ROFLCOPTOUR - My Muggle friends just don't understand

"I tried to knit a Weasley sweater, impatiently awaiting my Hogwarts letter, I play in a wizard rock band, my Muggle friends just don't understand" - Lauren Fairweather (from Post-Potter Depression)

I unapologetically love Harry Potter. I have read the series multiple times. I own all the movies and cannot get through them without explaining to the poor person watching with me all the things that are missing. I listen to Mugglecast and Pottercast. I think the Harry Potter Alliance is amazing. And I love Wizard Rock. My discovery of Wizard Rock corresponds with the purchase of my current iPod and computer and my top 25 most played list is largely filled with Wizard Rock songs (Wizard Rock Heartthrob, Book Eight, and Post-Potter Depression are the current top 3). Last summer I had my first opportunity to see it performed live, in the form of the PCLUPINWILLOW show in Seattle (well, Bellevue). My roommate, who supports my love of all things Potter accompanied me to the community center on the eastside and we listened to the Parselmouths, the Whomping Willows, and the Remus Lupins, as well as the hosts of Pottercast. The crowd, mostly 12-20 year olds, was enthusiastic and energetic. The bands fed off that energy and provided even more as they sang songs old and new about Harry & friends. So while I was a little old for the crowd, it was definitely an experience I hoped to repeat. Due to some conflicts, my next opportunity would not come until yesterday's ROFLCOPTOUR show in Portland. I took two new wrock fans (I'm calling them fans as they were definitely entertained) and we ventured to a lovely north Portland Library to see some of my favorite wizard rockers perform.

The Parselmouths kicked off the show and the girls did not disappoint. Please Harry with Eia sporting a Harry Potter wig and glasses was definitely a highlight, and their set was cute and entertaining. Next up was Lauren Fairweather, performing music from the Moaning Myrtles as well as songs off her solo albums. She was brilliant (even better live than on her albums, which I listen to often) and her solo set, along with the Armoured Bearcubs mini-set was my favorite part of the show. She even sang my favorite song, Engines Make Me Hot, which is about the brilliant but cancelled series Firefly. My sister feels that Armoured Bearcub's In Which Buffy Slays Edward perfectly captures all of her feelings about Twilight, and she was elated when they played that. There was a one song tribute to the temporarily missing from tour band, Justin Finch-Fletchly and the Sugar Quills. I hope they tour in the NW again soon as his live shows are supposed to be epic. After the tribute was another great set by The Whomping Willows. I love his energy and he was the first wizard rock act that I heard and immediately wanted to purchase, so I will pretty much always be happy listening to a set that includes Draco and Harry, Wizard Rock Heartthrob, and I Believe in Nargles. Three of the Five Awesome Girls (Lauren, Kristina, and Kayley) took to the stage to get some audience participation for their videos, and I ventured over to the merch table to pick up an I Believe in Nargles shirt for my roommate, a new Whomping Willows shirt for myself, Lauren Fairweather's new EP, and some sweet buttons. The final band of the afternoon was ALL CAPS. I am a big fan of theirs, despite the fact that their musical style that is not something I am usually into. They played a couple of my favorites from their new album, I'm Losing My Boyfriend to World of Warcraft and Don't Unplug Me, but didn't play very much from their first album, which was a bit disappointing. I had hoped to hear Saved or I Love You, but they were still a lot of fun and everyone was dancing around.

Once again, the crowd was young and I felt a little old. But as I reflected later, I loved to see these awesome kids who are the world's answer to the Bieber and Miley fans of the world (although I guess there could be some cross over). I loved seeing these book reading, Harry Potter loving nerdfighters dance and sing and smile and just be excited about something. Too many kids, and people in general are afraid to be excited about what they are interested in, for fear of being deemed not cool. It was refreshing to see this younger version of the crowd from w00tstock wrocking out all afternoon, happy to embrace their excitement.

There really should be more rock, er, wrock shows in libraries.

"I like boys who like Harry Potter, to me they couldn't get any hotter, I'm dying for a kiss and it's painfully obvious." - Lauren Fairweather (Painfully Obvious)