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Post by PokerKitten on Jul 28, 2011 13:16:46 GMT
Friday, July 29 · 7:00pm - 11:00pm Somewhere in Hollywood (Near Willoughby & Formosa) Los Angeles, CA
We at Ghost of the Robot will be hosting a listening party for our new album "Murphy's Law" where we will sit and listen to the album in it's entirety, followed by a Q&A where we will announce the albums release date.
This will be a free event by invite only. Space is extremely limited, so if you can and would like to attend, please email GotR@eyelashout.net with the following information to be considered for the guest list:
Your... name Your favorite GOTR song Anything else you think we should consider
This is going to be a very special evening for us, as we have been working so hard the past several weeks making this record sound perfect. We can't wait to share it with all of you!
The less-fun stuff...
Spoiler Alert! Absolutely no recording equipment of any kind will be permitted in the venue. No Camera's or cell phone devices, no exceptions. Everyone and their bags will be subject to search before being allowed entry.
We apologize in advance if we are not able to accommodate everyone who wants to attend.
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Post by wrigglerosie on Aug 7, 2011 21:12:20 GMT
Here be my report from the listening party!!
Rosie Goes to See - and Hear - James and GotR at the Murphy’s Law CD Listening Party
(Alternative title - "Truth Is, it's Too Fast. If This is Love - One love, One Exception - and you are Finer than Gold, then Smile and look at me with Blind Eyes as I have the Key to your Issues and you can Go Luck Yourself...")
Wednesday/Thursday
It was a rather crazy journey to LAX. I had been to work in the morning and then drove to up to London to catch the 8pm flight from Heathrow to New York. That was 2 hours late taking off as the plane was missing a part and they had to find another one and fit it! (Doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence that they didn’t notice earlier!) We were all on the plane and so had to sit there waiting for the whole time and it was incredibly hot, but we took off eventually. This then made us late into JFK- arriving around midnight – and then they had trouble getting the jet way to fit onto the plane which took about another 15 minutes to sort out! With at least 2 other full flights arriving at the same time, there were a lot of people in immigration and only 5 officers on. Consequently it took me nearly 2 hours to get through and there were plenty of people behind me. So it was now 2am and my connecting flight was leaving at 6.30am. Just getting to my hotel was going to take a while – I’d probably have just about enough time to get there, turn round and come back! So I abandoned that idea without even attempting it, choosing to just change terminals and wait there instead (luckily there was a food place open and I could get a cup of tea!) The next leg actually went according to plan and we were early getting into LAX. Nice and easy to get out and Patti and Julie were there within minutes to pick me up. We went onto a bead show which was fun and when I was talking to anyone about why I was there in LA, I told them we had been invited to a Hollywood party. Well – it was true! We were invited and it was in Hollywood…!
Friday
We pottered mostly during the day until it was time to leave for the party. We left ourselves enough time to eat beforehand, so having checked out where we were going which turned out to be Swing House Studios (there was a guy sticking signs for the CD Listening Party along the wall of the building and round the corner with arrows pointing to the door where we had to go in, so we knew we were in the right place!) we went and had a rather hurried pizza before returning. Becky, Angela and Carol were already there outside and had been there when James and the rest of the band arrived so had spoken to him, and he was looking great! Charlie came out to say hi and as Patti and Julie were videoing the event for the band, they were allowed in early to set up.
I did a bit of catching up with those that were there and then a few more people arrived – including Jessie, Nancy and Jean all bearing plates of lemon-themed goodies and Lori and family with several more. Kevin then popped out with new band member Micah who he introduced to us and said they were just off to buy a tablecloth to put on the table for the goodies. On their return they stopped to talk and Kevin said it was the first tablecloth he had ever bought! We teased him a bit that he was beginning to grow up after he confessed that having coped perfectly well for years with just the one, he had finally got round to buying a second set of bed sheets only a few weeks earlier…!
A few more people arrived but there were only about 15 at this point. Kevin came out with the list in his hands, but said since he recognised all of us, we were just invited in. The door (with a huge step down!) led into an outside area and then we went in another door, along a corridor and into a studio room. It wasn’t huge, but there was plenty of space to move around and mingle. All painted black with an area laid out in the centre consisting of 4 black leather couches in a large square round a white rug and some more chairs and stools. These then had 4 huge speakers set out behind them. There was also a sort of three-tiered staging area with more chairs on the left side, the big mixing desk in the centre and the refreshment table to the right of that. Lots of space to mingle and all very relaxed. Cody, PJ and Daniel from Mars Police were all there with Sullivan, greeting us when we came in which was nice – jeez, they are all about 6 inches taller than when I saw them back in December! And there was James, already being grabbed to be introduced to someone and yes, he looked great. Dressed in a dark navy t shirt (which I later noticed had a hole in the front!) jeans and black high top Converse sneakers, he was also wearing a heavy silver chain round his neck with the medallion that looks a bit like a washer as it has a hole in the centre. His hair was still mostly straight and gelled back. As he was being led past he ginned as he spotted me, calling “Hey Rosie!” and stopped briefly to give me a one-armed hug as he said “Good to see you” before continuing to be dragged away
I claimed a seat on one of the sofas and then went over to talk to Sullivan and the boys and told them how chuffed I was that they had posted my picture of their first ever set list on the Facebook page and how pleased I was that I owned that very first set list! Then having gone back to my seat and was looking around to see who was there, I saw Patricia (who was wearing a rather fetching straw hat) waving to me from by the refreshment table so I went across to say hi. We hugged and I offered her my rather belated congratulations on the wedding, but then I hadn’t seen her since the gig in December. I asked her if she knew about the quilt I had given James in NY in May which was their wedding present. She didn’t, so it hasn’t arrived yet, but she seemed quite impressed that I had made it for them. I told her about how I had always planned to make one for their gift, but thought I would have longer - I had to make it quickly when I heard they had done the deed! She did seem genuinely delighted and couldn’t wait to see it. (I know the quilt had to be shipped out, so I hope it does get there – must find out where it’s gone!) Patricia said she has kept all the cards they have been given and gets them out to look at which is lovely to know.
There was music playing in the background whilst everyone was mingling, and much to my amusement, when I turned round, there was Charlie, Daniel, Cody and PJ all doing an impromptu unison air guitar performance, playing along with the track, complete with flourishes and appropriate facial expressions, alongside the refreshment table! Really funny! Then as they finished, I was able to hold out my arms and finally give Charlie a hug – he asked me how my flight had been to which I had to reply “Horrible!” and gave him and Patricia a potted version of the tale of the missing part and the immigration line from hell…! James came over to speak to Charlie and Kevin, and then turned to me saying “Come here” and I got a proper full-on hug this time.
We exchanged pleasantries and I said he was looking great and very happy and so much better than last time I had seen him. He replied with a gorgeous smile that he was really happy and he was aware that things had been pretty bad back in May. He did tell me why that was – nothing to do with him personally - and it caused him to drink rather a lot. I told him wryly “We kinda noticed!”
He grimaced “I bet you did!”
“We were really worried about you”
“I was in a bad place then – I hope I treated you OK.”
“You were absolutely fine with me, all weekend” I assured him and he added “Cos I know I probably wasn’t with everybody” but went on to say he was really good now which was a relief.
I reiterated that he had been fine with me and then said that I wouldn’t be seeing him in Chicago in a couple of weeks as I couldn’t make both - I had come to the party instead. James replied “Well it’s much better to come here, this is the good one – better than Chicago!” which made me laugh
His attention was grabbed by someone else again at this point, so I turned to talk to Charlie. He asked me if I had my notebook with me and would I be writing up the event? I asked, slightly incredulously, “You read my stuff?” and he said yeah and he really liked it as I went into so much detail – he didn’t remember half of it afterwards and I noticed things he had forgotten!! Have to say I was a bit gobsmacked by that and then a bit nervous thinking about what I might have said in past rambles, but he assured me he wanted me to write this one up and he would give me the list of all the title tracks and put my stuff up on the Facebook page! And also, if I saw anyone doing any kind of recording to let him know!
I went back to my sofa and got out my notebook to make some quick observations – if Charlie was going to be reading this, I wanted to get it right. I did some more mingling too and then joined a lot of the others around the next sofa where James was leaning over the back of it holding court. He was talking about the late night recording of the percussion on Truth Is and the video that they put on YouTube really was them doing the track on the CD – they forgot that we the viewer wouldn’t be able to hear what they could through their headphones, and so though some people thought they were goofing off, they really were working!
I did some more mingling and then sat on my sofa again – realising that the band were going to be sitting on the one next to mine when it came to the listening part of the party – and after a bit, James came back into the studio, walked straight across towards me, asking how I was doing, and sat down on the arm of the sofa right next to me to talk. Patricia had to interrupt at this point to ask something about Sullivan, for which she apologised and as she moved away James said proudly “That’s my boy!” I said how much he had grown and filled out since I had seen him in December, at which James said that all the boys had grown enormous – he went to pick them up and could hardly fit them in the car. They kept on kicking him in the back on the journey – they were apologising as they didn’t mean to but they have all got so big! I asked if he thought Sullivan would be taller than him and he said yes, he’s got huge hands and feet – his feet are already bigger than his dad’s – James wants him to be 6 feet 2 inches at least!
I was scrunched up in my seat with my shoulder against James’s hip and having to twist round to look up at him sitting above me. He just sat there sprawling slightly, not in the least bit bothered that he was crowding against me, and I wasn’t complaining…!
I asked him about Hawaii and he had had a great time over there filming – Sullivan was with him. It was just the one episode for now, but he was telling me about the great fight scene he had in the prison courtyard with Alex. They did most of it themselves – McGarrett was doing a double kick into Victor’s chest to put him down and they were going to get the stuntmen to do it and yet again, James and Alex got together and did it themselves. Yes it did hurt being kicked over onto a concrete surface, but he was so pleased that they did it rather than the stuntmen.
Apparently they were filming it in an actual jail and so Sullivan wasn’t allowed to go “They would have loved him!” said James! He thought it was the psych wing but it turned out to be the really hardened criminals and they were all hanging out watching and cat-calling and mocking the cast and crew – James did a impersonation of them – I cant remember the exact words but it was highly suggestive!. He said he wanted to taunt them back “Can I get you a Slurpee? Oh, no – you can’t have it can you? I’m going out; can I get you anything at all? Oh – no, you’re not allowed are you?” I was cracking up laughing as he continued to come up with more taunts and told him he was so bad and evil – though he did say he didn’t actually say anything to them – thank goodness!!
He was called away again at that point, saying he would come back, but I didn’t expect him to, he was bound to get talking to someone else. So I made notes of our conversation and then counted up how many people were actually there. After GotR and Mars Police, Patricia plus a PR girl and a photographer and a couple of others I didn’t recognise, I counted 19 fans there, so it really was not at all crowded - very intimate and fun.
The band all came around to sit on the sofa and chairs at a right angle from me – Charlie on the chair nearest me, then Micah, Jordan, James and Kevin on the sofa and Sullivan on the chair at the other end. (I was going to draw pictures, but Becky has already done a great job of that – LOL!) Kevin started off speaking (and realised after about 3 words he didn’t need the microphone so stopped using it!) saying thank you to everyone, that the evening was for us, the fans and all the loyalty and support they we give them – all the others agreed. James introduced Jordan the new drummer and Micah who was doing the backing vocals. (Micah has known Charlie for years and they had said that they would use him on the second GotR album – so he only had to wait 8 years to do so!) There were a lot of different types and genres on the album from rock to ballad to surfer-type! According to James, Sullivan is incredibly productive – he is coming up with about a song a week. Because at the last 2 concerts nearly every song GotR performed were ones written by James, I asked who had written for the album, saying that obviously James had, but who else? They all had – a lot were collaborations - Charlie and Kevin, James and Charlie, James and Sullivan. Apparently on one, Sullivan wrote the music, and James wrote some lyrics which Charlie really liked and was going to use. Then rang up saying “Uh - I lost the lyrics you gave me – so I kind of wrote my own and used them!” James thought they were probably better anyway, but there were still bits of the ones he had written in the song – Charlie had remembered the start of some of the lines – so they sounded familiar and James thought he was being plagiarised - and then realised “oh – no…!”
So then it was onto the music. There are 16 tracks on the album and the total running time is 50 minutes 51 seconds (50:51 - the emergency call sign for some one who is a danger to themselves!) and rather than making us listen to all 16 tracks straight off they were going to play them in groups of 4 so we could discuss them in between. I’m no music critic- these are just my first thoughts and impressions.
Go Luck Yourself - Heavy rock, strong base beat– sounds like an ‘old’ GotR song, like Liar. Upbeat and loud, I can just see me rocking along and head banging to this in the car! James was rocking away to this one too and they were all grinning!
One Love, One Exception – think this is the one by Sullivan, with lyrics by Charlie – possibly sung by Sullivan? I’m not sure about this one – I need to hear it a few more times.
Too Fast – surprised to hear this one on the album. It doesn’t sound that much different to the Like A Waterfall version but is better, incorporating Sullivan’s extra guitar flourishes
At this point I was amused to note that all of the band was beating time with their feet and nodding along, and Sullivan was unconsciously playing air guitar doing all the chords!
Alone (Cowboy Song) – just as it always has been – James singing it a cappella. With a slight echo on it, it sounds incredible - so powerful and utterly perfect. I remember hearing this the first time James sang it at the 100 Club in London – where the place fell completely silent to listen. That was new, raw, slightly hesitant and powerful. This is the matured version. I think they are brave to put it on the album – and especially as track 4 – it could be a controversial choice from a commercial point of view. But what do I know? Personally, I love it!
There was a short gap for any comments and questions, and then it was straight on with the next 4 tracks – starting with:-
Truth Is – the highlight of the album for me. I love James singing the blues and I love him singing this – but its so much better with the whole band. Sounds heavy and bluesy, very ballsy and how it should! Sullivan’s riffs are incredible. Everyone was stamping along and clapping – it really got everyone going. Just a fabulous track.
Blind eyes – a complete change of pace and feel. I think it’s sung by Charlie - a slow, sad ballad with a strong bass and guitar. (James by now had slid so far down on the sofa that he was almost lying flat with just his head propped up – eyes closed and his feet tapping along)
Issues – (though it may yet be changed to ‘Is Shoes’) My first thought was it sounds like an early McFly track! Very much in the style of 60’s surfer music, a feel-good sound with a catchy tune, but think from something Charlie said that the lyrics might be more serious. It was a collaboration between Kevin, who had the tune and Charlie and I think its James singing it, but may not be.
Smile – I was surprised to hear that they had done this one with the band. It does sound different and I’m not sure if everyone will like it. I’m reserving judgement until I’ve heard it again. There was some different words at the end – not sure if they were just the last bit altered or an extra bit added on – I can’t remember exactly what James sang but did catch “Going back over the hill, the clouds are not so grey” as part of it.
All of the band was reacting to bits as they heard them for the first time - James was doing huge open-mouthed grins at things as he heard them and exchanging delighted looks with Micah and Sullivan was drumming along or playing air guitar. Charlie was mostly very still leaning forward on his knees listening and quite often he would move forward and crouch on the rug, listening intently to certain bits.
In this break to talk, James said about Issues possibly going to be called Is Shoes and Charlie had a marketing idea of selling shoes with an exclusive download of the song! Several people remarked that they loved the version of Smile and I put in that Truth Is just sounded incredible.
They have so much material – easily enough for another 16 track album and probably enough for another one after that! They said they want to go on a tour of the west Coast next summer in a big-assed Winnebago, writing on the road but they didn’t know who was going to drive - Charlie was asking Sullivan when he would get his driving permit…! James said that Mars Police would be opening for them wherever they were allowed to – quite often they can go on stage at a venue but can’t use the bathrooms because they are under age…! He also told the story of how he came to write the cowboy song.
Moonshot – have to say this is not one of my favourite songs, but it does sound better with the band and Sullivan’s extra guitar. Patricia had come to sit on the floor diagonally across from me so I was in a perfect position to see the interaction between her and James. They were smiling at each other like crazy and doing these cute faces and at one point James was watching her intently, waiting to catch her eye. The end of the song has what is probably some of the soundtrack from the movie in it – the sound of the astronauts’ voices through the intercom which was a nice touch
Strippers – my first thought again was that this was heavy ‘old’ GotR style rock again – very much so!
Finer Than Gold – Not too different sounding to when James sings it solo, got more body to it. James and Patricia were being so cute again with the intense looks, loving smiles and silent interplay between them. At the end of the song, Patricia was wiping away a few tears even as she was applauding enthusiastically. She was the first to start applauding at the end of every song and nearly always the last to stop too.
If This is Love – the first time I heard this song was at the GotR gig in December and I have heard James sing it solo too – but it does sound best with the band. Played slowly with a strong bass and brushes on the drums, it’s just wonderful - especially with Sullivan letting rip in the middle and again at the end! He got applause for the middle riff - he and James high-fived in delight - and again at the end, with much whooping all round. My second favourite from the album!
In the break, James said that Strippers was written by Charlie at the same time as he wrote Liar (so it was ‘old’ GotR - hey, I’m good!) and when he wasn’t actually old enough to go into strip clubs, so the lyrics are ironic! And talking about Sullivan’s amazing guitar playing, apparently Charlie describes him (Sullivan) as the hand sanitizer of Ghost of the Robot – he is 99.999% perfect when he plays!
The last 4 tracks – the first three make up a trilogy by Charlie, which was originally written way back before GotR started. And the last track James said was going to be a bonus on the CD – if you kept listening at the end it would come on eventually. Then he realised that it wouldn’t work as the album would be on iTunes…!
Charlie had only finished tinkering with the album the night before – and the only thing that stopped him doing any more to it was us! He knew he had to have it done for the party.
Becky asked Charlie for the titles of the tracks and he said with a perfectly straight face “oh, I don’t know!” and screwed up his track list and chucked it over his shoulder! Luckily Kevin had another one, so they were able to tell us.
Transferring Energy – not sure what I think of this – need to hear it more.
Men Who Die – has some interesting key changes
Figures – faster and heavier than the other two tracks in the trilogy. Charlie was again listening very intently to all of this and moving forward to hear better.
The Key – long start, in the same vein as Mefiant on Mad Brilliant. Short song with harmony vocals from several voices – James, Micah and Charlie for definite.
James said they were glad that people were asking who was singing on some of the tracks, that they couldn’t necessarily tell who it was – that was what they wanted. To meld all their voices together into one big voice, which is what they were trying to do on that last track. James sings the low harmony and Micah does the top. The whole album is very much a collaboration between them all – everyone doing a bit of everything! And James admitted that he felt right with the band, he always had. He never felt quite like himself when he was doing the solo albums.
Obviously there was a huge amount of clapping and cheering at the end as we showed our appreciation. The band all reiterated that this was for us the fans and they enjoyed being able to share it with us.
Straight after, the official photographer moved in to take a load of photographs of the band. Firstly with all of them standing with their arms round each other- James was next to Sullivan and someone called out “Is Sullivan taller than you now?” to which James immediately replied “No!” But Sullivan stood up tall and looked at his dad and there really isn’t much in it now! Then they were trying to out-tall each other! I was itching for my camera at this point as there were all these great potential shots to be taken, and now the listening was done, I probably could have.
Several other group shots followed – James, Charlie and Kevin together and then just father and son which they took with them sitting on the sofa. James told Sullivan to “look short” and so he briefly crouched forward and made himself smaller which got a few giggles! But the shots looked wonderful and it was lovely seeing them together like that – really hope we get to see the photos sometime!
There was more mingling – James had to go out and do an interview but said he would be back. Meanwhile, I talked to Patricia again. She was so happy about it all, pleased that the album was finished and well received, and so very excited for James and proud of what he and the band had achieved. I said I had seen her wiping away a few tears and she admitted it, so I teased her gently about it, knowing that they were happy tears. Becky asked her which her favourite song was, and she said it was very difficult to pick but it was possibly Finer Than Gold. We talked about the other songs a little - she had noticed the astronaut voices at the end of Moonshot too and thought it was a lovely touch.
We also asked her if she was going to any conventions soon – I asked her about Dragon Con and she asked when it was, but said she had family over for a month then so couldn’t. She then had us in hysterics when she said she never knew what James was doing and didn’t know his schedule at all (and I added that he certainly didn’t!) and that she often had to go onto the official Facebook page just so she could find out what he was doing and when!! She mimed typing on the computer “Where is my husband this weekend???” and that just made me laugh so much – just brilliant! (It’s probably my favourite story from the evening!)
I had Charlie teasing me about not understanding my accent (I was probably talking too fast in my excitement!) when I asked him about the track list. He rescued the screwed up one from behind the sofa where he had chucked it earlier and gave it to me; then explained about the changes that he still might make to a couple of titles. He then got the boxes with the merchandise in – mostly old GOTR t shirts, bumper stickers and a few of the old singles and I think there was some Mad Brilliants in there too – and stuck the boxes in the middle of the floor so everyone could just dig through. I quickly got my hands on one of the old red GotR t shirts that I wanted. All the Mars Police boys were joining in and trying on various “Power Animal” t-shirts then and there. At one point, Sullivan was digging through the boxes and lamenting “I wish I had money!” to which I replied “Join the club!”
I also got the only emerald green t shirt with Eyelashout on it and another GotR bumper sticker. Whilst I was giving Charlie the money, I said I had really wanted one of the red ones that he had found, to which he replied “People think we are just being clever with what we put on the Facebook page – but it’s the truth – I really did find them “In a bag, in a van, by the river” My old van was parked by the river, I wanted to sell it so I cleaned it out and found the bag of t-shirts – must have been left there from a show.”
Micah was there too and wanted to have a look at my red t shirt which he liked as it has the robot on it, and then the green one which he really liked – I had to grab it back off him saying “Mine” before he got ideas! I talked to him for a little while – he is a lovely guy – very chatty and good fun. He really appreciated the loyalty the fans were showing to the band, he thought that it and they were very important.
James came back into the studio after finishing his interview and was immediately grabbed to have a few photos taken with people by someone who did actually have a camera. I asked if she would take one of me with James and she said yes and he was quite happy. We just put our arms round each other for the photo and then James said “You got a proper smile for that one!” Still with our arms round each other, I told him that Truth Is was the best track on the album, it sounded so good. But that I wasn’t sure about Smile yet – I needed to hear it more. He grinned and made some comment I didn’t really catch, but I couldn’t pursue it as others were waiting for pictures and to talk.
I was still standing in the general area when a few minutes later, after finishing pictures and talking with few people James went towards the centre sofa, against which several people were still leaning, and launched himself into a flying leap, which landed him lying on his back with his hands behind his head, all in one movement. He then proceeded to lie there whilst he chatted! Shelley laughed when she saw him and said to me “He sure does know how to work a room!” Aint that the truth!
I got talking to Sullivan again, about “When I Was A Baby” because I really like the song (James singing the blues – always good) and he has never done it live apart from at the album launch. When I asked him about it a while back, he said he was never happy with whatever he wrote for the riff in the middle. Well, to me the obvious course of action is to let Sullivan and the band loose on it and the problem would be solved. So I was telling him this and that he needed to persuade his dad that it would be a great track for them to do. And it would be another ideal song to showcase Sullivan’s talent.
Patricia was sitting next to where I was standing and she said “Oh, I’ve just noticed you tattoo – that’s really cool!” indicating my arm. I grinned and replied as I turned my arm over “And you know who drew them on me? Your husband!”
She thought that was hilarious and said that they were still really cool! I told her about getting the first one done after James had signed my arm in Boston and that I had decided I didn’t really want to have his name in full view for the rest of my life, it seems a bit weird having someone else’s name on you – not sure how I would feel about it when I was 80 – so just had the heart done. And how I had planned the second ones and James drawing them and then trying to make them neat and saying I could get the tattoo person to tidy them up, when he really didn’t get that it was his drawing that was the important bit! (Patricia got it!)
The party was starting to break up a bit about now – we had to be out by eleven. Charlie called across to the Mars Police boys and asked them if they had tried dipping the lemon biscuits (cookies!) in the lemon pudding because it was absolute bliss. They knew – they had already tried it. “Why didn’t you tell me??” demanded Charlie “I’ve only just discovered it!” He was taking the leftovers back with him that was for sure!
Patti caught James and Patricia together and asked if she could take a few photos and they were happy to pose right there. I was standing by Patti so had a wonderful view of the pair of them and I really wished I had had my camera at this point because they were so sweet together! The way they were looking at each other, so much love in their eyes. James gently kissed Patricia on the cheek at one point and it was utterly adorable – you just have to see them together. Earlier on, at one point they had met in the middle and just silently hugged, holding one another without saying anything for a long time. Such a small thing really but it was so lovely. He is totally crazy about her, you can see it and they looked so happy together – it just kept on making me smile and go “aww”
Just after that, when James was talking to Patti, I overheard him telling her about the orange bead bracelet he’s wearing – it’s a meditation bracelet that he uses with his personal mantra, which was something like “Love everyone, no exceptions”
People were starting to leave and so James started to go round and hug everyone, and a kind of line formed as a few people waited their turn. When I was going to be next up, I ended up hugging Charlie instead as he came past me, and told him thank you for a wonderful evening and I would do my best with my write up. When I turned back to James, he’d gone past me…!
I did get my hug though – he came back to do so but as he got to me, Becky was asking him a question. Whilst he answered her he had one hand on my arm and was absent-mindedly stroking it, which was lovely. Then he turned to me and said “I’m gonna hug you and then I’m going to collect up my shit and go” and I was enveloped in a big, full-on James hug. We held on for ages just hugging each other tightly (his t-shirt proved to be another lovely soft one) and I said something about how great it had been to be there and James replied “I love you Rosie”
I squeezed him a bit tighter and said “Love you too” and at that point, like I would with almost anyone else, I automatically went to kiss him. Luckily I just caught myself and had the presence of mind to ask “May I kiss you?” to which he replied in the affirmative. So I gave him a peck on the cheek before I let go.
We exchanged a few more words about when I would see him next, and then Patti asked him what was doing with his hair and he was all “What? What’s wrong with it??” So we told him we all wanted the curls back, we loved the curls. James kind of pouted and said he liked it straight – he’d been trying to get it like that all his life! I told him that he had to “embrace his inner curly” (as someone on the boards had said) and Patti was reiterating that the fans loved the curls. He wasn’t convinced and said he liked it when the strands dropped across his forehead and I had to admit, it is adorable when it does that (I had to hold my hand down at this point as I so wanted to reach up and free a strand or two from all the product he was using!) I said Sullivan had his curls and looked great, though James said his were a lot looser – he (James) had had a real tight frizz when he was Sullivan’s age!
Charlie had crouched down in the middle of the white rug to put some things into his back pack. He had the one copy of the CD with him and had just put it face up on the floor whilst he opened the bag, so said to Shelley jokingly as she walked by “Don’t step on that!” as it was just lying on the rug in front of him. Picking it up he called out “Anyone want to hold it – or touch it even?” I did – I just reached out and put my fingers on it briefly - I’ve touched the master CD of Murphy’s Law! – and so did Becky and Shelley. Then Charlie packed it away safely. (Actually, earlier I had noticed the engineer had left it out on top of the control desk and had moved away to take a phone call. OK – it did very briefly cross my mind to just reach across…!)
Everybody was starting to move out, Charlie was trying to make sure he got to carry the remains of the lemon food and persuaded Daniel (I think) to carry the rather heavy t-shirt box, though Patricia ended up with the food. A small group of us ended up kind of stopped outside before going out of the main outside door – I got to chat very briefly with Jordan, who gave me another What Would Megan Want wristband – and then we were out on the street. Patti had walked up and brought the car right down by the door to pick up Julie and when Becky showed me the sign for the party (just a plain sign printed on computer) she had acquired off one of the outside walls, I decided I wanted one too, so went for the one on the metal door. I was in the act of trying to un-stick it in one piece, when the door was suddenly opened by James! It didn’t stop me pulling at it though as I said “Ah. Um – I’m just stealing the sign!” That made James laugh at that as he came through and say “Rosie, you beautiful thief!” (which made it even more worth having) I did get it off intact and turned to go back to join Patti and ended up walking a few paces along the street alongside James as he went towards his car, which was parked up round the corner off the road.
Patti said as he went past “I’ll see you in Chicago” and I added “You won’t see me in Chicago” and I managed to hear him reply quietly with a grin “Only in my dreams..!” He’s such a charmer!
Patricia was coming along behind him carrying the tray of food and stopped for me to give her a last hug. I said how happy I was for them both and that they looked so happy together and all the crap that got written about them really pissed me off and she smiled and replied “I don’t read it anymore” which I agreed was the best thing to do.
At this point, James came back round the corner looking for Patricia, saying “I seem to have lost my wife!” I apologised, saying it was my fault as I was talking to her, so we said goodbye and see you soon and as she went to join James he said “I can’t possibly go without my wife” and there was that look again - even in the half light of the street I could see it - just the way he looks at her. You know how he can look at you at the autograph table, like you are the most important thing in his world at that moment? It’s like that, only multiplied by about a million. Just - wonderful.
And then they were gone round the corner, so we got into the car having said goodbye to Becky who was about the only one left outside now. Of course we ended up following James’s car up the street for a little while, but then we were in a different lane and so we all waved madly out the windows as we passed them!
We had a very squeeful drive home – I was writing notes as fast as I could - and stayed up very late talking, as we kept remembering things that had happened - we even took a late night visit to Patti’s parents so we could use the computer!
I did have a couple more days in LA. We went to Long Beach on Saturday and went to a big quilt show there which gave me lots of new ideas and on Sunday I got to drive Patti’s car around for a bit to practice doing turns and learning some of the stranger rules of the road they have out there, ready for my trip in September. I only bounced off a kerb once (well – the car was big compared to mine!) banged my hand on the door when trying to put the car in reverse (habit – forgot the stick was on the other side!) and Patti felt confident enough to be texting whilst I drove, so I think I will be OK as long as I concentrate hard. My flight out was a late one and took me overnight to Chicago and then I did the daytime flight back to London. We were on time and nothing was missing off the plane…!
It was a great weekend and a fabulous evening at the party – so relaxed and friendly with no pressure on anybody. Everybody just mingled, everyone talking to anyone and that made it extra-special in its casualness. Hearing the album for the first time along with the band and seeing all their reactions was great and having a sneak preview of what’s coming in November was brilliant. And seeing James looking so well and so happy compared to how he was in May was probably the best thing of all.
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Post by debw on Dec 7, 2011 18:15:51 GMT
I really like it * surprised face* I was worried that it would be all overproduced or out of range or something but it's really very good indeed. I don't love every song, a couple are a bit too Charlie style weird for my liking but overall I really like it! ;D
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