Concert Goings: Cage the Elephant (5/25/11)

Oh. My. God.

10 years. 10 long years since the last time I’d seen them play live, summer after high school and in an instant it was the same. That struck me halfway through the set that it was the same, me dancing singing knowing every word just like I had in the java house. Didn't matter if they weren't the same band anymore as they were in high school. In a way they were.

From the beginning though:

Got there right on time, ran into friends who were going to see Manchester Orchestra who promptly started calling me a groupie. That was a little insulting as it's not the case. When I say I know these guys, I know these guys. I went to high school with three of them. Our friends weren’t going in right away because they had no interest in seeing Oh Brother and really neither did I so I waited with them. From where we were sitting I could see the tour buses where they were parked and then hey that's Daniel Tichenor (bassist). I didn’t go say hi because really I don’t know Tich. A minute later out comes Jared and I jumped up to go over.

Jared looked at me for a moment like he was remembering, then he was at the barricade giving me huge hugs. “Are you here for the show?” I flashed my tickets and said of course (nope just I hang out in parking lots for kicks). Showed him that I was wearing our senior year t-shirt (I thought it was fitting for the night) and he laughed then asked if I’d be at the reunion, but said he wasn’t sure he’d be there. I told him about the website and he laughed, asked if it was on facebook, but I explained that it was for tumblr. He seemed impressed and told me they were going on first tonight and that he had to go get ready. He did say he was happy I was there though which was sweet.

I went back to where my friends were who broke into calling me groupie again and then a bit later out comes Matt and Brad who seemed to be talking to important people at the barricade but I went back over and loitered until they spotted me. Matt just looked thrilled while Brad looked surprised. Hugs from both boys, full of love and more. Matt loved the shirt, tossed me a high five and told me to meet him there later.

Eventually we went in and I was soo thrilled I was practically bouncing. As soon as the music started I was jumping up and down. They played almost everything. I think almost the entire new album, plus In One Ear (much screaming), Back Against the Wall, Lotus, Ain't No Rest for the Wicked. They re-vamped No Rest for the Wicked and it was awesome. Perfect for a live crowd.





For me there was lots of jumping, dancing and screaming. Matt dove into the crowd the second song, again a little later during Tiny Robots, and I think he did the entire second verse while in the crowd. They got up him up in the air standing for the end which was great.





So awesome to see so many people singing along, to see them cheering and jumping up and down. So awesome.

I wish i could say more about Manchester Orchestra, but I don’t really know their stuff. They put on good enough of a show that I was jumping up and down at the end and dancing because their music is that good. It was neat to see them in their hometown too. I really like the song Simple Math.

Afterward I made champ stick around with me, waiting with the other fan girls for Matt to come out. It took a while, but eventually he did, and he talked to most people before getting to me. I bounced and he grinned and we hugged huge and he was just thrilled. Others kept coming up in between and I let him go because they were real fans and I’m just..a friend fan. We did another video for the website and I had him sign one of our tickets to give away.

I told him they played all my favorites and I got a ‘yeah’ and a high five and then he needed to go back to family and friends who were waiting, which was completely fine. I told him I felt bad because I’ve never actually met Lincoln or Daniel and he said ‘soon enough’ with a grin. He reached out and pulled me into another long hug, really long, whispering about how much he appreciated me being there always, all the support and love. That I had no idea how much it meant. I told him always, always always.

As he walked away he called out "high school poetry club! I haven’t forgotten that’s how we met."

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Chatting with Bryan

Early Morning Blues had an impromptu-ish acoustic show at Diesel in Boston. Needless to say I couldn't be there. Not with Cage the Elephant on Wednesday night and work on Friday. Random Thursday trips need at least a week of planning.

V, Rana and Colleen (V and Rana I met at EMB's show back in February, and Colleen is an online BLG fan buddy) were going which meant I had front row twitter/text updates. V kept me updated and even called me during "Never Leave" so I could hear it (died a little).

She texted me that if things went well after she'd have Bryan call. Right, well that'd be awesome, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Just tell him hi for me, tell him I'll see him in June and sure if he wants to talk to me then yeah, but why would he?

About an hour after being called to hear the song, the phone rings with V's name on it.

k: hey what’s up

Bry: hey Katy

k: oh! hey Bry

Bry: oh! you recognized my voice!

That's how it started. With him being surprised that I recognized his voice and him calling me by name. (He has a great speaking voice as well as singing voice. It's a shame he's not the chatty one in BLG). Really I've listened to the EMB EP about 50+ times. I think I was going to recognize it.

He said the show went well for a first acoustic show and said it’s okay that I wasn’t there, it happens. Which was sweet because it's not like I'm living down the street. We gushed about me being there in June. He asked if I was bringing Josh again. He hesitated on the relation ("your brother?") but remembered that I had brought him with me the first time. I thought that was just...really awesome.

My friends and I had talked a little about what he remembers, because he tweeted some girl who was asking if she should drive from Jersey in June to the show in Boston and told her that 'someone was coming from GA'. We (Rana and I) were surprised that he remembered, but he did and now...well he obviously remembers more than we thought. He remembers me not just some person.

He said he really appreciates me coming all that way to see him, that it means a lot. I babbled about it being worth it because they were cool and great and something else that was probably lame.

“You’ve got a lot of friends talking about you here. You’re really missed tonight.”

That made blurt that I felt special and I got a 'good' type assent in response. I had to wonder if he meant himself too, but that's pushing into fan girl territory that I don't need to be in right now. We talked about how it was just three weeks until the show, not long at all.

“I’ll see you soon.” See you soon too Bry.

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Concert Goings: The Maine (5/20/11)

It's the spring of concerts. I've managed to get myself line up for three good ones this spring/early summer. Hopefully I can add to it as the year goes (there's two later on in the year that I want to see.)

First up was The Maine with Augustana and Austin Gibbs.

Everyone knows Augustana for their song "Boston" and I saw them live forever ago with The Goo Goo Dolls and they were really good. The Maine has fast become one of my new obsessions so I figured, yes, good deal to see both.

Beat Champ there, got there later than I planned, but I always forget that the Masquerade lists what time the doors open on their website, not what time the show starts. Which meant I was just sort of chilling in the sun surrounded by 17 year olds all slutted up (really what is the POINT of a mini skirt and flouncy top at a concert?). That's not fair on the ages, they varied from 14 to 18, but they were all done up cute, with cute hair and outfits. For a show we were about to be pressed together at the Masquerade at. I was in black skinny jeans and a tank top against the heat. Best spot in line I’ve ever had at the Masque though, actually at the front of the building not halfway around the corner.

Out comes John and Kennedy (lead singer and guitarist) and the girls in line were like huh then AHHHHH. I saw some big girl crying and shaking and I thought “whoa…chillax.” I wandered towards them with the Dad in line ahead of me holding my spot, thought about saying hi and then wound up just going back to my spot in line. Called V (my concert buddy from the RI Early Morning Blues show) to talk to her. It was a good way to kill time PLUS it was someone to gush with since I was in line alone. From a distance there was a Pat (drummer) and Garrett (bass/favorite) sighting, but they were headed inside the venue.

Just as they were letting us in Pat comes by with his flip cam and totally got me on video going “wha?”. He has a tendency to record everything. I found myself in the video when it was posted later.

Got in, got a decent spot. When Champ got there he went for water and to get my shirt and bracelet but they were sold out of the shirt in a size I could fit into and then we got separated because he’s not the type to push people out of the way. I stayed surrounded by children which made me feel old and creepy but I ignored it.

First band, Hugo, was good good. I didn’t know their music but they had fun.

Austin Gibbs was awesome and totally threw down. His bassist is way cute and it was just a fun set even though I don’t know the music. Definitely looking into getting the album soon.

Augustana was great as well, though I gotta say…they could have played more old songs. I really like the new stuff, but it blends together and I don’t know it that well so I got lost in it. And they played Boston second. SECOND. Not next to last or something, which was a let down. Halfway through their set the kids got bored and when he played a slow soft one with just the acoustic guitar you could a) hear kids talking (how rude right?) and b) hear the metal band a floor or two lower. (downfall of the Masquerade. I know. Doesn't make me love it any less).

When the Maine came on the place turned into an uproar and it was ridiculous. I was in prime position for Garrett watching (because he is my favorite... and has the most energy) minus the girl in her Dirty Work tour t-shirt who kept standing in my way and shoving her big camera in front of mine (and not seeming friendly about it at all).



John was...interesting, but he did keep his shirt on the entire time. And his shirt didn’t deep V to his sternum. He actually looked rather handsome. Pretty sure he said he was high which whatever, that’s his right and he didn’t mess up his music so carry on. I’ve read that the lot of them were drunk, but they seemed fine. Music only got messed up during one song, but I think part of that was Garrett’s bass getting jacked then the crowd singing something wrong. Eventually they were back on par again.



Garrett has awesome stage energy. He bounced around the whole time, rocking out super hard. There were random moments when he’d just streak across my vision, running from one end to the other. He’s so fun to watch that I wound up watching him the whole time.





They seemed to really enjoy themselves, talking about the end of the world, how it was going to be the last show ever because the world was supposed to end the next day. Garrett teased Pat about actually being worried and Pat got all upset and embarrassed. Garrett randomly started screaming at one point b/c John tried to get the crowd screaming and he wound up leaving the whole room just looking at him. I was laughing hysterically. He also had an impressive bit of using the mic stand as a bar on his bass frets which sounded wicked if you know what to listen for rather than get caught up in him dragging the mic stand around.







Overall, really fun. Love the way the floor pitches you up off the ground in the Masque, love the energy of the small venue. Good set, good sound, lot of fun.

After we loitered trying to figure where they’d come out at. Wound up going downstairs outside after spotting Pat and Kennedy. Got Pat to sign my CD insert and got a hug when I asked for it ‘Oh of course!’ He was really super sweet.

Got Kennedy to sign my insert b/c after watching him watch the entire Austin Gibbs set from the wings and seeing his little smirk I decided he’s moved up to #3 spot in my faves.

Went upstairs again in search of Garrett, but found John whom...wasn’t worth the fan girls. Went back down again and there was Garrett!

Got up to talk to him, didn’t even have to wait long. He seemed exhausted to be honest, just worn out, forcing a smile here and there for photos and trying to be nice and friendly when he wanted a nap. He signed my insert and gladly took the photo smirking in it and everything.



Once that was done he stepped to the new girl, signing her poster, but I had my silly band that I wanted to give him so in a brief moment between girls I was like “Garrett, here” and held it out towards his hand and he was like “oh!” and let me put it on. Then he looked up and was like “For me? Wow thanks.” I nodded and smiled and squeezed his arm once more as I left, telling him he did great. That got a real smile and he said thanks, glad I enjoyed it.

All in all? great night. tons of fun, sweet guys.

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