Liz
My story is really simple…so far anyway. I’m Liz, I’m 22, and I’m from San Francisco, California. I went to Australia last summer (2006) for an independent study abroad program at the University of the Sunshine Coast (I about died when I read that they played the “Tav” near the uni I attended…after I’d left). Anyway…I think it was about a week after I’d arrived (the time Black Fingernails, Red Wine was released) that I saw the video for “Black Fingernails, Red Wine”. I was immediately intrigued by the concept of the video (I figured out that I’d seen version one, with the car and the new vs. old Eskimo Joe) and the kick drum, but I never really paid too much attention. I heard the song via the video clip at least 3 or 4 times during my stay at the university…and I think each time I was a little more interested in the song. However, this wasn’t enough to get me hooked.
Anyway, after the program ended, the vacation was just about to start. My dad was coming down and we were going to travel for about 2 weeks. Mid-July we’re driving through New South Wales and our family we’d stayed with had told us we had to go to Coff’s Harbour. So we arrive there…and we find this old, some-what run down hotel, and check in, and we decide to stay close for dinner – so the owner tells us that the place next door serves dinner. So as we’re walking over there – I see their show bill (basically a board announcing recent and upcoming shows) that said Eskimo Joe had been there the night before. Mind you, I didn’t really know the band at all, but I was still REALLY disappointed. I could’ve had dinner with the music of Eskimo Joe!! Oh well. (I downloaded Black Fingernails, Red Wine after I returned home)
**Approximately a year later**
Summer 2007 – I took summer school at my home university, and one afternoon while I wasn’t feeling particularly inspired to work on a research paper, a friend of mine tells me to tune in to Live Earth because Kelly Clarkson is on the New York stage. So I watched, and she was impressive (I’ve been a fan of hers since the American Idol days), then I see on the bar with all the different stages that Eskimo Joe is performing next on the Sydney stage. Immediately I think, “Hey! I know them!” So I tune in…anxiously awaiting “Black Fingernails, Red Wine” – so at the time I was sort of distracted, but I still appreciated how brilliant their music was. Kav (though at the time I’m viewing this video, I didn’t even know that was his name) had an incredible stage presence, one I felt half way around the world, and a fabulous voice. Only when they played Black Fingernails, Red Wine did I realize just how incredible this band is…their live version of the song sounded just as good, if not better than the studio version.
As I had just gotten a new computer, I didn’t want to put a music downloading program on the system, I enlisted friends of mine to get me the songs I knew they’d played on Live Earth. Immediately I was seriously addicted, I only had 8 songs or something…but that didn’t matter. I still played them all over and over. Then I decided to check out the website, and I was officially a HUGE fan. I met a bunch of nice people, mainly Jeskimo, who shared all their music with me…and I realized I loved every song. The first time we talked, she asked if I was going to be able to see them when they came to America, and at that point I had no idea about anything with this band. So I was absolutely thrilled to hear they were even coming!
So, my anxious wait began, I waited and checked repeatedly to see if they were going to be coming to my area. A couple weeks passed, and nothing, then when I came home from vacation, I saw they were playing near San Francisco…and it wasn’t exactly close, but then after debate, I asked a friend of mine if she would be interested (this was a huge festival), and one of her favorite bands were playing…so she said “Hell yes!” The Fest was incredible, a hell of a day and night… and I had an Eskimo Joe experience I’ll never forget. Their set gave me goose bumps, and I got to hear my favorite song (This Is Pressure) while standing 10 feet away from Kav. Sadly I know I’ll never get to be that close again…thank god the next time I’ll be able to see them isn’t too far off. After their set, we went to talk to him again…and he told us they’d be in San Francisco this time, and that’d be in October or November.
Anyway…that’s the first bit of my story!
Feel free to email me.
See the second part of Liz's Story!
