Which apparently was a mere second!
I was fortunate to see the band play live at Glastonbury 2009, which proved to be the last vivid memory of that weekend. I distinctly remember standing there, screaming along to “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” with thousands of other people thinking life couldn’t get much better! As it turns out it could…
February 24th 2015. Shebeen. Not thousands this time, just 200 die-hard Wombats fans! Opening with ‘Your Body is a Weapon” instantly the audience was in full-voice! Such is the brilliance of this band that after only after a few quick spins of their new tunes the lyrics and melodies are seared into my brain! It’s was a wonderful combination of fresh expansive sounds, high-octane energy and catchy hooks. But they’re still The Wombats, they still retain that sound we all know and love! The new tunes blend seamlessly with the old. They already feel like classics and I instantly feel 17 again!
If that day had ended there I would’ve been a happy man! But as it happened it wasn’t over, not by a long shot. I wandered into the back room where the guys were deservedly enjoying a well-earned drink after nailing the show. What makes it all the more impressive is that they were using entirely rented gear and battling through jet lag. Gingerly I approached Murph and apologised profusely about asking for a photo, off-stage he is just as pleasant and funny as he is on-stage and he thankfully obliged. That picture was then instantly ‘Instagrammed’ and uploaded to Facebook, naturally Tord then passed me a bottle of Tequila to sip out of and although I was technically working how could I refuse?
After a while we ventured up to one of the few bars open at that hour. And there I was, the intern sipping Espresso Martini’s as Tuesday gently shifted into Wednesday with The Wombats. Life goal = accomplished!
-Pete W (aka our fave Cool Accidents intern/all round lovely chap/Wombats fan-boy #1)
