(no subject)
Panic at the Disco August 20th 2008, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
there is a lot of text, pictures and obsessing.
<>
Before the show
I arrived at the Brisbane entertainment centre at about 10.20 after getting lost and heading back to Brisbane city. I was loaded with cupcakes, sandwiches, lollies and a lot of enthusiasm. I park in section 2H (staff parking) near the back gate where the bands arrive and leave. By the time I finally reached the ‘line’ (it was just a jumble of people everywhere) I knew no one and was anxious in regards to how things would turn out. I then met Chynna, jack, dee and many others who helped kill time until chloe arrived. Chloe and Rachael wore pirate hates and danced in the sun whilst many people starred. This is when the fun really began and the excitement stepped up a notch. Brandii and Chloe (from northern Queensland) came over to comment on the pirate hats and we instantly became friends. Together we played twister near the back gate where we saw the bands arrived which left everyone speechless and laughing. Twister included a lot of crackage (which I am surprised brendon didn’t show up) and feet!! I then went to finally meet Naja in person followed by Arni. In the following hours there was a lot of laughing, freaking out and talking (to a security guard). Naja and Rachael was almost late for the meet and greet but found it in the end with a lot of time waiting in the foyer.
Meet and Greet
Seeing Zack walk through the doors for the first time was pretty amazing. This is when it started to sink in that I was going to meet Spencer, Jon, Ryan and Brendon from Panic at the Disco. Zack talked to casey about wanting America to lose the basketball where I butted in calling him unpatriotic. Rachael “do you have any allegiances to Australia then since you are in the country right now and want America to lose” zack “none at all, I just want America to lose the basketball” Rachael “as long as its not china winning im happy, I am not raciest, I am just currently anti Chinese. So do you have any spare time here in Australia or have plans to visit the beach” Zack “what did you call me? Did you just call me a bitch” this was followed but a lot of laughing and me being very red faced. Then there was talk about Brendon urine.
Zack ordered everyone to get in a single file line where he marked everyone’s name of the list, I had all 30 of my glow sticks confuscated. Rachael talking to Naja “I need to pee” Zack “ohh, you need to pee do you. Would you like me to announce that to everyone or would you like me to hold the line for you”. Oh my zack you embarrassed me so much. After waiting more the group was taken into the meet and greet room. Everyone spread themselves out against the room and endured the ‘zack creepy speech’.
“lay whatever you want signed flat. If you want your shirt signed take it off. If you want your pants signed, take them off. Whatever you get signed must be layed down flat on the table. That doesn’t include you lying down flat on the table….. I have to power to kick you out of this meet and greet and this concert. I will take your photo on my ipod and you will be forever band from seeing panic at the disco or any of the opening bands, including the first band which I don’t even know the name of” Okay. Enough of zack. For now.
The doors finally opened and panic at the disco walked through, Ryan first, followed by Jon, Spencer and Brendon. My first impression was, oh my jon they are tiny, this didn’t waver throughout the night. They waved and said hi to everyone before taking their seats. The line started to move as everyone got things signed. Rachael and Naja stood in line freaking out about what to say and how to keep our composure. It was finally our turn. Naja and I walked up to Ryan and gave him the present of Australian foods, soft animals and glowsitcks. We said how it’s the thought that counts etc Ry took the gift and thanked us with a huge smile. He had a quick look in the bag and asked which soft toy was his - the kookaburra. I then backed off whilst naja got her poster signed as ry looked at the poster and flicked through to find his face. I then went up to Ryan and got a fender strat pick guard signed, he looked at the pickguard with a smile and signed it. I then told him how he is such an inspiration to me and I love his guitar playing. I received another big smile and a thankyou. I then made my way to jon where he signed and we started talking about the tour and Australia and how they don’t have as much time here as they had hoped. Naja at this point was at brendon and I thought I had better hurry up. So I thanked jon and was greeted by a very smiley happy spencer. Spencer was super sweet and the convocation I had with Jon followed on. I thanked spencer and wished him a good time here in Australia. He wished me a good time at the concert and thanked me too. There is definitely a trend happening, there were a lot of thankyous exchanged that night. So brendon time. I greeted him with a hi, hows it going? Brendon “awesome thanks, how are you” Rachael “I am fantastic thanks” I then had him the pickguard to sign where he has the cutest reaction and smile. “oh my god, that’s awesome”. I then tell him how I play guitar and its my main interest so it thought it was only fitting to get a pick guard signed. He agreed and smiled like mad. Zack then butts in and asks what type of guitar it’s from (he tried to embarrass me in front of brendon lol) I tell him confidently its from a fender start and I was too lazy to remove it from mine and that I ended up buying it new. Brendon looked impressed and zack went on asking if I was sure. I was positive. I say bye and thanks to bredon and stay talking to zack about how he is funny and has an awesome sense of humour. I then walked over to Naja where we freak out about meeting them and how awesome all 4 boys are.
The line slowly moved around and photos were taken. Naja and I were thinking once again things to say and what we forgot to say. We forgot to tell brendon about the ghost buster sweater and pay jon out for his ‘flip-flops’. It was our turn for a photo with panic at the disco. We threw our bags on the ground and I gave zack my camera to take the photo. I then stand on spencers foot and fall into Ryan as I apologise profusely. Spencer laughs and tells me its okay and not to worry. Ryan put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side whilst I put my arm around his very skinny waist. Spencer then put his arm around my back as we smiled for the photo. 1, 2, 3 watermelon smiles. We giggled and I felt like a super dork. I take my camera from zack whilst we thank everyone and Naja tells brendon about our efforts in getting the ghost buster sweater, he replies it’s the thought that counts and smiles broadly. I tell Jon how I like his thongs, and he looks at me weirdly. I then rephrase my sentence and tell him I like his man-flops/flip-flops/thongs. Whatever he calls them. He laughs with me and tells me about them proudly being from America etc. we thanked them again and walked off to freak out. The last photos were taken as there was a ring of happiness in the air. Brendon chest bumps and play fought with a security/rodie dude as they turn around to say goodbye. It wasn’t a goodbye, it was more of a see you soon as we would see them play in concert some 2 hours later.
We get lead out onto the floor as everyone races towards the barrier. I think zack and wish him a good night as I scope out where to stand. I ended up behind Arni and Sam, Arni and sam where some of the coolest people I met that day. Repeat offender comes out and plays their set. They were pretty enjoyable but I had my heart set on one thing, Panic at the Disco. The mosh started to push a bit and things became squishy. The change between bands was incredibly fast as people kept pouring into the venue.
Cobra Starship
The cobras entered the stage with a lot of energy to tons of screaming people. Their set was incredibly enjoyable featuring songs such as guilty pleasure in which most people at the front that I could see was taking part in the dance. Gabe looked pretty impressed. Gabe waved around Chynnas Australian cobra flag and took part in much thrusting. That dude knows how to perform. They also played snakes on a plane which to everyone’s enjoyment William joined in. I don’t mean to say it. But that was hot.
The Acadamy is..
With the help of two amazing people, Sam and Arni I got onto the barrier and could see properly. Tai was so much fun and everyone really got into things. The mosh was pretty crazy for cobra and tai as there were people being pulled out. William was adorable as he jumped around with a lot of energy hyping up the crowed. During about a girl he stood in front of me and the group I was with and I failed. I knew the chorus but the verse? Sorry I am bad with lyrics sometimes. He looked at me, gave me a pretty sweet smile and he help his hand to his ear to encourage me to sing. Arni and Rachael made hearts with our hands to the band but we are not sure if they saw.
Panic at the Disco
Oh my god. This was when I started to lose it. After so many years of waiting I was there in the barrier in front of where Ryan was going to play. I was super happy. Zack helped prepare the stage as he measured the heights of the microphone stands against himself. That was so cute. Arni and I grabbed his attention by asking about Shane. We were both really sad he didn’t come to Australia, because Shane is awesome. I then asked zack to strike a pose with a glowstick he was holding and he did. He then threw the glowstick to us and arni caught it then gave it to me <3 Zack then went to get drinks for all the boys from his blue esky. He got out 2 coronas and poured a glass of wine. Arni asked if there was lemon or lime in the corona and he never replied. Turns out the glass of wine was for Ryan. Zack then pulled out a bottle of Gatorade and pointed to himself as he saw us watching. Arni and Rachael then started singing we’re so starving until we were interrupted by The Beatles. The lights went out and there was movement on the stage. Panic at the Disco opened with we’re so starving, followed by nine in the afternoon. They played absolutely amazingly. The eye contact with Ryan through out the show was enough to make me melt. At one point I looked over at berndon and we made complete eye contact for a some time, while he rocked out on guitar. We were doing that crazy big bright smile at each other until I waved and he attempted to wave back whilst playing guitar. He failed at waving and looked retarded, He knew it and I knew it so be both laughed. At one point between songs ryan wanted more wine from zack and did the most adorable face whilst jon walked past bredon and taped him on the bum. Bredon looked incredibly violated it was awesome. Behind the sea was perfect, ryan sang well and he was right in front of me I could have cried. Northern downpour was incredible. To be standing there with my northern downpour buddies listening to the song, it was very moving. Ryan made a funny speech about jazz hands before tables, so I clicked my figures enthusiastically for the verse and rocked out with jazz hands for the chorus. I am pretty sure Arni, sam and myself had the best jazz hands in the house.
Some very funny quotes from the concert went something like this:
Brendon “aussies aussie aussie, “oi, oi, oi”
Brendon “I always thought of myself as a mathlete, not an athlete. I was wrong”
Jon “everywhere you go in Australia is surrounded by water” Ryan “expect for the huge arse desert in the middle” Brendon “I once watched a documentary of man vs. wild in the Kimberly’s. but ima shut up now”
Ryan “your big, I’m small. Your smart, I’m dumb”
Pictures:
>
Overall, the night was perfect. I met some of the most amazing people including the silly boys from panic at the disco and I rocked out to some fantastic music with my friends <3