My Weekend with the Patron Saint of Eyeliner, or otherwise known as the My Chemical Romance concert!

There is this song called "Tiger Woods" and while its not a good song, there is a line in it right now that I just can't get out of my head. The lines go:

I got a friend whose goal in life
Was to one day go down on Madonna
That's all he wanted
That was all
To one day go down on Madonna
And when my friend was thirty-four
He got his wish in Rome one night
He got to go down on Madonna
In Rome one night in some hotel
And ever since he's been depressed
'Cause life is shit from here on in
And all our friends just shake their heads
And say, "Too soon, too soon, too soon,
He went down on Madonna too soon
Too young, too young, too soon, too soon"

All of this will make sense shortly, I assure you.

~*~

Thursday March, 1st could not have gotten here fast enough in my head. After the shit last few weeks I've had a good rock show was what I needed. What better of a rock show (at least for me) could I have gone to than, My Chemical Romance for a good bout of cheering up? Many of you have had to deal with my raves about this band and my endless and non stop longings and sighs for Gerard Way, so we all know how important this band is to me. For the four years this band has been constantly everywhere I'm at (musically anyway). They've been with me through some major changes and shit in my life and once again, that is true. For the last two weeks I've been nothing but sad and depressed about a guy, who is barely worth rational thought at this point. My karmic points finally added up and it was about damn time too.

Thursday Jenn and I headed out around 4:00 p.m. toward Topeka, KS. If it's any indication of how freaking excited I was to go there, I drove all the way. ALL, the way. Like, I didn't get sleepy and we had one (or was it two?) bathroom breaks. It was cool, we sang, we chatted and the time went by. Soon we arrived somewhere between Wichita, KS and Topeka at this little roadside McDonalds/gas station, where we were quite silly. I think the attendant was very ready to get rid of us. We had a bite to eat at McDonalds, where we had to stand in line for a bit, due to a bus load of band children arriving. After me picking at my burger we were off and on the road.

Made it to the hotel after a couple of turns around (I couldn't get into the bed fast enough). We settled into our hotel room, which by the way had no freaking AC unit. None. No heater that I could recognize either. I tripped out. Jenn was like, "We're in Kansas, and you do not need an AC unit." For once she was right. It was flipping cold in that bitch of a room. I didn't sleep for shit. I kept waking up almost on the hour (we arrived in Topeka at 12:30 p.m). I kept dreaming that we didn't get in line in time and that a billion people were already there. The other dream was Gerard was sick and they cancelled the show. All night I was nauseated and I talked to Jenn about it, but true to herself she didn't freaking remember, because, ya know, Jenn talks in her sleep. It's freaky when the person in a night long conversation doesn't remember the next day.

The wakeup call came at 6:15, I showered, she showered and we headed out the door. After a quick stop at Wal-Greens for ear plugs, hair supplies, snacks and then Burger King, we headed to the Expocenter. When we arrived we headed up to the admin office and they told us where to go to stand in line and make it to the front the easiest. When we got down there, there was already a group of gals waiting. We hit it off fairly easily and settled in. One of them, Kirby, was the youngest, by youngest I mean 15 (and damn her the cutest) had made a couple Gerard Way dolls, which were also cute, but creepy (:P). All (as in the group of girls already there) were awesomeness incarnate

We huddled together all day chatting and such. Then, Deedee (who is a hard core fan) showed up with her son, followed by Jessica and Seth and then Brittany and her Mum. Jessica wanted me to put makeup on Seth. It was great. Here are the finished results.

Here is us cuddled together...or at least the start of it. :P

From left to right, Me, Seth, Brittney and Jessica.

You can't see this boy eyes well in this picture, but the freaking NATURAL color of his eyes are like turquoise, its crazy. They were the cutest little couple I just adored them. I made Seth laugh a lot and embarrassed him several times; apparently that's what I'm good at.

Seth and his gorgeous eyes.

Everything couldn't go so smoothly all day, because after all this is my world. At one point I saw Jess and Brit running up the stairs to the side of the expocenter while I was just up walking around listening to music trying to calm my stomach. At the same time I noticed the tour buses had shown up. So, I make a b-line up to them, where upon arriving Frank is walking into the building! Frank being the lead guitarist of the band, so I had to go see him. As always, I had a plan (I say that cause one of the girls said…"You always have a plan don't you Ashia?"). Jess, Brit and myself decided to go schmooze with yet another security guard (We'd been flirting and yapping to the arena staff all day) to see if we could finagle our way back to the tour buses. Since I was the oldest and evidently, not the wisest, they decided I should talk to the security guard because he'd be more attracted to me (uh, okay.) So, remind me the next time I decide to go chasing AFTER a rock star, that I am not 16 anymore, k? Because when I did, I sprained my ankle. Not that sorta pulled muscled sprain, but the kind that sounds like your damn bone broke because it pops so loud and there is instant swelling.

Here is one of the many cutie Expocenter workers we flirted with. This is Jon and damn, cute, I'd like to have kept him. (Jon when you coming to Dallas?!)

Photo By Kyile

So suddenly, everyone was like, "Holy shit! Man down, man down!" It was great, the whole gang was concerned for me and how I was gonna get to the front. So, the standing in line was from 8:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. Let me just tell you it is f-ing cold in Kansas in March. COLD. Like, Ashia had a sweater, scarf and jacket on cold. Most of the day was spent cuddled under blankets with the fellow fans listening to MCR. It was a fun day. Minus the whole ankle turning BS.

I met Kadee in line as well. Kadee, was my Karmic angel for the weekend. I don't know why she likes me, hell I don't even know why she wanted to hang around with me. But I am thankful that I met her. She, did something amazing, she handed me a meet and greet pass. I, was going to get to meet the band. Tears came forth and the angels sang and rejoiced. It was going to be an amazing night.

By the time they actually opened the doors, my hands were like ice. I was thirsty (no food or drink since…8:00 that morning, cause I'm dumb) and my ankle was throbbing like something was actively chewing on it. I was at center stage (right were Gerard stands) and just a tad to the left. In front of me was Dell the security guard (who had a huge crush on me. Note: it's good to have a security guard that wants you; it comes in handy for various reasons). To my right was the ambiguously 'non' gay boy, Brent. Who was so gay, he almost couldn't function. To my left was Kadee, who was busy chatting and squealing about the show and then one over from Kadee was Jenn.

Rise against was the opening act. I'm so glad there was only one. No way I'd have made it as long as I did during the concert had there been two. The shoving and pressing wasn't so bad yet. But it was coming, oh boy was it coming. I did not like Rise Against. Firstly, I couldn't understand a single word to any of their songs. Secondly, the disgusting pictures of animal abuse and murder that they set behind their songs made me nauseated and uncomfortable.

Finally, the show that I paid for came on. The lights dimmed out and all you heard was the *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* (sounding like a pulse checker), which is the beginning of the song called, "The End". Gerard started singing the lights came up bright and there he was on a gurney white makeup in a hospital robe and with black hair again and having gained a bit of weight back. OH YEAH! CHUBBY GERARD WAS BACK!! YAY!

( I apologize for my crap pictures.....crap, crap phone and they wouldn't let us take in our cameras!)

The whole place went up, the boys showed up one by one and everything was amazing. It was a freaking ROCK show. The played the entire "The Black Parade" album. Front to back. I can't begin to describe to you the way they put on a show, incredible. I've seen them before, but this was truly amazing. During one of the songs, "Mama", I threw my pink and purple scarf onto the stage. It barely caught, but Gerard noticed it. Dell, the security guard looked up at him and Gerard pointed at it for Dell to hand it to him. Gerard strutted around on stage in it. Everyone in our group went screaming crazy cause they knew it was my scarf. When he handed it back to me…..~big sigh~ it was covered in Gerard sweat. Some girls behind me tried to snatch it out of my hand and I was yelled at quickly to put it down safe so no one could grab it.

Here he is with my scarf....though the picture is horridly blurry.....





Photo By Kyile

I noticed Jenn was not doing well next to me and before I knew it, during her favorite song Teenagers, she was being pulled out over the rail by security. She passed out on the way backstage to lie down. It wasn't long before I was yoinked out myself. I waived Dell off two times telling him I was fine, the third time, after I threw up (yep..sexy), he pulled me out without my consent. It was during my favorite song, Famous Last Words, I'd been waiting months to see Gerard's mouth during this song (yes…my mouth fetish). Anyway, when I got back to the backstage, I was crying, Jenn was trying to calm me down and when I finally got to feeling better, we went back out front. Everyone else was asked to go back into the crowd, but the security guard let me and Jenn stand there at the edge of the stage and finish watching the show.

Mikey and Gerard:


When they came back on stage for their encore, they came on as My Chemical Romance, not The Black Parade, the set had changed, they changed into normal clothing, Mikey even was wearing his glasses and Frank had his skull gloves on. Best of all, Gerard has his leather jacket back on. His BULLETS!!! Leather jacket (okay..not the same jacket, cause it was stolen, but one very close). Gerard then yelled, "We are MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, did you fucking miss us?!" Fuck yeah I missed them! The crowd went insane. I personally miss this look to the band. It made me tear up.

Here is the shot after they changed! Thanks Kylie for this great shot too:


They sang most of the Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge album. Where Jenn and I were standing now was still close to the stage so we could see everything. In front of us was this young girl, probably, 12 or 13 and her Dad was about 5 feet back from her. He was quite entertained by Jenn and myself singing and dancing around. At one point he leaned forward and said, "Do you know every word and every move that the lead singer is going to make?" I just grinned at him and said back to him, "You are an awesome Dad."

The show was then over. L As the crowd disappeared those of us with meet and greet passes were to stay. My ankle was dead by then, I couldn't even feel my toes and my other leg was so cramped from dehydration and me putting weight on it all night long it was cramped up that I couldn't bend my damn toes. I looked like a gimpy freak. I saw Mikey's fiancée Alicia who is from KS. Not impressed. I had to walk it all out cause I didn't' want to be moving up to the guys like damn Igor something. J

I waited in line and made sure I was the last person. ~big sigh~ I wanted to say something clever to each of them, ya know, something that they would remember me by. While standing at the back I noticed that Bob, the drummer, was rapping away on the table in front of him. I leaned my head out of line and grinned at him saying, "Do you ever stop?" and he laughed and said, "I gotta practice." Once I said that I gained my confidence to talk to them pretty quickly.

I watched how each of them interacted with the people who they were meeting. Ray, the lead guitarist, would shove his hand up to the people fast and say, I'm Ray. So when it was my turn to go to him, I made sure I beat him to the punch. I extended my hand said my name and he was a bit taken back by it. He had a good firm strong hand shake and Ray was FULL of life. You could almost see it pouring out of him. He said, "That is the best name I've ever heard." Made me grin and I lost what I was going to say next, so I said the typical, "You did an amazing job." He said thank you, had that genuine grin and I moved down to the next guy.

Which was Frank, the rhythm guitarist and oh, my, god adorable. He's tiny, like 5'3. That's only an inch taller than me, he's pocket sized and oh would that have been great. I said, "Hello, I'm Ashia." He said, "Great name." I explained to him our birthdays were the same day and he was like, "Don't we have the most kick ass birthdays ever?" I also explained to him about my tat, which he liked my idea and said, "Yeah I got mine to piss off my dad." I knew that already though. I had wanted to say more to him, but, I was eager to get to Gerard, because I was loosing some of my nerve.

Next was Mikey Way, the bassist. He's also Gerard's little brother and well, let's say, I was kinda disappointed in his attitude. I'm sure he's tired of people, mainly teeny bopping girls, but still. Not much I could say to him, except I leaned forward on the table and said, "Mike, you need to smile." He gave me that weird tooth to tooth grin and I said, "Alright, let's not be a freak." He signed my paper and I moved on. I really hope he was just having a bad day.....

Then there was Bob. Bob was probably my favorite conversation. I had watched an interview earlier where Bob had said, "Superman is my favorite superhero." Well, I decided to rag him on it. I walked up and said. "I am so disappointed in you." He was like. "What?! What I do?" I'm like, "Superman, really? Gaye." And Gerard actually snorted laughed, it was great. Bob's like, "What! He's invincible." To which I replied, "Just like every other SUPERhero." That made Frank laugh. So Bob took the autograph book I had and was like trying to write something. I thought he was trying to figure out how to spell my name so I started to spell it and he's like, "Shut up, I'm trying to draw a Superman symbol." Gerard said, "Dude, don't' try, it's hard I can barely do it." To which Bob replied, "I'm giving this girl a damn Superman symbol." I'll scan it in later. It's hilarious. LOL

Then finally I got to Gerard. There he sat, in black skinny jeans, his hoodie pulled up over his head, and his black leather jacket over that. He had just finished a smoke so he smelled like a mix tobacco and heavy cologne, it was heavenly. He said, "You are the girl with the scarf." I nodded and said, "Ya know, you look fantastic in pink and purple." He responded, "That scarf is awesome! It's really warm, I'd have worn it longer but I put it on and damn it was hot." So, then I gave him my speech about wanting him to sign my shoulder and have it tattooed he agreed but asked me twice if I was sure. Once I reassure him he said, "Get down here." His body guard/security guy, pulled down the back of my shirt and Gerard said, "Okay I'm gonna try to make this good." Bob leaned over to take a look and said, "Ohhh tha'ts a good one Gerard!" And they both agreed pleased with the work. When I stood up he stood too and offered me a hug. I of course took it and then the security guards pretty much whisked them away for the pictures. I started crying. I got it together though quickly afterall I had just freaking been hugged by the man on the planet that I can just look at and go all melty for.

Here is the original signature:


We weren't allowed to take individual pictures with them. Let me rephrase, they wouldn't let MCR take individual pictures with us. So, instead, we were to take group shots. That we did. Gerard didn't like the first one, so we did it again. The second one he was pleased with and when he stood up he looked right at me and hugged me again. I said, "The tattoo on the shoulder with your signature thing wasn't creepy was it?" He just grinned and shook his head and said, "No not at all don't worry about it." So I bat my eyes and smiled pretty and said, "Gerard, would you please take a pic with me?" He looked around cautiously and said, "Let's do it secretly and quietly."

So here is the pic of me and Gerard. Security drug him away after that. ~swoon~

Thanks DeeDee for taking this one!!!

I am still about 10 feet above the ground right now. ~big sigh~ I wanna touch him again. We (meaning Jenn, Kadee and myself) went to Denny's after where I showed off the sig. Then went straight to bed and got up to head home the very next day.

Jenn and Me being goofy on the ride home, 9 hour drives will do that to you:


I'm tired, but it was all well worth it.

I'm officially tattooed, here is the final product:


Now, what the hell do I do with myself to top that? Life can't be shit from here on in…… :P

Oh yeah…I know, save to go to England! Oh yeah. :) I get to see Gareth this year and hopefully some supposed....'enchanted' or 'haunted' places.

I keep forgetting to post this here (stop poking me K!), but if you are coming to my b-day party and want to buy me a gift, I have a few selections here on my wishlist.

http://www.kaboodle.com/divine_ambrosia/divine_ambrosias-wish-list.html

VOODO MUSIC FESTIVAL

Alright - blame it on Jenn, but she pointed it out to me.

Who wants to take a day off or so and go on a road trip with me after my b-day party to the Voodo Music festival?

*batts eyes*  I'll even buy your ticket to the concert if you go with me, but I"m not driving that bitch by myself. :P

P.S.  Ash will be total fan girl.  MCR is playing.

Currently Listening Black Parade By My Chemical Romance see related

Actually Yesterday's post, but uh..i forgot to post it. :P

Dude....2 months

Since I last blogged. :P

Genna posted on me...so I figured I better post...cause the last thing I want is her mad at me. :)

I've been pretty MIA because way to much stuff is going on but the gist is as follows:

1. Dragon Con

2. Dragon Con

3. Watching Jenn and Traci sew for Dragon Con

4. Did I mention that Viktor Krum will be at Dragon Con?

5. Getting the house fixed up to sell.

6. Stressing about Nationals coming up.

7. Did I mention Dragon Con?

Yeah....so that is consuming my life right now. So frikkin stressed about it all.  But....I'm going to have fun right? :)

Yeah....thats right. Anyway, I'm off to work this morning, talk to you cats later.