It could’ve been mistaken for a funeral by the herds of people walking toward the Moody Center dressed head-to-toe in black, but alas, it was just the Cigarettes After Sex concert. On Nov. 24, I was one of thousands of fans that came to see the band’s rescheduled show that was originally supposed to take place on Sept. 20.
We sat down at precisely 7:36 p.m. and the band was scheduled to come on at eight. As the minutes slowly reached eight, then slowly past eight, we were getting antsy. They were late. Getting restless and hungry, I sent my associate, Raina, to find french fries for us. Ten minutes and ten dollars later, she returned with an overflowing cup of cold, soggy fries. I could’ve cried in that moment, I’ve truly never felt such joy for sub-mediocre potatoes, but it was my pure desperation that made them as glorious as they were. A few minutes of feasting later, the lights dimmed and the crowd roared. With fries in hand and the band on stage, the experience was nothing short of heavenly. We later discovered that they announced their delay on Instagram, but with the lack of stable internet in the center, we were unaware.
Throughout the show, every song was matched with unique lighting and graphics displayed on the screen behind them. One thing I especially liked was that they didn’t keep their setlist exactly the same for each show. They played the same general list of songs, but changed up the order which kept it exciting. Raina and I made a game out of trying to guess what song they were playing, which was ultimately unsuccessful because if you’ve ever listened to their music, you know it all sounds the same. We knew all the lyrics but couldn’t name the songs if our lives depended on it. A few times throughout the show, the audience waved their phone flashlights which created the illusion of a sky full of stars in the dark crowd.
Despite being seated almost as high up as possible, I particularly enjoyed our spot because it allowed me to see the full effects of the lights and Moody is small enough that I really didn’t feel like the seats were bad. The lead singer, Greg Gonzales, interacted with the fans on the floor quite a few times, handing out guitar picks and at the end each of the band members gave out their copies of Austin’s setlist. In between songs, they kept the talking to a minimum, occasionally introducing the next song or thanking the audience for their presence. I found that this really contributed to the band’s nonchalant persona and matched the vibe of their music.
The highlight of the show for me was during Apocalypse (basic, I know) at the end when the disco ball came down for the last minute of the song. It was one of those moments where you really just had to be there. Without a doubt I would see them perform again, and the experience as a whole was pretty laid back and an easy concert to attend.
