The ghost of shows past

Tying in with my last blog. I've been feeling nostalgic lately for shows past. I never took pictures at a show but I did tend to take some after at times. I was looking at some pictures I have from those days (and yes most are of AFI, ignore my sometimes slight fangirl tenancies with them, I just love them so much)....

*disclaimer* Though I did love hanging around bands, and had many friends who were musicians, I was NOT a groupie. Calling me a groupie will result in having your head ripped off and shoved down your neck hole. Ok, now that that's sorted, moving on.... ;)

This was when Me, Jake, Adam, Justin, and Bex had won a contest in which five of us were taken to a Green Day show in a limo and taken back to meet the band. I've heard from people that they were stuck up. I didn't think so, I found them to be three pretty cool guys. They were super nice and put on a good show.

Chicago. Me and Bex are walking to a Starbucks (ok running) when we happened upon Davey ( AFI). And Smith took our picture for us. Nerdy I know, but I love this man. And he like my Creatures shirt. Good times. :)

The Puget brother sandwich. Jade and Smith. One of my favorite moments. Also possibly my favorite picture. Taken the same day as the last picture, during my three show AFI streak.
Fact: you can never see AFI too many times.

Me and Jade (AFI) about....2006? Such a sweet guy.

After long last I finally got to meet Hunter (AFI). Not only did I meet him but hung out and talked to him for a good hour. To make amends for being so elusive he brought offerings of granola bars. Enjoy our wonderful picture complete with stupid faces.

Me and Bill with Adam(AFI). Eryn kinda pushed us into a picture. hehe
He looks scared in this picture, ha. He wasn't. :) He's a rad guy, just like the rest of his band.

Me Eryn and Smith (AFI tour manager). Flipping off the next generation. ;)
Me and Dexter Holland (The Offspring) at a Warped Tour. I don't think either of us were prepared for a picture. Hence while we are still talking as it's being taken. I'm not usually a 'picture getter' but hey. :)

Me and Jenna (aka Marge) with Tiger Army. Nick 13 is another person people say is unpleasant to meet. I was really nice to me. *shrug* I also enjoy geoff diving over the table to get in the pic.

Me and Kim Nekroman (Nekromantix)at a bar in Iowa. Yes, Iowa.

Lars Fredrickson (Rancid). He kept calling me 'little Sammi' ha.

Quinn (the used) with Sara and Bex. This was after project Revolution (aka the show of death) he was a bit inebriated and followed us around. At one point jumping on my back saying 'i'm tired! carry me!' Next time I saw him he was a bit more clear headed heh.

Me and Ryan (The Distillers) right after he had stolen a HIM pin from my coat. (I kinda miss my coat of a million pins)
Brody Dalle (The Distillers) after she randomly signed my shirt "I love that shirt! I'm gonna sign it!"and hugged me continuously in her somewhat drunkened state. I was completely ok with that. I love this gorgeous woman. And I miss this band.
Going back to about....2003? Back when people still said "who's AFI" when I told them who my favorite band was. I think I'm about 18(?) here and meeting my them for the first time. Me and Jade. Pictures are always after shows when my makeup is sweated off, oh well, I'm happy.

Same night, meeting Davey. Apparently because I kept hugging him over and over he just held on to me like that while he talked to people. And me being my little 18 year old self was about to explode with uncontained joy. Hell, I would still feel that way at 24 if he did that. :)

Getting a hug. I love this picture so much. Especially because he's smiling, he wouldn't smile for pictures but he did for mine. And because, again, I'm a nerd and I love him, I felt special. :)

Jade, "what kind of picture should we take? I know I'll punch you in the face!" hehe Jade and Nissa.

Matt (Limbeck) one of the many times we went to a Limbeck show. They were awesome guys and I miss them. This pic shows Matt instructing others how to properly eat cornflakes while a random man (a cousin i think) poses in the background. This night also included such moments as Justin, the bass player stomping through a flower garden swinging Jenna's camera. "You suck I don't want to go back in the van! for serious!"
Me and Patrick (Limbeck) SQUEEZE! These pics are from...jeez, 2004 -5 maybe?

Lastly we will jump to the most recent of times. Me and Brendon Small (Dethklok) now this is awesome because it feeds both my music side and my nerdy cartoon enthusiast side.


Yeah so there we go, I have more pictures of such things in a shoebox. You know, when people didn't have digital cameras. Some of these are old non-digital pics (if you couldn't tell by the graininess). But these were what I had on my computer and thought I would take a nostalgic moment. Lots of stories and memories behind these pics alone. Going to shows with my good friends was a big part of my life back in the day. With random road trips to Cali, Oklahoma, Chicago, Iowa....I need to make some more memories now, because I don't want these good times to stop.

Annoyance. A List.

After getting into a discussion on this subject recently I decided to make this little blog with the subject.....

10 worst things at a show (in no particular order):


1.) "stop pushing!"

Now this is annoying, kids if you insist on being in the front for a show you must expect pushing. A lot of people want to be right in front and they for some reason believe if you shove people ahead of you they will get there. It is a common thing and completely unavoidable. If you can't take it, you really shouldn't be in the front. And doing the whole '1 2 3 push back' thing just makes things worse. It's simple, if you want to be in the front you need to be able to stand your ground and take some hits, and sometimes be crushed. So stop bitching!


2.) Crowd surfers

This is the single most annoying thing at a show in my opinion. The only time I think it's ok is when someone is crowdsurfing to get to the front because it is their only means of getting out of the crowd. Such as the 'stop pushing' kids that can't take the crushing. That's fine. But the assholes that land on your head while going 'whoooo!' need to be exterminated. Especially the ones that go up multiple times. I find it hilarious when these people get dropped to the floor. That may sound mean, but I've sustained many an injury from them and feel no sympathy when they get hurt for engaging in their jackassery. I also find it hilarious when a girl goes up and gets her flip flops stolen or a hand up her skirt. What did you think was going to happen? Stupid.


3.) Kids that think every show is a hardcore show

Ok...If you are seeing a band like, oh idk New Found Glory, you do not NOT need to go in a 'mosh pit' and thrash. The 14 year old kid flailing his arms around and kicking, it's just sad. At every show, there is always a couple of them. Even at shows where there is a proper, potentially fun, mosh pit you always have a couple of those idiots ruining it. And I would bet every cent I have that none of those kids have actually been to a real hardcore show in their life. I think because culture is so deluded now those kids actually think that's what you do in a most pit. It's not.


4.) Screamers

I hate hate hate the girls that seem to think they are at a backstreet boys concert. Really now, it's sad how these girls now cling to bands. It makes me miss the boy bands actually so these girls will go there and leave the real bands alone. Yes girls, Davey Havok is hot, but you do NOT need to shriek like a rabid fangirl every time he comes over by you. Especially when it's right in my ear. Then I have to pose a death threat to a 15 year old so I can salvage my hearing. Not a good time.


5.) The Statues

These people annoy me so. They are the ones who want to stand completely still throughout the show and if anyone knocks into them in some way they get pissed. Now yes, some shows it is appropriate to just stand. If it's one of those where everyone is spaced out just watching, like when I saw The Cure for example. But even then, if someone dances a little that's fine. But shows where everyone is kinda crushed together, or it's a big crowd....dance, mosh, have fun! That's what I do. And I've been yelled at by people for doing so. Really? I mean aren't concerts supposed to be fun? So many people now just want to stand, they don't want to be touched. Then stay in the back. Though I like to have fun.


6.) "I want to remember it"

These are the people that record every second of the show on their camera or phone. You are trying to watch the show and you constantly have someones phone up by your face blocking your view. When you say 'why don't you just WATCH the show' they say "I want to remember it" what? How can you remember a show you didn't even pay attention to? I don't know but I think if I wanted to watch an entire show through a screen I would have just staying home and watched videos of it. You are missing the entire 'live' experience, and it's that the whole point? Even when you watch videos of shows you see the whole crowd lit up with screens of people recording. IDK maybe I'm sounding old, but I like just going to a show and watching it, I don't need anything with me and I keep my memories in my head. I don't have pictures of the best shows I have been to, but I have a lot of memories. And I can remember every show without any video documentation.


7.) "Your going to get hurt little girl"

This one pertains to girls, such as myself. And it is both funny and annoying. It's like this I'm in the crowd by some guys, they look at me and tell me things like 'oh your little, you're going to get hurt' and 'oh she's not getting up here' 'girls shouldn't be up here' 'girls can't mosh' it's annoying. The funny part is when I not only stay where I am with no trouble, but I move them. It's not about size or gender, it's about knowing what you are doing. I have been to many many shows of all kinds and been in many a mosh pit. I know how to handle myself. It's also very satisfying to see the guy that picked on you leave because he can't take the crowd while you are still going.


8.) The Drunks

Now some people like to drink at shows, that's fine. But what I don't get are the people that say 'this is my favorite band!' then they get so plastered that there is no way in hell they will remember it. Especially at the more expensive shows. You pay all that money to go and wipe your memory of even being there? I also hate when these same people bring their beer into the crowd and not so much drink it as let everyone around them wear it. Also don't lean on me for support because you are too drunk to stand, I'm just going to let you fall to the floor. Ugh.


9.) The Fight for Swag

Ok I can see how it might be neat to catch a drumstick or a pick from your fav band. But what I don't understand are the people that practically kill each other to get it. What's more annoying is when you are caught in the fight and could care less about what is being fought over. Like when everyone next to you is fighting over a drumstick and you are waiting for it to come up and beam you in the head. I've been scratched by these little battles before and I wasn't even trying for it! They literally bite and scratch each other to get these things. I just don't get it.


10.) Hecklers

This is so pointless. These are the people that when they don't like, say, the opening band, they yell 'boo you suck!' or other such nonsense. Now I think the person is just making himself look like an asshole. I can see not liking a band. I've sat through some pretty horrendous openers before. Some of them were genuinely just BAD, however I didn't feel the need to make a spectacle of myself to yell out what most people probably already knew. I mean come on, if you don't like the band just sit there and wait it out. Pick on the band with your friends next to you. Or just stand there and look bored, or hey go do something else until the band is done. Go to the merch booth or something. You don't have to act like a douche and annoy everyone around you. Just shut up. every band deserves a tiny bit of respect either way, even if they suck, because they did something right to even be on the stage. I don't see the guy yelling 'boo' up there.


Well that's what I got. There's probably more. Just kinda a venting thinking out loud kind of thing. Obviously not all these apply to every show, but hey. Just stuff I've experienced many times in the past. Seems the younger the audience the worse these things get. I sound old saying this, but I miss the crowds of days gone by. I think kids just don't know how to act at shows because now adays they are exposed to such shitty music and a lack of decent culture. I think parents need to step it up and teach kids how to really experience music and live shows. Because those things are some of the best things in the world.

Awesomeness Ahoy!

I thought for the hell of it I shall make a blog about things lately that I find awesome.

First up. The Concrete Blonde show I went to on Saturday. Now most of you probably know how excited I was for that. I was because they are one of my all time favorite bands. They had broken up and were no longer touring, this just happened to be the 20th anniversary of their cd 'bloodletting' so they did a small tour. I never thought I would get to see them. So me and my brother Jeremy (who got me into them in the first place) went. My friend Eryn was there as well. It was super fun and they were awesome. Johnette Napolitano is an amazing woman and also my favorite singer, she's just so...awesome.....
(Yeah I didn't take these pics, I stole them)

Next up, I came across a series of comics on DA called 'Scandinavia and the world' by an artist named Humon. They are freaking hilarious, I recommend checking it out. http://humon.deviantart.com/gallery/#Scandinavia-and-the-World


Next up, every year me and Bill watch the show 'Britian's got talent' the neither of my favorites won :( my favorites being these two:





and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RDiBxbT_CA

The second vid I couldn't find an embed code to. But you can see it that way if you care to. Seems I like dancers :)

Let's see, what else?........


I think that will be all for today. I need to keep up with this thing some more. I'm not sure if anyone reads it really but it's fun to do. And I made it all snazzy. :)

Stay Slunchy

Creepy Childhood Nostalgia

This is a book from my childhood called "Grandpa's Ghost Stories" by James Flora. It's rad as hell and I've spent a couple years trying to remember the name of it. Recently my brother told me what is was. However, it seems I can't buy this book because it is out of print and buying a used copy is at least $100. Which sucks because this book is awesome. It's super creepy and kind of freaked me out as a little kid, but at the same time I loved it and read it all the time.

I can't have the book now but it seems someone did a few little videos reading the book and making a little animation with the illustrations. I guess it's the closest I have right now to being able to read it. This sure brings back memories though.










So awesome....