Through our bleeding, we are one!
OH. MY. Motherfuckinglord.
So yesterday was my AFI concert.
Ohwowowowowowowowowowowowowowow….
OH. MY. GOD.
It was fantastic. It was unbelievable. It made my entire fucking LIFE. Holy shit.
So we left from my dad’s work at around five, and drove to Boston. On the way there, I made my dad listen to Sing the Sorrow and Decemberunderground, so, you know, he’d be familiar with the music. Anyway, in Boston, we came upon the “Big Dig.” (Yes, that one. The one that supposedly saves time.) We sat in traffic for about an hour, and I was nearly having a nervous break down, ‘cause I’m a pessimist and I thought we’d never get their on time. (Mind you, the Red Sox were playing at about the same time as the concert, so it really wasn’t a surprise with all the cars, looking back on it.)
We parked at Lechemere Station and promptly took a train to another station and transfer to another line to get to the Avalon. As I said before, the Red Sox were in town, and thus, our compartment was filled to the brim with obnoxious sports enthusiasts. (You know you’re in Boston when people are already drunk and heading off to a baseball game…) That was annoying, but I was still excited. I thought I would fucking burst.
Anyway, we arrived at the club without much delay, and then my dad had to eat. Personally, I wasn’t hungry because I was way too excited, so I pretty much buggered my dad until he was finished. (I feel bad now, but hey. I was pretty much HIGH on adrenaline and anticipation.)
So we get there, and the first thing I do is head over to AFI’s merch table. Okay, the merch guys were really sweet. And wicked funny. (Heh. Another tell-tale sign of a native Bostoner-we say ‘wicked’ instead of ‘really’ all the damn time.) I bought this really sweet t-shirt with a Oriental-looking angel with skeleton wings standing before a dark magenta sun-star type thing, with ‘AFI’ in yellow across the bottom. On the back, it says ‘AFI’ in a weird cursive type font. Anyway, it was a wicked sweet shirt.
Then, after taking care of necessary business, we entered the concert-area to find Nightmare of You playing. I knew that they’d be opening, and I have to admit, from what I’d heard, I wasn’t expecting much. But they quickly proved me wrong. Nightmare of You are AMAZING live. I really must get around to picking up their CD sometime.
At this point, I was at the very back of the room, and I really couldn’t see that well, considering I’m so short. But when NOY’s set ended, space opened up on the floor, and I rushed to get a spot. I knew there was another band before AFI. But I figured that if I wanted to be anywhere near the front when they opened, I’d have to make my move, and soon.
I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into when Dillinger Escape Plan came on.
Just as I made my way forward, the crowd around me broke apart, like scattered insects separated by one giant foot, and left me in one gaping hole.
Though I’m sure most of you can predict what happened next, I’m telling you anyway.
I got caught up in one of the most violent mosh pits I’ve ever seen in my life. Oh my God. I became the equivalent to a human bouncy ball, tossed back and forth like a limp ragdoll between several other sweating, bulky bodies.
I managed to back out of it pretty quickly, but holy God was I scared. Now, I personally have nothing against mosh pits, but honestly? The way this one was heading, I was glad security was there pretty quickly.
As for the band itself…
Well, they kind of sucked. Musically, they were spectacular. Vocally, not so much. Maybe it’s just my dad and I, but when you’re in a band, and you’re screaming more than you’re singing, it sounds pretty awful. Plus, it wreaks hell on your vocal chords.
So yeah. Waiting through DEP was pretty shitty. But oh-so-worth it.
When they ended, I managed to make it ten feet from the stage, the farthest I ever got. The crowd began pushing left and right, forward and backward. I was lifted off the ground, at one point, caught between one girl’s breasts and another’s back. It was intensely hot. I think it’s the closest I got to the sensation of drowning, swept up in this sea of people, young and old, aged and new.
They took a long time to set up, and you could taste it in the bitter words of some of the audience members. I happened to be standing next to (and when I say ‘next to,’ I mean, right up against.) a gaggle of fourteen year-old fangirls. Le sigh. ‘OMG Davey’s new haircut iz lyke, s0 gAy.’ ‘ya, i m1ss the old days.’ After awhile, the overall noise droned them out, and I happily ignored them.
And now, for the most awkward moment ever: I ran into an old co-worker! (I think Nate was his name.) He only recently quit, and I was somewhat taken aback at seeing him there. It was cool though. He was nice. We talked for a bit.
And then, and then…Smith kept walking across the stage, to and fro. We were used to seeing him, at this point, and then everything goes black.
OH MY GOD.
(Please excuse my abuse of the capslock-this moment in the history of Alex is JUST that important.)
OH MY GOD. Davey came out, and started in with ‘Prelude,’ to which we all sang along.
He is SO much hotter in real life. As is Adam. As is Hunter. As is Jade. Gah! The boys were ALL looking fabulous!
I don’t remember the exact set-list, but here are the songs that I can remember (in-order):
Prelude 12/21 [Everyone sang. Everyone.]
The Leaving Song Pt. II [The crowd started pushing and I nearly suffocated.]
Dancing Through Sunday
Kill Caustic [This song pretty much OWNS live.]
Rolling Balls
This Time Imperfect [Ohmygod. I couldn’t fucking believe it when they played it. I was SO excited!!!]
A Story At Three
LOVE LIKE WINTER!!!! [Fucking Christ. I nearly DIED when Davey casually remarked: ‘We’re going to bring you some winter for the summer.’ Or something to that affect. I don’t clearly remember. And then they began the intro…and OHMYGOD. I screamed. I don’t care. I screamed. AND I WAS SO FUCKING HAPPY. I have never felt so…high before in my life. I felt at home. I BELONGED.]
Silver and Cold [This song live? OWNS my SOUL.)
Miss Murder [EVERYONE, I mean, EVERYONE, even stuck up elitist fans sang along with this. Everyone was pumping their fists and it was just SO amazing.]
Days of the Phoenix [Again, pretty much everyone sang along.]
Girls Not Grey
*Insert Song Here* [*smacks self* I know they played a song after GNG, but I forget.]
After that, they ‘left.’ But all us fans began chanting: “Through our bleeding, we are one!” and then, after that: AFI!
They came back out for an encore, but obviously, it was planned.
Encore:
Death of Seasons
*Insert Song Here*
It was a short encore, but so worth it.
That was my first concert. EVER. I don’t know how anything could ever top it. I really don’t. It was amazing. I got to see my boys in all they’re glory, and gain a new band to love in the process. I…feel so lucky. Despite all of my nervousness, despite the obnoxious Red Sox fans, despite the crowd-
I am in fucking love with my concert experience and hope I get to experience it again as soon as possible. This more than makes up for me missing Warped-I only wanted to go to see AFI anyway.
EDIT: Okay, thanks to the _afi_ community, here's the actual set list. (Needless to say, I forgot/mislabeled a few songs.):
Prelude 12/21
The Leaving Song
Dancing Through Sunday
---
Ever and a Day
Bleed Black
Kill Caustic
---
Rabbits are Roadkill on Rt. 37
Silver and Cold
Love Like Winter
---
A Single Second
This Time Imperfect
Miss Murder
---
Days of the Phoenix
Girl's Not Grey
Totalimmortal
---
(encore)
Death of Seasons
God Called In Sick Today
So yesterday was my AFI concert.
Ohwowowowowowowowowowowowowowow….
OH. MY. GOD.
It was fantastic. It was unbelievable. It made my entire fucking LIFE. Holy shit.
So we left from my dad’s work at around five, and drove to Boston. On the way there, I made my dad listen to Sing the Sorrow and Decemberunderground, so, you know, he’d be familiar with the music. Anyway, in Boston, we came upon the “Big Dig.” (Yes, that one. The one that supposedly saves time.) We sat in traffic for about an hour, and I was nearly having a nervous break down, ‘cause I’m a pessimist and I thought we’d never get their on time. (Mind you, the Red Sox were playing at about the same time as the concert, so it really wasn’t a surprise with all the cars, looking back on it.)
We parked at Lechemere Station and promptly took a train to another station and transfer to another line to get to the Avalon. As I said before, the Red Sox were in town, and thus, our compartment was filled to the brim with obnoxious sports enthusiasts. (You know you’re in Boston when people are already drunk and heading off to a baseball game…) That was annoying, but I was still excited. I thought I would fucking burst.
Anyway, we arrived at the club without much delay, and then my dad had to eat. Personally, I wasn’t hungry because I was way too excited, so I pretty much buggered my dad until he was finished. (I feel bad now, but hey. I was pretty much HIGH on adrenaline and anticipation.)
So we get there, and the first thing I do is head over to AFI’s merch table. Okay, the merch guys were really sweet. And wicked funny. (Heh. Another tell-tale sign of a native Bostoner-we say ‘wicked’ instead of ‘really’ all the damn time.) I bought this really sweet t-shirt with a Oriental-looking angel with skeleton wings standing before a dark magenta sun-star type thing, with ‘AFI’ in yellow across the bottom. On the back, it says ‘AFI’ in a weird cursive type font. Anyway, it was a wicked sweet shirt.
Then, after taking care of necessary business, we entered the concert-area to find Nightmare of You playing. I knew that they’d be opening, and I have to admit, from what I’d heard, I wasn’t expecting much. But they quickly proved me wrong. Nightmare of You are AMAZING live. I really must get around to picking up their CD sometime.
At this point, I was at the very back of the room, and I really couldn’t see that well, considering I’m so short. But when NOY’s set ended, space opened up on the floor, and I rushed to get a spot. I knew there was another band before AFI. But I figured that if I wanted to be anywhere near the front when they opened, I’d have to make my move, and soon.
I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into when Dillinger Escape Plan came on.
Just as I made my way forward, the crowd around me broke apart, like scattered insects separated by one giant foot, and left me in one gaping hole.
Though I’m sure most of you can predict what happened next, I’m telling you anyway.
I got caught up in one of the most violent mosh pits I’ve ever seen in my life. Oh my God. I became the equivalent to a human bouncy ball, tossed back and forth like a limp ragdoll between several other sweating, bulky bodies.
I managed to back out of it pretty quickly, but holy God was I scared. Now, I personally have nothing against mosh pits, but honestly? The way this one was heading, I was glad security was there pretty quickly.
As for the band itself…
Well, they kind of sucked. Musically, they were spectacular. Vocally, not so much. Maybe it’s just my dad and I, but when you’re in a band, and you’re screaming more than you’re singing, it sounds pretty awful. Plus, it wreaks hell on your vocal chords.
So yeah. Waiting through DEP was pretty shitty. But oh-so-worth it.
When they ended, I managed to make it ten feet from the stage, the farthest I ever got. The crowd began pushing left and right, forward and backward. I was lifted off the ground, at one point, caught between one girl’s breasts and another’s back. It was intensely hot. I think it’s the closest I got to the sensation of drowning, swept up in this sea of people, young and old, aged and new.
They took a long time to set up, and you could taste it in the bitter words of some of the audience members. I happened to be standing next to (and when I say ‘next to,’ I mean, right up against.) a gaggle of fourteen year-old fangirls. Le sigh. ‘OMG Davey’s new haircut iz lyke, s0 gAy.’ ‘ya, i m1ss the old days.’ After awhile, the overall noise droned them out, and I happily ignored them.
And now, for the most awkward moment ever: I ran into an old co-worker! (I think Nate was his name.) He only recently quit, and I was somewhat taken aback at seeing him there. It was cool though. He was nice. We talked for a bit.
And then, and then…Smith kept walking across the stage, to and fro. We were used to seeing him, at this point, and then everything goes black.
OH MY GOD.
(Please excuse my abuse of the capslock-this moment in the history of Alex is JUST that important.)
OH MY GOD. Davey came out, and started in with ‘Prelude,’ to which we all sang along.
He is SO much hotter in real life. As is Adam. As is Hunter. As is Jade. Gah! The boys were ALL looking fabulous!
I don’t remember the exact set-list, but here are the songs that I can remember (in-order):
Prelude 12/21 [Everyone sang. Everyone.]
The Leaving Song Pt. II [The crowd started pushing and I nearly suffocated.]
Dancing Through Sunday
Kill Caustic [This song pretty much OWNS live.]
Rolling Balls
This Time Imperfect [Ohmygod. I couldn’t fucking believe it when they played it. I was SO excited!!!]
A Story At Three
LOVE LIKE WINTER!!!! [Fucking Christ. I nearly DIED when Davey casually remarked: ‘We’re going to bring you some winter for the summer.’ Or something to that affect. I don’t clearly remember. And then they began the intro…and OHMYGOD. I screamed. I don’t care. I screamed. AND I WAS SO FUCKING HAPPY. I have never felt so…high before in my life. I felt at home. I BELONGED.]
Silver and Cold [This song live? OWNS my SOUL.)
Miss Murder [EVERYONE, I mean, EVERYONE, even stuck up elitist fans sang along with this. Everyone was pumping their fists and it was just SO amazing.]
Days of the Phoenix [Again, pretty much everyone sang along.]
Girls Not Grey
*Insert Song Here* [*smacks self* I know they played a song after GNG, but I forget.]
After that, they ‘left.’ But all us fans began chanting: “Through our bleeding, we are one!” and then, after that: AFI!
They came back out for an encore, but obviously, it was planned.
Encore:
Death of Seasons
*Insert Song Here*
It was a short encore, but so worth it.
That was my first concert. EVER. I don’t know how anything could ever top it. I really don’t. It was amazing. I got to see my boys in all they’re glory, and gain a new band to love in the process. I…feel so lucky. Despite all of my nervousness, despite the obnoxious Red Sox fans, despite the crowd-
I am in fucking love with my concert experience and hope I get to experience it again as soon as possible. This more than makes up for me missing Warped-I only wanted to go to see AFI anyway.
EDIT: Okay, thanks to the _afi_ community, here's the actual set list. (Needless to say, I forgot/mislabeled a few songs.):
Prelude 12/21
The Leaving Song
Dancing Through Sunday
---
Ever and a Day
Bleed Black
Kill Caustic
---
Rabbits are Roadkill on Rt. 37
Silver and Cold
Love Like Winter
---
A Single Second
This Time Imperfect
Miss Murder
---
Days of the Phoenix
Girl's Not Grey
Totalimmortal
---
(encore)
Death of Seasons
God Called In Sick Today