The meaning of silence and end of an era
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 11:48AM First I want to address why it has been so long since I last post here. The reason for my silence is quite simple; I have been struggling with a particularly bad case of writers block. As of late I cannot seem to get pass the blank page. It not so much the well of idea is dry, although that water has not been as deep as it once was. No, the issue is more that the words and phrasing are proving most difficult beasts to tame. However it does seem that I am starting to slowly move past this current blockage and can start writing again.
Secondly I was going to write about Extra Life a 24 hour gaming event I participated in a few weeks back. In fact I did write four or five paragraphs about the event, but it is really bad writing. I’m I was board rereading. Hell, I was kind of board writing about. Sufficient to say, a few weeks ago I played video games for 24 hours straight and raised some money for kids with cancer. I plan to do it again next year and will talk more about when the event gets closer.
Finally two weekends ago I sold my soul. To be more exact I sold 20% of my soul to an old friend of mine for a ticket to go see Pearl Jam play the penultimate show at the Spectrum here in Philadelphia. And I have never been happier with a deal in my life. It was truly an amazing show and celebration of a historic venue. Talk a little more about the Pearl Jam show in another posting. But I do want to thank the Big DT for covering my ticket to the show.
After the show I start to think a little bit about the Spectrum and what it has meant to me over the years. I have so many fond memories of that building and it wasn’t until that moment I realized how much it had meant to me and good times I have had there over the years.
The second rock concert I had ever seen was at the Spectrum and it was my first real big, Stadium style show. The year was 1995 and Eric’s mom dropped us off to see the band Live with PJ Harvey as an opener. I was unfamiliar with PJ Harvey work at the time but she put on a really solid show, however it was that performance of her hit “”Down by the Water” that real imprested me and was my first taste of the theatrics that could be done in a live show. The song started and she steps on a small platform in the stage. Imbedded in the platform was a ring of spotlight. As she began to sing she is enveloped in a column of light and at the course she starts to slowly spin and wraith with the music; it was a really stunning visual.
The other thing of note from that night was what Live said when they first took the stage. For those not familiar with the band, they hail originally from the town York, Pa which is not too terribly far from Philadelphia. Live took that stage with some force and ripped thought there opening song with the high energy of a band about to break big (their second album had just started to get a lot of air play on Y100). After the song the band fell silent and looked at each other then, Ed K the lead singer looked out at the crowd and said “This is so weird to be up here. You know how many shows I’ve seen here.” That was the first time I had an inkling of how special this place was.
The one memory that always jumps to the forefront is when I went to see the Flyers skills competition with my friends Tim, Dave and Dave's Mom. It was back when no one but the really hardcore fans when to the competition and Fans don’t get more hardcore then Dave and his Mom. Because the place is only 1/8 full you could sit where ever you want and we set up camp right at the glass behind that goal. As the players skated around idly shooting at the empty goals we started pounding on the glass with our fist. No one pound louder or with more gusto then Tim. This did not go unnoticed. Mikael Renberg skated to the top of the right faceoff circle and with a wink and smile took a massive slap shoot at the glass right above Tim’s head. I don’t know if I have ever seen anyone jump back so high, so far and so fast. Renberg grinned at us as he skated by our seats to retrieve the puck.
This was not my only encounter was a hockey player at the Spectrum. It was my junior year of high school and my friend Jason offered me a ticket to a hockey legend signing and old timer event if I would give him and his cousin a ride. Sounding like a good time picked them up and head down to South Philly. The concourse were littered with former players ranging from 3rd lines to stars like Brian Propp (who was super nice, a waved the photo fee for any younger fan that wanted a picture with him) and down on the ice was three on three old-timers tournament. After walking around for a bit I hit the hockey goldmine. Tucked away in a luxury box on the upper concourse, for $10 you could meet and get you picture taken with one of the all time greats Gordie Howe. Amazingly I was the only one from my group to jump at this chance. After waiting in line my turned came to shake Mr. Howe’s hand. I innocently remarked my surprise that he was not participating in the tournament. He launched into a 10 minute diatribe about how players who just retired should not be allowed to play in old-timers game because they were still in NHL condition. Then, calm as the surface of lake he says “besides, the red wings aren’t here.” I manage to keep from shaking long enough to manage a stupid grin for my Polaroid and was sent on my way. I never have been so intimated by an elderly man in my life.
Looking over my collection of tickets stubs, I have logged dozens concerts, a plethora of phantom hockey games and one trip to the circus at that old building. Each event holds a special place in my heart and is a touch stone to memories of old friends and good times. I wish they would have simply fixed the concourse to the spectrum and incorporated into the new building they are planning. It was a great place to see an event and 42 years old is really not that old.
Please share your memories of Spectrum in comments section.
Avoid the Clap
T. Perran Mitchell
