Dreams Really DO Come True!

OK, all, sit back, relax and prepare to read the tale of what might very well be the single greatest New Year's Eve I have ever experienced...

Friday, December 31st
12:00 noon

I received an e-mail from Secil, Athena's (see previous post) manager, telling me to pick up the concert tickets at her office in Taksim at noon.

I checked my map and used a bit of my new Turkish vocabulary to ask a street vendor if I was on the right street.

Sokak ad? (Street name?)

OK. I've got the right street. Now which building is it?!

Rvanda Is Merkezi nerede? (Rvanda Is Merkezi where?)

He pointed me in the right direction and I found the office. There was only one problem - it was locked and Secil was not there!

Luckily, the office next door was home to an American expat couple who operate a company that helps Turkish students go to universities in the States. The couple invited me in to wait until Secil returned, gave me a coffee and chatted with me a bit.

We soon heard Secil's office door open and I went out to meet her. She looked very much like my friend Trophy - tall, long blonde hair and with a similar hippy style. She greeted me and invited me to sit down.

Secil speaks English very well and she asked me about what I was doing in Japan and how I came to know Athena. She asked if I had the latest album and I told her that I'd just purchased it last week. I have two more at home - but there was one I didn't have. Secil got up and got it for me - as well as an Athena T-shirt!

In addition, she gave me TWO tickets - one for me and one for my boyfriend! I wasn't expecting that and it was a wonderful surprise, as the tickets were not cheap.

She asked what we were planning to do before the concert and mentioned that I should give her a call when it was over so that we could go backstage and meet the guys.

HOLY CRAP! Did I just hear that correctly?!?!

I got her mobile number, thanked her for everything and said I'd be sure to call later on.

Friday, December 31st
8:30 p.m.

Mustafa and I caught a taxi to the concert. We were running a bit late, but it turned out that we didn't miss anything.

He packed the T-shirt and CD in his backpack so that we could get them autographed if we had the chance. Smart thinking!

The concert was held at Park Orman, a huge, wooded complex with fountains and paths and some semi-permanent buildings like the Igloo Winter Hall.

The Hall was actually a GIANT tent and it was warm enough inside that we didn't need our coats. We found a space on the floor and sat for a bit, had some beers, and watched the opening acts.

Two bands that I really enjoyed hearing for the first time were Asli and Mor Ve Otesi. We made our way to the center floor and I took some cool videos and stills with my camera.

Mor ve Otesi stopped mid-performance to do a countdown and the crowd cheered as the confetti fell and we welcomed the New Year.

Saturday, January 1st
1 a.m.

The anticipated hour arrived and Athena took the stage. I was awestruck and filled with excitement. I don't think I ever stopped smiling!

I was worried for a bit that they would play a bunch of songs from the newer albums, as I'm not too familiar with them yet. Fortunately, they played all my favorites!

At one point, I told M. that I wanted them to play "Senden, Benden, Bizden" and guess what? Not two seconds later, they started playing it!

M. noticed that Gokhan was giving fives to audiences members, so he pulled me up nearer to the stage and pushed me along until I was front and center, looking right up at Gokhan's sweaty, muscular, tattooed and nipple-pierced chest!

GokhanSweat


GokhanLights


I took some excellent photos and M. encouraged me to scream out Gokhan's name and reach my hand out for him to touch it. I was a bit timid, but I tried my best! I never did get a high-five, but the best was still yet to come...

After the concert, M. led me to the backstage entrance. Secil's phone seemed to be off, so M. spoke with the guys at the door and tried to explain our way in. Somehow, it worked, and we were whisked inside to a room of mirrored walls and people sitting at tables and relaxing.

Athena is a band with several members, but the core is made up of Gokhan and Hakan, twin brothers and the founders of the band. They are, essentially, Athena.

Hakan was the first to come over and he was just adorable - shaved head and nothing but a bit of hair on chin and a great, big, friendly smile. In all the excitement, I've forgotten what we chatted about but I know I told him how glad I was to get to see them play and that M. had introduced me to their music almost exactly four years ago.

He signed both the T-shirt and the CD and then posed for a picture with me. Coolest of all, he pulled out the guitar pick he'd used that night and signed it for me!

Hakan


Gokhan came over next and he was very friendly, too. I've already described his chest in detail, so let me tell you about the rest. He's got bright red (natural!) hair and a very pinchable baby face.

He apologized for their performance that night (WHAT?!?!) as he thought it was one of their worst! I told him that it was my first Athena concert and I thought it was absolutely fantastic.

After signed the T-shirt and CD, he also posed for a picture and we said goodbye.

Gokhan


In the middle of Gokhan's visit with us, Secil stopped by and gave me a quick hug. I think Gokhan was surprised that I "knew" his band's manager. Oh, yeah, it's cool, man. We go way back!

We left the backstage and even M. thought the experience was very cool. I think he was really just as excited as I was!

There was one sad thing that happened - apparently, on our way backstage, one of the doormen had handed me a piece of paper and asked me to get an autograph for him. I didn't hear him and I wouldn't have understood anyway. M. heard, but forgot. I briefly thought about giving him the T-shirt, but I didn't. I still feel bad about that.

Sorry, little guy! Next time, just try sending an e-mail to the manager!