NYE part the last...

I prepared the booze bottles (steve was most proud and impressed by the bulleri-inspired plastic jack & cokes) while waiting for everyone to trickle into the flat before heading out. Had a few pre-party beers and pizza (the ultimate combo – tho the chip shop pizza is CRAP we always end up getting it) then worked our way to the concert. Edinburgh holds the largest NYE celebration in all of Europe, they close off about 10 blocks and turn it into a street party. There is a stage set up under the castle where the concert happens. They display the concert through the whole street party, but minus the sound – very weird. Fortunately I scored tickets to the actual concert about 3 months before (thanks to waking up ass early in the pissing rain to wait in line for two hours), so once we fought our way through the street party (already loaded with people at around 10:00 – being there would have been miserable I think) into the corded off area. The corded off area was perfect. Tons of space and the audience area was raised, so everyone could see really well. The opening band was called aberfeldy – they are a pop-folk type group, but we only caught 10 minutes or so of their set. The m.c. for the night was some local radio dj. He came out and announced that the next band would be a surprise – either blondie or scissor sisters – keeping us in suspense about who would actually headline the show…except that literally 30 seconds after saying this a HUGE blondie banner was hung down from the back of the stage…good try there buddy…

Blondie came on first and fucking rocked. Seriously, their music has been so expansive over the years, it is amazing. I knew nearly every song they played except for one or two. A question did arise though – the drummer was wearing a CBGB shirt. Is that okay? Personally I think it is like being ‘that guy’ but andy doesn’t, anyone else got opinions? I ended up buying a blondie cd the other day I liked the show so much.

Blondie was followed by the NYE countdown and fireworks. I like fireworks a lot, but I haven’t been impressed genuinely by them in a long time (maybe a side effect of living next Disneyland for so long) This was truly impressive. The concert was at the bottom of the garden which is overlooked by Edinburgh castle, where they shot off the fireworks. Literally these things were launched right over our heads. Amazing. Honestly though I think it would have been great even if we hadn’t been directly underneath them, the show was that good.

Scissor sisters came on, they did alright, but I was ultimately disappointed. For those of you who don’t know they’re a NYC based pop-rock band who (I think) made their break through here in the UK with an pop electronic cover of comfortably numb – it makes sense that they made it over here, but not in the states, not really mainstream US friendly. They came on with some great energy and had a great presence, but ultimately played like an opening band, not the headliners that they were. They played for 40-45 minutes (of which a good 5-10 minutes was on stage banter) then promptly walked off. It is tragic when the opening band does better than the headliner, but when you’re headlining for blondie it is a bit of a tough act to follow.

Then began the herdlike movement of the tens of thousands revelers out of the street party to various parties, pubs and other dealers of booze. I was fortunate enough to know someone who knows someone that runs a bar that was in the corded off street party area. Because there were so many people at the street party they closed and locked the doors to avoid being more mobbed then they already were. The three of us were able to get in and had a good night drinking. Having finished my half bottle of jd I had several more beers and mixed drinks. Round about three o’clock we made our way to the free night bus. By this point I was good and toasted (but about two weeks later I talked to my friend who told me that she thought I didn’t seem that drunk when we were having a conversation at the bar – hooray me!). I was quite stumbly on the way home, but made it just fine.

Next morning I wished yipka and steve well and walked them to the bus to the airport. I got back to the flat and looked forward to a day of videos, pot and (happily) minimal hangover problems. I was just getting settled into my first video when my cell phone started ringing. Very fortunate that I had it on at all as my phone is normally off. It was steve on the other line saying thanks and that oops, he thinks he forgot his passport at the flat. Half stoned I find the thing and run down to the bus stop hoping for a cab. None come before an airport bus so I hop on that. I ran into the airport to find a very grateful steve and an embarrassed yipka. Wishing them well I headed back for an exciting day doing nothing. Good times…