Almost Famous - Part Three

Arriving in a giant van emblazoned ‘Henderson Rentals’ isn’t exactly how I imagined meeting one of my favourite bands, but there I was parked up at the airport trying my best to be nonchalant.

I needn’t have bothered.  The Beirut crew were hung-over and over it.  My enquiry as to how the tour manager was feeling post plane, was met with ‘Grumpy’. I resolved to stick to driving, but was swiftly downgraded to passenger-seat warmer.  However fate had a job in store for me.

While city bound, it became apparent several instruments - Zach’s ukulele for one - had been left in a Wellington Hotel by the person charged with driving them to Auckland.  It was Sunday and the concert was the following night.  Cue pandemonium. 

Between making calls to a list of Mr. Crawley's associates trying to find someone driving to Auckland that day, I called my brother.  Joel works on the sound team on films such as the Hobbit and being a huge music fan, I thought he might be crazy enough to drive up on the promise of tickets to the sold out concert.  He had the week off; so sure enough hit the road driving through the night.

The band took us out for dinner pre show as a thank you and I finally got to show off my big rig skills in a tikki tour up Mount Eden.  We slipped backstage to make the most of the well-stocked beer fridge, despite wrong coloured armbands and when security tried to kick us out they were dispensed with a snap.

It wasn’t ‘till I saw the show that it hit home just how many songs the ukulele featured in and what all the freaking out was about.  Joel to the rescue.  I might get him a cape for his birthday.