My Chemical Romance - May 7th 2011 - Starland Ballroom, NJ
I had an excellent time last night.
We got to the Starland Ballroom around 12.30pm and there was already a small queue, maybe 30 or so people. We had planned on coming later because we were told that we couldn't queue before 2pm, but obviously that wasn't true.
Since I had a Will Call ticket, I was put in a different line than my friends which sucked. At least I got to hang out with Deb (click for a pic of our faces) who had a press pass. Our queue was really small for a long time. It was just four of us until maybe two hours before the door opened.
I got to see a lot of you guys. Philosiraptors, fuschia, Megs, apocalypse_me, wasoncedelight to name a few. It was a pleasure to see you all again.
The winners of the meet and greet came to our line and they were good and deserving people, a couple from Jersey (or was it Long Beach?) who wanted the band to sign something, auction it on ebay and then donate all the proceeds to the Japan Tsunami relief. They were really interesting and had been following the band since 2003.
Then, other people got in the will call/guest queue. There was this very nice couple who had a kid playing in the first opening band This Good Robot. They also had a nephew playing in Thursday and were old friends of My Chem. Their daughter was apparently in one of My Chem's videos (I think he mentioned Vampires Will Never Hurt You).
It felt a bit weird to be standing in line before people who clearly should have been inside with the rest of the guest list but it was very nice to talk to them.
It got a little surreal when Shaun Simon arrived and stood with us in the queue for a few minutes. I got introduced to him as the French girl who knows a lot about My Chem.
I was a bit at a loss for words. I commented on his guest badge which had a little Frank drawn ghost on it and he said, "Yeah. Frank drew that," and smiled at me.
Shaun Simon is a very attractive man.
The stress level rose as the Starland security opened the doors. We had no idea if we would get in after everyone or if we were going to get in first. It was a bit of a clusterfuck but it worked out in my favor in the end.
When I finally got in, I walked passed Mama Way. Just wow. That's all I have.
I ran up the venue and managed to secure a spot on the second row, right in front of Frank.
The crowd started pushing even before the first opening band came onstage. This Good Robot were very good. I had never heard of them but they really rocked. They were some kind of hardcore Ludo. They were giving free CDs so I am going to have to give it a proper listen asap and will report back.
At one point the singer jumped in the pit and came back up missing a shoe. LOL Crazy crowd.
The Architects were just as amazing as they were at every show so far. Maybe even more. I think I am in love with this band. I will do everything I can to promote them in Europe. I swear they deserve to be huge. Their sound is just so powerful. They remind me of the Bouncing Souls.
Thursday took the stage after that and blew people's faces off. A few people in the front didn't seem to know who they were which made me sad because, come on. They are fucking Thursday. They are a fucking legend in Jersey. They played Paris in Flames and Jet Black New Year and closed with Turnpike Divides.
MCR was a bit late and that's probably why they didn't play Cancer. Not that I'm complaining. Gerard said we were getting a different setlist tomorrow night.
That's exciting. I heard them playing a cover (not sure of what) during soundcheck so maybe we'll get it tonight.
Frank jumped in the pit and everything got even more crazy. He was just out of reach to me but I heard some people grabbed his hair. Didn't see it because I was trying to not lose my spot while everyone was pushing around me.
I remember Gerard saying something in the dead mic and Mikey and Frank being adorable to each other. Frank was giggling after he said something in Mikey's ear. Could these boys be any cuter? I doubt it.
I caught another one of Frank's picks. It's the one with his daughter's initials on it. It will look nice on my wall at home.
Getting out of the venue was an adventure in itself. After pushing my way through the crowd, I got outside and found my friends. We stopped by and I hugged my Architects. I have pictures.
My friend Jennifer got me a Thursday poster and I almost cried like a stupid idiot when she gave it to me. I haven't bought any merch besides the Architects CD because I am the brokest right now so it was nice to actually get something. I wish I could buy a hoodie but 45$ is so over what I can spend. :(
We couldn't hang after the show because Mikey wasn't feeling too great. So we drove back to the hotel. I can't believe we're doing this again today. I am beyond psyched.
Pictures and videos for you:
We got to the Starland Ballroom around 12.30pm and there was already a small queue, maybe 30 or so people. We had planned on coming later because we were told that we couldn't queue before 2pm, but obviously that wasn't true.
Since I had a Will Call ticket, I was put in a different line than my friends which sucked. At least I got to hang out with Deb (click for a pic of our faces) who had a press pass. Our queue was really small for a long time. It was just four of us until maybe two hours before the door opened.
I got to see a lot of you guys. Philosiraptors, fuschia, Megs, apocalypse_me, wasoncedelight to name a few. It was a pleasure to see you all again.
The winners of the meet and greet came to our line and they were good and deserving people, a couple from Jersey (or was it Long Beach?) who wanted the band to sign something, auction it on ebay and then donate all the proceeds to the Japan Tsunami relief. They were really interesting and had been following the band since 2003.
Then, other people got in the will call/guest queue. There was this very nice couple who had a kid playing in the first opening band This Good Robot. They also had a nephew playing in Thursday and were old friends of My Chem. Their daughter was apparently in one of My Chem's videos (I think he mentioned Vampires Will Never Hurt You).
It felt a bit weird to be standing in line before people who clearly should have been inside with the rest of the guest list but it was very nice to talk to them.
It got a little surreal when Shaun Simon arrived and stood with us in the queue for a few minutes. I got introduced to him as the French girl who knows a lot about My Chem.
I was a bit at a loss for words. I commented on his guest badge which had a little Frank drawn ghost on it and he said, "Yeah. Frank drew that," and smiled at me.
Shaun Simon is a very attractive man.
The stress level rose as the Starland security opened the doors. We had no idea if we would get in after everyone or if we were going to get in first. It was a bit of a clusterfuck but it worked out in my favor in the end.
When I finally got in, I walked passed Mama Way. Just wow. That's all I have.
I ran up the venue and managed to secure a spot on the second row, right in front of Frank.
The crowd started pushing even before the first opening band came onstage. This Good Robot were very good. I had never heard of them but they really rocked. They were some kind of hardcore Ludo. They were giving free CDs so I am going to have to give it a proper listen asap and will report back.
At one point the singer jumped in the pit and came back up missing a shoe. LOL Crazy crowd.
The Architects were just as amazing as they were at every show so far. Maybe even more. I think I am in love with this band. I will do everything I can to promote them in Europe. I swear they deserve to be huge. Their sound is just so powerful. They remind me of the Bouncing Souls.
Thursday took the stage after that and blew people's faces off. A few people in the front didn't seem to know who they were which made me sad because, come on. They are fucking Thursday. They are a fucking legend in Jersey. They played Paris in Flames and Jet Black New Year and closed with Turnpike Divides.
MCR was a bit late and that's probably why they didn't play Cancer. Not that I'm complaining. Gerard said we were getting a different setlist tomorrow night.
That's exciting. I heard them playing a cover (not sure of what) during soundcheck so maybe we'll get it tonight.
Frank jumped in the pit and everything got even more crazy. He was just out of reach to me but I heard some people grabbed his hair. Didn't see it because I was trying to not lose my spot while everyone was pushing around me.
I remember Gerard saying something in the dead mic and Mikey and Frank being adorable to each other. Frank was giggling after he said something in Mikey's ear. Could these boys be any cuter? I doubt it.
I caught another one of Frank's picks. It's the one with his daughter's initials on it. It will look nice on my wall at home.
Getting out of the venue was an adventure in itself. After pushing my way through the crowd, I got outside and found my friends. We stopped by and I hugged my Architects. I have pictures.
My friend Jennifer got me a Thursday poster and I almost cried like a stupid idiot when she gave it to me. I haven't bought any merch besides the Architects CD because I am the brokest right now so it was nice to actually get something. I wish I could buy a hoodie but 45$ is so over what I can spend. :(
We couldn't hang after the show because Mikey wasn't feeling too great. So we drove back to the hotel. I can't believe we're doing this again today. I am beyond psyched.
Pictures and videos for you:
Click to view