Last night dragonbetween, getaway_machine, and barbed_whispers joined me for a Wizard Rock concert at the Orlando Public Library. Playing were The Whomping Willows and The Remus Lupins. Officially, it was totally awesome.

dragonbetween and I arrived a bit early and got to listen to The Remus Lupins play a bit of Harry and the Potters' "Save Ginny Weasley" during their sound check. I have some affinity for that song, so that was fun.

Also fun is that Toby, the drummer for The Remus Lupins, looks kinda like Ronon (from Stargate: Atlantis, for those not following). This realization tickled me and dragonbetween and if there ever is a story about how Ronon is a huge Harry Potter fan and starts a Wizarding rock band on Atlantis, it's not my fault. ETA: We also decided that Ronon is a Hufflepuff. Don't ask.

There are a few pictures and some download links under the cuts (if a song has a hyperlink, there's a download). I highly encourage everyone to support Wizard Rock and go buy CDs from both of these wonderful bands.
The Whomping Willows
The Remus Lupins

The Whomping Willows
The Whomping Willows got on first. I hadn't been too excited about seeing The Whomping Willows, but once Matt started playing, and I got to see more of his wonderful snarky attitude, I was enamored.

I can't remember the set list in order (I'm pretty sure I won't remember the whole set list either, actually), but I do remember which songs he started and ended with so we'll just pretend this is the right order.

• He started with "House Of Awesome Theme Song" (which I had heard before). This song makes me laugh pretty much because I get to imagine the Whomping Willow wanting to be Sorted. (If anyone is wondering, this scene involves a guy in a tree suit pouting in Dumbledore's office.)



• He then went into what is probably my favorite song now, "Wizard Rock Heart Throb." It is deliciously hilarious and really great for a live performance. Plus there's pandering to the audience, self-deprecation, and mentions of Alex Carpenter's cuteness (Alex is the lead singer of The Remus Lupins and is not terribly hard on the eyes).



• So, Matt asks if there's any Hufflepuffs in the crowd and a bunch of people scream and he's like, "Well this one is for you guys. 'Cedric Had It Coming'." *snort* (Do you all understand why I'm enamored?)



• In the middle of one of the songs he broke out into "Ice Ice Baby" and I had a horrible moment when I realized that song was released around 1990 and many of the people in the room were probably no older than 4 years old at that time and may not even know the song (dragonbetween didn't).
  
  This is a nice lead in for me breaking off to mention how freaking old I felt. There were a few people who were older than me (and were not accompanying children) but mostly it was 16–22 year olds and the girls were groupies. Seriously. There are Wizard Rock groupies. Thankfully, after enduring many old jokes from getaway_machine and barbed_whispers (have I mentioned that I love them? No? Oh, not an oversight.), dragonbetween agreed that since I'm short I could pass for 22. I like her slightly more than getaway_machine and barbed_whispers.
  
  Back to the wonderful Wizard Rock.



• The Whomping Willow invited Remus Lupin (aka Alex Carpenter) up to the stage to play the tambourine during the song "You Touched Me In My Special Place" which is a song all about the special love between the Willow and Remus. I am so sad this song is not yet on a CD because it is so awesome that it hurts my brain. The thing that made it even better is that Alex acted like a spaz with the tambourine and then poked Matt's cheek in the middle of a chorus and Matt totally lost his place. There were a few seconds of him staring at Alex like WTH? and Alex shrugging like, "I just touched you in your special place." Oh, it was beautiful.



• He played at least two songs with The Remus Lupins. He began the first one by saying, "This is what I would sound like if I had a full band." I totally can't remember which was the first one, but I know they played "Open Letter To The Entire Wizarding Community".



• Finally The Whomping Willows closed with "In Which Draco and Harry Secretly Want to Make Out". I may have sung along. ;)

The Whomping Willow with The Remus Lupins!


The Remus Lupins
The Remus Lupins totally rock. I think they get to be my favorite Wizard Rock band (and not just because Alex Carpenter is easy on the eyes . . . though he is, did I mention that?). They were having so much fun up there, and were totally encouraging people to get up and dance and they actually made me want to go to concerts.

Again, I can't remember the full set list and definitely not in order, so here's the list of what I remember with random commentary.

• I can't remember what they started with, but the second song they played was "The Weasleys." I remember that because dragonbetween and I were all excited because she loves the redheads.



• "Alone on Valentine's Day" has a special place in my heart because it's all Remus/Lily and I kind of love that pairing. I know; it has nothing to do with slash, but it's true. In the same way that I have this quiet, secret love for Daniel/Sha're and Buffy/Xander, I love Remus/Lily. And now you all know. *hides behind the Slasher Shield of Het Acceptance*



• Alex prefaced "The Ballad of Neville and Luna" by asking who likes Neville and then he talked a little about how awesome Neville is and I thought I was going to faint. You should all probably remind my brain that I have enough trouble choosing between Harry, Remus, and Sirius for my favorite character and I should not add Neville to the mix. Even if it is too late.



• I'd just like to say that the opening lyrics to "The Order" now take on a completely new and disturbing meaning.
  
  

  . . . Got Tonks here, and Remus. They're gonna do it all night long. With Mad-eye and Kingsley . . .

  
  
  Yeah, that's all I'm saying about that one. ;)



• The Remus Lupins also played a song about Cedric, "Remember Cedric." Apparently Cedric is still a very popular fellow.



• They played both "Loosen Your Tie" and "Teenage Werewolf" which were the only songs I had heard prior to the performance. Both of these songs are freaking awesome and lots of fun for a live show. (Also, while singing "I was a teenage werewolf" I was thinking, "I'm one of the few people for whom that verb tense is correct.")



• Small DH Spoiler Warning!!
  
  I couldn't hear most of the lyrics to "Looking For Trouble" except for the part where he sings, "I don't know who R.A.B. is" because he stopped, totally leaving us hanging, and then quickly fits in "But I heard it was Regulus." &hearts
  
  Spoiler Averted!



• I'm fairly certain that they ended with "Wizard Rock Twist," but dragonbetween and I were kind of distracted because we were discussing the best way to get over to the table with the CDs. But I'm pretty sure it was that song.



• ETA2: I totally forgot to mention that Alex said they were making a techno-band called the Remix Lupins. *snickersnort* Oh word puns, how I love thee.

The Remus Lupins!

After the show I bought the two Remus Lupins CDs and then went up to Alex to be a fangirl. Alex is such a sweetie. I told him that the only other rock concert I've been to is Blondie and he said something like, "I'm honored." I also told him about how my stupid friends were being mean and calling me old and he told me not to be bothered by it. &hearts


See? Look how he rocks.

I've got other photos uploaded in my gallery. And again I'll once again encourage you to purchase Wizard Rock!

The whole experience was totally awesome. I'm definitely going to be looking for other Wizard Rock shows in the future. We totally need Wizard Rock at DragonCon.