Source: Fashion 18 (Online Archive)
Published: July 5, 2006
Author: Sarah Barrable-Tishauer
I am in hour 11 of the 16-hour plane journey to Hong Kong. My internal clock is going haywire since we are travelling east and thus following the sun. This means it will be daytime for the 16-hour flight, with nine hours left of daylight once we arrive.
So far I have eaten a lunch of chicken and rice, a cup of noodle soup, a bag of chips, two chocolate bars and dim sum—and yet I’m still hungry! This long-haul travelling really takes it out of you. I have been listening to the beeps and bops of some kid’s Game Boy for 11 hours and I have an angry urge to throw it out the window!
The only soothing part of this cramped journey is the knowledge of adventures that lay ahead, some reality TV I have downloaded onto my laptop for the journey and the soothing sounds of my favourite bands lulling me into a melodic coma.
Four hours 20 minutes, 3,415 kilometres to go.
Speaking of beautiful music, I must tell you about the infamous Olympic Island concert. The day started off bright and early with a trip to Canadian Tire to pick up the best invention since sliced bread: two pieces of canvas-covered foam attached with nylon straps that you sit in like a hammock. They save your back from the strains of outdoor lawn events.
My dad and I then headed to a grocer and picked up a bag load of fruit to keep us nourished over the nine-hour concert. One of my best friends, Tricia, was waiting eagerly at the ferry docks when my dad dropped me off. It made everything a thousand times better to be going with someone who was just as pumped as I was.
After being among the first 20 through the gates, we strategized about the best location and set up our “home base” near the sound booth. Although it was about 10 metres away from the stage, we knew the freedom to move around and not be trampled by the masses was well worth it.
Everything was going our way. The clouds parted, revealing sunny blue skies for the entire duration of the concert. We had snacks, space to stretch out and the perfect conditions to enjoy the music.
First to perform was Raising the Fawn—yet another creation tied to Broken Social Scene. Then came Broken Mascis Scene:
Broken Social Scene + J. Mascis = Broken Mascis Scene
They were even better than the band without Mascis. Next was Feist—the sound I had been waiting to hear. Despite battling the flu, she sang her beautiful melodies effortlessly. I LOVE HER!
Four hours four minutes, 3,198 kilometres to go.
Throughout the concert, Tricia and I stayed comfortable, hydrated and even managed to get a solid tan—pretty miraculous considering the forecast and lack of water vendors.
Four hours two minutes, 3,007 kilometres to go.
Bloc Party was next. I hadn’t listened to them before but THEY WERE AMAZING! They’re British and one of the hottest bands in the alternative scene right now. Sometimes the second-billed band ends up being the best of the night.
We decided not to stay for the entire show because with nearly 50,000 people trying to board ferries, we’d be waiting forever. But we left feeling incredibly satisfied. We had just been to the best concert of the summer—and the only way from there was up, up, UP!
—Sarah Barrable-Tishauer
Archived Slideshow Captions
Editor’s Note: The original post included a link titled “Check out Sarah’s exclusive photos from the concert.” The image files were not preserved in the archive; however, the reference is retained here for historical completeness.
- Caption 1: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.
- Caption 2: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.
- Caption 3: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.
- Caption 4: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.
- Caption 5: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.
- Caption 6: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.
- Caption 7: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.
- Caption 8: The Tale of the Toronto Island Concert.