Spitalfield, my loves–we will never forget.
I call Spitalfield my “baby band.” Not only were Ange and I “babies” when we discovered them about six years ago, but they were in the baby stage of life in terms of accomplishments. That band really, truly encapsulates so much of my childhood life, in so many ways. Their shows always were a welcome escape from the teenage drama that we were incessantly dealing with, and something that brought us true joy and fulfillment. You gotta have that something, and they were it for us–and we all grew up together in our own ways.
Ange and I were there for shows where they opened and she and I were the only two people (out of an audience of 10) who were singing along. We watched them play (for $2 with a canned good) with bands like Fall Out Boy and the Plain White Ts in tiny suburban church basements. We were there for Terry’s last show, before and after TJ’s run, and throughout the other subsequent member changes.
We went through the usual emotions when your favorite band gets signed to a good record label and the dynamics of the shows start to change. That’s why I think it’s funny and cute when I see on myspace teenage girls saying stuff like, “Oh, I want Treaty of Paris to be successful, but I’m going to miss seeing them play at small venues. And I don’t want them to forget us!” because that was me, years ago.
They never forget. At least they didn’t forget people like us.
Spitalfield was a sort of gateway into the
We road-tripped on a school day in April to St. Louis to visit our friend Jevin and see Spitalfield play with his band, Form Follows Failure. I was accused of being a groupie by my idiot boyfriend at the time, but then again kids that age don’t know anything, he especially.
“Girlfriends shouldn’t be hanging out with guys in bands!” he claimed. Hahahaha…oh man. Did he know who he was talking to? How insecure. And I’m not gonna lie, I had a teenage crush on Jevin’s stupid ass, and I probably will always love him, but come on—we were lovers of the music, always. And despite Jevin’s relentless teasing (he patronizingly calls Ange and I “scene veterans”), deep down he knows.
The times were great. The different places we saw them at all had a story—skate parks, churches, warehouses, tiny record shops. Ange and I were often late to shows, and we missed a couple altogether. We always had jobs, but didn’t always have cars to get there. Once we locked her keys in the car at a show in Round Lake. We were somewhat inept at buying our own tickets, often relying on Markus to get them for us or guestlist us.
The worst experience I can remember was when they were playing Bottom Lounge a few years back. Apparently the guys dedicated and played “Wishing Well” for us, and our stupid asses missed it because the silly boy who was going with us forgot the credit card he used to pay for the tickets at home—severely delaying our commute to the city. Chris Faller and Teresa Mendoza literally kicked our asses when we got there—at the end of the show.
“Wishing Well” was our favorite song by them, from the record Faster Crashes Harder. But as they wrote more songs, they played WW less and less, then not at all. We’d be the angry bitches yelling out for the song, but not at all surprised when they didn’t play it. Wap wah. But to have them bust it out after so many years, dedicate it to us, and then to miss it because the guy I was seeing at the time was slow in the head, really sucked.
As Spitalfield grew more popular, touring the world and playing larger (and more costly) shows, we sort of lost touch—but we never forgot. And that’s just what happens; we all had growing up to do. Plus, there will always be those certain people in your life that you keep coming back to.
So anyway, I’m sure you get it: Ange’s and my relationship with Mark Rose and Spitalfield was a huge part of my life, much more than can be summed up in this blog. So this last show meant a lot to all of us, and we had to do it right. After the dramatic, near-trainwreck that was their last show at
On Sunday, December 23, 2007, the night of the last show ever, after finding primo parking on
We went inside the venue just as Spital was setting up (as per usual), and found Kyle and the other guy (whose name I forgot. Matt?). The fantastic Jen Videochick was back home from
As Spitalfield played, it really wasn’t hitting me like I thought I would feel. Maybe because I had had five beers? It was their last show ever…bittersweet; the end of an era. But they played exceptionally well and it was awesome to see Terry back on the stage rocking out. It would have been something else to see Dan Lowder and TJ Minich, but alas. I can only imagine what was going through Mark’s head! But the songs sounded great, the crowd was all into it, and there was just an all-around good vibe flowing throughout the place.
I was so glad that I was by Angelique upstairs when they played the first chords to “Wishing Well.” We sang it, and danced, and hugged, and I was just on cloud nine. It was perfect. And they played the always fun “The Late Show” song from 1999. It was like, “Am I seriously hearing this being played live right now?” So so fun.
Then downstairs, I danced with Natalie, spilling more beer, and Phil kept calling me a drunk. And what? That was our intention for the night—to get a good buzz going and have a blast, as we did. At least I don’t have videos of me doing drunken somersaults into a wall in my underwear on youtube.
But what a fun night! My favorites were there and I had no negative encounters. I got to welcome Jen back, and chill with Natalie after a long morning working at Soldier Field. Ange and I heard our song as promised, and experienced the joys of our childhood (with a little alcohol enhancement) all over again in that one hour.
Great times were had and I was proud of my boys. They have grown so much as individuals and artists over the years, and while the end is sad, the timing is right. And what Mark has told me thus far about his future endeavors is promising and exciting, so really, everything is going according to plan and happening for a reason. I am thankful that Ange and I were there from the early days to witness the magic, and I do feel bad for the newer fans that are all, “What the hell! Why are you calling it quits so soon?” But truly, it’s all for the best.
“…your dreams will remember right now.”
We will never forget.
I dedicate this one to Angelique.
I still tie my shoes in double knots.
