The awesome doesn't end here, my friends. Oh no, it goes on. And oh, does it get better. How can it, you ask? Well, it all began one day before class...
I was hanging out between labs with my friend. She was done for the day, but I still had one more lab to go to before I was free. There was a stack of the student newspaper in t
he lobby, and we flipped through them out of boredom... when we saw a full-page ad for the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach. The Ballroom has been around for quite a while, since the 1800s as a concert venue, but in recent years (since the 70s) has only booked smaller, unknown acts. Under new management, the venue is now booking more famous acts... including those we saw in the ad, one of them being one of my all-time favorite bands, The All-American Rejects. Their music pretty much was the soundtrack to my teen years, so of course they hold a special place in my heart.
Immediately, we called the box office, which announced that tickets were about $25 and that it closed at 5pm. Knowing that show the WOULD sell out and that the newspaper hit stands that day, we quickly made the decision to go over there immediately, which is about a 20 minute lab (yes, I even passed in my work and bailed from my lab!) We snagged the tickets and rejoiced like MAD. And with that, my story does not end; it is only the beginning.
Early on, we realized that the venue is quite unique. The tour buses are parked right in
back;they weren't barricaded off or anything, just a low iron fence, but that was it. We also realized that we really didn't care for the opening acts and were struck with an idea: we'd wait around the buses before the show/during the opening acts and see if we could see the band at all. It was an ingenius plan, there were only 2-4 other kids who were out back. Low and behold, the drummer. Chris Gaylor, was hanging around back. I met him and got his autograph!!!! We also got a glimpse of the lead singer and bassist, Tyson Ritter, coming down the back stairs of the venue and hopping the iron fence.
After the openers were over, we went inside to find a HUGE crowd of maybe 2000 people on the floor. We made the decision to infiltrate it from the side and pushed our way to the front. People
always do that at shows and it pisses me off to no end, but hey, this show was important to me and I'll never see those people again... so I made the decision to make the most of my show and to get the most out of it I could. We got to about midway through the pack when the show started. It was ELECTRIFYING! There were flames and pyrotechnical displays everywhere you looked, which I was not expecting at a venue that small. Lights flashes and the bass throbbed and reverberated throughout the room. Everyone started jumping when all of a sudden, I felt something hit my face and landed in my palm. It was a guitar pick that one of the band members (probably Tyson or Mike) threw into the crowd. And it landed IN MY PALM. Wow!!!! If that's not remarkable, I don't know what is.
We pushed our way closer and I got to be in the "third row" of the sardine-packe
d crowd. Since it was Tyson's 25th birthday, they brought out a cake and champagne, and Tyson blew out the candles and shot the alcohol out into the crowd, spraying everyone within close range, including me. They gave him a silver and pink tiara to wear and he danced about the stage, even kissing Mike, one of the guitarists. XD
The show ended on a high note and the guys came back out after a ridiculously demanded encore. People stomped their feet saying HAPpy BIRTHday! They played an encore set and threw some autographed setlists out into the crowd.
Tyson and his tiara XD
After the show, we weren't sure if we should stick around or not. I hate what-ifs, so we did. After security encouraged people to leave, saying the band left, many people did leave... but we didn't. A security girl emphasised they were gone, but I didn't buy this girl's act, although she did give me an official setlist as a gift. Low and behold, they were lying (wow, who KNEW huh?). Nick Wheeler, the lead guitarist and cofounder, came out and met us in the parking lot. He gave us autographs, took a pic with me and chatted with my friend on my phone (who was wasted btw, funny story....). He asked me for my name and generally was the sweetest person I've ever talked to (he lives up to his reputation as one of the nicest celebs out there!).
We hung around some more and met up with Chris again. A roadie swung by with about half of
Tyson's birthday cake. They couldn't take it with them so they GAVE IT TO ME. It was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, most likely because I hadn't eaten all day and it was past midnight. Then Mike Kennerty and his gf and dog came by. He kept apologizing that he'd be back in a short bit, which I reassured him was MORE than fine - after all HE'S the rockstar and I'M the grateful fan!!! He's a lot nicer than what other people claim him to be! Tyson, Nick and Chris were already on the bus. It was beginning to pull away and Mike had to chase after it!!!
Mike Kennerty & I
All in all, they are the sweetest guys you could ever talk to and were incredibly friendly and patient. They didn't mind at all meeting me and Bri in the parking lot and just chatting it up. I've been to many MANY concerts, and I've even seen AAR before on their Move Along tour, but this just takes the cake by FAR.
I never would have been able to accomplish this at a bigger, more private venue in, say, Boston, and I certainly would never have known about the concert (it was announced late) had I not seen the paper. Moral of the story kids - don't be afraid of spontaneity and going after what you want! If you don't take a risk, you'll never know what you're missing out on!!! :D
*Swoons*
I was hanging out between labs with my friend. She was done for the day, but I still had one more lab to go to before I was free. There was a stack of the student newspaper in t
he lobby, and we flipped through them out of boredom... when we saw a full-page ad for the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach. The Ballroom has been around for quite a while, since the 1800s as a concert venue, but in recent years (since the 70s) has only booked smaller, unknown acts. Under new management, the venue is now booking more famous acts... including those we saw in the ad, one of them being one of my all-time favorite bands, The All-American Rejects. Their music pretty much was the soundtrack to my teen years, so of course they hold a special place in my heart.Immediately, we called the box office, which announced that tickets were about $25 and that it closed at 5pm. Knowing that show the WOULD sell out and that the newspaper hit stands that day, we quickly made the decision to go over there immediately, which is about a 20 minute lab (yes, I even passed in my work and bailed from my lab!) We snagged the tickets and rejoiced like MAD. And with that, my story does not end; it is only the beginning.
Early on, we realized that the venue is quite unique. The tour buses are parked right in
back;they weren't barricaded off or anything, just a low iron fence, but that was it. We also realized that we really didn't care for the opening acts and were struck with an idea: we'd wait around the buses before the show/during the opening acts and see if we could see the band at all. It was an ingenius plan, there were only 2-4 other kids who were out back. Low and behold, the drummer. Chris Gaylor, was hanging around back. I met him and got his autograph!!!! We also got a glimpse of the lead singer and bassist, Tyson Ritter, coming down the back stairs of the venue and hopping the iron fence.
A very mobile and agile Tyson LOL
After the openers were over, we went inside to find a HUGE crowd of maybe 2000 people on the floor. We made the decision to infiltrate it from the side and pushed our way to the front. People
always do that at shows and it pisses me off to no end, but hey, this show was important to me and I'll never see those people again... so I made the decision to make the most of my show and to get the most out of it I could. We got to about midway through the pack when the show started. It was ELECTRIFYING! There were flames and pyrotechnical displays everywhere you looked, which I was not expecting at a venue that small. Lights flashes and the bass throbbed and reverberated throughout the room. Everyone started jumping when all of a sudden, I felt something hit my face and landed in my palm. It was a guitar pick that one of the band members (probably Tyson or Mike) threw into the crowd. And it landed IN MY PALM. Wow!!!! If that's not remarkable, I don't know what is.
Nick Wheeler & Mike Kennerty
We pushed our way closer and I got to be in the "third row" of the sardine-packe
d crowd. Since it was Tyson's 25th birthday, they brought out a cake and champagne, and Tyson blew out the candles and shot the alcohol out into the crowd, spraying everyone within close range, including me. They gave him a silver and pink tiara to wear and he danced about the stage, even kissing Mike, one of the guitarists. XDThe show ended on a high note and the guys came back out after a ridiculously demanded encore. People stomped their feet saying HAPpy BIRTHday! They played an encore set and threw some autographed setlists out into the crowd.
Tyson and his tiara XD
After the show, we weren't sure if we should stick around or not. I hate what-ifs, so we did. After security encouraged people to leave, saying the band left, many people did leave... but we didn't. A security girl emphasised they were gone, but I didn't buy this girl's act, although she did give me an official setlist as a gift. Low and behold, they were lying (wow, who KNEW huh?). Nick Wheeler, the lead guitarist and cofounder, came out and met us in the parking lot. He gave us autographs, took a pic with me and chatted with my friend on my phone (who was wasted btw, funny story....). He asked me for my name and generally was the sweetest person I've ever talked to (he lives up to his reputation as one of the nicest celebs out there!).We hung around some more and met up with Chris again. A roadie swung by with about half of
Tyson's birthday cake. They couldn't take it with them so they GAVE IT TO ME. It was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, most likely because I hadn't eaten all day and it was past midnight. Then Mike Kennerty and his gf and dog came by. He kept apologizing that he'd be back in a short bit, which I reassured him was MORE than fine - after all HE'S the rockstar and I'M the grateful fan!!! He's a lot nicer than what other people claim him to be! Tyson, Nick and Chris were already on the bus. It was beginning to pull away and Mike had to chase after it!!!
Mike Kennerty & I
All in all, they are the sweetest guys you could ever talk to and were incredibly friendly and patient. They didn't mind at all meeting me and Bri in the parking lot and just chatting it up. I've been to many MANY concerts, and I've even seen AAR before on their Move Along tour, but this just takes the cake by FAR.I never would have been able to accomplish this at a bigger, more private venue in, say, Boston, and I certainly would never have known about the concert (it was announced late) had I not seen the paper. Moral of the story kids - don't be afraid of spontaneity and going after what you want! If you don't take a risk, you'll never know what you're missing out on!!! :D
*Swoons*
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