Farewell
I know I was bitter before, after my grandma died and Rockit Girl sent out a mass email regarding their retirement. I'm no longer bitter after the enormous love fest. I really haven't been bitter for a while, but I wasn't sure how tonite would play out. When I first got there I wanted to shy away from everyone, just dance during the music and then leave. But that scenario ended after ten minutes when Rockit Gina walked past me and asked me about my hair :-) Next I got ready to throw myself at the mercy of the gods, otherwise known as the Venom Lords when Emily saddled over to me. We didn't talk much, but caught up a bit and talked about our infamous tour. She thanked me for coming, having not been around in awhile she was hoping I would make it. Little comments like that mean a lot to me, and I always hope that the poeple out there, like Emily, know how much I care for them too. No need to comment on VL, I think my opinions are obvious, but they threw me with three new songs. I got to dance along with Jenn and Bree during RG, it was such a great show. I'm glad I didn't try to be a wallflower.
The following is a review of the RG set for the message board, you can skip it:
I really had forgottem what Rockit Girl music does to me, how it makes me jump and scream. It had been a very long time, and to be honest I don't listen to the songs these days. Though that didn't stop me from remembering every word. Hearing the songs was different tis time, as every song also came full of memories. With Chad behind drums for the entire set, RG went through a chronological run of the band history featuring an ensamble of very important Rockit Girls and Boys. "Got a Gun" was first, invoking the simple memory of the only other time I had heard that song live. The second song was "Love All Wrong," which will always be my favourite RG song, the first one I ever heard and the song that made me fall in love in a dirty bowling alley one October nite. It took two songs for me to realize that this really was the last time I was hearing Gina sing "tired" in the way that only she can. And I can give examples of Gina-isms for almost every song that I was witness of for the last time, but I won't. Kathryn played for the first six tracks, including every lift-off track except "Clone." Special treat for me since my first show was the third for Kimberly and (J)enn, meaning that I never saw Kathryn play. Most amazing part was having her there performing the backing vocals that I've heard her sing so many times but never seen. Former Emil Muzz and Rockit Boy Chris joined on guitar for "Jokes On You," and "That Girl" to round out the set. The next act featured Kimberly and Jenn who were huge in my rockit development, not just because I had crushes on them both. Kimberly is so sultry when she is up there with her guitar just swaying along, while Jenn is the most inspiring "I'm exactly where I want to be and I couldn't be having more fun" star. They performed "Big Fake Out," "Liquor is Perfect," and "Go On And Go." The crowd loves "Liqour" just as much as Gina does, although her pregnancy caused her to miss out on a favorite ritual. I love the song too, it used to always get stuck in my head and piss me off, and I'll always remember helping the girls do the clapping in the studio. The third act featured the members I've spent the most time with, John and Emily. I found it amusing that they switch places with Kimberly and Jenn, in that John on guitar is going crazy, breaking his neck while Emily on bass has her casual stance and the slight grin she shows off while playing. They ran through "Get Back," "Wear You Down," "Bright Lights, Big City," "Hey, Hey," "The Song You Sang To Me," and the "Mother, Mother" cover from their air time on Q101 Chicago. Everyone had their hands up for "Hey,Hey" which was incredible to see. The whole show was incredible, being surrounded by so many other loving fans rocking out, and all the friends I've made from former and current bandmates. Kathryn, Kimberly, and Jenn went back on stage for the final act. The show closed with the rush of "Gonna Roll." An eclamation point to prove that even though there won't be shows, the music has and will continue to do damage. And that is the end of my 37th Rockit Girl show, and the last that will ever be.
Through all that I actually didn't talk about Rockit Girl. The show kicked off with a video/photo montage that Gina created highlighting all the periods and members of Rockit Girl, I recognized a few of the shots. But the rock is the story, right, not Gina's artistic computer skills. Gina was glowing, and not from her baby, she was just on fire. Saved everything she had for this last show, put it all out there, her hair down and up in the air at the same time. Everything was a bulls eye tonite. She was posing with the guitar, running her hands through her hair, saving up for the final jump as a song ends, thrashing her head with the music, doing all those gina-isms that I've been watching for years and will sorely miss.
Songs will remind me of a lot of times, as they do with everyone, and obviously Gina's songs will remind me of her. "Hey, Hey" reminds me of the time she wrote out the lyrics for me just because I couldn't possibly go to a show and not be able to sing along. "Bright Lights," is one of my favourite memories, listening to Gina figure out the song on the rooftop of her old apartment. Not everything was peaches and cream, never-the-less she knows how one of a kind she is and she knows all that she has done to impact my life. Thanks again for one more opportunity to see you take control of a crowd.
The following is a review of the RG set for the message board, you can skip it:
I really had forgottem what Rockit Girl music does to me, how it makes me jump and scream. It had been a very long time, and to be honest I don't listen to the songs these days. Though that didn't stop me from remembering every word. Hearing the songs was different tis time, as every song also came full of memories. With Chad behind drums for the entire set, RG went through a chronological run of the band history featuring an ensamble of very important Rockit Girls and Boys. "Got a Gun" was first, invoking the simple memory of the only other time I had heard that song live. The second song was "Love All Wrong," which will always be my favourite RG song, the first one I ever heard and the song that made me fall in love in a dirty bowling alley one October nite. It took two songs for me to realize that this really was the last time I was hearing Gina sing "tired" in the way that only she can. And I can give examples of Gina-isms for almost every song that I was witness of for the last time, but I won't. Kathryn played for the first six tracks, including every lift-off track except "Clone." Special treat for me since my first show was the third for Kimberly and (J)enn, meaning that I never saw Kathryn play. Most amazing part was having her there performing the backing vocals that I've heard her sing so many times but never seen. Former Emil Muzz and Rockit Boy Chris joined on guitar for "Jokes On You," and "That Girl" to round out the set. The next act featured Kimberly and Jenn who were huge in my rockit development, not just because I had crushes on them both. Kimberly is so sultry when she is up there with her guitar just swaying along, while Jenn is the most inspiring "I'm exactly where I want to be and I couldn't be having more fun" star. They performed "Big Fake Out," "Liquor is Perfect," and "Go On And Go." The crowd loves "Liqour" just as much as Gina does, although her pregnancy caused her to miss out on a favorite ritual. I love the song too, it used to always get stuck in my head and piss me off, and I'll always remember helping the girls do the clapping in the studio. The third act featured the members I've spent the most time with, John and Emily. I found it amusing that they switch places with Kimberly and Jenn, in that John on guitar is going crazy, breaking his neck while Emily on bass has her casual stance and the slight grin she shows off while playing. They ran through "Get Back," "Wear You Down," "Bright Lights, Big City," "Hey, Hey," "The Song You Sang To Me," and the "Mother, Mother" cover from their air time on Q101 Chicago. Everyone had their hands up for "Hey,Hey" which was incredible to see. The whole show was incredible, being surrounded by so many other loving fans rocking out, and all the friends I've made from former and current bandmates. Kathryn, Kimberly, and Jenn went back on stage for the final act. The show closed with the rush of "Gonna Roll." An eclamation point to prove that even though there won't be shows, the music has and will continue to do damage. And that is the end of my 37th Rockit Girl show, and the last that will ever be.
Through all that I actually didn't talk about Rockit Girl. The show kicked off with a video/photo montage that Gina created highlighting all the periods and members of Rockit Girl, I recognized a few of the shots. But the rock is the story, right, not Gina's artistic computer skills. Gina was glowing, and not from her baby, she was just on fire. Saved everything she had for this last show, put it all out there, her hair down and up in the air at the same time. Everything was a bulls eye tonite. She was posing with the guitar, running her hands through her hair, saving up for the final jump as a song ends, thrashing her head with the music, doing all those gina-isms that I've been watching for years and will sorely miss.
Songs will remind me of a lot of times, as they do with everyone, and obviously Gina's songs will remind me of her. "Hey, Hey" reminds me of the time she wrote out the lyrics for me just because I couldn't possibly go to a show and not be able to sing along. "Bright Lights," is one of my favourite memories, listening to Gina figure out the song on the rooftop of her old apartment. Not everything was peaches and cream, never-the-less she knows how one of a kind she is and she knows all that she has done to impact my life. Thanks again for one more opportunity to see you take control of a crowd.