Day Fever

When I heard Simple Minds were playing at the Sydney Opera House tonight I knew it was a must-do.

I’ve been a fan since the band crooned “Don’t you forget about me” in The Breakfast Club, but I’ve never seen them live. DD is also a long-time fan, but he has seen them perform heaps, especially when he lived in the UK.

When I went online to buy tickets I was excited – and slightly startled – to discover they were doing two shoes: one at 6.30pm and another at 9.30pm.

It was a no-brainer to choose which one I was going to attend – the 6.30pm show of course!

And not just because I’m getting old. You may recall my nickname in my 20s was Cinderella because I always had to be home by midnight. I am not a night owl, never have been.

I find gigs that start around the standard time of 9pm brutal. I get home after midnight, struggle to get to sleep and wake up at the crack of dawn totally knackered.

Seeing a band at 6.30pm sounds like perfection to me.

I’m in good company. Jamie Lee Curtis has been publicly advocating for earlier concerts, asking why bands don’t put on matinee shows.

When she was on the red carpet at the Independent Spirit Awards she told The Hollywood Reporter that she declined her invite to an Oscars nominee dinner because she’d rather go to bed early.

“Why? Because mommy goes to bed early,” she said. “‘Cause 7:30 is gonna be nine before we get food, and you know what? There’s nothing good happening with me after nine o’clock. Nothing. Zero!”

She continued: “I am gonna just say this now as a taunt and as a suggestion. U2: do a matinee. Coldplay: do a matinee. What about a 12 noon concert, Coldplay? What about it? Bruce Springsteen: do a fucking matinee! You’re old! Why wouldn’t you let me come see you, Bruce Springsteen, in your glory days – pun intended – and do it at noon or one o’clock? two o’clock! two o’clock matinee!

“Theatre in New York, two o’clock! I will come and hear your five-hour concert, Bruce, at two o’clock, and I’m gonna be home and in bed by 7:30.”

Meanwhile over in the UK, someone has opened a nightclub for people like us.

Actress Vicky McClure and her husband Jonny Owen have launched a club called Day Fever – a play on the Bee Gees song Night Fever – that opens at 2pm with the last entry at 4pm.

I’m there for that too!

“It’s a nightclub in the afternoon for people of a certain age,” Jonny told the BBC.

“I love meeting mates, having a few drinks, having a dance but also like getting a cheeky curry afterwards, not queuing hours for a taxi and being home early enough for Match of the Day – and then it also doesn’t ruin your Sunday either.

“For me now, it’s all about going out on a bit of an all-dayer – and I thought there’s a real market for people with a similar vibe.”

Stay tuned for all the details on my early gig. Fingers crossed it’s a good one!

Song of the day: Simple Minds “Don’t you forget about me”