A funny story

So on March 14 a favorite musician-type of mine named Butch Walker played Webster Hall here in New York. Ariel and I went - this was the weekend of The Grampus and Friends, so Mitch was otherwise occupied. I was really excited; I've liked him for a long time but never seen him before.

So Ariel and I get dinner before and then show up like, perfectly just in time before he's about to go on. The ballroom space there is really very lovely; a big first floor and a balcony that goes around up top with these little individual booths around. Which aren't great for a show like this when everyone wants to see the stage, but I could see how they would work when it's more like a nightclub. We go up to the second floor and find a not-too-crowded booth where we can stand behind the people who've already staked out the railing but still see pretty well. There are these two girls who like like twins, three friends - two girls and a flamboyantly gay Italian type, and a mother and daughter. No one's really talking to people outside of their own groups, but we're all getting along quite well. The two girls with the guy leave to go get more drinks and Ariel and I hold their place while they're gone but give it back when they get back, because we are nice people. Ariel orders a beer. ($7 for a Coors Light? Yeah, New York!)

So Butch comes out. He's wonderful. We can't see him as well as I'd like all the time, but we're really pretty set up. And he's great to watch and I'm having a good time - and so is Ariel, who's just started listening to him and likes him and is liking the show. Then, a little bit into the set, one of the girls who was with the other girl and the guy leaves. Ariel goes up to where she was at the railing - kind of like holding the spot again? And to get a better view briefly - and she looks down and there's this empty spot in the crowd down below. Girl puked over the railing. People are looking up at this booth, all pissed off, and rightfully so. The girl who threw up, her two friends are equally trashed and totally oblivious. No, worse than oblivious, they know it's happening and they try and pretend like it's not their problem. Like, they go into the same mode the rest of us are in, like "oh my god did she just do that for real?" when clearly they know her and have been drinking with her and wouldn't you at least go and see if she's ok?

She comes back. She's bought a merch t-shirt and is wearing it over her first top. For two reasons I can think of - she vommed on herself and that's gross, or she's disguising herself. Which turns out to be smart because AFTER SHE VOMITS OVER THE RAILING FOR A SECOND TIME, this real tool comes up to the booth and is all "who vomited on my friend? You gotta pay for her dry cleaning!" Vomit girl, after vomiting the second time, has disappeared again. This guy is very confrontational with Vomit girl's friend who of course doesn't really know what to do. Just tells him to get away and it's not her problem and she'll go get security because he's kind of scary and stuff. So they walk away eventually and she tells security this guy is trying to hurt her and then he's all like "woah, ok, never mind." Ariel got in there a little too, telling the guy we all paid to enjoy this show and he's ruining it for us. Which the whole situation kind of is. I mean, now looking back it's hilarious but at the time of course I'm all anxious about the sick girl and the confrontation and I just want to ogle Butch Walker.

(See, very ogle-worthy)

Vomit girl comes back. She sits on the booth thingie VERY close to where Ariel and I put our coats. I go move mine. I care a little bit that maybe she'll realize that I'm moving my stuff because I don't trust her not to throw up on them and that maybe will hurt her feelings, but I don't care that much.

BECAUSE SHE VOMITS AGAIN! Yes, third time's the charm. Not where our stuff had been, but in the opening between the two curved booths so we're essentially trapped. By vomit. Which smells, by the way. Even in a club full of kind of sweaty people who smell like booze, you can still smell vomit. Especially when it's SO CLOSE TO YOU ICK. So when one of the waiters comes around and finds it - and they send someone to clean it up and man oh man I don't ever want that job - they get the manager or whoever and escourt her out. Her friends stay of course. They don't.. really care. Too busy "woo"-ing and taking pictures of themselves which I hope I'm not in because I was right behind them. Whatever. I hate those people.

So it was an eventful night. And Butch really was great, I just wish I could've given him my undivided attention. One good thing that came out of it tho - Ariel went to the bathroom at one point and seeing the waiter who had served her her $7 Coors Light - who remembered her because she's a good tipper - she tells him all about it and gets a free beer out of it! Which we shared, so that was nice. I wasn't drinking too much because the night before I'd gotten really drunk and had to pee so bad I almost went on the sidewalk I swear it was so bad, but that's a different story. But it was just Coors so you know, only 2.7% alcohol anyway.

In conclusion. Butch = good and I hope to see him again soon. The Webster Hall = a pretty cool venue even if security weren't great and kind of dumb and after the show (it was early) the whole downstairs started to fill up with losers who came in from Jersey to partay it up in the city and oh my gosh I hate New Jersey. But I would go back. Especially if it was a night which didn't also have a club night going on.

Vomit girl = very bad.