Apocalyptica
16 March 2005 11:23Oh man, I am in for a hellish day. But last night MORE than pays for it!! Wow.
Woke up at 5:30 Tuesday morning. Remember this.
Left work at 1:30, walked to the rental car location, and picked up my very first rental car. Yay! It was a cute little Toyota Echo - VERY small. Also, economy size/priced = no CD player, no power window/locks/mirrors... but oh well. Was very cheap. And the guy at the car place was nice.
Made it to
londo's by 3-something. Gathered him and his stuff, went on a Taco Bell run, and made it out of Worcester by 4. Following a combination of Google's,
diego001's, and
metahacker's directions, made it into the city a little after 7. Navigated through Manhattan (it intimidated me!) to the club, then began circling in order to find a parking garage. 4-5 blocks north, we hadn't seen anything yet... but we found some free street parking. WOOT. It was awesome. We threw our expensive things (laptop, CD case) into the trunk and headed to the show.
Found decent seats (on the floor of the balcony next to the railing) and chatted with other fans, finding out that there were two other bands playing and Apocalyptica wouldn't be on stage before 10. The opening band (Morricone Youth) started, and 15 seconds into their second song, londo said that he wouldn't at all mind leaving and coming back later. I was concerned about missing Apoc., but londo took the initiative to talk to one of the band members, who was casually hanging out on the balcony, to ask if they were going to go on early. The answer was no... so we skipped out on the sucky opening band.
I didn't want to lose our free parking spot, and it was really cold outside, so rather than drive around anywhere or walk, we sat in the car and talked. It was nice. At 9:30 we headed back to the show... We managed to get standing room right behind the sound "booth" in the balcony, which means that as long as the sound guy was out of the way (which he was a lot) we had a great view. Woo!
The second band, Bonfire Madigan, was much cooler. It was really just this girl and her cello, sometimes accompanied by a violinist and violist. She had a very Tori-like style of singing that made her quite enjoyable. londo is certainly interested.
Then time for THE REASON FOR BEING THERE! Apocalyptica. There was a lot of setup, but that made sense. However, the addition of a full drumset did NOT. Apoc. is supposed to just be cellos! We were doubious (I think londo had heard about the drummer addition earlier, but he was still skeptical.) Our doubts increased when the drummer came out - black wifebeater, tight jeans, long Shaggy-styled blonde hair, and a black diamond face-painted over one eye - very goth, very Kiss. Heh. However, he began to rock our world with that drumset.
Then the band entered. The guy on the right in that picture entered first - long dark very touseled hair, beard, no shirt, leather pants, studded belt, stickboy. VERY metal. Then the guy on the left of the picture came onstage - also stickboy, sleeveless greyish shirt, tight jeans. londo and I nicknamed him "Sebastian Bach." And lemme tell ya, dude looks like a lady. Heh. Then the final guy. Very Fred Durst in his all black, thicker frame than the other two, short spiky hair, neat goatee - mmm. Definitely the hottest, in my book, although I would've gone home with the other brunette too. ;)
They opened with Path. ♥ Being where we were, behind the sound deck, we knew the playlist. Yay! Sadly I only recognized Path, the Metallica covers (not even all of those, either) and their final song (as in, during the encore)... which I'll get to in a moment. ;) However, I didn't need to recognize the music to fucking love it. It was awesome. It was cellos... doing metal...
Headbanging cellists. Think about that for a bit.
Also, the drummer fucking rocked. My jaw dropped at times. As freaky as he looked, man. He could PLAY.
Man, I'm so upset I left my camera in the car. I don't think you guys can fully appreciate their presence. Just... wow. They didn't just sit there... they stood up, dragged their cellos around, stood on their chairs and on the bass drum, and one even held his cello over his head to play. They put on a show.
Also, the phone post I made sounds SO sucky compared to the real thing. The three cellos made layer over layer of music... So gorgeous. I was enrapt. AND THE DRUMMER OMG. So good.
For their encore, they came back and played "Enter Sandman" and then... the best part... the metal version of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Greig. There was this moment where I stopped and looked around... I was surrounded by hundreds of people, from goth kids to dorky-looking adults, everyone rocking the fuck out to Greig - and metal hands everywhere. \m/ My little band nerd heart made me want to cry, but instead I bounced around some more.
We got out about 12:30, headed for the car, and drove home. We stopped at londo's for some stuff we previously forgot, so got to my house around 4:30. We had to unpack the rental car with his stuff (since he's not going back by his house before leaving for Arkansas tomorrow), etc. so I didn't get to sleep until 5:30. For, y'know, a broken :45. Then it was up for showering, returning the car, and work...!
So yeah, I've been up for 30 hours with <:45 of sleep. And I have to stay awake for at least another 7 - longer, really. Tonight I need to pack for Arkansas, because we're leaving right after work tomorrow! So getting home about 6:30, packing, then DROPPING. Like a fly. Ugh. And I don't even get to sleep in... Work Thursday too. But we leave for Arkansas after work, and then I can sleep. A lot. I hope. I'm drinking some caffeinated tea, and I have eaten to keep my energy up, but I'm stlil closing my eyes and dozing off every now and then while writing this. (I just fixed the time tag - it took an hour to write!)
Woke up at 5:30 Tuesday morning. Remember this.
Left work at 1:30, walked to the rental car location, and picked up my very first rental car. Yay! It was a cute little Toyota Echo - VERY small. Also, economy size/priced = no CD player, no power window/locks/mirrors... but oh well. Was very cheap. And the guy at the car place was nice.
Made it to
Found decent seats (on the floor of the balcony next to the railing) and chatted with other fans, finding out that there were two other bands playing and Apocalyptica wouldn't be on stage before 10. The opening band (Morricone Youth) started, and 15 seconds into their second song, londo said that he wouldn't at all mind leaving and coming back later. I was concerned about missing Apoc., but londo took the initiative to talk to one of the band members, who was casually hanging out on the balcony, to ask if they were going to go on early. The answer was no... so we skipped out on the sucky opening band.
I didn't want to lose our free parking spot, and it was really cold outside, so rather than drive around anywhere or walk, we sat in the car and talked. It was nice. At 9:30 we headed back to the show... We managed to get standing room right behind the sound "booth" in the balcony, which means that as long as the sound guy was out of the way (which he was a lot) we had a great view. Woo!
The second band, Bonfire Madigan, was much cooler. It was really just this girl and her cello, sometimes accompanied by a violinist and violist. She had a very Tori-like style of singing that made her quite enjoyable. londo is certainly interested.
Then time for THE REASON FOR BEING THERE! Apocalyptica. There was a lot of setup, but that made sense. However, the addition of a full drumset did NOT. Apoc. is supposed to just be cellos! We were doubious (I think londo had heard about the drummer addition earlier, but he was still skeptical.) Our doubts increased when the drummer came out - black wifebeater, tight jeans, long Shaggy-styled blonde hair, and a black diamond face-painted over one eye - very goth, very Kiss. Heh. However, he began to rock our world with that drumset.
Then the band entered. The guy on the right in that picture entered first - long dark very touseled hair, beard, no shirt, leather pants, studded belt, stickboy. VERY metal. Then the guy on the left of the picture came onstage - also stickboy, sleeveless greyish shirt, tight jeans. londo and I nicknamed him "Sebastian Bach." And lemme tell ya, dude looks like a lady. Heh. Then the final guy. Very Fred Durst in his all black, thicker frame than the other two, short spiky hair, neat goatee - mmm. Definitely the hottest, in my book, although I would've gone home with the other brunette too. ;)
They opened with Path. ♥ Being where we were, behind the sound deck, we knew the playlist. Yay! Sadly I only recognized Path, the Metallica covers (not even all of those, either) and their final song (as in, during the encore)... which I'll get to in a moment. ;) However, I didn't need to recognize the music to fucking love it. It was awesome. It was cellos... doing metal...
Headbanging cellists. Think about that for a bit.
Also, the drummer fucking rocked. My jaw dropped at times. As freaky as he looked, man. He could PLAY.
Man, I'm so upset I left my camera in the car. I don't think you guys can fully appreciate their presence. Just... wow. They didn't just sit there... they stood up, dragged their cellos around, stood on their chairs and on the bass drum, and one even held his cello over his head to play. They put on a show.
Also, the phone post I made sounds SO sucky compared to the real thing. The three cellos made layer over layer of music... So gorgeous. I was enrapt. AND THE DRUMMER OMG. So good.
For their encore, they came back and played "Enter Sandman" and then... the best part... the metal version of "In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Greig. There was this moment where I stopped and looked around... I was surrounded by hundreds of people, from goth kids to dorky-looking adults, everyone rocking the fuck out to Greig - and metal hands everywhere. \m/ My little band nerd heart made me want to cry, but instead I bounced around some more.
We got out about 12:30, headed for the car, and drove home. We stopped at londo's for some stuff we previously forgot, so got to my house around 4:30. We had to unpack the rental car with his stuff (since he's not going back by his house before leaving for Arkansas tomorrow), etc. so I didn't get to sleep until 5:30. For, y'know, a broken :45. Then it was up for showering, returning the car, and work...!
So yeah, I've been up for 30 hours with <:45 of sleep. And I have to stay awake for at least another 7 - longer, really. Tonight I need to pack for Arkansas, because we're leaving right after work tomorrow! So getting home about 6:30, packing, then DROPPING. Like a fly. Ugh. And I don't even get to sleep in... Work Thursday too. But we leave for Arkansas after work, and then I can sleep. A lot. I hope. I'm drinking some caffeinated tea, and I have eaten to keep my energy up, but I'm stlil closing my eyes and dozing off every now and then while writing this. (I just fixed the time tag - it took an hour to write!)
Sounds incredible
on 16 Mar 2005 18:30 (UTC)no subject
on 16 Mar 2005 19:59 (UTC)Sounds cool. Grieg's got staying power and versatility. Have you ever seen the movie "M", with Peter Lorre?
[I inherited from my dad a taste for strange arrangements of well-known music. I particularly like the Emerson, Lake & Palmer "Pictures at an Exhibition"...]
no subject
on 16 Mar 2005 20:04 (UTC)M
on 16 Mar 2005 20:23 (UTC)Re: M
on 16 Mar 2005 20:27 (UTC)...hey, I think it's time to do a little more recreational reading. To keep me awake, y'know.
Re: M
on 16 Mar 2005 21:18 (UTC)Re: M
on 16 Mar 2005 23:23 (UTC)no subject
on 16 Mar 2005 21:39 (UTC)no subject
on 16 Mar 2005 23:23 (UTC)WOW!
on 17 Mar 2005 14:59 (UTC)But Apocalyptica, live! Sweet. And that Greig piece sounds fucking awesome - Josh is going to buy muy celoso when I tell him.
Is there any way you can cut out of work early?
no subject
on 17 Mar 2005 15:01 (UTC)Re: WOW!
on 17 Mar 2005 16:44 (UTC)Ahhh, Sleep
on 17 Mar 2005 17:06 (UTC)Teacher! Mother! Secret lover . . . .