Views from the Pit...
Luckily, it's overcast in Chicago and only about eighty degrees with a decent breeze, cause your slammed against people.
There are at least 700 people crammed into about fifty square feet and their all shoving at you.
You look around and see your 13 year old sister, it's her first time in the pit; you see Kayla all 110 pounds of rockstar awesomeness rocking out the white sunglasses, and Dj Ambi~Erin bouncing, ready.
You tell your sister the rules.
"Fight the person, not the crowd. If you get hit, hit back. If the crowd surges, go with it. Try to keep your feet on the ground, but if you get lifted let it carry you."
She bounces slightly telling you she understands, but there's 13 years between you and you know she's never seen anything like this.
Ever.
Music starts and the crowd begins to move.
DJ Ambi~Erin moves and gets punched in the face.
She tastes blood and panics.
She dodges to the right and shoves her way out of the crowd.
One gone.
You look at Allie, she's spun around and wants out.
She pushed toward you, you look for Kayla, but she isn't there.
You spin frantically, trying to see where she is while keeping an eye on the baby.
Allie's making her way away from you, You make a decision.
Get Allie out.
Kayla's been in the pit before, she'll be ok.
You get Allie and begin to push.
Your fighting.
She's fighting.
Push shove step.
You're moving.
Push shove step.
She's in flip flops and loses one.
Push shove step.
You're holding people off of her.
Push shove step.
She gets enough room to grab the shoe.
Someone lands on her.
SHOVE.
You get him off.
She looks at you.
"I can't breathe! Get me out of here!"
This child.
You changed her diapers, you rocked her to sleep.
She tumbled into your arms when she took her first steps.
You brought her into this.
You have to get her out.
Push shove step.
You understand now, together you have to fight your way out.
Push shove step.
The crowd doesn't end.
No one is helping.
Push shove step.
Screaming... is it her or you?
You get tired, a little sore.
A foot in the jaw.
Push shove step.
Your out of breath.
No, you can't breathe.
Push shove step.
You can't breathe and your muscles are on fire.
You're turned around?
Your chest feels like it's being sat on and you realize something.
Push shove step.
You aren't going to make it.
You can't get her out.
Push shove step.
You're going to faint.
Push shove step.
If you faint you're going to die.
Push shove step.
More people.
Push shove step.
More music.
Push shove step.
You shove as hard as you can and burst through a line of people and ::gasp:: you're out.
She's ok.
Your ok.
There's the fence, there's Dj Ambi~Erin bent over, spitting blood on the cement.
You call out.
She looks up.
"Where's Kayla?!?"
Allie answers. "We lost her."
Terror floods our faces.
You make another decision.
You rip off the hat, the glasses, throw the bag at the fence.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going back in for Kayla!"
Push shove step.
You push through the crowd.
You're back in the pit.
Push shove step.
More surfers.
Push shove step.
A surge carries you left.
No Kayla.
You can breathe.
Push shove step.
You keep moving.
Push shove step.
No Kayla.
You're fine.
You fight through dozens.
Push shove step.
More people, another surge and a guy lands on your head.
Push shove step.
Push shove step.
You're out on the other end.
Push shove step.
You're turning around, going back.
You made a promise.
You'll bring that kid home safe or you'll die trying.
But you don't feel like your gonna die anymore.
::POP:: Your out?
No there's another line of people.
In fact, there's a line of people all around you.
All the way around.
You see someone in a ripped tank, you're enjoying the air you can get now that you have room.
Boy-in-ripped-tank punches another guy.
There are four guys hitting eachother.
Mosh pit.
Remember, Your a girl.
You Push shove step through the crowd and get out of there.
No Kayla.
Push shove step.
Hair pull, surge, move.
The crowd finally breaks.
You see bright green and tan legs in white shorts.
It's Allie.
You see white sunglasses, Kayla.
She got shoved out, expelled like a shit crumb from the bowels of the pit.
Relief washes over you like the cold water of the toilet hitting the shit crumb.
Everyone's safe.
You hit the fence.
Erin isn't bleeding as bad.
Your hand's cut open.
Fuck it, you watch the band.
This is what you live for.
What you almost die for.
Who's up next?
holymotherrfuckerinhellhowinthehelldidtheytalkyouintothis!!!!!!
Warped Tour is love.
16 hours there // 16 hours home... I was the only driver. Can I get a Xanax???
Allie looked at me and say she was never scared.
I wanted to punch her!
Erin got "lost"
We got VIP's so we had nice bathrooms, free monster, free water and good food and chairs.
No body died.
Senses Fail didn't play Choke ON This. We hate them now!
I knew EVERYONE who worked there. And got a decent confirmation for Ozzfest this weekend! Kevin and Marcel are love! ::Kisses guys::
GERARD IS MY FUCKING HERO!!!!!!!!
::bows for an hour::
Hawthorne heights was the catastrophe described above. I can't begin to imagine how many people were carried out in an ambulance. MCR was worse!!!
They came out to I'm Not OK, I Promise. The crowd went wild.(We were a safe distance, thankfully.) I've fought the pit at Manson, Disturbed, AND Slipknot. I'm 5'8" and well, I'll bet I weigh more than you; I'll bet I'm tougher; I'll bet I've seem more concerts, Except Ulta-fangirl Aimee!!!
I'VE NEVER EVER EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE MCR!!! Those fuckers were TRYING and possibly SUCCEEDING in killing each other!!!
What does Gerard do? He stops the show.
"Everbody back up. On the count of 4... 1 2 3 4 Back UP. No, back up again, come on. Ok everyone put your hands down. If you need help raise your hands and security will come get you." He takes a deep breath. "Ok, if there's a problem let us know. I can stop all day. Remember that if you see anyone fall anywhere near you, it is your responsibility to HELP THEM UP." He's bouncing now.
Goes into To The End. More mayhem. Song ends. He stops again. Makes people back up. Has Security rescue more people. Reminds everyone to pick up the fallen. Reminds that concerts are about love and fun. He says that if anyone overheats jump up and crowd surf the hell out of there!!! He wants no injuries, he loves us!
I'm not an MCR fan, per say. I like a few of the songs, I wanted to see them live, but I'm not suppa fan, died black hair and red eyeshadow wearing a tie. Now, I'm a fan, cause I respect him. TOTALLY!!! IMMEASURABLY!!! That was undoubtedly the proudest I've ever been.
(He also said that any racist's homophobes or sexists weren't welcome, and he wanted them to return his CD's and leave his show cause he didn't want them as fans.)
All the bands were great. I can't wait for Atlanta. Or Ozzfest.
Met some awesome bands. Hawthorne, Not for Now, Jupiter Sunrise, Funeral for a Friend, etc, etc. Names I can't remember, blah di blah. I didn't get a laminate, but I got a name.
I feel like a failure, but I have really high standards.
Took the kiddies to Boys town. ::giggles:: and to the Riv.
I will post the sightseeing pics later.
Here's MY show.
PS yea Erin, we're still Vegan.
The Greatest Man at the Show
WTF?
G-man before I got closer.
Allie and some guy, he was in a band?
Matt of Not for Now. He's Kayla new BF, and Allies ex BF... I just think he looks like a lost Hanson.
Again, WTF?
Most of N4N (We sat in their tent all day.)
Tom of n4n
Allie and Barry from Kinos
MCR crowd
Casey from HH. He looked shocked I'd talk to him.
HH signing
Dunno who he is?
Jupiter Sunrise.
Don't ask
In the pit, before all hell broke loose.
Saosin rocked my face off
PRIDE...BOYSTOWN...LOVE!!!
Leona's, Erin Matches the drink to the bow...
Driving...
Fountain...
Some idiot proposed. She said yes, I assume she said yes cause she wasn't kicking him.
My dad's job... he's on the left 22 stories up.
The doctor lawyer and soda jerker... everyone looks up to the ironworker!!!
Finally, the Riv. Where I made the biggest blunder of my life.
The front door, Where I was led out, arm in arm, and straight to a bus I didn't get on. *insert self loathing here!*
Kisses!