Mansfield, Massachusetts
Hello, everyone! Can I just say that this concert was musically AMAZING. We have had some great concert experiences, meeting people or having our signs read by the band etc. But this one was the best ever in terms of the band gettin’ its groove on and playing ‘til they dropped!
Zindo and I stayed up almost all night the night before. We were going to try to win front row tickets the next morning (on the radio), but we just simply could not wake up at six o’clock. We knew we wouldn’t win anyway! So we got to the venue at about quarter after three. We met up with Evangelion and his dad and Kellyanne and her buddies. And we waited around until we could get our fan club tickets at four. During that time, the people who were coming to the soundcheck party were given their little stickers and told where to go. That part was really frustrating for us. One girl who was going to the soundcheck turned to her friend and asked, "So, what’s the name of this band again?" It just wasn’t fair. We asked the guy if he had any openings, but, no dice. Typical.
So instead we decided to hang around some more (I love "Hang"! Just had to add that.) Soon after that we met MrsIsaac and her friend. Then Alix and Tadpole (did I get that name right?) showed up. They were all awesome. So we all got in line to get our tickets. Zindo and I were first and we got section 2, rox Q. It was center, but I was ticked off at first because I wanted closer. But Zindo wacked me on the back of the head and reminded me that we were lucky to not have lawn tickets. As usual, she was right.
Then we decided to hang out around the gate where the buses were driving in. We saw the buses, waved, yelled, and threw our signs around like the super cool people we are. (lol) After we were waiting around the gate awhile, MrsIsaac’s friend decided to check out the dirt road that lead around the back of the venue. So she and MrsIsaac, Zindo, AlixtheGreat, and I all walked around back just to see where it led. We found ourselves (after braving the oncoming cars, a sludge-filled man-eating puddle, and flesh-scratching bushes, not to mention blood-sucking ticks and killer caterpillars) behind the lawn section of the venue. And what do we hear!???? THE SOUNDCHECK!! So we, after jumping around and exclaiming over our good fortune, take a load off and sit and listen to a wonderful soundcheck. Who needs to see it? We just needed to hear our boys!
After soundcheck (and screaming applause from us, which must have confused the people in the venue…Where are those screams coming from?!) we returned to the front gates and waited in line to get in. Once in we made a mad dash for the t-shirt stand and, I must say, did not spend as much as we normally do. Of course, we could probably fund a small nation on the money that we normally spend on memorabilia. But, we save it for that specific purpose! Why not use it all? (lol) Check out Zindo’s blitz for very specific details on prices and selection. Prices have really gone up since last tour, though.
Our seats were great! While the roadies were setting up for Seven Mary Three I thought I saw Paul, but he seemed to be about a foot taller than normal. Turns out it was one of the guitarists from Train (awesome group, by the by). He is very cute. You would know him once you saw him. There is a definite resemblance.
So Seven Mary Three came and went. The drummer was cool and responded to our sign that said, "How was your day?" I love drummers. ::sighs happily:: Then, after they were through Zindo and I went up onto the lawn and passed out our Matchbox Twenty bumper stickers, bootlegs and ads for "Rain In Boxes" http://jump.to/mb20 . They went REALLY fast. I felt bad having to tell people that we didn’t have any more bumper stickers.
We got back in time for Train. They were awesome!! They also saw our sign and smiled. I blew a kiss to the Paul look-a-like guitarist. He pretended to catch it and held it to his heart. I LOVE HIM!!! Very cool guy. Pat from Train is a sexy lil’ son of a bitch! (lol) He knows how to work it man! He dedicated the song, "Hopeless" to "a guy named Adam in Matchbox Twenty…this describes his sex life pretty well." Ooooooo! (lol) Train is a great band. Go out and buy their records.
During Matchbox set-up we decided to add some stuff to our signs. Zindo made a sign that said, "Adam, you’re not "Hopeless!" Mine said on the front, "Paul ‘the Destroyer’ Doucette" and on the back it said, "Our Big Drummer Boy." Although this time Rob introduced him as Paul ‘the Manic’ Doucette. Hmmm.
When we heard the great Michael Jackson song start playing we freaked out entirely. Everyone thought we were pretty weird to be screaming about some pre-recorded Michael Jackson song. But we knew better! Matchbox was about to appear!
So the guys came on (See Zindo’s blitz for complete set-list, quotes, and other tidbits) and were really rocking out. By the time the concert was over they played 21 songs. They went through all the regular song list and did a whole bunch of lil’ extras for us all. Pookie was looking around and being all social. He did this really cute thing with his hands when he wasn’t playing. He let them move to the music. Watch him, you’ll see what I mean. Rob was shaking his head around like crazy. I think he was enjoying those beautiful curls. Kyle, on the other hand, was freshly shaven. Rob certainly enjoys rubbing his head. I would too! Adam was a sweetheart, as usual, but he seemed a little tired tonight. I hope he gets a good night’s sleep and has a good day tomorrow. Paul was whipping his head around like he was possessed! It was great.
Now you’ve all heard about the set-up of the stage. There are three platforms, about five feet tall. Ben Stivers (keyboard) is on the one on the left. Paulie ‘the Destroyer’ is on the one in the middle. Rob’s piano is on the one on the right. There must be some heavy duty supports on it, too! I’m not saying anything against Rob, but I always thought jumping on top of a piano would break it. (lol) Rob obviously has a "special" piano.
They announced that "Last Beautiful Girl" was their next single. Rob commented on Kyle’s "lovely" singing. Of course he sings lovely! We always knew that! Rob even took time out to specify which organizations at the venue were endorsed by the band. He just wanted everyone to know that the band has nothing to do with things like Dunkin Donuts, Pringles and all the other advertisements that were being thrown at us. He encouraged everybody to go check out the Amnesty International booth, Planned Parenthood, and the John Lennon Songwriter Contest. And he told everyone to make sure they picked up one of the free Trojans in case they were thinking of hooking up later on. (That’s our Robbie! Always thinking ahead.) When he was finished with that little speech, he gave the piece of paper that he wrote all the names on to someone in the first couple of rows. Lucky.
It was right around this point that Rob announced that, "If you’re not having a good time now. Fuck. There’s nothing we can do for you." But he didn’t have to worry. The whole place was crazy. He went on to say that, "We’re not ones to go sticking our tongues in other people’s asses, but you guys [meaning, the crowd] have been the best one we’ve played to in a while." The place went wild for that. Then he dedicated the next song ("Remedy") to the people in the lawn section saying, "I betcha you’re damn happy that it didn’t rain! You’re so far away, and yet so frickin’ loud!" "Remedy" rocked!
They kept going right up until "Mad Season." That was when Robbie broke out the video camera. He loves that thing! At one point, he was swinging it around by the wire. I was afraid it was going to go flying off into the crowd and hurt someone. I don’t think they would have really minded. (lol) He did the necessary crotch shots of Kyle (wahoo!) and got into this weird position where he was on his knees in front of Kyle, and Kyle was playing right into the camera. Oh, we enjoyed that part! Then they said good bye and walked off. But we weren’t through with them yet!
They were back onstage in no time. The crowd would not stop screaming. Can you imagine if they were playing a show and the people didn’t want an encore? ::shudders:: But they came back on. Now, this woman in front of us had this sign that said, "Please do ‘Hang’!" When they came back out Rob had his acoustic and started strumming. First he said he was just playing a bit of "Jessie’s Girl." But then he started in on the song. It was a different intro, but we knew what song he was playing right away. Everyone went insane. ‘Cuz the boys played "Hang"!!!!! Took my breath away.
They followed that up with the Lennon cover saying, "Sometimes you just need a song that’s happy." I love how they can take a song, cover it, do the original songwriter justice, but at the same time make it sound like their own. Wonderful. After that was "If You’re Gone" which I had expected them to play earlier on in the set. Not that I’m complaining. Everyone sang along to that, too. It was so cool when they broke into "Stop." Great rock song. Got everyone really, really pumped up. Lighting was great, too. The lights are in time with the drumming for the most part. Very cool effect.
Then, our wonderful show came to a riotous conclusion with "Push." It was a really good way to end the show. Everyone was singing along and getting really into it. They said goodbye, thank you, and waved to everyone. Paulie threw him drumstick to someone, but I think she wasn’t able to get it. He shrugged his shoulders and had a look on his face like, "Sorry!" What can he really do? (lol) It’s not like he can jump into the crowd and give it. But he tried. That’s all that matters.
We high-tailed it out (after trying unsuccessfully to get a set-list..plah!) and made for the buses. We waited around for about an hour and chatted with everyone. I saw Amanda and her friends and my friend Marie and her friend. Then we met Doug the Dancing Guitar Tech (Orpheum Theatre, March 21, 1998...you people know what I’m talking about), which just about made my day. Of course, I didn’t know it was Doug when I was talking to him. He just asked how we liked the show and the covers and stuff. I said, "As if they could do anything we wouldn’t like!" He replied that there was a lot of early stuff that they shouldn’t have done and that now they can’t believe they did. I thought that was funny. Nice guy. The guys didn’t come out. But here’s hoping for Hartford or Holmdel! ::crosses fingers:: If you read this far you deserve a cookie. But I don’t have one for you. Sorry. Just my undying devotion. (lol) Hope you enjoyed this half as much as I enjoyed the show! Rock on!