This will very well be tl;dr for like, 99% of you
Had to work Fri morning, boo hiss. Finally got near to finishing, texted Liat (keeplistening)and she came for me around 1:30. Stopped off at The Rainforest Cafe at the Katy Mills Mall where we had the most incredible queso. Nummy!
Hit the road again, I changed out of my work clothes in her backseat (and realized I'd forgotten to bring shoes *facepalm*). We made excellent time, did not get lost and got to the venue by about 6:30 or so.
Phantom Planet wasn't set to go until 9:30 so Liat and I started to wander around downtown Austin. Texting back and forth with Rachel (txtequilanights) helped us decide that we should go get badges from the Pure Volume Ranch since they stop giving them out at 7. We walked for fucking ever, finally found the place, showed the guy our IDs and got the badges (that I just now realized we never even had to use.)
Walked back over to La Zona Rosa where we joined the not very long line. Doors opened around 8, we paid our $20, found a spot on the riser in the back and sat down to wait. Got bored, walked over to the merch booth which was pretty lame. That show was sponsored by Hot Topic so there were only tees available at that store for sale. Walked back to our spot on the riser, watched the first few songs of this band called Allison. Liat and I were both sure the lead singer was a woman until he started singing. Oops? They're from Mexico City and all their songs were in Spanish. We weren't really feeling it so we went outside and listened to kids murdering songs on Rock Band until the cloud of cigarette smoke got so dense, it drove us back inside.
Phantom Planet was setting up by then and we were amused to see that they were all wearing their own merch. Precious, yes? And, okay, I didn't really know much about them, just listened to their CD a few times before my laptop died but I've found that I almost prefer it this way, "discovering" bands through their live shows. Cause I love seeing live music and I don't want to invest my time and energy into a band that can't entertain me. Or something. I dunno, but I like it this way. Anyway, their set was AWESOME. There's lots of interaction with the crowd and with each other, including lots of guitar sex between Alex and Darren, eep! I am a fan of guitar sex (where they stand really close and play at each other). Good times.
Afterwards, we walked over to Spaghetti Warehouse for dinner and couldn't help talking about how Sisky took his mom for dinner there when they played La Zona Rosa on the Sleeping With Giants tour. Hee!
Still had lots of time before Paramore so we went to Liat's car and watched videos on her laptop. I'd like to thank the city of Austin for having the free wireless that let me catch up on some of the stuff I've been missing. Spencer Smith, I fucking love you. Please to be always draping yourself across furniture, mkaythx.
Went back inside. The venue was freaking PACKED so we ended up right by the mixing boards or whatever which ended up giving us a perfect side view of Josh's ass (that I still want to marry, tyvm). I can't get over how cute they all are. FANTASTIC show.
So I text ... someone to find out where they are. They're at The Hushies show and the band was still soundchecking, so Liat and I rushed over, hoping we would make it in time. Well, we did but the bouncer wasn't letting anyone else in. :(
Randomly met up with Lindsey (inmyriadbits) while we were in line, though so score! Also, Liat pointed out this person and goes, "There's Singer," and I was like, "That's a girl!" Except it totally was him. Oops?
PP was dejaying at that place so we saw them again, still wearing their own stuff. :)
We went and sat on the curb across the street and waited for the girls to come out. The Hushies didn't play for very long so we soon had a Rachel, a Jenny (thousandjulys), a Clare (clare_san) and a Sunny (sunn_doyouknow)! I ♥ THE TEXAS CREW!!!
It was about 3:30 by then and I'd gotten up at five that morning so everything until we all piled into Jenny's little car is a bit of a blur. She drove Liat and I to Liat's car and then we followed as she dropped Sunny and Clare off at Clare's car and then Rachel off at Andrea's. Jenny was awesome and let us crash with her so we followed her to her house. Had to walk up the really steep hill to get to her apartment. Let me tell you how much fun that wasn't. I remember looking at her collection of movies and a bit later, Liat logged onto the internet but it wasn't working so she had to reboot her computer. Before it even reloaded, I was out.
So we got up on Saturday morning afternoon around 12:30. Watched a few more videos - Johnson thinks TX girls are hot and Cash wants to see us nekkid, right on - before getting dressed and heading out to pick up Rachel. The plan was to go to American Apparel but by the time we got to Rachel (who was still in her PJs and all adorable and what-not), it was already after two and The Rocket Summer was set to start at four. So Liat and I bugged out, went downtown, found parking and walked to the venue. We went to a deli for lunch then met up with Lindsey at an awesome spot to the left of the stage. Left to find earplugs (Best. Invention. Ever! Thanks so much for reminding me, Mel!) and was able to get the same spot when we went back. Sat through the rather weirdly entertaining band I mentioned yesterday. Jenny and Rachel and then Sunny and Clare made their way over to us and then, THE ROCKET SUMMER!!
OH MY GOD, BRYCE AVERY HAS THE MOST INFECTIOUS SMILE I HAVE EVER SEEN. JUST HEARING HIS VOICE MAKES ME STUPIDLY HAPPY.
So, okay. We were on the side of the stage, near a fence. The fence had a ledge at the bottom of it that we'd been sitting on before the show and Liat, Lindsey and I stood on it during their set so we were above the crowd and the band could totally see us and BRYCE THREW A COUPLE OF SMILES OUR WAY!! (Okay, okay, yes he could have been smiling at the little bit who was standing on a barrel in front of us. She was ssoooo cute, waving her hands in the air and singing along but w/e, he was totes looking at us!)
UGH, I LOVE THIS BAND SO MUCH. HE DID MY FAVORITE SONG, BRAT PACK, AND I NEARLY FELL OFF THE LEDGE, I WAS FLAILING SO MUCH. ♥_♥
Seeing this show was especially awesome as the AP Tour, featuring TRS (and All Time Low) had played Houston the night before. And it was free! SCORE.
After the show, we looked at TRS merch, just to torture ourselves as Liat and I both swore we wouldn't buy any merch this weekend - and we didn't, go us! Now I really wish I'd gotten this one shirt but maybe I can find it online once I have a computer again.
Okay, so we made our way, literally, across the street to Spiro's, where The Cab, The Hush Sound and Phantom Planet were playing that night. It was only 5:30 or 6 and The Cab wasn't set to come on til 9. Rachel, Sunny, and Jenny went inside while Liat, Lindsey, Clare and I all went back to that deli for peeing and food.
Since we were so incredibly early, we got into the show for free. SCORE. Got inside, hung with the girls for a bit but we were in a back room where you couldn't see the stage so Liat and I decided to go sit at the bar and watch whichever random band that was gonna play next. Start talking to the bartender and asking about what bands are playing and find out that Spiro's actually has three different show rooms. The bartender had no idea which bands were playing where so she directed us outside to ask the door man. We don't find a door man but we do find Lindsey and Clare and also, Other Rachel stephanometra and her two friends. And also, Alex Johnson and Bob chilling with some people near a black van. Ask a couple of guys in a different part of Spiro's about the bands but they were just as clueless as the bartender. We go back outside, pass Johnson and Bob again. We're very confused at this point so I walk over to Johnson and ask them where they're playing tonight. They actually knew, yay that, so I go over to the other place to get the rest of our group. Johnson and Bob have moved inside by this point. Some people sit and talk with them while others head over to the bar for drinks. We all got Smirnoff Ices but with grenadine or blue curacoa added. I cannot even tell how much better Smirnoff tastes when there's actual flavor to it. Plus they were less than five bucks!
We make our way to the back room where the show is going to be. And then we wait. And wait. And wait. Talked to The Cab boys. Ian totally remembered me from TRRRGLT and gave me a hug (Eeee!). IMed with Lex, talked with Cash, hung out with a random cute little drunk gay boy, talked with Ian some more. Took a picture with Liat and Greta (SO TINY AND CUTE) at one point. Took a picture of Liat with 3/4 of Phantom Planet. Drank some more. Took stalkerrazi pictures of Singer and Cash and Phantom Planet. Made friends with random people. Probably talked with Cash and Ian some more. We had a very long time to wait.
Finally the first band starts playing and wow, were they screamo. Like, scremaing the entire song. Made Cash laugh when I flinched when they first started playing. Or maybe that was later? I dunno, at some point, there was screaming and me reacting and Cash laughing.
We couldn't handle the noise so Liat, Lindsey and I waited inside.
The screaming finally ended and the boys became all business as they started to set up for their show. We made our way to the stage and got right in front. Lindsey was up against the stage, I was right behind her and Liat was behind me. Fucking INCREDIBLE.
Haha, I caught myself, as they were setting up, totally staring at Singer's crotch! It was completely unintentional but it was RIGHT THERE in my eyeline and he was just standing there at the mic and I totally didn't realize I was doing it for like, ten seconds! Ack, I really hope he didn't see that.
I LOVE THE CAB SO MUCH, OMG. SINGER SANG TO ME AND HELD MY HAND. IAN DID HIS GUITAR SOLO RIGHT IN FRONT OF LINDSEY. I COULD ACTUALLY SEE JOHNSON!!! CASH, PLEASE NEVER STOP MAKING THOSE FACES WHEN YOU PLAY. MAARRRSSHHAALLLLL.
THEY ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS EVER, THE END.
And next was The Hush Sound!! All I can say is AMAAAAZING. THEY ARE SO MUCH FUN LIVE AND THEY INTERACT WITH THE CROWD SO MUCH. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THEM AGAIN ON HCT!!! I got some random guy to grab Greta's set list for me so yay that!
And right after that was Phantom Planet! Lindsey switched places with me so I was right on the stage and Liat was right beside me. I was close enough to see the beads of sweat on Alex's face. Their set from the other night was awesome but it's even better when you're that freaking close! Seriously. I am getting to the HCT shows at like, six in the morning. I want this for Panic SO FREAKING BAD.
After PP, we left. Sat on a street corner for a second while we figured out what we were going to do. Liat wanted eggs and suggested IHOP but Lindsey told us about Kerbey Lane. Rachel and I went there the last time we were in Austin and it was delicious so we headed there. Ended up sitting separately cause it would have been a ridiculous wait for a party of seven (which was such a lie, ugh.) Ate, said our goodbyes, dropped Lindsey off at home. We stopped for gas and to pee and then Liat and I rocked out to FBR bands as she drove us home.
She dropped me off at about a quarter til five. I got up at 7:00 7:157:30 and went to work where I was a walking ray of sunshine, let me tell you. NOT. Finished around 11:30, came home, changed my sheets, faceplanted and then stared at the ceiling for about an hour and a half before I finally fell asleep.
So, yeah. That was my weekend. Can we do it again next week?
Also, recaps take a very long time to type when you're doing it with your thumbs.