Last Friday 15th May 2009, I went to TAG presents: Sounds Of The Universe: A Depeche Mode Black Celebration at Barsonic, Zouk KL. Who knew that I would get clubbed when clubbing?
I was in the middle of the dance floor, 16th May 2009 around 2 AM, when something or someone delivered a sharp blow to the right of my face, near my eye. I went, “wow what a blow!” and I turned to my right only to see a skinny-elbowed friend of mine. I thought she was overly excited about the song that just came on or something.
By reflex, I covered my head with my hand and it felt warm. I looked at my hand and there was warm blood all over it! I was bleeding profusely! So I ran to the toilet (scaring Clara on the way there) and looked in the mirror. Shit, the right side of my face was covered in blood.
The janitor there was very helpful to get tissue and apply pressure, and a random white guy brought me ice. Thanks random white guy! Thanks janitor dude!
The blood dripped down onto my shirt and inside it. Oh no there goes my nice shirt!
Many who came in went “whoa! What happened?”
And then came in this other dude in the picture, who says he was facing a wall when something/someone hit him! He thinks very strongly that it is not an accident and says whoever did this will get it.
So after a while of applying pressure, the bleeding reduced from soaking the entire tissue, to just leaving ‘marks’ of red. I then headed the hell out of that place (with Petrina documenting this.)
I found my friend who I last saw in the general direction of the blow; she said that she was sure she didn’t elbow anybody. I don’t know why I thought it could’ve been her elbow (as later examination of the wound would show, it certainly could not be a sharp elbow.)
The friend she was dancing with, told me that he got hit in the groin, so he thinks somebody in the crowd was very violent.
The bouncers outside had no bandages either. I later saw the other guy who got hit, and he was explaining the situation to a bouncer. The bouncer asked if he was going back in, and he said yes. They positioned a security officer at his table to watch out and look over the crowd. I don’t know if anybody was ever caught.
A while later, a guy came running out of Zouk, jumping over the railing, somersaulting and landing on the cigarette counter with his legs crashing forward into it. He then ran to the valet parking area where security officers caught him, and a guy was pointing at him. The suspect was bleeding at the forehead. I asked another onlooker where this guy was from, and he said Zouk.
Meanwhile, at the cigarette counter, a cigarette promoter girl was sitting on a chair, crying. The other promoters were standing in a circle around her while a few guys were trying to comfort her. I think the suspect could’ve landed on her or something, but it happened too fast for me to see.
So that was freaky, 3 people bled that night!
Still holding a tissue to my wound, I walked to the convenience store near Public Bank near KLCC. Got myself 2 bandages (one for each) but the guy helped me bandage and he decided that one would be enough to cover both. Took a cab home, bathed and shampooed (I hate the cigarette smell on my hair) and called my favorite St. John’s alumni, Wai Fon. She asked if I got the bandage wet – if it was moist it could lead to infection. So I peeled it off.
The upper gash is 2cm long and 2mm wide; the lower gash is also 2cm long and 2mm wide. Interestingly, there is also another mark behind it. I cannot figure out what could leave such a mark! I am however infinitely grateful that it didn’t get my eye and I can still see with both eyes! Likewise for the other guy who got hit. Still, bloody freaky that there are people out there doing this, whether intentionally or not! Please, dance responsibly! Take off any sharp accessories or bling that could bloody cut bloody wounds in people’s faces alright?
And if it is intentional… show yourself, chicken. If you want to teach me a lesson, let me know what it is first because I don’t even know what me or the other guy did!
Later I noticed that my right arm had a mark, possibly a follow-through from whatever it is that cut me. It didn’t feel like a sharp cutting motion, but more like an elbow or fist, oddly.
I had pretty much cleaned up all traces of blood except this spot under my watch. Also note the cigarette burn on my watch.
My shirt, argh! This is the right half. Doesn’t look like a lot here but now I know what amount of blood would come out for such a wound.
The next day, I went to the clinic when it opened. The doctor insisted I get 3 stitches. While I did get local anesthetia, it certainly was not reassuring that you could slightly feel him tugging at the skin. It was a rather long process, and I could hear him saying to his assistant, “potong ini. Bukan. Ini. Potong. Bukan. Bawah sini. Bukan.” I was lying on my left, and as he operated the blood trickled from the wound down past my eyes! His assistant had to swab it. Obviously, I closed my eyes and tried to be as calm as possible.
The lower gash had already dried so he could not do anything about it. So this is what I look like now; I think the yellow makes it look far more dramatic.
I am very thankful that all my life I’ve had a low accident and wound rate… I am usually in places which have a higher risk e.g. moshpits, front of stages (I got hit in the back of my head once by some drunken skinhead’s steel-toe boot as he was crowd surfing, no blood thank goodness, but it was a sign to get out.) I walk in seedy and dingy areas. So far I’ve been alright, and I find it funny that this should happen when I decided to come to Twilight Action Girl, in Barsonic, in Zouk for the very first time since they renovated. (I went for their “last” TAG night back in The Loft upstairs in Zouk, and was a regular back in 2004-2005. Ah, good old un-violent indie dance days.)
I also understand now why you always see medics and ambulances at big concerts. You guys are brave, keep it up! I’d hate to see people come to you, bleeding like mad.
P.S. to my skinny elbowed friend, I’m sorry I ever suspected it was your elbow!
P.P.S. Oh and when I got there at midnight, Panda Head Curry just finished their Depeche Mode acoustic tribute set, which I regret missing! They played like 2-3 Depeche Mode classics and never played anything from Depeche Mode after that. Kinda regret staying for that, then. I am a fan of Depeche Mode enough, to try to make an acoustic version of Martyr. Their stuff makes excellent emo, you know?
