July 1st, 2011. A.k.a. One of the best days of my life!
So yesterday was one of the best days of my life, the day I met my favorite band, the day of:
The Vans Warped Tour.
So I’m sitting here, staring at this blank page with a huge grin on my face not knowing where to start. Today I saw and met Simple Plan for the first time. How to begin explaining what was one of the greatest days of my life?
I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, but counting the days since I pre-ordered the tickets. Months passed and just yesterday I flew in to Ontario, CA, for this event. Went to sleep almost at 3 a.m. between the excitement and the fact that I wanted to finish the little gift I was making for them.
Woke up pretty early and got ready, my stomach was a huge knot, I couldn’t even have breakfast, the day had arrived. Had to wait for a few hours for my brother to arrive so we could head to Pomona, I set apart all the thing I wanted to take to be ready for his arrival.
We left about an hour before opening time and made a pit stop at a Walmart so I could buy the things I needed for my sign to David. On the way to the fairplex, and with a lot of movement from the car’s part, I finished the sign which read: “I’d do Anything to get his Ass rather than his Bass, but oh well, STOP DREAMING START PLAYING” lol. Traffic close to the place was horrible and we actually ended up parking (after convincing my brother to stay) at around 12:15. By then Jeff had already announced the time of show and signing. I got out of the car, paid my brother’s over-priced ticket and got in.
Now let me tell you something, I have never EVER been at a show/festival/concert in my 21 years - and almost 3 months - of life, so I really did not know what to expect or what was gonna happen. I was skipping anyway, surrounded by strangers and feeling a great excitement and hope for the day, I never knew I’d be so lucky.
Just getting in to where the tents started I looked to my right and saw SIMPLE PLAN on the first tent, I turn to my brother and say “Hey, lets go check out what they have” and as I take a few steps towards the place I noticed who was in there, smiling and shaking someone’s hand, none other that drummer Chuck Comeau. So far I had heard rumors about this guys being even more gorgeous in person, I was amazed, I mean this guy, whom I have tons of pictures of in my computer, whom I’ve loved and respected for around 8 years of my life is standing right there, 3D, real... And really, none of the pictures I have make justice to the real thing.
I stand in line to meet him, my heart is about to burst right out of my chest by beating so hard. What was I going to tell him? Should I hug him? What is appropriate to say? Am I really going to be able to speak when I’m so nervous? ... The line grows shorter and in a matter of minutes I am standing right in front of him, opening my Get Your Heart On! album and handing it to him while he smiles real big and says “Hello! Cool shirt!” I grin and thank him, telling him I made it myself, he smiles even bigger “Well It’s great” I tell him this is the first time seeing them after 8 years of being a fan and he thanks me for the support and asks me to come to the other side of the table for the picture, hugs me and says goodbye with a simple “I’ll see you at the show”.
I couldn’t get over it, I had met one of my idols/heroes and not stuttered, not had a panic attack, it had all gone so fluidly with just the sight of his sincere smile. I bought my t-shirt and 2 bracelets from the merch girl - really sweet girl by the way - and move on. (then of course I tweeted about it).
Now it was time to look around, see what this Warped Tour is about, there was so many people and so many booths! People painting each other, crowds in every stage it was amazing! I took my picture in front of the Vans Warped Tour Bus and then accompanied my brother and his girlfriend in the lookout for food. I still was not hungry from the excitement. Totally lost them on the crowd so wandered around, checked in on AP and found the Beer Garden, decided to go in an have a beer (note: I’m not much of a fan of beer, but the heat was horrible and I sort of really wanted it). Found my brother there eating, joined them and stole his french fries.
Since I had pre-ordered my tickets I got a “free gift” so I went to look out for the Vans Tent, which was exactly in front of the stage where A Day To Remember was just starting their set, I didn’t stay but wow! The crowd was crazy! A good band really create this unanimous energy and feeling that is hard to explain.
After that (I got lucky again!) my brother wanted a Monster Drink so I remembered seeing the booth near the SP one, so we were walking over and I look to the Simple Plan booth and… suspense… guess who is standing there signing an album with a big smile? None other than Pierre Freaking Bouvier. My -by the way permanent - grin grew bigger! I pulled my bro and his girl to the line. This time I was not so nervous, I was happy this was happening. I got to him and say “Hey!” while I hand him my CD, he smiled and shook my hand saying “Hey there! Nice shirt!” Again I tell him I made it myself, he laughed and thanked me, while he signed my album I told him this was my first show of them after 8 years of being a fan. He looked up and said “Wow, thanks! Where are you from?” I told him I was from Mexico and he clasped his hands together and smiled saying “Oh Gracias then!” I went to the other side of the table for my picture and he hugged me. That man knows how to give a hug! He is so soft and huggable! It’s hard to explain what I felt on that hug. We turned for the picture and thanked him, shook his hand again and left.
This felt like a dream, how many times I had imagined meeting them and now it was really happening, this was real!
Lets skip the Monster part, where I went and bought an Invisible Children bracelet, a water thermos, a HelloGoodbye Vinyl and decided to head towards the stage (It was 2:25 p.m. and SP were playing at 4:30). Put all my stuff in my bag so it actually fit. And was hanging around the side of the stage when I saw Chuck’s drums and all the SP Gear, including the set list. The band playing at the moment was very loud and had a lot of people gathered around them. At the moment they finished a lot of people left so I decided to go to the barricade, even If I had to listen to another band there I was gonna be in front. Wasn’t actually in front, had 1 person in front of me, but still I am glad I made this decision, Lucero - the band that played next - was pretty good! But the moment they left stage and people started placing Chuck’s drums people started coming around.
I got to see Sébastien shirtless on the side stage, and when the rest of the band arrived, people started screaming and cheering. Chuck went on stage to try out the drums and then got off again. Now people were all over, but we still had our personal space. The moment the first sound was made from a guitar was like a switch, in a second I was pressed against the person in front of me and the person behind me was touching me all over. It was oddly amazing. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for eight years to arrive.
The sounds come from the guitars and the next thing you know 4 amazing guys are standing in front of me hands, guitars, bass and microphone up in the air. The screams start, people are getting closer, reaching for them. Pierre talks about how they’ve missed California, that they are finally back and happy to be here and kicks it off with Shut Up! I start jumping with the crowd, singing at the top of my lungs. It’s all kind of a blur of sweat, music, pictures and jumping. At one point Pierre came over to sing by the barricade and everyone pushed more to get even closer.
Then Can’t Keep My Hands Off You started and David told us to clap with our hands up in the air, we all did, whatever they told us to do we would, like little minions. They jump around the stage sing and totally rock. Finishing the song David comments on how hot we are and that he feels like he has been having sex for hours, to which Pierre replies it’s impossible, he knows, he has tried it. And then the rhythm starts again and just like in MTV Hard Rock Life he ask us all from beginning to end, from side to side, that everyone should just JUMP! - This is one of my favorite Simple Plan songs, I relate to it and jumping with all this people and signing my lungs out totally lifted a weight I did not know I had off my shoulders. I felt free.
After that Thank You started and we were asked to start a moshpit, people started crowd surfing, it was a real rock show. At this point one of the guards in front goes up on the barricade and even says “Wow! They are all the way to the back!” to another guard, amazed at all the people there to see this band.
Next up is Welcome To My Life, people singing in unison, waving arms from side to side, simply perfect. Then they introduce “You Suck At Love” by announcing their new album. Again the people start pushing, jumping, moving. This song is really a pumping up song.
Almost to the end they play Addicted, one of their most popular songs and you can feel/hear how much people love this song, everyone goes wild. Pierre comes over again to the barricade and sings there, people touching him, he puts the microphone to peoples faces to sing with him and then he jumps on top of us (I totally grabbed his ass! Lol bad me), and security helps him down and he goes back to stage. We “help” David with his part of the song and keep the party going.
The last song is here, and David says he is giving away his bass at the end of the song. Music starts and I pull my sign out, all big and colorful. David points at it an laughs giving me a thumbs up. I kept holding it up, singing and laughing… then a crowd surfer totally ruins my sing haha, but oh well he had seen it. I keep singing and jumping and as the song reaches the end I hold it up again and cheer with the rest of the crowd. The show had come to an end. Then it took me about 2 minutes to find my missing shoe and move to the side of the stage.
Another guy won the bass, I didn’t care I had just had the time of my life. I walk over to the AP booth where signing is about to start, my brother has saved me a spot on the line so I was 3rd on the “waiting” line (since there was another line with AP passes. They come over all sweaty but with big smiles. Start signing and shaking hands to the people on the AP line (which was huge). At one point Chuck turns to us and says, “I’m sorry! You guys will start soon!”, I’m just standing here and David looks my way, I grin at him and he smiles points at me saying “HEY YOU!” and waves. I don’t think my grin could be bigger. Later on I also grin at Seb and he grins back with his cute childish smile. So finally the AP line is done and we are up, no pictures were supposed to be taken but my brother asked Sim if I could please take one with David, he said, ok let her go to the back but fast. So Pierre is first to sign, I give him my vinyl (to which he says “COOL!”) and a silver marker. He asks for my name and I say “Maryella” and he is like “WHAT?” I laugh and tell him to just right “May” as the month, and I hand him his plushy, he thanks me and puts it in his pocket. Seb signs my vinyl and I hand him his plushy and he asks me if I want him to sign it and I told him no, that it was a gift and he says all cute “Oh, thanks IT’S ME!”. Chuck smiles as I hand him his plush. Then David smiles at me and tells me “I so totally have this exact same vinyl” so I told him I was the one who asked about the GYHO! one, to which Jeff replies, we will work on it! They thank me for the plushies and I move on then to the back. Ask David and Jeff for the picture and leave the tent…
This was done, it had really happened. I looked at my vinyl and hug it to myself; I had finally met my favorite band. I finally knew they were real, not just some pictures on my walls or computer, not just a bunch of CD’s in my room, this guys were real and were even better than I had ever imagined. I felt like crying of happiness (couldn’t but did feel like it). And as I walked away I felt so fulfilled, so at peace.
We went to have dinner and then headed to my aunt’s house, it is all a blur of me still in shock this day had happened. Once I’m “home” I open my computer to take the pictures out of my camera and I see a tweet by Mariian asking me “are those your dolls?” I had no idea what she was saying and I open up safari (SimplePlan.com is my homepage) and I see a picture of my gift to Simple Plan on the front page… Finished making this one of the greatest days of my life, I started jumping around, smiling and cheering, almost crying of happiness, I could not believe it!
Uploaded pictures and commented, kept smiling all night, started writing this and then went to sleep with a huge smile on my face.
And now, I’m still here looking at this filled pages with a huge grin in my face, wanting to go back and forever be in that moment, so happy this happened and it was even better than I ever imagined it could be. Thank you Simple Plan, thank you very much. For the last 8 years and specially for yesterday. I will never forget it.
The Vans Warped Tour.
So I’m sitting here, staring at this blank page with a huge grin on my face not knowing where to start. Today I saw and met Simple Plan for the first time. How to begin explaining what was one of the greatest days of my life?
I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, but counting the days since I pre-ordered the tickets. Months passed and just yesterday I flew in to Ontario, CA, for this event. Went to sleep almost at 3 a.m. between the excitement and the fact that I wanted to finish the little gift I was making for them.
Woke up pretty early and got ready, my stomach was a huge knot, I couldn’t even have breakfast, the day had arrived. Had to wait for a few hours for my brother to arrive so we could head to Pomona, I set apart all the thing I wanted to take to be ready for his arrival.
We left about an hour before opening time and made a pit stop at a Walmart so I could buy the things I needed for my sign to David. On the way to the fairplex, and with a lot of movement from the car’s part, I finished the sign which read: “I’d do Anything to get his Ass rather than his Bass, but oh well, STOP DREAMING START PLAYING” lol. Traffic close to the place was horrible and we actually ended up parking (after convincing my brother to stay) at around 12:15. By then Jeff had already announced the time of show and signing. I got out of the car, paid my brother’s over-priced ticket and got in.
Now let me tell you something, I have never EVER been at a show/festival/concert in my 21 years - and almost 3 months - of life, so I really did not know what to expect or what was gonna happen. I was skipping anyway, surrounded by strangers and feeling a great excitement and hope for the day, I never knew I’d be so lucky.
Just getting in to where the tents started I looked to my right and saw SIMPLE PLAN on the first tent, I turn to my brother and say “Hey, lets go check out what they have” and as I take a few steps towards the place I noticed who was in there, smiling and shaking someone’s hand, none other that drummer Chuck Comeau. So far I had heard rumors about this guys being even more gorgeous in person, I was amazed, I mean this guy, whom I have tons of pictures of in my computer, whom I’ve loved and respected for around 8 years of my life is standing right there, 3D, real... And really, none of the pictures I have make justice to the real thing.
I stand in line to meet him, my heart is about to burst right out of my chest by beating so hard. What was I going to tell him? Should I hug him? What is appropriate to say? Am I really going to be able to speak when I’m so nervous? ... The line grows shorter and in a matter of minutes I am standing right in front of him, opening my Get Your Heart On! album and handing it to him while he smiles real big and says “Hello! Cool shirt!” I grin and thank him, telling him I made it myself, he smiles even bigger “Well It’s great” I tell him this is the first time seeing them after 8 years of being a fan and he thanks me for the support and asks me to come to the other side of the table for the picture, hugs me and says goodbye with a simple “I’ll see you at the show”.
I couldn’t get over it, I had met one of my idols/heroes and not stuttered, not had a panic attack, it had all gone so fluidly with just the sight of his sincere smile. I bought my t-shirt and 2 bracelets from the merch girl - really sweet girl by the way - and move on. (then of course I tweeted about it).
Now it was time to look around, see what this Warped Tour is about, there was so many people and so many booths! People painting each other, crowds in every stage it was amazing! I took my picture in front of the Vans Warped Tour Bus and then accompanied my brother and his girlfriend in the lookout for food. I still was not hungry from the excitement. Totally lost them on the crowd so wandered around, checked in on AP and found the Beer Garden, decided to go in an have a beer (note: I’m not much of a fan of beer, but the heat was horrible and I sort of really wanted it). Found my brother there eating, joined them and stole his french fries.
Since I had pre-ordered my tickets I got a “free gift” so I went to look out for the Vans Tent, which was exactly in front of the stage where A Day To Remember was just starting their set, I didn’t stay but wow! The crowd was crazy! A good band really create this unanimous energy and feeling that is hard to explain.
After that (I got lucky again!) my brother wanted a Monster Drink so I remembered seeing the booth near the SP one, so we were walking over and I look to the Simple Plan booth and… suspense… guess who is standing there signing an album with a big smile? None other than Pierre Freaking Bouvier. My -by the way permanent - grin grew bigger! I pulled my bro and his girl to the line. This time I was not so nervous, I was happy this was happening. I got to him and say “Hey!” while I hand him my CD, he smiled and shook my hand saying “Hey there! Nice shirt!” Again I tell him I made it myself, he laughed and thanked me, while he signed my album I told him this was my first show of them after 8 years of being a fan. He looked up and said “Wow, thanks! Where are you from?” I told him I was from Mexico and he clasped his hands together and smiled saying “Oh Gracias then!” I went to the other side of the table for my picture and he hugged me. That man knows how to give a hug! He is so soft and huggable! It’s hard to explain what I felt on that hug. We turned for the picture and thanked him, shook his hand again and left.
This felt like a dream, how many times I had imagined meeting them and now it was really happening, this was real!
Lets skip the Monster part, where I went and bought an Invisible Children bracelet, a water thermos, a HelloGoodbye Vinyl and decided to head towards the stage (It was 2:25 p.m. and SP were playing at 4:30). Put all my stuff in my bag so it actually fit. And was hanging around the side of the stage when I saw Chuck’s drums and all the SP Gear, including the set list. The band playing at the moment was very loud and had a lot of people gathered around them. At the moment they finished a lot of people left so I decided to go to the barricade, even If I had to listen to another band there I was gonna be in front. Wasn’t actually in front, had 1 person in front of me, but still I am glad I made this decision, Lucero - the band that played next - was pretty good! But the moment they left stage and people started placing Chuck’s drums people started coming around.
I got to see Sébastien shirtless on the side stage, and when the rest of the band arrived, people started screaming and cheering. Chuck went on stage to try out the drums and then got off again. Now people were all over, but we still had our personal space. The moment the first sound was made from a guitar was like a switch, in a second I was pressed against the person in front of me and the person behind me was touching me all over. It was oddly amazing. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for eight years to arrive.
The sounds come from the guitars and the next thing you know 4 amazing guys are standing in front of me hands, guitars, bass and microphone up in the air. The screams start, people are getting closer, reaching for them. Pierre talks about how they’ve missed California, that they are finally back and happy to be here and kicks it off with Shut Up! I start jumping with the crowd, singing at the top of my lungs. It’s all kind of a blur of sweat, music, pictures and jumping. At one point Pierre came over to sing by the barricade and everyone pushed more to get even closer.
Then Can’t Keep My Hands Off You started and David told us to clap with our hands up in the air, we all did, whatever they told us to do we would, like little minions. They jump around the stage sing and totally rock. Finishing the song David comments on how hot we are and that he feels like he has been having sex for hours, to which Pierre replies it’s impossible, he knows, he has tried it. And then the rhythm starts again and just like in MTV Hard Rock Life he ask us all from beginning to end, from side to side, that everyone should just JUMP! - This is one of my favorite Simple Plan songs, I relate to it and jumping with all this people and signing my lungs out totally lifted a weight I did not know I had off my shoulders. I felt free.
After that Thank You started and we were asked to start a moshpit, people started crowd surfing, it was a real rock show. At this point one of the guards in front goes up on the barricade and even says “Wow! They are all the way to the back!” to another guard, amazed at all the people there to see this band.
Next up is Welcome To My Life, people singing in unison, waving arms from side to side, simply perfect. Then they introduce “You Suck At Love” by announcing their new album. Again the people start pushing, jumping, moving. This song is really a pumping up song.
Almost to the end they play Addicted, one of their most popular songs and you can feel/hear how much people love this song, everyone goes wild. Pierre comes over again to the barricade and sings there, people touching him, he puts the microphone to peoples faces to sing with him and then he jumps on top of us (I totally grabbed his ass! Lol bad me), and security helps him down and he goes back to stage. We “help” David with his part of the song and keep the party going.
The last song is here, and David says he is giving away his bass at the end of the song. Music starts and I pull my sign out, all big and colorful. David points at it an laughs giving me a thumbs up. I kept holding it up, singing and laughing… then a crowd surfer totally ruins my sing haha, but oh well he had seen it. I keep singing and jumping and as the song reaches the end I hold it up again and cheer with the rest of the crowd. The show had come to an end. Then it took me about 2 minutes to find my missing shoe and move to the side of the stage.
Another guy won the bass, I didn’t care I had just had the time of my life. I walk over to the AP booth where signing is about to start, my brother has saved me a spot on the line so I was 3rd on the “waiting” line (since there was another line with AP passes. They come over all sweaty but with big smiles. Start signing and shaking hands to the people on the AP line (which was huge). At one point Chuck turns to us and says, “I’m sorry! You guys will start soon!”, I’m just standing here and David looks my way, I grin at him and he smiles points at me saying “HEY YOU!” and waves. I don’t think my grin could be bigger. Later on I also grin at Seb and he grins back with his cute childish smile. So finally the AP line is done and we are up, no pictures were supposed to be taken but my brother asked Sim if I could please take one with David, he said, ok let her go to the back but fast. So Pierre is first to sign, I give him my vinyl (to which he says “COOL!”) and a silver marker. He asks for my name and I say “Maryella” and he is like “WHAT?” I laugh and tell him to just right “May” as the month, and I hand him his plushy, he thanks me and puts it in his pocket. Seb signs my vinyl and I hand him his plushy and he asks me if I want him to sign it and I told him no, that it was a gift and he says all cute “Oh, thanks IT’S ME!”. Chuck smiles as I hand him his plush. Then David smiles at me and tells me “I so totally have this exact same vinyl” so I told him I was the one who asked about the GYHO! one, to which Jeff replies, we will work on it! They thank me for the plushies and I move on then to the back. Ask David and Jeff for the picture and leave the tent…
This was done, it had really happened. I looked at my vinyl and hug it to myself; I had finally met my favorite band. I finally knew they were real, not just some pictures on my walls or computer, not just a bunch of CD’s in my room, this guys were real and were even better than I had ever imagined. I felt like crying of happiness (couldn’t but did feel like it). And as I walked away I felt so fulfilled, so at peace.
We went to have dinner and then headed to my aunt’s house, it is all a blur of me still in shock this day had happened. Once I’m “home” I open my computer to take the pictures out of my camera and I see a tweet by Mariian asking me “are those your dolls?” I had no idea what she was saying and I open up safari (SimplePlan.com is my homepage) and I see a picture of my gift to Simple Plan on the front page… Finished making this one of the greatest days of my life, I started jumping around, smiling and cheering, almost crying of happiness, I could not believe it!
Uploaded pictures and commented, kept smiling all night, started writing this and then went to sleep with a huge smile on my face.
And now, I’m still here looking at this filled pages with a huge grin in my face, wanting to go back and forever be in that moment, so happy this happened and it was even better than I ever imagined it could be. Thank you Simple Plan, thank you very much. For the last 8 years and specially for yesterday. I will never forget it.