Coloursound Postcard scan from Carol Boldish

Coloursound at The Mercury Lounge, New York City, New York, April 14, 1998

I'm writing this months after the event, but this is a day I will never forget. This show was my rebirth into the world I left behind seven years ago when I entered the dark cave called my first marriage.

I'd been away from the fan scene for years. Thanks to the Internet though, I discovered that Mike Peters was still out there making music and there was still a great fan base. I found out about Coloursound and that they were playing in New York City. But should I go?

I had a lot of concerns and fears. I hadn't been in New York very long and I had never been in the city for anything other than work. And I'd never hung out after dark. Also, I didn't know if I was getting too old for this concert thing. Sure, ten years ago I couldn't go two weeks without finding some gig to go to, but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Plus I didn't know anyone or know my way around. Then there was my then boyfriend (now husband) who I knew wasn't really into the whole concert thing, and I didn't know how he would feel about me running around by myself.

Well, thank goodness for The Alarm Mailing list! After a few introductory postings, I asked a few questions about getting to and from the gig, and fortunately for me Carol emailed me to let me know that she could take the same train line back to the island as me. I relayed the info to my boyfriend, and he seemed a little more comfortable with the idea, so I made plans to go.

This would be my first concert since I saw The Alarm at Bogart's in Cincinnati back in 1991. I didn't know what to expect, I didn't know how I would feel. Would I the music transport me to another dimension? Or had I just plain gotten to old for all of this?

I nervously got on the Downtown bound "F" train from my workplace at Rockefeller Center. I remembered from the direction fellow New Yorker digest members had given me that I was supposed to get off at 2nd Avenue. Well, imagine my surprise when the train went right by the 2nd Avenue stop! Hey'! The train I got on said "local" and I assumed that "local" meant "stops everywhere." Uh-oh, I was hoping this wasn't a bad omen! Trying not to panic (I didn't know where the train was going and I didn't want to end up in Coney Island or something), I hopped off at the next stop and hoped that the next Uptown train would stop at 2nd Avenue. Fortunately it did.

Of course, when I got off at 2nd Avenue I had no idea where I was going. I wandered around a little bit and decided that I shouldn't be wandering around this neighborhood, or at the very least I shouldn't look like I was wandering around! I pulled out a map I had printed off the internet--and discovered that I had wandered about 10 blocks from where I was supposed to be. Great.

I wandered back in the direction where the Mercury Lounge was (looking at the map this time!) but still couldn't find the place. But I did find Mekka, the restaurant/bar where the digest members had agreed to meet for a pre-show get-together.

It didn't look like anyone was there who was attending the Colousound show. So I sat down at the bar and ordered a beer--and actually got carded! Geez, I'm 30 years old! I guess it was a good thing, but it really took me by surprise. As I sat drinking my beer, I wondered if I could get into this whole thing again and what would these digest people be like. Would they accept a newcomer? I knew from being in the U2 fan scene that things can get very clique-y so to speak.

A couple of folks showed up and were asking another person if they were there for the Colousound show, so I promptly walked over and introduced myself. Turns out it was Terry from Detroit and Zant from Canada. I had brought Terry a birthday card since I had read on the digest that it was his birthday. He seemed pretty surprised, since I hadn't even met him before. A little later Carol, Phil and Tim (the New York contingent) showed up, followed soon after by the Boston gang. I believe in the end the group consisted of me, Terry, Zant, Carol, Phil, Tim, Josh, Lyn, Rippy, Leah, Nancy....oh and I know there were other people, but for the life of me I can't remember who all was there. After convincing the bartender to pop a Mike Peters tape into the sound system, there was a big round of picture taking as well. It was great meeting everyone, and I suddenly felt a part of something. This was a feeling I hadn't had in years, since the days of wandering around to concerts with my buddy Kellie ten years ago. And little did I know that I'd be running into these people again in the future.

Photo from Carol Boldish

We eventually settled down to get some food. I remember I had some Cajun Shrimp which was absolutely tasty! Then we headed off to The Mercury Lounge.

We caught one of the bands on the bill, Vine, which I pretty much barely remember. I was just overwhelmed by the whole scene.

Boy, this was a flashback to seven years ago! I felt right at home settling in front and center stage next to Lyn, Zant, and Josh (hey, us short people gotta stick together!).

When Coloursound came on, I could feel the adrenalin begin to rush--that old concert high! Even though I didn't know any of the songs, I was transported to that other dimension where only music can take me. Too old for this? Nah! Got bit by that old bug again!

Anyway, never bothered to pick up a bootleg of this show, so I can't remember the set list. But the highlights I do remember were Under The Sun, Heavy Rain and This Perfection. Great stuff! After not seeing Mike (or anyone else for that matter) for seven years, I was pleased to see how much fun he was having. The last time I saw him, he didn't even stick around to talk to the fans waiting around, he and Jules just headed for the bus (of course, he wasn't feeling well and this was the RAW tour where nobody was in a good mood--except for Eddie, I guess). Seeing Mike banging on the tambourine (and banging his guitar with the tambourine--that can't possibly be good for the guitar!), and goofing off with Billy was such a treat!

It seemed to be over as soon as it began. It was definitely too short of a set! Unfortunately, didn't get to stick around too long. Carol and Phil wanted to catch the next trains home, so we said our goodbyes quickly and caught a cab off to Penn Station. Wished I had time to see Mike and Jules, and talk to everyone I had just met. Of course, at the time I had no idea that I'd see everyone again.

Probably talked Carol's ear off on the train ride back to Long Island. Just that I hadn't made any friends out here so far from Ohio, and it was such a great thing finding someone to chat with, especially about The Alarm!

This night was very special to me. Made lots of new friends who I'm sure I'll run into again. And the music came back into my life--I started to try to reaquire all the CDs of my teenage years that I lost during my divorce. Unfortunately I really started to miss the other precious things that got lost--my ice chest (one of those big Igloo jobbies) full of U2 and Alarm boots and also my concert scrapbook from 1985-1987. Lots of great stuff in there like tickets from all the concerts I saw back then, a few autographs, cool reviews, backstage and photo passes from U2's Joshua Tree tour, the infamous crew pass from the Indianapolis Alarm show....Well, the memorablia may be gone, but the memories remain.

And now, a new chapter in these great concert memories is being written! Thanks for waking me out of my slumber Mike!