Currently Listening: Time Life: Ultimate Rock Ballads of the 70s/80s Collection (seriously)
I really would like to own this collection. But $150 for 153 songs is kind of obnoxious if you ask me.
So I guess I should talk about my weekend, and how much I genuinely enjoyed it. It's not even over yet and it's going great. Let's start with Thursday.
"So she died?!"
I picked up Amber around 2, and we went to Freebird. Come to find out, the show is sold out so I had to take Vik back home. Had Every Avenue been there early I know she could have gotten in, but whatever. I will always hate All Time Low fans and being near so many of them. They are a bunch of dumb little girls and they make me feel so old. After the drama and Amber almost fighting some 14 year olds, we go in and decide against the barricade to stand against the stage. If you ask me that's a ton better anyway.
Every Avenue did a good job. Both time I've seen them have been entertaining. Singer boy really has got a foul mouth, I kind of got annoyed with that personally. The Maine was really awesome. I don't know what it is about them I like so much but they are so catchy and I love watching them live.
Now on to the worst part of the night...Mayday Parade. Let me first say, I LOVE their music. I thoroughly enjoy their EP and their full length and I was really excited to finally see them play live. The crowd seemed to think they were really jammin' but I was so disappointed in how they played and sang. I don't even know how to explain what was wrong, but the music that was being played was not the great music I had been listening to on my iPod. I really don't think I can ever stand to see them live again, unless forced. It was just that bad.
Now for All Time Low. Again, I will start this with a disclaimer: I love All Time Low. I don't know what it is, or how hard I might try to deny it, but this band is seriously just so great right now and I could care less what anyone says about them. They opened with 'Poppin' Champagne' which I thought was pretty strange, but it worked for them. They had a teaser of confetti and everyone in that place was having a blast. Jack has so much energy, I love watching him play. I really like the way Alex sounds live, and the overall sound of the set was super solid. No matter how many times I see them I love their dumb dirty jokes and Alex messing sometihng up ("Our full length, Put Up or Shut Up...") always. It just adds to my enjoyment of them as an overall band. They played the oldie but goodie 'Circles' which I'm pretty sure I've never seen them play, but I very much did enjoy. The closer was 'Dear Maria,' and the place went wild one last time with a ton of confetti and tech dudes stage diving all over the place. No matter how stupid their fans are I see them for the genuine pop-punk band they are, with a great live show. They are all super nice dudes, and that just makes me like them a bunch more. And for the record, Jack can stop wearing that ugly White Sox hat because we all know Red and Blue is where it's at.
After less than 2 hours of sleep we were off to Orlando for night 2 of this weekend's tour. I'm honestly going to shows every weekend of October - half of November, so it's basically like being on tour. I love it.
"I love you, but if you're gonna keep yelling Konstantine, the exit is right over there."
We got in line at 8 in the morning. Was this necessary at all? No. Jack's Mannequin didn't even get there until 1 in the afternoon, so what the heck were we doing? Being fans. It really doesn't bother me what time we got there or how long we waited, it was worth every second. A few hours before doors we met Andrew McMahon and just as the 2 other times I've met him I was so nervous to even go up to him. He's one of the nicest guys ever though, and I appreciate that a ton. There was no line drama so that is always an added plus!
The stage was super crowded and full of ugly wires, 2 drum kits, a excess amount of guitars, and a baby grand. Thank goodness only 3 bands were playing. Treaty of Paris played a stripped down set that I really enjoyed. Eric Hutchinson was so talented and fun to watched. I can't believe I've never heard of this guy, minus the one song of his that I recognized as a Jamba song. He was the prefect combination of Mraz and Degraw; I couldn't help but fall in love. Hopefully he does some of his own touring after this stint.
An evening spent watching Jack's Mannequin is an evening that will change anyone's vision of live music around. This was my 8th JM show and it was definitely one of my favorites. (Probably all time favorite, to be honest) Hearing the brand new songs off of 'Glass Passenger' just a mere 3 weeks after it was released was so great. It didn't matter if I knew all the words or loved every song yet; seeing them come alive was kept me in awe the entire night. Being able to stand 3 feet in front of Andrew and watching him put every ounce of energy into the set was marvelous. 'Bruised' will forever be my favorite song of his to see live no matter what. My new favorite, 'Caves' was completely captivating and so freaking beautiful live. Andrew is honestly sent from the heavens - I've yet to see another front man with a presence like him, and I absolutely fall in love all over again every time I see him. He closed the set with "La La Lie" which is totally expected, but I still loved. We got limited signed (only 100 printed) movie poster sized lithographs afterward and they are so nice. Right afterward we embarked on our very long and very exhausted ride home. There was no other way I would have rather spent my night.
I have many more amazing weekends to come, and I'm thrilled for them. This is a great way to be spending these last few months of excessive show-goings. I know a lot of this is going to end soon, so I'd rather spend it watching my favorite bands than anything else. Right now, I'm loving my life so much.
