they're having a ball

A giant eyeball. That’s the ball that was released upon us festival goers at All Points East during Phoenix’s performance. It bounced around us, screwed up our photo/video taking efforts. People looked up, freed up a hand to lift it higher, pushed it away.

Although a fan of Phoenix, I wasn’t planning on seeing them at All Points East. The original plan was to glue myself onto the front rail of the main stage, then wait to see Yeah Yeah Yeahs and LCD Soundsystem; but I got to Victoria Park early so I decided to check out the North Stage first.

A Montreal duo, Chromeo, was on the stage. Their songs were very danceable electro-funk which put a smile on my face. “Hey! Unexpected find!” I nodded and started getting into the groove. A woman stood behind me was all business talking to her friend: “Okay, we have to leave here at seven, loo break, maybe a drink or two, go to Yeah Yeah Yeahs, come back for a bit of Phoenix, then leave at nine o’clock sharp! Wriggle our way to the front for LCD Soundsystem.” I thought that sounded like a well thought out plan! Follow her lead then it’s all good! I would get to see every band! And a loo break and a drink!

But sometimes in life you just have got to make a choice. After Chromeo left, it seemed everyone left with them, leaving plastic cups on the green patch (one of the things that I hate about festivals). A couple of diehard fans congregated near the front waiting for the next act. The normally jam-packed-to-the-brim front railing was mostly deserted. A chance to be front row and centre for Phoenix! My eyes widened. "Should I stay? Should I stick with my original plan and head for the East Stage? What happen if I abandon post here and head to the East then find myself stuck behind some tall dudes? Then I will be losing both front spots! What about my friend who is coming after work? Would she be cool with me changing the plan?" Those thoughts were like emergency lightbulbs that kept lighting up all over in my head. Thankfully while I continued to ponder, my feet knew exactly what to do and were heading right to the very front and centre.

“I’m gonna stick around here at North Stage. Am front and centre, don’t want to lose the spot!” I texted my friend. Ten minutes were like eons in texting. She texted back eventually. “Okay, at the bar, getting gin and tonic then to you.” “Double that please~~~” I gleed.

The crew were setting up and sound testing on stage. We were chatting with neighbours, eating their fries and sipping gins. Every now and then, the fear of other-side-is-having-way-more-fun set in; I wondered about Karen O’s costume and how Nick would jam that guitar; every time when I heard loud cheering, I thought, that’s just great! I picked the wrong stage!

It turned out, it really didn’t matter. As soon as Phoenix went on stage, we went wild. People pushed forward, my body was pushed against the cold railing, not someone’s sweaty backside, this alone made me happy. I sang alone, danced to the best of my ability giving the tight spot I was in, shouted something at Deck, blew a kiss to Christian (he kept staring so might as well XD). After an hour, no one seemed to want to let the Phoenix boys leave. Thomas was holding the microphone and messing with his already messy hair. He seemed to be moved at the sight of the crowd. He dangled one foot outside the stage to tease us, then he jumped! On to a stair then headed my way!!!! I held his hand for a few seconds, pretended to help him got on to the railing (cough). At that time, I already chucked my phone in my jean’s back pocket and was fully committed to the moment.

The crowd left fairly quickly after Phoenix was gone. I didn’t rush to the East Stage, I danced and walked. The sun was setting, Festoon lights were on, you could smell summer and feel the music vibing. I saw James Murphy’s head appeared on the giant screens. My friend asked: ”Push through to the front?” I shook my head: “Let’s go get another drink then find something to eat. I hear music here just fine.”