serendipity (take the opportunity)....

it was 6:18PM and i was sitting in The Roundhouse, a classic-style pub in Covent Garden with Lou and her aunt and uncle, when my phone beeped with a message. "I have tickets for Apocalyptica tonight near Tottenham Court Road at 8," it said, "I've messaged a couple of people so get back to me quick if you want to come."

Fuck yeah! i replied, i love those guys! i'm in Covent Garden already so i can get there easy. i don't have a lot of cash but i can square you later. and... um... who is this?

the suspense wasn't killing me as such, but i WAS curious. ten minutes went by, fifteen, twenty, no reply. i didn't recognise the number, so i decided to step outside and burn some of my precious credit to try the number.

ring... ring "Hello, this is Laura. Please leave a...", and i hung up. Laura was the canadian girl i met last weekend. that explained THAT mystery. i went back into the pub, saving the number as i went and explained what was going on when i got back to our seats, apologising that i was going to take another offer for the evening. we decided to try a change of scenery, winding up at the Bear & Staff in Leicester Square by which time i had more of a plan. Laura had to head home to pick up the ticket (she only had one, but we'd sort the rest out later), then we'd meet at Tottenham Court Road tube station. i took my leave at 7:30 and legged it up Charing Cross Road, whistling as i went.

Apocalyptica are a Finnish Cello Quartet who prefer playing metal to classical music. i got into them years ago thanks to AB and had been quietly enjoying their work ever since. as i neared TCR i started checking the signage on the variouis theatres. there was a queue of metalheads outside The Astoria, the billboard proclaiming "Apocalyptica and Special Guests. i'd found the place at least. standing out the front was a portly man who looked business, with a couple of tickets in hand. i asked if he was selling, and he was. 1 was all i wanted and the price would be £25. the ticket price was £15. ouch. still, he offered to hold one for me to which i replied that if i missed out i missed out and on i went to get some cash out in case the ticket situation was as advertised.

i found myself a spot inside the tube station with a good view of the escalators and proceeded to wait until Laura appeared, walking with a slight limp. she explained that she'd rolled her ankle earlier that day, but was ok to get around so we headed back to the theatre and i made my transaction with the scalper.

inside i was stopped by a couple of large, tough-looking bouncers and told that i had to be searched. riiiighto, i though, but i stood, put my arms out to the sides and was given a thorough pat-down. wallet and camera i explained when he grabbed the lumps in my hoodie pockets. this seemed to satisfy him and i was allowed on my way. inside it was packed - we were a little late getting in and the support act was just finishing off so we took up station in front of the bar where we'd have something to lean on and managed some conversation over the noise of the crowd while the support act got their gear off the stage. basic sort of stuff - how's your week been? i didn't realise you were into metal... how did the rest of your night go last weekend?

shortly afterwards the band was heralded onto the stage by the screams of hundreds of adoring fans. they came out carrying their cellos to where 4 skull-motif chairs were sitting and went about their business of rocking the house. i was amazed - the mosh pit was remarkably well-behaved while the band belted out song after song and generally had a ball. this was the last show of their 176-show tour, they explained, but they were still really excited to be here. you bet they are, i thought, after tonight you get to go home... still, they played, and the crowd cheered. Laura nicked my camera on and off through the show. her hands were steadier than mine so she was able to get some great, clear shots at high-zoom. me, i was more than happy to let her go nuts. she seemed to be enjoying herself which was good, since i hadn't really picked her as being massively into heavier music. seriously though - what's not to like about a tall blonde finnish bloke swinging his long hair around metal-style while going nuts on a cello, then proclaiming that "We're just four shy finnish boys so we hides behind out hairs"? Apocalyptica is a unique phenomenon and for completely different reasons i, too, was really really pleased to be there.

shenanigans, hijinks, drumsticks being thrown into the crowd, two of the band-members ripping their shirts off or open for the "many beautiful ladies here tonight", they played the two songs that i always think of as being their signature tracks - One by Metallica and In The Hall Of The Mountain King. coats collected, we emerged into the fresh, brisk London air with grins on out faces.

thanks so much for inviting me along tonight - that was awesome!
"Totally! I messaged Jeff as well but I was really hoping you'd get back to me first... I mean, I'm sure he'd have enjoyed it, but I had the feeling this was way more your thing."
well, you were right. well done!

now this was interesting, i though. i'd had the sneaking suspiscion that the two of them had hit it off nicely at dinner the previous weekend. i'd questioned her about it earlier when she mentioned that they'd met up during the week. "Just as friends!" she'd defended. hmm... not that i was going to complain - i got to see Apocalyptica. my first gig in London. i KNEW this place would be great for concerts... next time i need to be more organised. now at least i have someone to drag along who i know won't mind some of the heavier stuff.

i suggested food since it was now nearly 11PM and i hadn't eaten all day, but her ankle was sore and she really needed to get home and take the weight off it. i'd originally intended to walk, at least as far as Trafalgar Square where i could get my regular bus but i decided that i couldn't be bothered so we headed down to the tube and went our separate ways from there.

the train terminated at Kennington - 5 or 10 minutes from home, so i was back on the windy street and headed for the local kebab shop. when i walked into the room Lou had only just gotten home after more drinks and dinner, so i explained the evening while wolfing down a burger and chips (with garlic sauce - Oval Kebab rocks...). i fell asleep some time later, listening to Lou shift in her sleep, letting loose the occasional half-snore while the sound of traffic filtered through the wall and the screams of the crowd faded in my ears...