Tom McRae

Last Show I ALMOST Caught

Tom Solo In Store Performance at Fingerprints

I heard 7pm from the El Rey show. I'd read 7pm on Tom's official site. But for some reason my mind processed that information into: the show will start at 8pm.

It wasn't until I called my friend telling her that my sister and I were leaving from the Riverside area (at 6pm with a stop for gas) that I was told the show actually started at 7pm. Oops.

I navigated through traffic on the 15, 91, 55 and 22 freeways as best I could and got to Long Beach around 7:30pm. I spent another 10-15 minutes looking for parking (ahem: my parallel parking confirms the stereotype that Asians are bad drivers) before getting a call from Holly--who I haven't seen for ages and planned to meet at Fingerprints--telling me that the show hadn't started yet.

I circle around 2nd street a couple of times, finally find paid parking on Park and St. Josephs, get out of the car and start heading toward Fingerprints only to get another ring from Holly. "The show's over." Wah.

Despite missing the show, I was able to chat briefly with Tom. Wait, he chatted and I babbled. I don't recall (selective memory!) what was said on my end, but I gave him copies of the Hotel Cafe Release Party shows. He asked how the quality was, and I think I said: "Well, it's alright." Ah...nothing like a live performance though!

There was a segue to how Tom's audio guy (John/Johnny) does a bunch of recordings off the soundboard (!) (ahem: the quality would be great there). Tom's thinking of getting those shows online and making it downloadable, but there's legal issues involved and all. More of me babbling about him returning to Europe and having a warm welcome before I shook his hand and dashed out. What I really wanted to do was give him a hug and say a la Abba: Thank you for the music. But I'm shy. Besides, there was a line forming and I think Tom got the point.

I also got to meet and chat with Larry. And thanks to Larry, the crowd that gathered at Fingerprints was able to hear new songs, including Jet Engine Lullaby and My Vampire Heart. I overheard someone stopping Larry and thanking him for making those requests. :O)

The show must go on, and in Tom's case, it calls for a much anticipated return in Europe. Can you feel the anticipation?