A solo mission rock concert!

To set the stage, pun included, I have wanted to see the Canadian indie rock band, The Arkells, for about the last 5 years. I have been a fan ever since their 2010 Jackson Square album and have enjoyed watching their steady climb to be a Canadian rock radio household name. So, when their Calgary concert date came up on Friday, October 28, 2022 I knew this was something I had to go to! About two weeks before the concert I had been scanning the ticket availability and planting the seed with my wife about coming with me…after all she is my best buddy, my dashboard drummer and always ready for a good music show. Low and behold she got sick the week of the concert and her work was kicking her butt so her attendance record just got an “X” beside it. I texted another buddy of mine and it was his kid’s birthday the day after the concert so he was out and I was down a sidekick for the rock show. I decided right then and there this was going to have to be a solo rock mission and here is how I went about it in a brief, bullet point, mostly chronological order:

1. 2:00 pm October 28, the day of the concert – I am still without a concert ticket at this time. I contemplate going to the concert by myself with many inside voices asking “Can I do this?”, “Where do I sit?”, “Is it embarrassing?”, “Maybe I should just get really drunk if I go by myself?”…and finally ”ahhh f#$k it - you only live once so let’s do this!”

2. 4:10 pm – Buy a last-minute general admission ticket for the floor pit. The concert doors open at 7:45 pm.

3. 5:27 pm – Tweet the band, give them a shout out and ask them to play my favorite song on the new album

4. 6:00 pm – Shower up and get dressed. A solo concert goer must look the part and show confidence and have a badass, cool look – basically you should dress like you’re a member of the band and at any moment you could be called up to “sit in” for the drummer.

5. 8:00 pm - Get there early so you can establish your territory like a lion on the Serengeti (see reference pic below). I found because I was by myself people almost gave me more personal space than if I were in a group??

6. 9:00 pm – The first guitar chords drop. At this point you must immediately show your passion and dedication to the band with air fist pumps, dance jumps and high air guitar kicks. You must know at least 74% of the lyrics so you can shout em’ out with everyone else and not be labeled a “fake fan”.

7. 9:42 pm – The Arkells play my favorite new song on the album called “Nowhere to go” and yes I think it’s because I tweeted and asked for it at 5:27 p.m.

8. 9:45 pm – At this point I am well into the concert and there is no going to the bathroom for fear of losing my spot. You must lock in an auto water tight seal at this moment or prepare to piss your pants.

9. 10:22 pm - Run friendly concert security. For some reason "jabroni’s" and "bee-yotches" follow me around at concerts and this one didn’t prove that theory wrong. By this time many people were well into their drinks and 4 people behind me were being obnoxious and rude and proceeded to spill some beer on a guy beside me. I turned around and gave them a piece of my mind and the guy beside me proceeded to give me the “head nod” of respect and I felt like I gained a friend for 3 minutes!

10. 10:30 pm – It’s the encore. By this time, I don’t give a f$%k about being by myself and I have a blast as it just might be the last concert I’ll ever, see...

11. 11:00 pm – Get home and thank yourself that you have the guts and grit to rock a concert on a solo mission.

Like a lone wolf on the prairies people gave me my space!

Stay in tune and in touch.

Cheers,

Kent