Did you know I used to be a groupie? Well, not a groupie groupie. I never did anything that I would be ashamed to post here. But there was this band that I liked and I followed them sort of regionally. And let's just say it was only partially about the music. Mostly it was about the boys. Specifically, Todd. There are lead singer girls, drummer girls, bass guitar girls -- you get the picture. I am a lead singer girl. The group was called Spider Monkey and unfortunately, they no longer exist. You can still download their music from their site, though and of course they have a MySpace page.
I saw them for the first time at a festival in Charleston, SC. I went with my group of friends and we had a blast. As an aside, also watching the festival was the lead singer of another of my favorite bands, Jump Little Children. I was like a start struck little girl.
Spider Monkey played Hilton Head several times and I went to Charleston a couple times more. My friends and I got to be such regulars at the show that we started hanging out with the guys after the shows. We even met them once at the Tiki Hut on the beach in Hilton Head, which was kind of cool.
Eventually, of course, I left the party scene and settled down with Mr. Daddy. We moved away from Hilton Head. Occasionally I'd Google Spider Monkey and see what they were up to. One by one they started getting married and then stopped touring. And finally the day came when I got rid of their CDs. There were only a couple of songs on each that I really loved, but it was kind of a bittersweet day.
Years later, when Mr. Daddy and I moved back to Savannah, I heard that Todd (he of Spider Monkey Fame) was now lead singer of another band and they were going to be playing in Hilton Head, about 30 minutes away. I was dying to go see them, but Mr. Daddy didn't want to go. Instead, I dragged my friend Liz along on my trip down memory lane.
We arrived at the club, overdressed and definitely not fitting into the "scene." We were a good 3 or 4 years older than the rest of the clientele. Finally the band took the stage and there he was -- Todd! Singing very heavy metal punk music that made my ears bleed!! I couldn't hear a thing. At the risk of sounding like my grandmother, there was no tune, just yelling. It didn't have a good beat and you couldn' t dance to it.
Finally the band took a break and Todd headed to the bar. As he pushed through the crowd I caught his eye and saw a flash of recognition. "I know you from somewhere, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I used to be a big Spider Monkey fan. My friends and I followed you guys everywhere."
We chatted for a second. He'd gotten married. I told him I had too. We stood there awkwardly, the music way too loud for conversation. He was still cute, but no longer really my type.
"So, see ya around" he shouted.
"Yeah, see ya!" I shouted back.
"Do you want to stay?" Liz asked.
"Nah. Let's go." As we left I realized that I was trying to recapture too many things that were too long gone. My carefree youth. That summer. Those friends.
Sometimes it's better to just let those memories stay what they are -- memories.
Mixed Bag
12 years ago
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4 comments:
Gosh, that makes me want to go rent Shag and take a little turn down Memory Lane myself!
Oh, I am loving this story! I love how we feel exactly the same as we did 15 years ago until some set of circumstances makes us realize that we have, indeed, grown up. And why does the music have to be so loud anyway??
I agree that some memories are best left in the past. That way they can remain all warm and fuzzy. Still, at least you know for certain that you're not attracted to him anymore! That has to count for something, right?
Fantastic post. really. I am late to take the kids to school because I could not stop reading it!
Ah...traveling back to our youth...can be so bittersweet.
Now, lets talk Hilton Head! Spent all my summers there as a kid! Never heard of that band...I was really young, and my only singing was with Greg Russel in Harbor Town under the liberty Oak tree!!!!
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