Though the Saturday night Alan Howarth concert at Flashback Weekend was slated for 8:30 p.m., I left my room a half hour earlier in case there was a line. And what a line it would be!  As soon as saw all the fans weaving the circumference of the hotel’s basement I was painfully aware I should have left an hour earlier instead. The concert took place in the same room as the costume contest (see last post) and I heard people in line saying that many had been turned away on account of it being too full. Whether that was true or not, I have no way of knowing. What I can tell you is that once the idea entered my mind, I was thoroughly convinced I was never going to get in. This, coupled with how achy and tired I was from a full day of conventioneering had me damn close to giving up and returning to my room. Somehow, I successfully ignored the voice in my head, and once the doors opened around 9 p.m. the line quickly got moving. I was surprised, I actually found a seat, albeit at the far right of the stage. Although it meant craning my neck to see the video screen, I didn’t mind as I’d have an unobstructed view of Howarth – ideal for taking pictures.

Before Howarth took the stage, he was introduced by Nick Digilio who let the audience know that the musician was turning 75 years old the next day (August 6th). The crowd applauded and Howarth thanked everyone for coming. He then said, “Before I start playing, I’d like to talk a bit,” 

And so Alan Howarth talked. And talked…and talked…and talked…and TALKED! 

He talked about his upbringing and the time his first music instructor put the moves on his mom. He spoke of conspiracy theories and how the movie They Live is actually happening in real life right now. He spoke of the government’s plans to make all money electronic so they can shut off our funds at will. He told us about his first band and moving from his home state of Ohio to California. He gave an inspirational speech on the importance of never giving up. He also talked about how he got involved with John Carpenter which, incidentally, was probably the ONLY thing he should have talked about.

Soon it became painfully obvious that this was one musician who marches to the beat of his own drum – ironic considering it’s the only instrument Howarth doesn’t play.  

Now, I’m not going to tell you some of Howarth’s more fantastical comments are crazy or untrue. After all, I once went on a road trip to visit an alleged UFO crash site. What I will say is that some of what he talked about was downright confusing. For example, he told us he and Carpenter are “like brothers” and then later admitted they hadn’t spoken in years and that Carpenter accused him of “riding his coattails.” Perhaps Howarth has hung on to the hippy ideals of his youth and really just doesn’t have a bad thing to say about anybody. Or maybe his definition of brotherhood and mine are two different things. Either way, it was bizarre.

As for the audience, some were irritated while others fell victim to uncontrollable bouts of laughter. These chuckles proved infectious as every time someone looked at someone laughing they’d start cracking up, themselves. I saw my friend, Don, turning red-faced and shaking with hysterics while his embarrassed wife, Bunny, tried getting him to stop before finally giving up and bursting into giggles herself. This, in turn, caused me to laugh to the point of tears which got the people next to me chuckling as well. Bunny later told me that what set it all off was a person sitting behind them innocently asking their friend, “When is he going to shut up and start playing music?” 

Occasionally, Howarth would take a pause which incited the audience to eagerly start clapping in the hopes his diatrab was finally over.  Their elation would prove short-lived as he’d resume speaking on an entirely different topic causing their claps to sputter out like an old jalopy. I couldn’t believe someone so musically inclined could also be so tone-deaf when it came to reading his audience.

The concert, itself, was a lot of fun; both intentionally and unintentionally. Howarth looks amazing at 75, has lots of energy, and if he wants to ramble on like most men his age do, who’s to stop him? I know it sounds crazy but that rambling oration made me love him all the more. One thing was for sure…I was dead tired when I walked into that concert and wide awake from laughing so hard by the time it was over. 

Not wanting to get stuck in the Hyatt’s basement for another hour, I slipped out before it was over and made haste to my room. I noticed that the Hyatt had one of my favorite channels, TCM (Turner Classic Movies), and ended up watching Errol Flynn’s Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) from start to finish. It was nearly 2 a.m. by the time I went to sleep…and with still one more day of Flashback Weekend to go. 

Coming up…2023 Flashback Weekend concludes!

~Dave 

Up at 6. Loaded car. Ate breakfast with friends and David paid. Came down 10.