this may sound a bit corny, and I may be a bit drunk, but...
ok well I'm not drunk, not a bit. (havent been in a REALLY long time and I'm tellin you, when I see Morgan again we're gonna bust some Arbor Mist wine like there's no tomorrow, but I digress. The title of this entry is a quote from Raine Maida. after my 2nd viewing of the Our Lady PEace live dvd I feel like I must sit down and chronicle all of my OLP experiences. This is mostly for my own rememberance, but please feel free to read about it, they were some fun times. I've seen the band in concert 10 times and each one was brilliant and unique in some way. Renee' was with me for all but the 10th time (which just wasnt as good) so, without further ado..
First show August 11, 2000- Barrie, ONT Canada. It was part of the Summersault tour, which OLP put together. I'll be honest, we went mainly to see the Smashing Pumpkins. I had heard that Our Lady Peace had organized the event, and I was somewhat familiar with their music, thanks to a recommendation from a friend of mine, so I was excited about getting to see them too. Like I said, we went to see the Pumpkins, but WOW, OLP was so amazing that they stole the night. this was an allday event, we saw some other bands too, but nothing compared.. they played 2nd to last on the main stage, and from the opening, I was just blown away. There were probably 15-20 thousand people there, but it didn't matter. I just really have no words to describe the experience of seeing Our Lady PEace for the first time. Raine Maida is an incredible performer. he grabs you and doesn't let go, bascially. their set-up is very simple, usually a backdrop of some sort and some lights, nothing fancy, no pyro, etc. just 5 guys and their music. its brilliant. they debuted the songs "Life" and "Everyone's a Junkie" (from their 5th album, Spiritual Machines) at the Barrie show, so we were among the first people to ever hear them. The whole show was just absolutely amazing, and I was hooked from that moment on. I went out and purchased a decent copy of Clumsy (the 2nd album, I had one that was scratched), and found Naveed, their first album, which I quickly fell in love with. I asked for Happiness...is not a Fish that You Can Catch for my birthday so by the end of the month I had all of their music and I was fully immersed. SO began the saga... (and I finally convinced 'Nee that they were good, she refused to believe me before the show..LOL)
They released thier 4th album in December of 2000, and Renee' and I ordered it online from Canada so we got ours in December instead of March, which was the planned release in the states. We knew we couldn't wait that long for new music.
March 13, 2001- Show #2 Detroit Michigan This was during exam week for me, and spring break for Renee, but I only had 2 exams, so after I was done, we took the car and drove up to detroit (from Dayton ohio) for a show that night. It was our first OLP experience in a small venue and it was, of course totally great. THey played a 2 hr set, covering songs from all 4 albums, and it was quite the treat to hear some of the new stuff live. A very small place, so we were able to really experience the interesting phenomenon that is Raine Maida. I keep mentioning Raine, because.. well he's unique, simply put. There are 3 other members to Our Lady Peace, and I love them all, but I will confess that during shows, Raine tends to take most of my attention because he is very charismatic (though I Hate taht word, its appropriate here) This show was excellent, and though we were close, we were not front row. all that would change in a mere 48 hours. I think my favorite song from that show was "Middle of YEsterday", a song from SPiritual Machines and the opening song for the show.
After the show, Nee and I drove through Canada to Buffalo, where we spent the week with Quin and the kids. 2 days after the Detroit show, we drove down to
Show #3- March 15,2001 Lycoming College, Pennsylvania- we got there incredibly early, and since it was a college campus, we kinda hung around, near where the bus was, hoping to catch a glimpse of the guys or at least maybe hear sound check or something. Raine got off the bus and we decided to talk to him. We had a very brief chat, that consisted of us telling him that we were at the show in Det and that we wanted them to play "Made to Heal" and that he was great.. then a security guard told us to leave so we did. It was actually okay, because I was quite afraid that had we stayed any longer I would have begun either drooling or babbling incoherently, either of which would have been incredibly embarassing. We went back to our bench to see what would happen next. Later we saw Mike Turner the (former) guitarist get off the bus and start walking across the street. On a stalker's impulse, we chose to follow him.. and ended up at Rite Aid. He walked all the way to the back to the perscription counter and was sitting in a chair waiting, so we made our move. we just walked up and introduced ourselves. And, Mike, being the coolest guy EVER, instead of freaking out on us, just sat there and chatted it up for about half an hour while he waited for his perscription. it was sweet. he just acted like we were normal people, not stalkers who followed him in there. LOL it was fun. very fun. then we all left, and eventually we got to go in to the gym where the show was. I think we within the first 20 ppl in there, and 'Nee and grabbed front row center, slightly to Mike's side. it was perfect. we had the rail in front of us, so we could almost breathe. and we were about 8 ft from the stage!! and there was a hot dude next to me who kinda looked like Raine. he was really nice too. ahhh.. right, so this show was KILLER. not as many ppl were as into the music as they had been in Detroit, but remember, the cd had just been releasd in the states, and Eve 6 was headlineing, so ppl were there to see them more than OLP. but not us. we rocked out and Raine looked directly at us a few times, and Mike even gave us a little wave. it was thrilling. I think Clumsy and Starseed were the best songs that night, but the whole show just kicked so much ass. The only sad thing was that Duncan Coutts, the bassist, wasn't there because he was sick. BUt other than that, it was wonderful.
After their set, we went outside to catch the guys again. We got pics with Raine and Mike and Renee' snagged a setlist, so we had Mike autograph it. It was one of the best nights of my life.
Show #4 April 16, 2001- Columbus,Ohio This show was sweet. it had been a month since the last time we saw them, so we were ready for some more. The venue is pretty small, but we got there kinda late, so no front row for us this time. But it did have a balcony, and we got up top on the left side of the stage, so it was pretty close anyway. the crowd was really great that night. So good, in fact, that during the encore, we convinced them to sing "Thief", which is right up there with my favorite songs, and they also gifted us with "Julia", a song they hadn't played at any of the shows on this tour thus far. it made for a very good night.
The next show wasn't for quite a while. Renee' went on a trip to Asia, and she was there when they played Cincinnati and Louisville. I wanted to go, but couldn't go without her. It just didn't seem right for some reason.
Show #5- August 26, 2001, Buffalo NY Yes, I saw Our Lady Peace (by this point most defintly my favorite band) ON MY BIRTHDAY! They played at Edgefest, a radio station festival, so it wasn't exactly the ideal venue, but it was still cool. It was my birthday, after all, and it was a cheap show, I think tix were $15 or so. The thing that sucked was the crowd. they were all a bunch of idiotic losers and they didn't care about Our Lady Peace, but they kept trying to crowdsurf and shit, when there really weren't enough people for it. I had so many mofos kick me in the head that I got realllly pissed off. I started punching them and stuff. Then, during "Naveed", which is probably my favorite song by them, especially LIVE, some girl gets hurt, so they STOP the song and Raine goes off on how everyone was being assholes. I was soooo pissed off. I mean, it was cool what he did, but I was pissed that these fuckers made them stop my favorite song. SO yeah, but it worked out cuz then Raine was pissed and they did One Man Army which rocked and then "Whatever", which we were hearing for the first time. it was pretty intense too. so aside from the losers all over the place, this was a good show. Not a bad way to spend a birthday, if I do say so myself.
It seemed like forever before our next show.. in fact, it was nearly a year.
Show #6 May 15, 2002, Dayton, Ohio. FINALLY the guys had finished recording on their new album, Gravity... and the first 2 shows of the tour were in DAYTON ohio, of all places! We didn't have to drive but 15 minutes to go to this show, quite the change from the far off places we had seem them previously. This show was up there with theothers. Mike had left the band in december, but they gained a new guy, Steve Mazur. we knew very little about Steve, and had liked Mike, so we weren't sure what to expect. Steve didn't disappoint. (neither did the rest of the band) This show was everything the others had been.. and more maybe. The new music was brilliant (we had somehow scored advance copies of the songs... don't ask me, I didnt do it) so were familiar with the new stuff, but hearing it live... ahh yes. it was bliss, pure and simple. Another small club, so again, though we weren't in the front, we could actuallyi breathe and we could still stare right in the eyes of the band members. I swear it felt like Raine was singing to ME during some songs, especially the ones where I was singing along. yum. "Somewhere Out There" and... "All For You" were my favs this night.
Show #7 May 16, 2002, Dayton, Ohio. Part 2 of the Dayton stop was not only another breathtaking show by Our Lady Peace, but also our introduction to the equally amazing band Blue Karma (another story for another day) this one was maybe a bit better than the nighe before, if only because they were more polished, a bit more comfortable back onstage again. whatever it was, it worked. some highlights were when Raine forgot the words to "One Man Army"- he struggled through the first verse and refrain, then into the 2nd verse he just gave up. it was hysterical! Duncan sang a song, that was cool. Steve rocked theplace. he was very different from Mike, he had his own style, but it was very cool. and you could sense his excitement so that was fun. they sang "Story About a Girl" which is tied for my favorite song, and also "Made of Steel" which is just great, so those were the highlights from that night. After the show, we hung around and actually got to chat with Raine, Steve, and Jeremy Taggart, the drummer. We never did find Duncan. We got pics with the guys, and autogaphs too. it was quite fun and a great night all around.
Show #8 July 9, 2002 Columbus, Ohio Just under 2 months later, the guys were back in action in our neck of the woods. For this show we managed to snag the balcony rail, in the center, so it was a perfect place to be. Raine has this habit of looking up and pointing when he sings.. and we were in the line of fire, so to speak. it was most excellent. the crowd was pretty into this show, oh and the opening band was the wondeful Greenwheel (again another story) so the night was a success in many ways. I think what I liked best about this show was how they played 4AM as the encore, as was customary, buit actually let us sing THE WHOLE song, which rarely happened. (in the states anyway) It was a testament to the crowd that night. I think the song "Innocent" was pretty striking that night as well.
Show #9 July 13, 2002, Cincinnati Ohio- we arrived extremely early for this show, in order to get front row again. it was time. we passed the day in idle chat and general amusement with the folks around us, and managed to put ourselves directly in front again. it was well worth the pain of being smashed against the rail. Greenwheel was extreme again, and OLP was just thrilling. They had a ton of energy that night, and the show was quite intense. THey performed "The Birdman", a song we hadn't heard live in quite some time, but which I completely love. Raine did some random weird things during "Life" (always beautiful) and "The Birdman" so that was fun too. And "RIght Behind YOu" (which is the 3rd part of my trilogy of favorite favorite songs) was almost more than I could handle. Raine stared straight at us for much of the song, and during my favorite part, stared directly into my eyes. It's a wonder I made it out of that place in one piece. that was the last time Nee and I went to a show together.. and perhaps my favorite all around.
and finally it brings me to
Show #10- November... 20somthing, 2002. Dayton, Ohio. I dont know the exact date, because I dont have a ticket stub. They played with Creed for this show. (I used to really Like Creed, but they were lame by this point) I only was at the show because I was working, so I got in for free. Our Lady Peac was brilliant as always, but they did a short set (they did play the Birdman which was cool, I wasn't expecting that) and the crowd wasn't into it at all. (what was wrong with these people, I ask?) Anyway, it was just not as great as the others for all those reasons, and because Renee wasn't there with me to enjoy it. But it was still my favorite band so that was something in itself.
so thats the story, in a nutshell, of my wild adventures of seeing my fav band in 10 times in 2 different countries, 4 different states, and 7 different cities. each show had its high points, each one was unique, but each one was amazing, incredible, awsome, and all around extremely great. :) wheeeeee!
so of course now tht I have the DVD I can watch them any time I feel like it without leaving my living room. But every time I watch, it makes me long to see them again. it's been over 2 years since the last show... and I'm going nuts here. word on the street is maybe they'll do some shows around CHristmas.. and you know when they do.. I'll be there. :)
thanks for reading. dude, I realized tonight that I don't have an OLP icon.. what is wrong with me???? ... *runs off to make one**
First show August 11, 2000- Barrie, ONT Canada. It was part of the Summersault tour, which OLP put together. I'll be honest, we went mainly to see the Smashing Pumpkins. I had heard that Our Lady Peace had organized the event, and I was somewhat familiar with their music, thanks to a recommendation from a friend of mine, so I was excited about getting to see them too. Like I said, we went to see the Pumpkins, but WOW, OLP was so amazing that they stole the night. this was an allday event, we saw some other bands too, but nothing compared.. they played 2nd to last on the main stage, and from the opening, I was just blown away. There were probably 15-20 thousand people there, but it didn't matter. I just really have no words to describe the experience of seeing Our Lady PEace for the first time. Raine Maida is an incredible performer. he grabs you and doesn't let go, bascially. their set-up is very simple, usually a backdrop of some sort and some lights, nothing fancy, no pyro, etc. just 5 guys and their music. its brilliant. they debuted the songs "Life" and "Everyone's a Junkie" (from their 5th album, Spiritual Machines) at the Barrie show, so we were among the first people to ever hear them. The whole show was just absolutely amazing, and I was hooked from that moment on. I went out and purchased a decent copy of Clumsy (the 2nd album, I had one that was scratched), and found Naveed, their first album, which I quickly fell in love with. I asked for Happiness...is not a Fish that You Can Catch for my birthday so by the end of the month I had all of their music and I was fully immersed. SO began the saga... (and I finally convinced 'Nee that they were good, she refused to believe me before the show..LOL)
They released thier 4th album in December of 2000, and Renee' and I ordered it online from Canada so we got ours in December instead of March, which was the planned release in the states. We knew we couldn't wait that long for new music.
March 13, 2001- Show #2 Detroit Michigan This was during exam week for me, and spring break for Renee, but I only had 2 exams, so after I was done, we took the car and drove up to detroit (from Dayton ohio) for a show that night. It was our first OLP experience in a small venue and it was, of course totally great. THey played a 2 hr set, covering songs from all 4 albums, and it was quite the treat to hear some of the new stuff live. A very small place, so we were able to really experience the interesting phenomenon that is Raine Maida. I keep mentioning Raine, because.. well he's unique, simply put. There are 3 other members to Our Lady Peace, and I love them all, but I will confess that during shows, Raine tends to take most of my attention because he is very charismatic (though I Hate taht word, its appropriate here) This show was excellent, and though we were close, we were not front row. all that would change in a mere 48 hours. I think my favorite song from that show was "Middle of YEsterday", a song from SPiritual Machines and the opening song for the show.
After the show, Nee and I drove through Canada to Buffalo, where we spent the week with Quin and the kids. 2 days after the Detroit show, we drove down to
Show #3- March 15,2001 Lycoming College, Pennsylvania- we got there incredibly early, and since it was a college campus, we kinda hung around, near where the bus was, hoping to catch a glimpse of the guys or at least maybe hear sound check or something. Raine got off the bus and we decided to talk to him. We had a very brief chat, that consisted of us telling him that we were at the show in Det and that we wanted them to play "Made to Heal" and that he was great.. then a security guard told us to leave so we did. It was actually okay, because I was quite afraid that had we stayed any longer I would have begun either drooling or babbling incoherently, either of which would have been incredibly embarassing. We went back to our bench to see what would happen next. Later we saw Mike Turner the (former) guitarist get off the bus and start walking across the street. On a stalker's impulse, we chose to follow him.. and ended up at Rite Aid. He walked all the way to the back to the perscription counter and was sitting in a chair waiting, so we made our move. we just walked up and introduced ourselves. And, Mike, being the coolest guy EVER, instead of freaking out on us, just sat there and chatted it up for about half an hour while he waited for his perscription. it was sweet. he just acted like we were normal people, not stalkers who followed him in there. LOL it was fun. very fun. then we all left, and eventually we got to go in to the gym where the show was. I think we within the first 20 ppl in there, and 'Nee and grabbed front row center, slightly to Mike's side. it was perfect. we had the rail in front of us, so we could almost breathe. and we were about 8 ft from the stage!! and there was a hot dude next to me who kinda looked like Raine. he was really nice too. ahhh.. right, so this show was KILLER. not as many ppl were as into the music as they had been in Detroit, but remember, the cd had just been releasd in the states, and Eve 6 was headlineing, so ppl were there to see them more than OLP. but not us. we rocked out and Raine looked directly at us a few times, and Mike even gave us a little wave. it was thrilling. I think Clumsy and Starseed were the best songs that night, but the whole show just kicked so much ass. The only sad thing was that Duncan Coutts, the bassist, wasn't there because he was sick. BUt other than that, it was wonderful.
After their set, we went outside to catch the guys again. We got pics with Raine and Mike and Renee' snagged a setlist, so we had Mike autograph it. It was one of the best nights of my life.
Show #4 April 16, 2001- Columbus,Ohio This show was sweet. it had been a month since the last time we saw them, so we were ready for some more. The venue is pretty small, but we got there kinda late, so no front row for us this time. But it did have a balcony, and we got up top on the left side of the stage, so it was pretty close anyway. the crowd was really great that night. So good, in fact, that during the encore, we convinced them to sing "Thief", which is right up there with my favorite songs, and they also gifted us with "Julia", a song they hadn't played at any of the shows on this tour thus far. it made for a very good night.
The next show wasn't for quite a while. Renee' went on a trip to Asia, and she was there when they played Cincinnati and Louisville. I wanted to go, but couldn't go without her. It just didn't seem right for some reason.
Show #5- August 26, 2001, Buffalo NY Yes, I saw Our Lady Peace (by this point most defintly my favorite band) ON MY BIRTHDAY! They played at Edgefest, a radio station festival, so it wasn't exactly the ideal venue, but it was still cool. It was my birthday, after all, and it was a cheap show, I think tix were $15 or so. The thing that sucked was the crowd. they were all a bunch of idiotic losers and they didn't care about Our Lady Peace, but they kept trying to crowdsurf and shit, when there really weren't enough people for it. I had so many mofos kick me in the head that I got realllly pissed off. I started punching them and stuff. Then, during "Naveed", which is probably my favorite song by them, especially LIVE, some girl gets hurt, so they STOP the song and Raine goes off on how everyone was being assholes. I was soooo pissed off. I mean, it was cool what he did, but I was pissed that these fuckers made them stop my favorite song. SO yeah, but it worked out cuz then Raine was pissed and they did One Man Army which rocked and then "Whatever", which we were hearing for the first time. it was pretty intense too. so aside from the losers all over the place, this was a good show. Not a bad way to spend a birthday, if I do say so myself.
It seemed like forever before our next show.. in fact, it was nearly a year.
Show #6 May 15, 2002, Dayton, Ohio. FINALLY the guys had finished recording on their new album, Gravity... and the first 2 shows of the tour were in DAYTON ohio, of all places! We didn't have to drive but 15 minutes to go to this show, quite the change from the far off places we had seem them previously. This show was up there with theothers. Mike had left the band in december, but they gained a new guy, Steve Mazur. we knew very little about Steve, and had liked Mike, so we weren't sure what to expect. Steve didn't disappoint. (neither did the rest of the band) This show was everything the others had been.. and more maybe. The new music was brilliant (we had somehow scored advance copies of the songs... don't ask me, I didnt do it) so were familiar with the new stuff, but hearing it live... ahh yes. it was bliss, pure and simple. Another small club, so again, though we weren't in the front, we could actuallyi breathe and we could still stare right in the eyes of the band members. I swear it felt like Raine was singing to ME during some songs, especially the ones where I was singing along. yum. "Somewhere Out There" and... "All For You" were my favs this night.
Show #7 May 16, 2002, Dayton, Ohio. Part 2 of the Dayton stop was not only another breathtaking show by Our Lady Peace, but also our introduction to the equally amazing band Blue Karma (another story for another day) this one was maybe a bit better than the nighe before, if only because they were more polished, a bit more comfortable back onstage again. whatever it was, it worked. some highlights were when Raine forgot the words to "One Man Army"- he struggled through the first verse and refrain, then into the 2nd verse he just gave up. it was hysterical! Duncan sang a song, that was cool. Steve rocked theplace. he was very different from Mike, he had his own style, but it was very cool. and you could sense his excitement so that was fun. they sang "Story About a Girl" which is tied for my favorite song, and also "Made of Steel" which is just great, so those were the highlights from that night. After the show, we hung around and actually got to chat with Raine, Steve, and Jeremy Taggart, the drummer. We never did find Duncan. We got pics with the guys, and autogaphs too. it was quite fun and a great night all around.
Show #8 July 9, 2002 Columbus, Ohio Just under 2 months later, the guys were back in action in our neck of the woods. For this show we managed to snag the balcony rail, in the center, so it was a perfect place to be. Raine has this habit of looking up and pointing when he sings.. and we were in the line of fire, so to speak. it was most excellent. the crowd was pretty into this show, oh and the opening band was the wondeful Greenwheel (again another story) so the night was a success in many ways. I think what I liked best about this show was how they played 4AM as the encore, as was customary, buit actually let us sing THE WHOLE song, which rarely happened. (in the states anyway) It was a testament to the crowd that night. I think the song "Innocent" was pretty striking that night as well.
Show #9 July 13, 2002, Cincinnati Ohio- we arrived extremely early for this show, in order to get front row again. it was time. we passed the day in idle chat and general amusement with the folks around us, and managed to put ourselves directly in front again. it was well worth the pain of being smashed against the rail. Greenwheel was extreme again, and OLP was just thrilling. They had a ton of energy that night, and the show was quite intense. THey performed "The Birdman", a song we hadn't heard live in quite some time, but which I completely love. Raine did some random weird things during "Life" (always beautiful) and "The Birdman" so that was fun too. And "RIght Behind YOu" (which is the 3rd part of my trilogy of favorite favorite songs) was almost more than I could handle. Raine stared straight at us for much of the song, and during my favorite part, stared directly into my eyes. It's a wonder I made it out of that place in one piece. that was the last time Nee and I went to a show together.. and perhaps my favorite all around.
and finally it brings me to
Show #10- November... 20somthing, 2002. Dayton, Ohio. I dont know the exact date, because I dont have a ticket stub. They played with Creed for this show. (I used to really Like Creed, but they were lame by this point) I only was at the show because I was working, so I got in for free. Our Lady Peac was brilliant as always, but they did a short set (they did play the Birdman which was cool, I wasn't expecting that) and the crowd wasn't into it at all. (what was wrong with these people, I ask?) Anyway, it was just not as great as the others for all those reasons, and because Renee wasn't there with me to enjoy it. But it was still my favorite band so that was something in itself.
so thats the story, in a nutshell, of my wild adventures of seeing my fav band in 10 times in 2 different countries, 4 different states, and 7 different cities. each show had its high points, each one was unique, but each one was amazing, incredible, awsome, and all around extremely great. :) wheeeeee!
so of course now tht I have the DVD I can watch them any time I feel like it without leaving my living room. But every time I watch, it makes me long to see them again. it's been over 2 years since the last show... and I'm going nuts here. word on the street is maybe they'll do some shows around CHristmas.. and you know when they do.. I'll be there. :)
thanks for reading. dude, I realized tonight that I don't have an OLP icon.. what is wrong with me???? ... *runs off to make one**