So here it is: the probably not so long awaited update from my trip to the Netherlands.
A day in the life of a Monco:
- 9 am: Got up, not that I was asleep, I just wanted to stay in bed a bit, knowing the lateness of it all tonight, tonight.
- 10 am: Noticed I was out of food, not knowing how what or when I hurried, yes I do too hurry, to the supermarket and bought candy and chocolate for the car trip to Tilburg. By the time I got home some of my excess energy was gone. But I was still stoked, a little too much I think...
- 12.30 pm: The long awaited call arrived and I went outside so my friend wouldn't wake up my upstairs neighbours because I gave her the wrong bell-ringing directions.
We drove and drove and drove, and she got angry at a couple of car drivers, frankly at some points I thought I was a goner. (No offence) She yelled at the GPS-system, I tried to keep it cool. We nearly lost our way, but thanks to the previously yelled at GPS-lady we found our way. One lesson she learned and I pretty much knew is: Bikers rule the whole Netherlands. No matter where when or how, they are right. So she started yelling at them. Again I kept my cool. Or I tried...
She parked the car with me in it, and we went on our way to the concert hall. It must have been 2.30 or something. As soon as we got there, I had to pee so I told her I'd find us a toilet and she stayed in line with all the other kids. Hehe, I got some alone time to find my inner peace, it was necessary, believe me. I got back there and she got annoyed by some dudes and dudettes waiting in line and we decided to get a drink and go pee once more. After that we stood in line again for a couple of hours. She wasn't used to it, I'm crazy enough for bands I like, so I was and had no problem with it. It's all part of the charm, yada yada yada...
Anyhow, kids started to get up and the line got longer. I think it's all part of the whole concert vibe so I didn't think much of it. Off course the whole pushing and pulling and standing next to annoying kids isn't my idea of fun, but if you want to get good seats, you gotta do what you gotta do...Suddenly a girl behind us asked us where we were from: convo started. My chaperone had a huge backpack with all kinds of stuff in and I had one of those little waist packs with the essentials: cell, money, ticket and keys. One of those girls asked her, what she was going to do with her backpack and apparently she was going to hold it between her feet. I assumed she knew that most people don't stay in one place at those concerts but I said nothing... Then came the moshpit convo: "How did she plan on leaving her bag on the ground with a forecast of moshpits?" I just assumed she knew. Turns out she didn't. I felt great, I was no longer the n00b. Hurray for me! My heart jumped at the thought that I knew the word and she didn't. So I explained... *happily*
Anyhow when they opened the door all hell broke loose. Never in my entire concert life have I experienced so many kids pushing. I thought I was going to die in there at some point. Somehow I managed to get up the stairs to the balcony where we decided to go. And upon seeing all those pits forming I knew it was the right choice. We had a good view on the stage and we got to sit before the performance. Anyhow: - 8 pm: Nailpin started their performance, I totally thought they were awesomeness, but now they can consider me a fan. (It's not just because they opened for FOB a couple of times but it says enough about their abilities...) Sean was totally awesome, and I felt so proud because I knew most of the songs and I knew some songs they played in between shows. There are a couple of bands I recognised such as: The Academy is..., The Sounds, Fall Out Boy, Simple Plan, Billy Talent, Paramore (I think), and probably more punk-rock bands. I loved the look on my friends face when she saw I knew all those bands and songs. Made me feel all good inside to know something somebody else doesn't.
It sounds childish I know but I finally found something I'm passionate about: music and alternative music. I love knowing those bands!
Anyhow, by the time the second pre-show was going to start she noticed some dude in a red beanie hat below us and she pointed out that he kinda looked like Patrick Stump. I noticed him too and I was in serious doubt. If it was him I feel so stupid for not going down, if it wasn't I feel equally stupid for staring at the dude. Come to think about it, I don't think it was because he was talking to some girls in front of him, and nobody screamed or yelled. Would he really take the risk of being recognised? I am still in doubt though because he seemed to know every word to the songs of the other pre-show band: Black Gold. And at some point he just mysteriously vanished. So I don't know. Darnit. - 9 pm: Black Gold. I expected a lot because of the lead singer Eric Ronick, who also plays for Panic, as a non-official 5th band member. But I was, I must say not swept away and they didn't interest me. I don't know, they couldn't catch my attention, and it wasn't because I just wanted the main show to start, because usually I like the pre-show bands. Except for the ones at the Mika concert. They blowed too.
- 10.30 pm: FINALLY, Panic! came on. I was totally getting into it. Frankly, I was less impressed. I didn't think it was bad, but I didn't think it was awesome either. I'm glad I went, no doubt. I still like their songs and such, but... I don't know. I liked the fact that they interacted with the audience more than last time. Brendon looked more mature and in fact his voice changed a bit. He matured I think. Spence, just looked more adult than last time. I loved him. Jon, well he was himself and he played awesome too. He plays the crowd so well. And finally Ryan, he seemed to have crawled out of his shell. He's a lot more talkative and interacts with the public more. They just generally looked more at ease. Probably because of the success last time. The whole show lasted about an hour, I think. It was short but sweet. Still I'm glad I went...
- After the show, I stopped looking at the time, we went out and waited for the dudes to come out. I got a good look at the bus, because I needed to look at something. After a good 40 minutes they told us the boys usually come out to sign stuff, but they had a long road ahead of them, they were tired and they would just hop on the bus and go. So we decided to go home as well. My friend was pissed because they didn't come out. I wasn't because I would probably do somewhat the same I think. I mean they are human and most of the time they don't have a say in this. Zach was great about it though. He's awesome, I mean he wasn't bossing around or anything. He was just generally nice.
On the drive home we had a little hiccup with finding the highway and yet again the GPS-lady was yelled at. Somewhere around the border: low and behold, we passed a turquoise bus and I recognised the html add on the side and I just went: that's Panic's bus. So we slowed down a bit to get a better look, but aww well the dudes were probably asleep. I waved and smiled at the second driver and then we had to drive on. They were driving really slow, probably normal with the equipment in the back and the people asleep in it.
After that well, you know, I came home and went to sleep. :-)So some bands you guys need to check out:
- Billy Talent
- Nailpin
- Simple Plan
- Sugarcult
- The Academy Is...
- The Sounds
- The Hush Sound
- Cobra Starship
- Gym Class Heroes (more hip-hop)
I'll post more bands when I have some more time, 'till then you'll have plenty to read. I'll post the band's play list above this one tonight, should you be interested.
Last night was 'It can't get much worse' versus 'No one should ever feel like...'
XO-reos
Monco
