November 20, 2011 Crooked Fingers played at The Crocodile in Seattle. As I live on Vancouver Island, attending this show meant catching a boat that runs once a day from each side. The ferry leaves Victoria at five o’clock in the evening, and leaves Seattle at eight o’clock in the morning. As you can see, this was a whirlwind of a trip, spending a few hours sleeping after the show in a hotel, before heading for the boat back home. Well, as it was November, we had some unpleasant weather. This weather forced the Clipper to cancel it’s sailing. Instead, they re-routed us by bus up to Vancouver to catch the BC Ferries back to Victoria, leading us to believe we would make the eleven o’clock sailing. We did not make it. We missed the eleven o’clock sailing by a few minutes and waited another two hours for the next boat. After almost twenty-four hours, only about five of which were actually spent in Seattle, we made it home. I hesitate to even mention the travel nightmare. I only include this detail to highlight the fact that it was worth it. It was so worth it.
Eric Bachmann’s music, in it’s many forms, has been prominent in my life for years now. Referencing an earlier blog post, a friend had made me my first Archers of Loaf mix tape in 1998. Archers of Loaf changed my life a little. Not in any tangible form, but this music is a part of me. When I heard Archers of Loaf were touring earlier this year I was so excited and in disbelief, or whatever. I had been waiting for this day to come. Thirteen years, I’d been waiting for this day. I never saw them. For financial reasons, for logistical reasons, I never saw them. I totally regret this. So, when I heard Crooked Fingers were touring, and the closest they were coming to me was Seattle, I knew I had to go. Regardless of the cost, even if it meant staying only one quick night in Seattle, even if I had to go alone, I was going. Fortunately a friend with good sense and taste decided to accompany me.
It was worth it.
Eric stepped out on stage alone, and began his set with You Must Build a Fire. The room fell silent with the first note. Like, dead silent. Like, you didn’t hear a soul breathe. Because that’s what Eric Bachmann does; he takes your breath away. A small but adoring audience, with our necks cranked and our little faces gazing up at that brilliant giant of a man. He played some old favourites like, New Drink for the Old Drunk and, Sleep All Summer but he was definitely most enthusiastic about playing his newer material. He closed the show solo, with Achers of Loaf’s, Chumming the Ocean. Eric on piano, playing Archers is about as dreamy as it gets. I fall in love every time I hear his voice and could have cried when it was all over.
It was so worth it.
