greatbriton

You knew it was coming. I knew it was coming. So why act surprised?

This is going to be the entire day, cause it was awesome all around.

Rules of the Music:
Woke up around 9am. Checked the Office Depot Center site to make sure the concert wasn't cancelled, which it wasn't. Then double checked the directions on YahooMaps. Then hung with Katie for a little bit. One of the first things she says to me is this, "We're not listening to four hours of Green Day and The National. Just letting you know." hehe no such thought had ever crossed my mind. *innocent eyes*

Driving is a Fun Experience:
Left the homestead around 10:30 or something and get on Colonial, listening to Franz Ferdinand while driving through hick ass Christmas Town. Seriously, its Christmas there 24/7. And there was a guy straight out of a Rob Zombie movie standing on the side of the road staring. Errr. Then we got to I-95 and two and half hours of jibberish and Kaiser Chiefs/Beck/Sex Pistols and we make it to our exit off I-95.

We're Lost in The Hurricane Ghetto:
Katie tells me the roads to turn off of and suddenly we're next to a high school in the ghetto and she says, "That's all the directions. That's all you wrote down." WHAT? Yeah, that was a shocker to be sure. There was a mistake on some level between the me and YahooMaps and we were stuck there with no idea of where to go. So we go to a McDonalds down the street, PACKED. And the realization that this place was JUST hit by a Hurricane dawned on me. This was one of the only places open and with power. The gas station across the street had lines of cars waiting. Memories of last year came to me and it was...not that fun. Most of the street lights aren't working and cops are out directing some of the intersections. None of the business's are open cause there's no power and there's debris all over the place.

McDonald's Of Love:
We finally get to order and I get my Coke and then the power goes out. A collective "awwwww" comes out of everybody's mouths. But I was so surprised at the loveliness of everybody in that place. I know if that happend at Pizza Hut here everybody would be screaming and snapping at each other. But no. Few minutes later the power's back on. We get our food and eat. And try to figure out how the hell to get to the Green Day show. Katie's calling the Office Depot Center number trying to get directions that will help us. But not really cause we don't know any of the roads or highways around the area and stupidly didn't bring a map.

Gas in Desperate Times:
We leave and my Tempo is low on gas...I could have sworn I had more. So we go down the street to a gas station where there are five different lines, I'm stuck in the middle of the street for a few minutes hoping nobody hits my car. And cars are driving over curbs and bumping into the gas tanks trying to fit in to get gas. I ask the cashier where The Office Depot Center is. She tells me about 10 miles down the road we're on. So...awesome. Get gas and drive on out of there.

Arena Parking
Finally, we get to the arena and want to park but I don't have cash. Have to go back and get a working ATM. got cash and go back to the arena and go in to park and the guy says they're not parking people yet. Not unil 5:30. ??? That was strange. So we go to waste time at the mall across the street which was full of people who I guess needed somewhere to go cause there's nowhere else to go. We drive back over cause the place is boring and ask the guy if we can just sit and wait in the car right there. He tells us we could try the other gate. We do and the guy tells us we can park across the street at the mall and walk over...cause they're letting people walk in and line up but not park! ?! does that make any sense. wouldn't they want to make money off the parking? Anyway, we do and are amongst the first I'd say...twenty people there.

Giovannai Das Uber Fan:
Wait in line was fun because of the Uber Green Day Fan Giovanni. OMG! This guy...he had a black shirt with Green Day patches on both sides of the chest, red&black tie, red&black socks, red&black shoes, eyeliner, and a the Green Day grenade from American Idiot tattooed on his arm. And he comes in preaching. "You're not a real fan unlesss you've played on stage with the band, wear eyeliner and have a band tattoo." hahaha. So he demanded everyone let him skip to the front of the line. which didn't happen. Apparently he was the roudy guy who got to play bass at the Orlando show I went to a few months back. And once they split us up in Guys Line and Girls Line Giovanni was screaming random things and a man turned and told him to "Shut the Fuck Up". This guy was the father of this girl standing next to us and when Giovanni begins berating the man about how its not right to talk to people like that the girl is so freaked...cause she doesn't want her dad to get angry. And Giovanni Das Uber Fan begins shaming the man. and saying, "My father doesn't even talk to me like that." That he's played on stage with the band, he's part of the military and can have the guy arrested. That the guy was arrested and wasn't allowed to talk anymore. Then he announced that he was Jesus Christ. hahaha. oohh...he was too amusing.

Rush to the Floor:
Then the doors opened and got through the most disorganized entry system ever. Katie's in before me and has to wait. Then we get on the floor and all the little girls are running and get yelled at by security. Katie's faster then them while walking...so she's speed walking with her long ass legs and i'm left in the dust, trying not to appear like I'm running. Then she turns and asks if we want to be on the catwalk or on the side. I chose the side right in front where Dirnt will be cause he's awesome. and I did forget how fucking much Billie Joe LOVES that damned catwalk. So, front row, on the railing, staring at where Dirnt will be and in front of the nicest security guy I've ever seen. He was a sweetheart. kinda small for security but adorable.

The Last Time I Drummed:
Waiting for the concert to begin I'm standing next to this kid and his girlfriend. who were one of the first ones in line and got to go in to watch Green Day's Soundcheck and I guess talk to them some. They both had one of Tre Cool's drumsticks. and the guy tells me he was on stage and drummed with them at that Orlando show. I tell him bout the crazy Giovanni guy and turns out they're friends. The kid tells me, "I told Billie Joe I was on stage with them in Orlando and he was like that's really cool man. I asked if they could maybe pick me again and Billie says we'll see."

Jimmy Eat World are JEWS:
Jimmy Eat World comes onstage and blah. I'm not a real fan. I know their songs from the radio...well, I know the choruses of their songs from the radio. I didn't recognize a single song until it got to those catchy chorus parts. hehe. sorry. And a couple songs in the singer begins with thanking people and talking a bit about the hurricane and then about the song "Rock you Like a Hurricane". And that they should play it but that it wasn't going to happen, and then he keeps going and I lost track of what the fuck he was talking about. Even the security guy looks at us and mouths "What is he talking about? Is it some story?" Anyway, they were kind of fun at least.

What's This Thing Called Pushing and Shoving:
After Jimmy Eat World these small girls behind us are talking about the pushing and shoving. These guys are telling them that when Green Day gets on its only going to get worse. They don't believe. The guys are like "No, its going to be two hours of pushing. Through the entire show." They still don't believe. STUPIDS! If you don't want to be pushed don't get in the front. *le sigh*

Cat Eared Man of Sex And a Little Drunk Bunny:
There was this awesome guy Katie spotted during Jimmy Eat World messing with the guitars and he was wearing these little cat ears and had long dark hair. he was wearing some awesome clothes and ugh. and he came out in full view when setting up microphones and the pianos for Green Day. Yums. That guy was Yums. And there was also this guy who popped up at the end of Jimmy Eat World and began taking pictures. He had this pimply awesome hat and tattoos. One was a EBPM tattoo so I figured he was with Green Day or something cause he was out past the rest of the photographers. Anyway, another yummy. Then the drunk bunny comes out and has little stuffed bunnys he produced from his sleaves and threw at people. I didn't realize how haggard and dirty that damn costume is. haha. i don't think they wash that poor thing.

Green Day and People Can't Handle It:
Then Green Day comes running out! And so close! Yay. I was giddy like a little school girl. Dirnt was RIGHT FUCKING IN FRONT OF ME. Screaming and holding his bass up high. They broke straight into American Idiot and the crowd began moving. Had to figure out the proper way to hold myself against the gate without too much discomfort by learning how and when the crowd was pushing. Everybody's arms are in the air and screaming the lyrics right back at the band. Was much funness!! And right after the song ends Dirnt throws a pick out and it smacks me right in the shoulder. That damn things like a weapon. It gave me a good sting and I thought it had fallen but I guess it got caught on a fabric wrinkle or something, cause I bring my hand up and PICK! haha.

Then they break into Jesus of Suburbia and !! the crowd gets more into and then these small girls can't handle it. I missed most of that nine minute song because people were too stupid to realize that people push and move at a concert. So people are shouting,"Get us out!" so I'm busy having security guys leaning over me and pointing to more bitches who need help out. Ok, if you're in the first row or two its all cool for you to get security to help you out. But there was this old woman who was about four people back who wanted to be lifted out. The security guy had to just give up on her cause it was useless. somehow she made it out later by being pulled over Katie and then falling and grabbing Katie's arm while going down, jerking Katie down pretty hard. Katie got more beat up then I did, apparently. She's got bruises and scratches all over. But she's proud of them. so good times!

Random Moments of Rememberance:
Now this is already too long and I can't type out every moment of the damn concert. So my favorite parts.

Dance Moves: During Brainstew/Jaded Billie Joe did that strange thing he would like to call break dancing on the front of the stage and then popped back up like a demented person. During King For a Day/Shout as they fell to the ground in the darkness Dirnt began spinning on the ground and twirling. And in the second Introduction of Tre Cool, who is a man who likes to sleep with multiple partners, he ran out from behind the drums and did the worm at the front of the stage.

Mike Dirnt and his insane faces. Goddamn. He goes all wacky. I love it. that's why I wanted to stand in front of him. He'd come out and act out things and just start hopping about like a mad man. His jumps off the monitors with leg kicks and fall out boy faces. sheesh. He was so entertaining. And he also wore cat ears during King for a Day. :) which made it better cause then he was like Cat Ear brothers with the Cat Eared Man of Sex that was still there by the guitars with his own cat ears. And when he'd get really into something and just scream into the microphone. and his beat up shoes. He had these crappy ass shoes that were scuffed and torn...lurves.

Billie Joe humping the ground during King For a Day/Shout. Cause he kept going for awhile. And his pants are too tight to moon people anymore. He came around to moon our side and just had to yank and yank and only got the top of the butt. Not a full moon. *disappointed* haha. His hip shake on our side during King For a Day was a good one. As Katie says she saw the little tattoo pop up from under his shirt and was like that little slut. They're a band of man sluts. And getting into the concert his hair was all over the place and his shirt was unbuttoned a bit like he was a sex god or something. haha. see, man sluts.

And as Katie also puts it Tre Cool looks constipated as he drums. His face contorts strangely. He was most amusing to watch too. He'd just throwing drumsticks around like a wild man. and at one point he took a microphone and started screaming and then threw it down, calmly sat back down at the drums and brushed off his shoulder like a pimp and a half. haha.

Knowledge Losers:
I do have to mention the "special" people that got to go on stage with the band to play. First they were looking for a drummer. Everybody begins jumping and pointing at the guy beside me. He's screaming and Billie doesn't look our way first, he's walking around looking...looking. and comes walking by us and sees the guy and mouths "You went last time!" He smiled and walked off looking some more. They finally get a kid who goes up and Tre's showing him and as he sits down and tries...can't do it. Tre grabs the kid and pulls him off. Billie comes back out and picks another kid who comes on stage and goes up to Tre and the first thing he says, "I can't play" Tre just looks at Billie Joe and shakes his head in disappointment. So Billie's desperately looking for a drummer, looks down at the kid who played last time, hesitates and moves on. He finally gets another kid. He jumps up like a jackass and falls flat on his face in the middle of the stage. Billie doesn't see it but Mike and Tre are laughing at the poor kid. Who gets up and says he broke his leg or something and almost knocked one of the cymbals down. Tre I guess repeats the kid to Billie Joe, who turns and yells "You broke your leg? Well these people just went through a hurricane, live with it!" haha. so the kid gets on the drums and plays.

And then they get to bassists. They pick this kid we saw in line who had a "Bass Player" sign and he gets on stage. Dirnt shows him and the kid gets on the bass and begins grooving. Then he pops the pick in his teeth and starts playing with his fingers, jumping on a speaker in front of us, eating it up. haha. He was so fucking awesome.

Then the guitar. Billie Joe points to this little kid, "How old are You?" 11. "How long you've been playing?" 3 years. "Have You Ever Had Sex With a Woman Before?" "Well, You're Going to have Sex Tonight! Get up here!" This little kid in a My Chemical Romance shirt runs up and Billie hugs him and gives him a little kiss and then wraps his guitar on him. Has to adjust the straps cause even Billie Joe's not that small. The kid can play well enough though. So they finish the song and Billie announces "You guys suck!" He points at the 11 year old and says "But you are a sexy young man. So you can keep the guitar" They've done all this before and I've seen it but the look on that kids face complete shock. He was so flabbergasted. adorable.

And though I didn't go through the hurricane myself. It was nice that Billie Joe really thanked everybody for still showing up at the show after the hurricane hit. the place was packed and considering the arena was surrounded by empty gas stations and broken street lights its a wonder it was.

This is Too Long:
A sad thing was it was the exact same set list as the last time I saw them. I was really hoping they may add Homecoming on to it...I know they've played it at some shows. But no. :( the encour was the same as well, but it was cool being able to see them up there playing when all the lights went off. the show rocked and was amazing. Much better up close. Its like i've seen the same show from two different angles. haha.

there's a bunch more but nobody's read this far anyway, so I'll stop now.