Washington D.C.
First let me say that anyone with a concert left to see is in for an incredible evening. We were blown away at the Patriot Center last night, and that was after an even more incredible afternoon! Mbtyahyah, my two sisters and I got to the Patriot Center around mid-afternoon to check out the line situation. There were some people milling around, but not too bad yet, so we walked around the corner to where the buses were. We saw they were set up for a photo session on some lawn across the way and that turned out to be for the Lifehouse guys. While that was going on, a another tour bus backed in & soon a van pulled up nearby and it was Kyle, his wife and daughter. They were transferring their luggage back onto the tour bus, but after that, Kyle came over and spoke with the few people gathered there. I was so impressed with his sweetness, and the group of fans (young and yah yah, alike) were also very well mannered and it paid off - big time! I ran to my car and got my limited edition MS CD & he signed that. He introduced his daughter & wife and told everyone.."Everyone wave at Mackenzie"...so we all waved & shouted "Hello Mackenzie" but she wasn't looking our way, so Kyle said..."Wait...do it again." So, of course, we all did - LOL! He took lots of pictures with people & was so gracious. Then he said good bye & got back on the bus with his family.
At that point, Mbtyahyah needed more film & we felt so lucky to have seen Kyle, so we decided to leave when 2 more tour buses started backing in & we thought we might wait a second before we go just in case...and then we saw Paul's puppy (Sophie?) & sure enough, Paul and Adam, & Adam's girlfriend (she's gorgeous!)all got out. First Adam came over...he is so great! Kind to everyone & so sweet. They didn't have time to take pictures with people and seemed most apologetic, but they signed tons of autographs (naturally the crowd had grown) and spoke with everyone up and down the line. Paul was so handsome and so smart and funny. I was snapping away trying to take pics & Mbtyahyah managed to get my CD signed for me! (THANK YOU!!) Then I heard my sister say - "OMG - there's Rob" and sure enough, there he was. At first he had his back to us & he had on his crazy stars & stripes ski hat...but I'd recognize that, uh, back anywhere! Apparently he had just given Marisol a kiss, but I missed that sweet scene! Marisol is an incredible beauty, but so warm and natural seeming. So Jason came over and said Rob was coming over, but couldn't take pictures with anyone, but would sign things, etc. He started at one end and was so sweet, taking his time, talking to everyone, & signing his poor little fingers to the bone. Again I tried to take pics & mbtyahyah got the autograph for me....but I paid her back when I went to the far end of the line and got him to sign one for her as well & even managed a little conversation. He is so relaxed and accessible you instantly feel like you can just talk like you'd talk to your friends. I had never met him before and boy are Rob's eyes are absolutely gorgeous in person! I've seen some incredible pictures - but the real thing is startling! Marisol also came over and spoke to everyone for a bit. I will tell you this, Jason takes such GOOD CARE of those two...and I am SO GLAD he is there. And Jason - Wow! What a cutie he is! His pictures do NOT do him justice!
So, we felt like we had hit the jackpot. We thought we were just dropping by to check out the status of the line and ambled right over to this incredible opportunity - what FUN! I was so glad my sisters were there to enjoy it with us, because I don't think I could have ever explained it to them! We quickly left to get more film & get back in line for the concert.
We ended up getting great seats right near the front on the side at a perfect 45 degree angle so we could see the bands perfectly. The place was jammed from the beginning, since it was general admission, and that really seemed to set the tone for the evening. Lifehouse came out to a packed house and just rocked! That Jason Wade has an incredible stage presence already...I can see he will get even better with time...then WATCH OUT! They only sang about 4 -5 songs (fortunately most of my favorites) but they were great and the crowd really showed their appreciation. Everclear was also excellent. Art was in tip-top form...although a little annoyed at a guy who kept pestering him for guitar pics - LOL! ("Hey wait a minute - are you here to hear Everclear or just to collect f**king guitar pics?") The crowd roared when he said that! He got a bunch of people up on stage to dance during "Rock Star" including a very young boy who had the time of his life. When they were done Art gave them all hugs with an especially big one to the little boy. It was so sweet! I wasn't sure what to expect from Everclear (other than knowing their songs), but they were great - full of energy and fun & I thoroughly enjoyed them.
Needless to say, MB20 just plain old brought down the house! When that white curtain dropped and we saw Rob was wearing black leather pants, well...the day could have stopped right there! Meeting the band & leather pants all in one day was almost too much for these Yah Yah's!! But, the opening number just cranked and everyone was on their feet singing along to every song! Rob was so energetic...dancing and joking and doing ALL kinds of new moves - you will just have to see to believe!
Kyle was absolutely brilliant on that guitar & had on a striped knit shirt, maybe red or brownish pants. (Amazing how quickly you forget...and last night I kept saying to myself over and over what they were wearing so I could tell you!) Adam was so cool & he had on a dark button down shirt & of course, his sneaks, Pookie was ALL OVER the place & I'm not even sure what he wore - but he looked great! (We never did see him that afternoon so we figured he was taking advantage of a sunny warm day off & playing golf somewhere!) And Paul - wow, I could really see him play this time and he is so precise - so totally ON. It's hard to explain - but what a drummer! They did a lot of improvisational openings and switching around the music, adding extended breaks and new bits and pieces - FANTASTIC! They sang Lonely Weekend and boy - they could put that out as a single and it would shoot right to #1! Back to Good was almost too much to bear......so, so good!
Rob spoke a lot, joked around a lot. Some body threw a bra up on stage & he just looked down at it, shook his head & said, "Well, I guess it's getting HOT in here!" Near the end, Rob was so gracious, thanking Lifehouse, Everclear, the crew & staff...it was just an evening filled with good feelings from all three bands - really neat. (Art from Everclear said - "Wow, wait until I tell the Matchbox boys about this crowd - they're going to go nuts!") Oh & when they did B & W People at the end, they added some little bit in the middle that was SO bluesy and sexy...but I don't recognize the song. If anyone knows what the heck he was singing - PLEASE tell me........it brought down the house! Anyway...this is already WAY too long, so I'll stop rambling on now. I have been to a lot of concerts in this Yah Yah lifetime, even met several rock artists, but these guys (& the Lifehouse boys, who we met afterwards) are some of the kindest, most genuine musicians I have ever seen. It just warmed our hearts...that's the only way to explain it. It was a perfect day topped off by a perfect evening & I feel lucky to have experienced it! Ya'll have a blast at the next concert...we warmed them up real good for you!