Big thanks to Audrey for enduring the rowdy crowd during the fun but crazy Girl Talk show so we could have that spot. The bruises on my knees from the barricade the next day were so worth it. I also had an amazing time at the New York Franz show but will spare you the rehashing since I wrote and entire blog entry about it that can be viewed here: http://diaryofamusicjunkie.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/my-3-day-rock-tour-part-1-franz-ferdinand-in-ny/ But seriously seeing Franz Ferdinand live is unlike any other show. They are so suave and full of energy and I never have a bad time when I see them live.
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COLDPLAY: I had seen Coldplay in 2008 on Halloween which made it the second concert in a row I had seen on my favorite holiday. After 2009 I had seen three Halloween shows in a row (with Your Vegas being the 3rd.) While seeing Coldplay on Halloween was a lot of fun our seats weren’t as amazing as the price or seating chart made me think. So I just wanted to go to one GA Coldplay show and be super close. That moment occurred in the summer of 2009 when the band played Nissan Pavilion in Virginia. My friend Luciana had bought 4 tickets to show. One for me, one for her, one for our friend Melissa and one for my friend Emily. I couldn’t get there as early as Luciana and Melissa because I was riding up with my friend Emily but would be so grateful Luc and Mel decided to go really early.
Emily and I still left early and gave ourselves plenty of time because we factored in traffic and also the fact my friends were waiting in line saving us a spot. But what was about to happen was my nightmare. We ended up stuck in the worst traffic I had ever seen. Staring at each mile marker which seemed to take an hour to get to was beyond painful. No matter how positive we tried to stay we both were getting frustrated. I was getting nervous because as I checked my phone I saw time ticking away more and more. I would get texts from Luciana and began to feel guilty for making her sit and wait for so long. At first we held out hope we were going to make it in time due to traffic letting up but alas that wasn’t to be. We ended up hitting more traffic and arriving just as doors open. We had to get in line at the back and after convincing Emily that we should run and find them on the floor before venturing to the bathroom we ran down to floor.
Thankfully they were able to save us a spot and we met up with them. I ended up in the 2nd row, for a few songs Luciana let me take her spot against the railing. It was so much fun and we were so close it was a bit overwhelming but in a good way. We got to see two opening acts Pete Yorn and The Howling Bells. Pete Yorn was good but it was The Howling Bells that blew me away. I left out of the show needing to buy their CD, yet another wonderful find that I discovered as an Opening Act. But once Coldplay took the stage the magic began. They sang so many songs I love including a few I didn’t hear on Halloween including “Trouble.” We were showered with beautiful multi-colored butterfly confetti, saw yellow balloons come out over the crowd during the song “Yellow” and just took in the splendor that is Coldplay live. One of the biggest treats was when they started singing one of my all-time favorite Coldplay songs “Green Eyes” when they were out in the crowd. At this show they went out into the crowd three times and sang for the people in the cheap seats. For a few minutes all of us up front were a bit jealous. But I collected as much confetti as I could during the show and just had such a good time. I even called few friends including my friend Shannon and my friend Wendy who I would be seeing them with in Pennsylvania. Paid a lot for this ticket but it was worth every penny.
A few days later Hershey Park with Wendy left me with many great memories. I am addicted to maybe two other things as much as I am music: football and rollercoasters. So the opportunity to ride rollercoasters before a rock concert was such a dream. God Bless Wendy for being willing to face a fear and ride several intense and fast coasters with me. She was such a trooper for doing that although I’m convinced she used my name as a swear word for days after. We signed our names on the wall of one of the coasters where other riders had left the mark. Maybe one day if I can convince her to ride it again we can see if it’s still there. But after we found a locker for our stuff, ate theme park food, bought souvenirs for people and rodes rides of different types it was time to get ready to go over to the show. I of course being in comfy mode had to go get rock glammed up in the bathroom really quick. I did that but of course as I walked out of the bathroom I heard the ominous sound of thunder and saw the sky was turning a very dark shade of gray. People decided to leave the park in droves at the same time but me and Wendy got a head start which proved to be a great idea.
We were very lucky that we left when we did because we ended up making our way up the steep hill to the stadium and got to the front just as the massive storm started and it began to pour. So unlike most people Wendy and I didn’t look like drenched rats when we got inside. Of course due to lightning the concert was postponed so 1,000s of people all stood around inside waiting for the rain to stop. It was funny because much like a cold bottle of water on a 90 degree is a hot commodity at this show everyone kept trying to get their hands on an elusive poncho that sales guys kept coming by with. After many failed attempts we both got a poncho. After endless waiting and me trying to brave the merch line they finally said the show would start. Unfortunately they were very unclear on how everyone gets down to the field so everyone at once tried to go through two tunnels. After we saw a complete nightmare that was the line which didn’t move we abandoned it and went in search of another way in. We eventually found it. We waited patiently and made our way to our seats since this show was non-GA. We used the ponchos on our seats so we wouldn’t get wet. Sadly we got an announcement that Howling Bells wouldn’t be performing due to the delay. But once Coldplay came on we had so much fun.
We may have been a bit far from the stage but we didn’t care because we had such a blast just singing the lyrics together and dancing. Again the confetti and balloons were just as magical and enjoyable as was every aspect of the show. Just like the last show hearing “Fix You” made me tear up and songs like “The Scientist” touched me more then words could express. Afterwards we collected confetti off the ground. I was on a hunt to find some of the metallic kind. Wendy even snapped a pic of me throwing it in the air like leaves. But sharing the experience with Wendy just made the show even more special and unforgettable.
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1997: Another really fun memory was Audrey and I and our fateful encounter with 1997. Who knew that simply lounging on the beach in VA, just hanging out and wishing that the boys on the beach weren’t so boring would bring them into our lives? We got up to go walk around before we left and decided to take pics, we had been doing a “rocker boy, rocker boy” chant that thankfully ended up coming true. As I took a pic of Audrey my mouth dropped open as over the hill came three of the most breathtaking guys donning skinny jeans, no shirts and loads of tattoos. Later we would come to know them as Caleb, Cody and Kevin. The way they looked basically was screaming “we’re in a band.” Before Audrey could even turn to look at them they stopped and walked over to us and asked if we wanted our picture taken and the rest was history. They invited us to go grab a beer and we ended up walking off in a quest to find some cold frosty drinks. We ended up hanging out with them and the rest of the band for the rest of the day.
The best part was when we ended up sitting outside and one of them broke out their guitar and an impromptu jam session began. Crowds gathered and people watched and it was truly a fun moment to be a part of. The band and Audrey ended up convincing me to stay a day longer and see them live the next night. I was very happy I did. The next night we got to drink a pitcher of beer with them and just hanging out and talking again. We also exchanged battle scars with the members of the band like Arthi who had received the same bizarre severe sunburn we had. I won’t even talk about how the only nearby ATM was next door in a strip club. Note to self: always take money with you everywhere. They seriously are some of the nicest, kindest and most talented human beings that you could ever hope to meet. While they have lost a few members we love since then (we’ll miss you Kevin and Matt) they will always be some of my favorite people ever. I’m thankful that their mistake of ending up on the wrong beach brought them into my life and all of them will always have a special part in my heart.
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THE KILLERS: The three times I saw the Killers were all equally extra special. It all started in January of 2009 when my friend Amy bought me a ticket to their Virginia show as a birthday present. Despite a massive ice/snow storm the night before and day of we still made the trek up to the Patriot Center. We ended up waiting in the GA line in the freezing cold for hours but it was worth it. We not only met some great people while waiting but also ended up in the front row against the barricade. I had so much fun a lot of that due to the best security staff I have ever met . One of them was flirting with me the entire show and kept complimenting me, another one was asking everyone to show them their tattoos and their boss was equally funny. This just made an already amazing show even better. Amy and I both ended up walking away with a setlist after the show and Brandon seemed more comfortable on stage then he had ever been. Their best tour yet hence the fact I would need to see them two more times.
The next show was in NJ during better and warmer weather in May with Wendy. I highlighted this in another blog that can be viewed here: http://diaryofamusicjunkie.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/my-3-day-rock-tour-part-2-the-killers-in-nj/ But it was made extra special since it was Wendy’s first time seeing them. That made the jaw dropping pyrotechnics and song choices even more special. We had so much fun even despite the confusing chaos that was the line situation outside and a horrible opening act. Sorry Chairlift but a cowbell and girl who twirls around like a tilt a whirl non stop is not entertaining. But Wendy ended up fighting for a guitar pick and gave it to me so another wonderful keepsake from a Killers show. I ended up a sweaty mess as we left this show but ever bead of sweat was worth it.
The third time came in at Merriweather in Maryland during the summer which was the first show for the band on the third leg of their tour. This time Amy and I ended up in the 2nd row but it turned out to be incredible. The barricade was pushed closer to the stage then I have seen it in a while and when Brandon Flowers decided to break out into Elvis’ “Love Me Tender” he was inches away from us. I was in awe of how close we were. Plus I finally got my “I Got Soul But I’m Not A Soldier” shirt and walked away with my third keepsake a flower from the stage. Too bad I never saw them in the fall so I could have seen them in all four seasons. But they really provided me with three of my favorite shows of the year. They truly proved why they are one of the best bands on the planet. Having opening act Wolfmother rock my socks off before the show was an added bonus too.
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KEANE: I always look forward to seeing Keane live, they are great performers and such kind people. They really are three of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Every time I have seen them I have talked to them after the show. This time was at DAR Constitution Hall in DC. Post show my friends and I got to talk with them and have our picture taken with all the guys in the band. But having their drummer tell me to contact their manager the next time they come around so we could set up an interview was so cool. But this time they performed loads of songs off their latest CD Perfect Symmetry which I adore and also blended in other favorites of mine like “Bedshaped,” “Crystal Ball,” “Nothing In My Way” and so many more. Their music is so hauntingly beautiful and catchy that it makes me dance like an idiot everytime I see them but it also gives me chills. I ended up not sitting with my friends at this particular show due to buying tickets seperately but I ended up in the same row only the opposite side. I was in the 5th row and I was in heaven. Although DAR Constitution Hall is a wee bit stuffy for my tastes I loved seeing this brilliant band again and look forward to seeing them many more times and next time I hope to interview them too, not just meet them. But if you get a chance see them live because their CDs do not do them justice at all.
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So that is my 3 part year in review for 2009! I apologize for the length but there were so many memorable moments I had to share. Believe me I could have gone on forever because I obviously saw alot of shows last year. But hopefully 2010 brings just as many unbelievable musical memories and adventures. Although 2009 will be hard to beat but come on 2010 prove me wrong and bring it on!!
