One nostalgic search for “The Modern Exchange” uncovered this dinosaur of a video from A Day to Remember in July 2008.
I was newly 19 years old, first summer home from GVSU. It was among the last, and definitely the largest show I ever attended at The Modern Exchange.
The rest is truly historic today. I mean, just look at them in 2011 (...with 27 million views):
I remember it being a very big deal in 2008, that a band as big as A Day To Remember was playing a show at The Modern Exchange. My younger cousin Dylan traveled from Canada just to join me for this show. And it was a spectacle.
I had no inkling of a notion that I’d find my own video from literally forever ago when I recently entered “The Modern Exchange” into the search bar on YouTube that day just a few weeks ago. I didn’t even know I knew how to upload something onto YouTube back then! Apparently, I did. And I am so glad to have captured this.
…with my old digital camera, I should add. Because phones didn’t do that yet. Phones were still phones back then.
The Modern Exchange was the largest small and local, known venue for kids in bands who were still in, fresh out & years beyond high school all around Metro Detroit (and dare I say Downriver). Two of the best local bands whose shows I never, ever missed: autoReverse & The Chesterfield Bridge.
I can still hear the starting beat in my head to The Chesterfield Bridge’s positively infectious song, Animalistics. I can still hear the final lyrics of autoReverse’s song, The Worlds End screaming so loud and clear in my head. Holy nostalgia! Little teeny bopper me is jumping for joy all over again at the sound of these songs sending goosebumps straight up and down my spine just as they did live so many moons ago. Music is magic.
The Modern Exchange was the first place that made the rush of walking into new music venues everywhere feel like home. I’m willing to bet I’m not alone! I must have spent all my free time there back then. I lived for it.
Looking back now, I see why. It was the one place where being an observer also meant being an active participant. All we had to do was go, be, sit or stand, watch, listen, dance if we wanted to, and feel everything.
The energy of the space was pure magic. They didn’t serve alcohol. Never needed it.
Not yet, anyway. Speaking of that, I have not had a drop of booze in 10 months! Life is amazing. I feel everything all over again. Deeply. Pure bliss of dreamy wonder. Magic. Love. No need to numb it all away anymore. Healing is truly worth every moment.
Quick life update: This May was one to remember forever. Here’s a quick stitch of some super, special sweetness sprinkled throughout the 5th month of this year:
Here we are now, mid-June. I’ll be 33 soon! In 3 weeks today, actually. (Just checked!)
Present as ever, I am swimming in gratitude for the simple, sweet bliss of Spring in bloom with Summer so soon upon us.
Just as I paused to ponder, “how could it possibly get any better than this?”
It miraculously did. Tenfold. Again!
Namaste & Mahaloha,
Miny Calapa (Xo.Britt)
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