It's Friday night in Darwin. The Neo is playing at Browns Mart so the cities population of indie hip young things have come out of hiding to celebrate. I'm siting on the ground with some people from work. We're already a little extra happy since we've come from the Ducks Nuts (yes that's really it's name) where we drank schooners of beer and made fun of the people doing speed-dating. Sue stole a plate of their deep-fried appetisers and we planned a series of misanthropic 'challenges' that we would have to accomplish if we were speed-dating. Mostly these demonstrate that no matter what we do for a living, we all have the sense of humour of 14 year-old boys. Examples:
- Answer your date's every question with, "Your mother";
- Try and convince him that the guy next to him is stalking you - extra points if he starts a fight;
- Mention your sweet, kind, caring, ex-boyfriend in every sentence;
- Randomly, and for no apparent reason call out, "SPERM" in as loud and insane a way as possible;
... etcetera, we had a lot of them.
Oh and Nikki was counting "AJ's" - Army Jerks. Apparently there are 700 new and innocent recuits just arrived in Darwin. Nik's itching to lay out the welcome mat.
Anyway, we're at Browns Mart, where I am minding my own business, thanking god it's Friday and that my clients aren't very into indie, funk, big band, pop when a very sweaty, over eager guy sits down beside me. He's shaped very much like a teddy bear and he's drinking lime and vodka UDLs - he's carrying two, so he doesn't have to go back to the bar anytime soon. He asks if I can 'settle a bet' he has with his girlfriend - a woman who gives me a little wave whilst trying to sink into a crack in the earth. He says that all the people who come to Neo concerts are 'on the same page' (Ugh, I hate that expression even when I use it) and so approachable. I ask if he's trying to prove this by approaching people - I get meanly sarcastic to drunk boys when I'm drunk - and he says yes. Ok, fine. He holds out his hand then notices the moisture dripping off it introduces himself as 'sweaty chris', thinking better of shaking my hand in that condition he conscientiously wipes his hand on his tower of UDL cans then tries again, this time calling himself 'moisty Chris' (You can't make this stuff up). I offer to call him MC for short but he just looks confused.
So MC is a huge Neo fan, mainly cos they remind him of the community he lost moving from Melbourne to Darwin last year. He works at a golf club and finds all Darwin people mercenary, shallow, and only interested in property development. He loves these concerts because all the people like him get together. We have a hilarious conversation. He's actually a nice guy, way to over-earnest and drunk and a little desperate for validation, but he means well. He tries to explain how he thinks that we all need something more in our lives because"let's face it, do you like your job?" Yes", I say without even thinking. he's taken aback, and I was too. I thought about it and I do, I really do like what I do, fucked up clients and all. it's a huge privilege to enjoy what pays your bills.
And then his equally wasted friend came over to spread the word that he'd be starting a conga line tonight and the signal would be if we saw him 'staggering around'. Hmm... I see a flaw in this plan.
