Up to the last minute, I was of two minds about going to see the Black Eyed Peas at Taste of Cayman.
It wasn’t about me not being a fan of the band – I love me a classic side dish with generous helpings of Will.i.am. It was more about pulling myself out of hermit mode, and being assured that I could be comfortable at the event. Y’see, kids, The Burning Man, Coachella, Lollapalooza and Glastonbury may look like the biggest hoot this side of an owl sanctuary, but nowadays, the first visions that come to my mind are no seats for miles; queues for drinks; and HAZMAT toilets.
I don’t think any ages should be pigeonholed into what they should and shouldn’t do. If you’re 85 years old and still attend every Megadeth concert on the calendar, good for you. If you’re 21 years old and prefer sitting at home, knitting, rather than going out partying until 2am, again, it’s your life – go live it. For me, I fall into a fairly standard category for my age bracket. I still like going out, but not as often, and do not miss waking up under random bushes when the sun rises. I also like my creature comforts, hence why the idea of attending concerts gives me the heebie-jeebies.
It’s amazing how one’s perspective changes over time. I used to love riding the adrenaline rush of watching an action film, cheering on the good guys. At this age, I still enjoy the blast of Godzilla thundering his way through a city, or Jason Stratham levelling countless baddies with some well-placed kicks and a sharp pencil, but I also recoil at the sight of all that damage. How will they even start to clean that up? No! Jason! Not the windows!
Just like selling all your worldly goods and living out of a camper van seems like a dream come true… until it isn’t (my left kidney for 50 more square feet), so other experiences can look deceivingly fun. I’ve always said that if I were to go out on a party boat trip, I’d pay someone to follow us on a Jet Ski. That way, if at any point I wanted to ‘abandon ship’, I could clamber over the railing and hitch a ride back to the mainland a la Bond; James Bond.
So, when we saw the Black Eyed Peas event being advertised, my first thought was ‘No, let’s stay home’. But then I started to worry about becoming a stick-in-the-mud. My bestie Lynne was all up for it, and we had really had a great time at KAABOO in 2019. Maybe if we got VIP passes and I wore really, really comfortable shoes – like Tempur-Pedic and Easy Spirit had a baby – it could be a fun experience.
I know you’re on the edge of your seats, so I won’t drag out the suspense any longer: We had a GREAT time! And not just thanks to the BEPs – the local opening acts were brilliant. Dan Ebanks, DJ RKM and The Neverines belonged up there – no question.
I keep forgetting how concerts have evolved here in Cayman. About 25 years ago, you’d be promised the headliner for around 10pm and, by 1am, there would be no sign of them and you’d start wondering if Seymour’s Jerk Chicken was still open. Now, you can pretty much count on organisers sticking fairly closely to a schedule, with the gate operations running like a well-oiled machine. The stage setups and rigs are next level – with pumping sound systems, massive screens and light shows. That’s why you really don’t have to be close enough to see Mr. i.am’s nose hairs. In fact, stepping back a bit gives you a full appreciation of the production. It isn’t just about the performers – it’s about drinking in the entire spectacle… and that’s just what we did.
We went to the front of the stage for a short period of time, but then settled on lounges in our area and watched from afar. It was mesmerising to watch the audience’s energy, with people dancing and singing along to the award-winning band. There really wasn’t a bad ticket in the house. Unlike massive stadiums, it felt like an intimate concert but on a grand scale.
Despite worrying about access to nice toilets (which there were), I actually didn’t have to go once the whole night. Fascinating information, I know. I think it was just comforting to know that they were there – like a childhood teddy bear with a flusher.
Beyond the music and the atmosphere, it was also fabulous to see people I hadn’t connected with in ages. That’s another wonderful thing about going to a concert in Cayman. Even if you go on your own, you won’t be alone for long – you’ll be bumping into people you know everywhere you go.
I’m really beginning to think I could do this type of thing more in the future. So long as I plan in advance, get those comfy shoes, wear light clothing to prevent excessive sweating, and have plenty of juice in my phone, I can keep the panic to a minimum. And hey – who needs toilets? Stuff my backpack with packs of Depends, and I’m good to go!
Older and wiser, my friends… older and wiser.
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