We moved here in Drummondville 6 years ago already. After looking for months to find a place, and then waiting for several more months to officialize the papers in order to move in the church. But ever since that time, Drummondville has really become our home. Not only a house, but a home. The people welcome us right away and warmly. Nonetheless, we had never played in Drummondville before; circumstances made it so that we would spend more time on the road than at home in the years following our move in the city. Being invited to play at the Festival de la Poutine was a true honor.
Started in 2008 by another Drummondville band, the Festival de la Poutine was simply amazing. It was absolutely everything you want a festival to be when you’re in a band. The staff is helpful and makes you feel like they care, there’s power everywhere, an espresso machine, a kettle, the food was delicious and not too heavy (ok, there was poutine, but other stuff, too). Amongst the other bands, you could feel there was a friendly vibe instead of that competition you get just way too often. It felt like family.
A special zone in the stage. Had to go over it before getting to your instruments. No stress allowed!
The original Poutine Clock, along with the line up of the bands on Thursday night.
Drummondville is a very international place… Signs were even translated in Chinese!
Band tents were all under the drummers’ names. We can guess these are printed by the drummer of the band who organizes the festival!
Chilling out in the artist area before getting on stage
Adding the final touches to the set list. I’m always surprised Alex can understand anything of what he writes… Call this the writing of an artist!
Vocal exercices are a must before getting on stage!
No mirrors around? No worries, a car window will do!
The last few seconds before getting on stage… and then, let the show begin!
Standing on the stage just before the show, I looked at the crowd, and was astounded to see just how many YFE t-shirts and hoodies I could see! They were not only everywhere, but they really pop out, and catch your eyes more so than the other t-shirts around do! And what a beautiful crowd that was. People came all over North America to see us, some doing crazy long trips to get to see us live. This is something that I have noticed. Seeing YFE live is something contagious. When you see them once, you want to see them again. And for many people all over the summer, YFE has been their very first show – EVER! Their question is always the same after that… When is the next show? When can I see you again? And that show, was just mind blowing! I get to be in front of the speakers a lot when I take pictures, and it usually feels like an agression. Loud music is good only to a certain point, after what it feels like it is attacking you. And this is what usually happens when I spend time just next to the speakers – my whole being is being attacked. But tonight, it was different. Tonight, it was simply loud. It never reached that agression-like level. Was it too loud? Yes. But for the very time, it didn’t feel wrong to be in front of the speakers! You could hear the very little subtleties of the band’s sounds without a problem, every note, as quiet as it was, was dancing along everybody else on stage and in the crowd. The show was perfect in its imperfection. Just like Your Favorite Enemies are. Just like we all are. The summer couldn’t have ended on a better note… 🙂
We arrived at the Otakuthon not knowing what to expect. It was our first presence at the Otakuthon, and on my side, I had never even heard the name of it… In Japanese, “otaku” has somewhat of a negative meaning, and it was hard to get past it, to be honest. What would it be like? Would people enjoy music at all, or will they all be about video games and manga and anime?
The room was huge and filled with rows of empty chairs. The stage was empty. The room was really bright. It was clean. It didn’t smell of booze and sweat like other venues, that, as clean as they are, are still impregnated with every emotion that is being lived within their walls. Even backstage was sparkling clean – you didn’t feel bad for sitting on the couch in the artist room. Somehow, it felt kind of strange to be here. Especially the chairs. What would people do sitting on chairs during a concert? That was meant to be no conference at all…!
Sound check went well. Usually, we use up all the time we have for them, and more. But not this time. It just felt right, right away. The team was professional, they knew what they were doing, and they were able to give the guys what they wanted in terms of sound right away. We quickly went backstage, relaxing, eating, and warming up before the show would start, 2 hours later.
And then the show started. The empty seats weren’t empty anymore, filled instead with high excitement and color. The room was finally back alive. People gave this room a soul of its own, bringing in who they were. After a short introduction, the band got on stage. Alex’s first words were to invite people to get up and come to the front of the stage. “And there goes my freedom of movement for pictures”, I thought. Nonetheless, I was happy to see everybody rushing in to the front, the rows in the back probably very happy to have a chance of seeing a little better!
The show lasted 2 hours. I have NEVER seen Alex jump like this on stage, from left to right, back in the middle, and from left to right, and back in the middle again. There was a very special flow of energy that was going on from the stage to the crowd and back again. But I think what I will always remember is when everybody got on stage. There was no band, no crowd no more. Everybody was jumping on the stage – so much it made me afraid it would break down. The last time people actually got on stage in such a fashion was in Tokyo, in 2011.
But I think what will truly remain within me is what Alex said while he was on stage. How important it was to be who we truly are, without fears, without masks. As colorful as we are, sometimes from colors we do not know, or do not want to accept. And in such a conference, I think it was truly befitting. Because what was going on was REAL. As different as people were, everybody was welcoming, and the only thing you could see around were smiles. And this is what was going on at the concert as well. We didn’t want the moment to stop. And I guess that after a 2 hour show, this is why we stayed about just as long talking with the people before going back home, very late at night, or very early on the next morning, depending on your perceptions 😉
We left early in the morning. Once again, the day would be packed. Q&A session, signing session, and then judging at Otakuthon Idol. The Q&A went well. We talked about the creation of the songs for the soundtrack of the game “Dissidia: Final Fantasy”, yes, but mostly about “being real” and true to who you are… I guess that was the keyword for the weekend. We have been gently “kicked out” of the conference room after everything went black, letting us know in a quite radical way our time was over, and that we needed to move to the next event: signing sessions.
We were allowed 1 hour for that autograph session. It took over 2 hours. Once again, we had to be kicked out in order to move away…! It was so much more than only a “signing session” however. The discussions were deep, real, intense. And though I was watching from a distance, taking pictures, I could feel just how real everything was, and how mutual the feelings were.
And then came time for Otakuthon Idol. Jeff – who can’t sing a single note on pitch, and who seems to reinvent what a scale is every time he sings – was to judge. He did good, despite probably being more stressed than all of the contestants…! A whole bunch of talent was there, once again, without a mask, without fear. And it was truly inspiring to see.
We finished the day with the closing ceremonies, where we could see the complete team of volunteers at the Otakuthon! Thank you, to each and every one of you, volunteers and attendees, for making this such a wonderful event. It might have only been our first time, but we do understand how meaningful this has become for everyone, and for us as well.
PS: Here are some of the pictures I took during the autograph session. If you remember me taking one and don’t see it here, don’t hesitate to tell me so I can send it to you 🙂
We left for Quebec City early, as Alex had several interviews on schedule before sound check time. Already, on the road, Jeff caught a call for an interview. It lasted a few minutes only, and though I was in the back of the car and couldn’t see his expression, I could tell by the tone of his voice that he was really happy and enthusiastic. About the interview, maybe, but about the whole day that was up ahead. The same vibe was coming from Alex, sitting in the passenger’s seat. There was no nervousness at all, which would have been pretty normal. After all, it would be the band’s first time at the Festival d’été de Québec, the biggest and oldest festival in Canada. Day after day, the band had been rehearsing in our church/studio/home, trying to figure out what the setlist would be. We were only allowed a 45-minute set, and I think that it was the biggest challenge. After the first draft of the setlist, in which they included “only the short versions of the songs we must play live”, they were well over the 60-minute mark. Then followed a puzzle of songs and their successions, to make sure everything would be as smooth and quick as possible. They got everything down to 45 minutes. Until they realized that such a setlist didn’t even allow them to say “hello” to the crowd at all, nor introduce any song, let alone talk with people. And there we went again! Some more changes! The final setlist that was decided was as follows:
– Satsuki Yami
– Empire of Sorrows
– Midnight’s Crashing
– Would You Believe
– A View From Within
– From the City to the Ocean
– Killing Another (a cover from The Cure the band started doing during their tour “Outside It’s America”)
And then, rehearsal time, fine tuning absolutely everything. You cannot imagine how much care is put in the slightest details with these guys! Even though there was a true pressure of finishing on time, the vibe was always cool, easy-going, but not taken lightly. Done in the middle of the church, at sunset time very often, the view was quite spectacular! It all ended with a toast between the band members, to what had happened between them during these rehearsals, and to everything that was to happen.
We reached Quebec City, and already, the lady who would do the first interview was already there, waiting for us. We quickly checked in, and as Alex started the interview, the others headed to Starbucks for a well needed coffee! The schedule was tight. There were only 20 minutes between every interview. The ones that had longer gaps needed us to move to the radio stations directly. And believe me, we made it tight, but on time, everywhere we went! We shared wonderful moments with every interview we did, and truly enjoyed ourselves. Though we could all have been stressed with the schedule, it all went smoothly, we took things as they came, and laughter was always at the rendez-vous!
And then came soundcheck time. Of the 3 bands playing on the Loto-Quebec stage that night, we were the last ones to sound check. That’s how it always goes – soundcheck order is opposed to stage appearance order. We were given 1 hour for sound check, but barely used 30 minutes. Everything sounded great, everyone could hear what they were playing. It’s always a huge relief when sound check goes well, you start with a positive for the show that is to come. And let’s be honest, the crowd that gathered behind the fence (the festival site wasn’t yet open to public) to cheer us up during the soundcheck made things that much better, too!
We then went backstage, in a little caravan only for us! The guys ate, got changed, talked about the show to come, about the people they couldn’t wait to see once more. Then everybody went their separate way, warming up for the show that was now only minutes away! Moose drummed on a towel placed on a coffee table, Miss Isabel and Alex did their singing exercices, while Ben, Jeff and Sef went outside jumping and kicking around. A quick word of encouragement all together, and there we went, it was time to get on stage!
And then it was show time. And it went fast, very fast! Too fast. The band was nowhere to be seen on stage yet, but as the announcer pronounced “Your Favorite Enemies”, you could hear a delirious crowd, excited and waiting for them. All over the place, t-shirts of the band were popping out. People taking days off, driving for hours in order to see us. The festival site was packed. The tension in the air was tangible, but had nothing to do with the thunderstorm alerts that took place that night.
The media pit was occupied by several people, but large enough that it would still be comfortable for us all to move around. Even there, you could see people were looking forward to the show. Some already knew the band, while others were shooting them for the first time. “I was so focused getting the shots, as they kept coming and coming, that I didn’t even pay attention to the songs they were playing”, a friend told me after the show. And I do understand the feeling! The guys are stage beasts, nothing less. They know how to fill up a stage, to make it alive, and to let the passion they live transcend to the crowd, making everything feel as one.
The show went well. Very well. I remember being in the pit, looking up at the guys on stage, unable to stop smiling. This was it. They had it. This show was their best one EVER. And you could feel how happy they were on stage, too. From accomplice looks between them all, Alex’s defying glare as he sang to us, going on the PA system more than once, and even crowd surfing once, Sef and Jeff shouting at one another while playing and laughing, Ben coming to the edge of the stage, a foot on the wedge, Sef’s hair flowing all over the place, Alex head banging with as much sweat as hair flowing around him, Jeff jumping everywhere, Ben’s indescribable facial expressions, Moose focused and steady on his drum, Jeff singing all the lyrics while smiling, Sef moving much more than he usually would, Miss Isabel’s confident playing, to the wink Alex gave me as he looked down briefly, as if to tell me “I’m having fun!”. Over time, these are all things I have learned to look for in concerts. I know if one’s missing, something’s not right. Ok, the wink was a first, but for the rest, they’re all things you’ll learn to recognize in their interactions on stage as you get to see them more and more often!
One of the best moments, though, the moment that made that show completely magical, was when the rain started pouring, gently yet steadily, as soon as the first notes of the song “From the City to the Ocean” had been played, as if heavens themselves were approving of everything that was going on that night, telling the band “way to go, never look back, you won’t ever find yourself alone”.
It’s with smiles brighter than stars that the band members got backstage after the show. But the night wasn’t yet over. Despite the very long day they already had, they had also organized a private after party at the Dagobert, where Alex would be the DJ. We got there at 11:45pm, and the party kick started at midnight, lasting well over 2:30am, and would have lasted some more wasn’t it of the curfew we had already gone over…! Mosh pit, crowd surfing, and crazy dance moves were at the rendez-vous with a playlist that was as diverse as there were people. It was a blast, that’s the least we can say! Something to do once more? Probably, yes! Until then, we will miss you, Quebec City!
Don’t forget, we will also be playing at the following events this summer! Make sure not to miss your chance to see the band live!
August 8th – Otakuthon @ Palais des congrès de Montréal
August 22nd – Rock Fest pour la Santé Mentale @ L’Épiphanie
August 27th – Festival de la Poutine @ Drummondville
With every city we visited during our time in the United States so far (and let’s not forget our only Canadian stop in Toronto), we’ve had to open our eyes to reality we didn’t expect at all, that we didn’t know existed, or that were very far from what our preconceived ideas were…
Just arrived at the Thalia Hall, our venue in Chicago. An old theater turned into a venue, not without reminding us of our own home, an ancient catholic church turned into a studio (and so much more). We’ve had a wonderful time speaking with the owner, who’s explained us how much work they’ve had to do on the place before it could really be used as a venue. Again, not without reminding us how much work we’ve had to put in the church we now own. Sometimes, what looks ordinary – or worst, a lost cause – can become a place to call home, with only a little bit of vision and faith. And I guess that this venue, along with our church, is a perfect representation of who we are as people as well… When all hope is lost, we all only need but a little spark so that our eyes can open to something that’s totally new…
Chicago is a city we all were excited to see. But in between the load-in, the interviews, and the obligatory stop at Starbucks (for some wifi, and for some more than necessary coffee!), we couldn’t wander the city as much as we would have wanted to. We traveled the roads of the city in a van, snapping a few pictures and images of the architecture and of its essence. It’s only later, at the show itself, that we would be able to grasp the city’s essence fully though, when we would meet with the people at the concert!
And then came showtime. We spent a wonderful moment backstage, taking in the spirit of the venue and the high energy we all had that night. Talking about the different moments that happened through the day, and talking about the people we couldn’t wait to meet, some old friends we’ve known since the MySpace era but that we had not met yet…
And what a concert it has been! It’s been truly wonderful! Maybe it’s because the venue made us feel home. Maybe it’s because we knew we had family cheering for us in the crowd. Or maybe it’s just because we wanted to make sure this would be a moment turned to eternity, and decided to make sure it would happen that way. The guys have been phenomenal on stage, truly wonderful. Every time I see them, they get better and better. And when you think “this has been their best show EVER”, they always find a way to prove you wrong by being new kinds of stage beasts…!
Fetesha, our longtime friend, wrote a review about that show, that you can read here.
The next stop after was Detroit, Ferndale to be exact. The venue was a new one, with a green room in a corner, plants covering the walls from floor to ceiling – something truly breathtaking! It was totally different from what I expected Detroit would be. With all the stories we hear about this city nowadays, we found a peaceful oasis in The Loving Touch.
Alex took the time to write a little more. This time, his “daily journal” came as an open letter to the city of Drummondville, after the organizing committee of the 200th anniversary of Drummondville decided to exclude YFE from their celebrations for “fear of seeing sensitive ears flee the celebrations”. Though it is unusual for Alex to answer such things, the sight of “Your Favorite Enemies” and “fear” together in the same sentence made him react. You can read his open letter, “When Fear Comes To Celebrate Uninvited” on the SFCC here.
And then the concert itself… WOW! What a blast! I’ve got to tell you a certain story about this concert. Howard, a longtime friend we were seeing for the first time, decided to come to the concert. The road should have taken him 3 hours. But along the way, he had to push his car as it broke down. For 5 miles he did that, getting a flat doing so, until he reached an exit, where they repaired the flat tire, allowing him to push the car down to the next exit where there was a repair shop. In total, 10 miles of pushing a car down the road. Arrived to the repair shop, he told his story to the guys – who decided to loan him a car for the night! “You can bring it back tomorrow morning”, they said “your car will be repaired by then, and you can still go to your concert tonight”. All in all, I think that no matter how eventful the day has been, it simply proves that there are things in life we are meant to do, places we are meant to be, and encounters we are meant to have! It was also a pure pleasure to meet Shandee and her father again – 2 truly amazing souls! Shandee’s father, who’s seen us a fair amount of times by now, said that this has been Your Favorite Enemies’ best show so far – something I can only agree with! They are truly getting better and better with every show they play, I am telling you!
And then came Toronto. After a long but uneventful passage at the borders, we came back to Queen City, a city we had never truly liked. But honestly, we didn’t have to try hard to like it this time. Since 2015, it feels like this city has taken a whole different turn. Before, every time we visited Toronto, it was business oriented, and we always had that pressure of proving who we were, of proving we were worth it. But this time, everything was different. And this is what we were talking about “backstage” – read: in the tour bus because there was no backstage – before getting on stage! Somehow, this city is becoming more and more of a meaningful one, and whatever bad experiences we’ve had associated to it are now slowly fading away, being replaced by truly positive ones.
Some people from the YFE HQ even came to see us live! Marjo, Momoka, Kosho and Kanu made the trip to TO, wearing their t-shirts from the collection “Outside It’s America”! Proud representatives? I think it’s fair to say so, yes! 🙂 And they were in for quite a show, believe me!
We also had the privilege to meet with Paul, whom we met during the Juno Awards Press Conference in TO last January. Knowing we were true baseball fans – Giants fans – he even brought Jeff a little gift at the show. It now proudly stands in sight on our tour bus! 😉 Go Giants! Paul also reviewed the performance of the band and published the pictures he took for The Canadian Music Scene, and you can find it all here.
Alex also had a challenge to accomplish, to take a picture with the SFCC flag in Toronto. We had the privilege of doing it with the family members who had traveled all the way to see us, most of them as a surprise! It’s been a wonderful moment… I will always remember his reaction when he picked that city during the last Encore (that you can watch here).
And then the concert itself… What a truly wonderful moment! I think everyone is unanimous – the guys give a show that’s unforgettable! Whether they had heard of the band before or not, everyone is left with an everlasting impression… 🙂
Jeff, Miss Isabel and Moose also did a very inspiring interview just before getting on stage! Watch the interview below 🙂
The night following would be a strange one, knowing we had to cross the borders again. There’s been a lot of nonsense said that night, from no other than Sef (of course, who else could that be?!)! Curious to know what he talked about? Alex will share it all with you in one of his tour journals on the SFCC – and believe me, that’s something you do not want to miss!
And then we arrived to our venue in Pittsburgh, a city where everything was gray and brown. This venue was a former church (across the street from another church). It looked like it was still in construction somehow, and everything seemed cold at first sight, a little offset from everything else. It might have been due to the weather, to the colors of the buildings, to the fact that there was no one in the streets to bring any colors to this part of the city…
We had a toast backstage, a toast to the colors of the invisible, and to giving our own colors to what surrounds us, no matter what. A toast that was befitting the vibe we’ve had from the city so far. A city that was not remarkable in any way, but where people defined every part of it.
These have been our “tour essentials” so far. The Johnnie Walker Black for the toasts we have sometimes before/after the shows, and the “salsa con queso” to go with the chips. As much as we try to eat healthy on tour, it’s not always easy, and after a show where you’ve given more than what you thought you had, that yummy branch of celery doesn’t compete with the chips 😉
The show was a little bit to the image of the city… Somewhat cold, and distant. It was nonetheless a very good show, despite this lingering impression that something lacked… It was all quickly washed away when we gathered backstage and shared our favorite moments in the songs, looked at the pictures and watched some of the videos that had been filmed that night!
The day after, we woke up in Brooklyn. This place has become meaningful to us, as this is where the album “Between Illness And Migration” has been mixed, become an important standpoint in the history that this journey is. It is also where we usually stay whenever we go to NYC – a place that’s meaningful in more than one way. There are people everywhere here. And coming back to NYC, I think this is what I thought the other cities so far had been missing… people, as far as you can see. You can be in a shady alley in the middle of nowhere, you’ll still meet people. And this is where the real life of the city resides; in its people. All so different from one another, all unique, all bringing its own colors to a city that’s already vibrant. And instead of being a mess, it all blends in a very harmonious way…
We always stop by the Rough Trade Records, and by the park that’s nearby, giving us a view on Manhattan. No matter how often you’ve seen this view, you can’t help but be in awe. Yes, New York might be the city where everything is possible… Although the success you may find there might not be the one you envisioned, you can’t help but admit that everything is possible. That whole city defies what “possible” is, and when you look at it from the outside, it’s easy to understand why. From the outside, NYC looks like it has been built by lego blocks, its makers roaming the streets in search of something bigger – until they realize that the height of the buildings has nothing to do with what they are truly looking for; what they are looking for is buried deep inside of them.
We also had the privilege to meet with John Agnello that night. A wonderful guy, who’s not only mixed the album “Between Illness And Migration”, but who’s helped us open our horizons on sounds we had never thought possible…
The concert, despite being a very late one (we got on stage past midnight), was a pure display of intensity. Alex did crowd surf, the drums ended in the crowd, and you can see sweat in most of the pictures above 😉
And then came NYC, and Le Poisson Rouge. This scene is one that happens very often before sound checks/shows. Jeff, Ben and Alex are all together. Jeff is dealing some business on his phone while he has to put it away before the show. Ben is giving the insights on what will be possible and what won’t in terms of recording the show or having our own in-ear mixes for the stage, and Alex is taking in the vibe of the venue…
This was the 9th show of 11 in a row. To say we were exhausted at that time would be an euphemism. It was beyond that. Yet, a lot of people had made the trip from the HQ, and some others came to surprise us from Quebec & Ontario too. Plus, that show would be broadcasted live online on the SFCC. And this only idea got the guys on fire for the night that was to come. And what a show it has been! I have never seen the guys like this before. They were not only on fire… the blaze that was living inside of them was something totally different from what we had seen before. And they were awesome! Anybody who was there at the show can testify, as much as anyone who’s seen them online via the SFCC!
You can also find some more pictures by other photographers here and here – you will have to scroll down a little to reach the pictures ;).
And then came Boston… A city that came to me as a very colorful one, where all the cultures was mixed together… Bethlehem was actually a Korean restaurant, Oppa (a Korean word) was a sushi restaurant, and they spelled “kebabs” with an “o”, giving “kebobs”. One thing that wasn’t mixed though was everybody’s love for the Red Sox. Everywhere you looked, you would see the famous red “B” on a cap, on a t-shirt, on a hoodie, even on a dress – there was no escaping it nowhere! After a little stretching in the very hot and humid backstage room that was above the stage with a view on it, it was time for the guys to get on stage themselves…!
The concert has been awesome. Literally. The guys are most of the time happy of how the shows go – and it’s easy to tell when they’re not. But this time, they all were on FIRE! And everybody was unanimous; even though we played as long as any other show, it felt like it went by way too fast, for each and everyone of us! Those 50 minutes went by in a flash. And I think, that for as long as I can remember, it’s the first show to which the guys found no “negative points” – nothing to correct, to improve, to change. It seemed like it was a perfect score – and we sure lived it like this!
This blog is already a pretty long one, but I wanted to show you as much as I could. Next one will be in a few days, and will cover the show in Philly, our day off here, as well as the show in DC! 🙂 Look forward to it! 🙂
I didn’t know what to expect from the concert. After the one we’ve shared all together at the HQ in January, I sincerely thought it would be hard to reach such emotions once again. A moment is always “a moment” with Your Favorite Enemies, and it never comes back twice. I know this very well, for not only living with them but also following them on tour. And this time, honestly, I did not know what to expect. I have seen the guys rehearse for the show, abandon themselves to the moment in a way they had never done before, making me believe that this concert would be another once-in-a-lifetime moment. But on the day of the concert, I couldn’t shake off this feeling… What if the concert at the HQ couldn’t be equaled? What if people who attended it didn’t like tonight’s concert as much? What if it impacted everybody else around? And when we left for Quebec City that morning, this feeling still lingered with me a little bit, somewhere in the back of my mind, it was an unseen but unmistakable presence. Once in Quebec City, we barely had time to take off our coats that already an interviewer was waiting for us.
This is what the afternoon would be made of; interviews and sound checks. And everything went well. Very, very well! So well that this lingering doubt I had disappeared. The only thing that was on my mind was this excitement that was swelling up in my heart. As we were slowly finishing up the interviews after the sound check, people started getting in the venue. The doors weren’t opening before another hour, but the hall was already open. Slowly, the excitement was rising up more and more. A whole bunch of the crew were having dinner just beside the venue, around 60 people gathered together before the concert would start. Seeing this, it made me think it would be all right after all. The only one worrying about such things probably was me. What people want to see when they come to a concert isn’t a performance, but to live a moment.
And the moment finally arrived… It was time for the band to get on stage. The music stopped, the room went dark, and the entrance song started, along with a projection behind the band! On a technical level, the first 2 songs are always arduous for me, as there’s so much strobe lights or no lights at all that catching something that isn’t completely black or completely white is a matter of luck in my timing more than anything else. And for that reason, I usually do not take as many pictures as in the other songs, and can enjoy the moment a little more, before my turn really comes up. But as they were playing, only with the first few minutes, I could tell that this show wouldn’t be pale in comparison to any other, even the one we had at the HQ. I knew it would be a moment of its own. But to what extent, I did not know. I am not one to really exteriorize what I live (or at least, I still believe I am good at hiding it!), but on that very day, at that very moment, nothing else mattered. It was me and the music. It was as if nothing else and nobody else was around me. Or maybe I knew there were some 300 other people around me. And maybe I just didn’t care one bit about it. The level of let go that was there on stage, and how often the guys just improvised the songs and did something completely different from what they had rehearsed caught me off guard. Yes, with my camera. But mainly with my emotions. And I looked at the crowd, and saw people who traveled for hours to come and see us, people who took the plane for the first time despite their fears. People from the UK who came for one weekend to see us live and kept it a secret from us until the day of the concert. People who drove hours just to see us and share this very unique moment. People who came despite being sick. People who brought their loved ones with them, “to show them who YFE really are and the moments you share with them before, after and during the show”… We all are so different, but so much of the same. What we want, what we truly need, is to find a place where we belong, a place where we feel at home, and a place where we feel loved. And I guess this is what this is all about… For different reasons, in different ways, we all found ourselves at home that night.
It’s with a little bit of regret that I took back my camera and continued taking pictures. Even though those emotions were scary at first, and that this feeling of let go was still unknown to me, they became true. And they still are today, as I am writing these few words to you. Your Favorite Enemies live are a true experience, and I hope you will get to live it for yourself some day. Emotions will speak to you much louder than any words I could tell you. And hopefully, they will struck the same chord they did for me! That concert, once more, has shown me just how important it was to jump into the unknown, never allowing doubts to stop us from nothing. After all, we’re too young for regrets 😉
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