7th Entry, September 24, 1998

This was posted to the anacam mailing list.
Posted with permission.

I feel kind of bad for going to ana's concert last Thurs. and not sharing it with y'all, but then again I'm a computer programmer, and not a writer by any means so I kind of shy away from PDW (public display of writing :) ) - you'd be surprised how many emails I start composing for this list and end up not sending them... will this be one of them?

At any rate, the show was really fun. It was at a cozy, all black, not too big (150 people capacity maybe?) room of a larger club/concert place (http://www.first-avenue.com/). For the first few hours there was this industrial ambient music generated by a bunch of guys on stage who would come and leave the stage in a fashion that made me initially think were just setting up the stage - plugging in and tuning things - but apparently they were making the music which slowly got louder to when Jason entered. He, on keyboard, and this other dude, on electric guitar, really captured everybody's attention. It was really pleasant.

I was the second person in line to get tickets - before the show - and I met three people, in line, who I ended up hanging out with for the rest of the show - we were buying drinks for each other and I think really enjoying the fact that we had just met these other neat people and were so comfortable with as much as we were enjoying the show. I think I might invite a few of them to play Scrabble soon.

Well, Ana took the stage and it seemed even though the crowd was there to see her perform, they there just as much to support and encourage her - save the 3 teens who were behind us getting inebriated and wanted to see some skin.

The place was packed by the time Ana took the stage. I had no idea how small she is... I was awe struck. Her head was covered with sequins that were fastened on using spirit gum - more on that in a bit. She was wearing a maroon one piece suit I think... but she was so small. The music was great and I think the audience was very charmed by her...level headedness, down to earthness, modestness, nervousness?

Well, the show ended and one of the guys I had met and I asked Bobby Z if we could go back stage, he said sure and pointed us to the stairs. I couldn't believe that we could just walk down to the little black graffiti covered room and hang out with about 15 others and see Ana. I couldn't believe it. There was a lot of fun stuff going on - including taking 'hits' from a helium tank and talking really weird for as long as you wanted. Nathan, this other guy, and I got in the line to talk to Ana - it was only about 5 people long - it felt kind of like a wedding reception line. I was really nervous, had had a few drinks and didn't know what to say.. Hi, I'm one of those stalkers from that anacam@blank.org list, it's an honor to meet you? Well, I said more or less that - save the not-more-than-most-of-us-on-this-list stalker bit. I shook her hand and she signed an Ana post card from the bar - I suppose I should put that online for those interested. Oh, I also asked her how the sequins stuck to her head - my new 3 friends and I had discussed it and I was right, she said spirit gum.

Well, I felt like I was crashing a party so I went up stairs, played with ana2 for a bit, then walked home 'cause the fucking taxi drivers in Minneapolis suck.

Well Ana and Fetik3, the whole evening was great, I really had a fantastic time, thanks.

Peter