SOME OF MY FAVORITE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2009 PART 2:
CHRIS CORNELL: I have had a crush on Chris since I was about 12-years-old, I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly at Projekt Revolution the year before but I seriously became a geek and couldn’t form words when he looked into my eyes. Major #fail in the cool department. This show was at my favorite venue the 930 Club in DC. The show itself was amazing due to the brilliant mixing of Soundgarden and Audioslave songs along with songs from Chris’ solo Cds. He was out in support of his last CD “Scream” which he worked with Timbaland on and I really liked it a lot. I think that got me noticed by him and the band because as always I was going nuts because I was singing the words to every song. But I turned into a 10 year old and once again geeked out when Chris Cornell stop right in front of me and sang his steamy version of “Billie Jean” to me on stage. As the guy that was standing with his daughter on my left side said “the look on my face was priceless.” But that’s the effect he has on me. It was also too funny because to the right of me was a nice couple who had seen Chris so many times. They were diehard fans and we chatted a lot during the show. But after Chris sang to me and as I finally catched my breath I looked over at them and the girl shot me a look that was like she wanted to scalp me.
But I had an equally nice duo to the left of me standing next to Amy. It was the aforementioned gentleman who I had befriended. He was there with his daughter and I think we bonded because we were two of very few people who were really getting into the songs of Chris’ CD Scream. She walked away with a pretty amazing keepsake too when she got the setlist. I had fallen in love with “Watch Out” and “Long Gone” even before they were released on a CD. I had heard them the year before at Projekt Revolution and trust me they were even better live then on CD. Also much like the year before hearing my fave Audioslave songs “Cochise,” “Show Me How To Live,” and my favorite Soundgarden songs “Rusty Cage” and “Fell on Black Days” had me in a state of euphoria. But the 2nd biggest highlight of the evening came when he jumped off stage during “Black Hole Sun” and made his way from the left to right of the barricade. I was towards the end on the right. He got down to where I was and was singing and finally looked up at me. He smiled slightly and then sang part of the song to me as he stood inches from me holding my hand. Again I froze and just sang and got chills and this added to my dream come true night. It’s these things that happen that I will never forget.
But as we were walking towards the exit I commented to the girl “What a cool keepsake you got there.” Her father joked and said “Don’t you be jealous, you got sang to twice.” It really is one of the night’s I will never forget for the rest of my life. After the show me and Amy ran into several members of the band outside. One of my favorite parts of the 930 Club is the fact all the tour buses usually park on the streets so meeting bands is usually too easy. The priceless moment of the night number three came when the band remembered me after the show. They acted like they knew me and Cory said he had remembered me from the show. We chatted and I was so comfortable around him and his friends we were even making fun of each other. But yes I do have a history with their bassist Cory because he threw guitar pics at me and kept winking at me the year before at Projekt Rev. But regardless of why it was quite flattering. I must admit I’m a bit sad about the rumored Soundgarden reunion because if it happens I will miss his touring band. They are some of the sweetest guys ever esp. Cory and Peter. But this was an amazing night that I wish I could hop in a time machine and relive over and over.
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U2: U2 always put on an amazing show and I was so excited I was able to nab a highly coveted to ticket to not one but both NJ shows and their DC show. Speaking of flirting, other memories that will stick with me forever are having Adam Clayton flirting with me on stage at the U2 shows in NJ. I shamelessly flirted back and remember him stopping and looking at me and I took the opportunity to blow him a kiss. Hey a girl can dream can’t she. Also cool was being able to throw my flowers (that were painted like the Irish flag) on stage in DC thanks to the nicest security staff ever. They were incredibly nice guys and were too funny and kept making fun of me for not having a voice due to a cold.
I don’t know why but I think the one thing at all the U2 shows that stayed the same was the cool security staff. We arrived late for the first NJ show but still somehow ended up with one of the best spots possible right on the outside of the ellipse. Perfect view and the band was always so close to me I could have died. I attribute our luck to the show being moved from a Friday night to a Wednesday night due to Rosh Hashanah and a football game. This show would also be the last time I would wait in line with Amy and Julie who I rode up with. I was sick so I ended up having to come late to New Jersey show two. But that proved to be OK because I met some of the coolest people in line. I ended up finding our spots in the back of the pit and we ended up hanging out in there and taking pictures.
At this second show, the nice people who came all the way from South America had nabbed the coveted spot right against the ellipse. But we befriended them so they kept giving me their spot when Bono would come by so I could try and throw my flowers on stage. That plan failed due to the first mean security guard I had met. In DC I ended up not waiting in line with them but met some very nice guys in line who were too cool. We stayed together the entire time and ended up running into the pit together. One of them who was very tall walked all around the pit to find my friends for me. He found them in the front row on Adam’s side and guided me to them. Finally Amy, Julie and I were reunited at a show. But just seeing U2 and having Muse open for them alone was a highlight for me. Seriously three of the best shows I’ve ever been to and hearing three of my all-time favorites that I had never heard them perform: “Unforgettable Fire” “Stay (Faraway So Close) and “Ultraviolet (Light My Way)” was mind-blowing. I can’t wait for U2 round two this summer and this time hope I can finally meet all the guys. Also now I have the whole where to stand part figured out since I tried three different areas by that monstrous stage. Waiting in line all day in the GA line allows you to somewhat take control of that.
So I know where my favorite spot is now (tip everyone always go for the front railing outside of the pit!) Only bad part of tour this time around was the utter chaos that is line numbers. I don’t like having people be able to put their name on a list the night before and if you do being told you have to arrive by a certain time. It should be first come first serve and not require a stupid number being written on your hand. I don’t like the fact that people who will be coming to meet you later (say after work!) cannot join you in line because of this dumb number system. If this doesn’t change for the summer shows I will be very bummed. I was also very happy that I was able to take my brother Greg to see the band. I had taken my other two brothers to their first U2 show so this completed the trifecta. I was sad we got split up due to his late arrival and no cell reception I ended up 2nd row pit and he ended up at the back of the field I was just happy he got to see the show at all.
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MUSE: What can I say? I waited two years to see this band and never expected to see them. When I heard earlier in the year that they were opening for U2, who I already had planned to see, I think I screamed like 50 times and jumped around like a moron. You see I had very bad luck in the past with getting boring openers for U2, so this was like redemption times a million. I freaked out at all 3 shows and went nuts when they were on stage. Me and my friends were three of only a few people who knew all the words or really went nuts during the show. I remember educating many people during the show and while waiting in line on how good they were or what songs they may be familiar with. I was like a Muse promotional machine. At two shows I remember having people around me ask what CD they should buy after Muse left the stage because they were so impressed. The first night in NJ was the best of all three shows because they had a longer set and sang my favorite song off their new CD “Undisclosed Desires.” Also being told by another friend Ryan who was there that I was shown on the screen during Muse singing made me a very happy girl. I am excited to get to see them in March on their own. But seriously they were not only the best opening act U2 has ever had but I think they also may have stole the crowd and gained alot of new fans in the process. Two thumbs up for Muse live.
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DEAD BY SUNRISE: I had an early Halloween when I was able to go to one of the best festivals that Maryland ever has hosted. Dead By Sunrise who I saw a week before Halloween at a Halloween themed festival also played a huge role in my life this year. It all started when I won a contest to go to NY and listen to their CD before it was released. As a fan of Chester Bennington (and Linkin Park) and also Julien K needless to say I was so excited! That is because Chester and Julian K joined forces to create Dead By Sunrise. As a result of the contest I got to write a review and then stayed in contact with their manager who ended up setting up a phone interview between me and Chester which was so amazing. But also at Ulalume seeing them live made my lifetime since it would be their closest stop on their tour. It was also cool having people tell me and my friend we had been featured on the jumbotron for long pds of time during the show was too cool. I knew the entire CD by heart so no doubt everyone saw me getting way too into the songs. Although I was disappointed my Bettie Page costume didn’t win a prize it got a lot of stares. But one of the coolest moments came thanks in part to MTV who were putting on the festival. Twice an MTV producer pulled me and my friend aside so we could do promos with Kat Von D because of our costumes. As we were leaving the stage up the hill came Chester, Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh. We actually got to shake their hands and say a few words. My heart nearly dropped just like it would a month later when I got to talk to Chester on the phone. He was an amazing and easy interview and was so kind and personable. But my heart was beating so fast talking to him. But it is their immense talent and easy going nature that is reason 50 billion why Halloween rules and I hope Dead By Sunrise make music together for years to come. But this was a really fun and scary festival and I hope Ulalume and DBS come back my way very soon.
