My First True Rock Show
Just got back home from Crue Fest. It was awesome as was expected and it had it's surprises. Considering it being a first in my life, it was pretty good.
After a 4-hour hell ride on the freeway completely across Missouri, we got a motel room, went to sleep....well, my mom went to sleep. I went to sleep around sunrise, woke up, showered and actually kept my hair down...for the first time in...what was it? Months? Years?
We got there a bit early and waited in line a bit. They had a Rock Band booth set up. Whatever 'band' they thought was the best would open for Motley Crue. But considering they wanted people who could already play on Expert and I could barely play Guitar hero on Medium, I decided to stay out of it. After getting a soda (Mom got 2 beers and a water), we went to find our seats. It kinda shocked me when we got to them. We were at the very corner before the pit. All we saw there was an amplifier. So I sat there for a bit, wondering if I would actually see anyone once they started playing. The God of Rock must have heard my prayers because a woman who worked there came by and asked if we wanted different seats. She took us to some seats that didn't sell and they were a LOT better. We were 4 rows behind the pit, but we were practically dead center. I was happy, excited, and nervous as hell.
The first band up was Trapt. I found out that until you see the people in the band, whether live or in pictures, you should never make any assumptions about them, especially when the most you've heard is a 45-second clip of one of their more popular songs. They were hot, especially the singer. I was staring at his thighs for a few songs. Of all the opening acts, Mom thought she never heard them, but she did. She apparently thought 'Headstrong' was sung by a different band.
Then Sixx A.M. took the stage after a short scenery change (background mural replaced, stage settings moved around, new drum set, sound check, etc.). It marked the first appearance of a Motley Crue member to the stage that night (Nikki Sixx, naturally). They played great...and inspired some slash in my sick little mind, thanks to Nikki, the singer, and my sight angle. Now I need to get The Heroin Diaries CD, since they played a lot of songs from that.
After that, another scenery change and sound check, then Papa Roach hit the stage. I'd have to say that was probably the most intense of the opening acts without effects. The singer was all over the place. Halfway through a song, he, with video camera in hand, jumped down and ran into the audience. He stood on a table set up a bit further back for a bit, ran through the audience some more, then jumped back on stage. I knew almost every song he sang and ended up screaming along with him. At this point (actually halfway through Trapt), I was already up and jumping, screaming along to whatever song he was singing. I was actually surprised how much I got into it.
Another scenery change and sound check, and out comes Buckcherry. They were the first band with (what I consider) effects...only lights though. I hadn't heard of these guys aside from one song on the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack. I thought they were great. Mom didn't like them so much. According to her, the lead singer looked too much like creepy actor Crispin Glover and was imitating Mick Jagger and looking stupid in general. I noticed that a lot of the other band members reminded me of other people. The drummer looked like Antoine from the first Deuce Bigalow movie. The bassist looked kinda like Jerry Seinfeld dressed like Johnny Cash. The guitarist closest to me (I have no idea what any of their names are) was hot as hell. To make things better, by the second song, the guitarist and singer got rid of their shirts. I apparently also have a thing for guys with tattoos. The guitarist was who I spent most of their set staring at, though I did look back to ogle the drummer and singer for a bit.
Then there was a really long scene change/sound check. You couldn't see the stage at all since they dropped down a black screen. After a while of playing random rock songs over the speaker system (sang along with Hell's Bells by AC/DC), they brought out the guys that won the Rock Band contest. They sang Interstate Love Song and were pretty damn good. Then the entire theater went dark. And you know what that meant...
The screen dropped and out came the Crue boys. They started with Kickstart My Heart. And everyone was going nuts....including me. Vince and Nikki were hot as hell and so was Tommy were I saw him. Mick was looking good too, and he played like a god. Mom said Mick didn't exactly look "real". Kinda like the one dude in House of Wax. That created a small amount of shock when he smiled. And even more shock when he sang back-up for a few songs...not that I could hear him at all. Not over Vince and the rest of the crowd.
However, with everyone gathered in to see the Crue, the temperature kicked up very quickly. And with the flames and explosions onstage, it was probably the closest to hell heat I've ever been. And heat mean loss of body fluid, and too much loss of body fluid leads to problems...
After Saints of Los Angeles, I couldn't distinguish between songs. I had to ask my mom (which required screaming into my mom's ear) what most of the songs were. She seemed rather shocked I didn't know. But after a little while longer, I had to lean back against my seat (which had been unused since Motley Crue started). Mom was getting worried and asked if I needed to go. By then, I'd resolved that the only way I was leaving was when I walked out at the end, or on a stretcher...or in a body bag. I got better, then worse, then better, etc. Now that I think of it, evaporating alcohol and the heat may have also played a part in that...I don't know
Despite all that, I made it through to the end without passing out. Shout At The Devil was a funny jab at our soon-to-be-ex-president (the screens showed old George W. whenever 'the devil' line was sung). The last song they played was Home Sweet Home. They brought out a piano for Tommy Lee. On the screens they alternated between old footage of Motley Crue and the stage. It was at that moment I learned something about me that I didn't reallt register before:
Video/Picture Montage + Power Ballad + Me = Crying...A lot
At the end, I had a killer headache and my ears were sensitive as hell. I was pretty nauseous too. Luckily for me I made it back to the room okay. Instead of taking a shower like I said I would (I was arguing with Mom over who would get it first), I went right to sleep. Unfortunately, Mom had given me both key cards to our room...and had expected me to still be awake. Man, I felt guilty when I woke up. But the next morning, I decided to leave my hair down again...And after another 4 hour drive, home sweet home.
So my first rock concert was definately an experience. And it gets better. According to Nikki Sixx, they may do this again next year. Don't you just love rockers?
After a 4-hour hell ride on the freeway completely across Missouri, we got a motel room, went to sleep....well, my mom went to sleep. I went to sleep around sunrise, woke up, showered and actually kept my hair down...for the first time in...what was it? Months? Years?
We got there a bit early and waited in line a bit. They had a Rock Band booth set up. Whatever 'band' they thought was the best would open for Motley Crue. But considering they wanted people who could already play on Expert and I could barely play Guitar hero on Medium, I decided to stay out of it. After getting a soda (Mom got 2 beers and a water), we went to find our seats. It kinda shocked me when we got to them. We were at the very corner before the pit. All we saw there was an amplifier. So I sat there for a bit, wondering if I would actually see anyone once they started playing. The God of Rock must have heard my prayers because a woman who worked there came by and asked if we wanted different seats. She took us to some seats that didn't sell and they were a LOT better. We were 4 rows behind the pit, but we were practically dead center. I was happy, excited, and nervous as hell.
The first band up was Trapt. I found out that until you see the people in the band, whether live or in pictures, you should never make any assumptions about them, especially when the most you've heard is a 45-second clip of one of their more popular songs. They were hot, especially the singer. I was staring at his thighs for a few songs. Of all the opening acts, Mom thought she never heard them, but she did. She apparently thought 'Headstrong' was sung by a different band.
Then Sixx A.M. took the stage after a short scenery change (background mural replaced, stage settings moved around, new drum set, sound check, etc.). It marked the first appearance of a Motley Crue member to the stage that night (Nikki Sixx, naturally). They played great...and inspired some slash in my sick little mind, thanks to Nikki, the singer, and my sight angle. Now I need to get The Heroin Diaries CD, since they played a lot of songs from that.
After that, another scenery change and sound check, then Papa Roach hit the stage. I'd have to say that was probably the most intense of the opening acts without effects. The singer was all over the place. Halfway through a song, he, with video camera in hand, jumped down and ran into the audience. He stood on a table set up a bit further back for a bit, ran through the audience some more, then jumped back on stage. I knew almost every song he sang and ended up screaming along with him. At this point (actually halfway through Trapt), I was already up and jumping, screaming along to whatever song he was singing. I was actually surprised how much I got into it.
Another scenery change and sound check, and out comes Buckcherry. They were the first band with (what I consider) effects...only lights though. I hadn't heard of these guys aside from one song on the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack. I thought they were great. Mom didn't like them so much. According to her, the lead singer looked too much like creepy actor Crispin Glover and was imitating Mick Jagger and looking stupid in general. I noticed that a lot of the other band members reminded me of other people. The drummer looked like Antoine from the first Deuce Bigalow movie. The bassist looked kinda like Jerry Seinfeld dressed like Johnny Cash. The guitarist closest to me (I have no idea what any of their names are) was hot as hell. To make things better, by the second song, the guitarist and singer got rid of their shirts. I apparently also have a thing for guys with tattoos. The guitarist was who I spent most of their set staring at, though I did look back to ogle the drummer and singer for a bit.
Then there was a really long scene change/sound check. You couldn't see the stage at all since they dropped down a black screen. After a while of playing random rock songs over the speaker system (sang along with Hell's Bells by AC/DC), they brought out the guys that won the Rock Band contest. They sang Interstate Love Song and were pretty damn good. Then the entire theater went dark. And you know what that meant...
The screen dropped and out came the Crue boys. They started with Kickstart My Heart. And everyone was going nuts....including me. Vince and Nikki were hot as hell and so was Tommy were I saw him. Mick was looking good too, and he played like a god. Mom said Mick didn't exactly look "real". Kinda like the one dude in House of Wax. That created a small amount of shock when he smiled. And even more shock when he sang back-up for a few songs...not that I could hear him at all. Not over Vince and the rest of the crowd.
However, with everyone gathered in to see the Crue, the temperature kicked up very quickly. And with the flames and explosions onstage, it was probably the closest to hell heat I've ever been. And heat mean loss of body fluid, and too much loss of body fluid leads to problems...
After Saints of Los Angeles, I couldn't distinguish between songs. I had to ask my mom (which required screaming into my mom's ear) what most of the songs were. She seemed rather shocked I didn't know. But after a little while longer, I had to lean back against my seat (which had been unused since Motley Crue started). Mom was getting worried and asked if I needed to go. By then, I'd resolved that the only way I was leaving was when I walked out at the end, or on a stretcher...or in a body bag. I got better, then worse, then better, etc. Now that I think of it, evaporating alcohol and the heat may have also played a part in that...I don't know
Despite all that, I made it through to the end without passing out. Shout At The Devil was a funny jab at our soon-to-be-ex-president (the screens showed old George W. whenever 'the devil' line was sung). The last song they played was Home Sweet Home. They brought out a piano for Tommy Lee. On the screens they alternated between old footage of Motley Crue and the stage. It was at that moment I learned something about me that I didn't reallt register before:
Video/Picture Montage + Power Ballad + Me = Crying...A lot
At the end, I had a killer headache and my ears were sensitive as hell. I was pretty nauseous too. Luckily for me I made it back to the room okay. Instead of taking a shower like I said I would (I was arguing with Mom over who would get it first), I went right to sleep. Unfortunately, Mom had given me both key cards to our room...and had expected me to still be awake. Man, I felt guilty when I woke up. But the next morning, I decided to leave my hair down again...And after another 4 hour drive, home sweet home.
So my first rock concert was definately an experience. And it gets better. According to Nikki Sixx, they may do this again next year. Don't you just love rockers?