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[personal profile] revid
I need to write this down quickly before it flies away.

So, Thursday afternoon I'm sitting around the house in my sweatpants being unproductive: surfing LJ, TWoP, reading a magazine, watching stuff on my TiVo, with no plans to do anything more exertion-al.

Now, normally I read my email through a client, downloading them all when I feel like it, but that day I happened to have gmail open in a tab for some reason and I noticed I had a new mail, so I clicked on it.

Hey Mary !

Green Day will be performing a gig at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco,
California (375 Eleventh St. San Francisco, CA 94103) TONIGHT (Thursday,
April 9th, 2009.) Doors: 9pm Show: 10pm

Head over to www.idiotclub.com to see how you can get your name on the
Will Call list to purchase your tickets. The clock is ticking....

Enjoy!!

--Idiot Club


This was at 2:21pm.



This hilarious IM conversation ensued:

2:23:02 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE IDIOT CLUB
2:23:14 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: TONIGHT AT THE DNA LOUNGE
2:23:17 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: at 9pm
2:23:29 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: ,at 10 pm
2:23:39 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: OH FUCK ME
2:23:46 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: like one minute ago.
2:24:32 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: jkadfjklagdfklhaghkladsfjklasdfjklasjdf FUCK
2:24:34 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: GET TICKETS WOMAN
2:24:37 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: fuck.
2:25:01 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: But I'd rather drive up for tuesday.
2:25:06 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: You can't go tonight.
2:25:14 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I... might try. FUCK
2:25:26 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I totally work in like, 2 hours, hahahaha
2:25:28 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: shit shit shit shit shit
2:25:47 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: see if you can get tickets!!! is there a link?! send me the link!
2:26:04 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: you have to be an IC member.
2:26:11 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I AM AN IC MEMBER
2:26:13 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: OR I WAS
2:26:33 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: oh shit I'm totally not anymore
2:26:40 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: are you gonna sign up? you can crash on my couch!!
2:26:54 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: Can you go with me?
2:27:00 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: Can you call in sick?
2:27:01 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I WILL GO
2:27:06 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I WILL THINK OF SOMETHING
2:27:13 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: OK, I'll send the email!
2:27:16 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: GO GO GO
2:27:23 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: if you get your name on the list, I will trade to be a runner, or something, and leave early.
2:27:37 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I can't get out of it completely but I can go with you when you come pick me up at work
2:27:41 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I'll do something, anything
2:27:43 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I get paid on tuesday
2:27:45 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: I'll get by
2:28:04 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: *punches self in the face repeatedly*
2:28:07 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: OK, well we'll see if I'm one of the first 100
2:28:11 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: Okay. :)
2:28:37 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: HAHAHAHA it has already sold out on the DNA club's website
2:28:52 PM [livejournal.com profile] revid: I forwarded the email to you.
2:28:55 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: *runs*
2:29:14 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: RESPONSIBILITY AND LEVEL-HEADEDNESS, WHAT'S THAT?
2:29:15 PM [livejournal.com profile] feels_like_fire: IT'S FUCKING GREEN DAY

Meanwhile, I'm looking at my watch because it's about a 4+ hour drive to SF from my house, and I've got to feed the cats and take a shower and get in the damn car if I'm gonna make it on time. So after about an hour, I email them and apologize and beg for an answer BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO, and I get a very nice email saying "Yes, you are on the list."

(FINALLY, that $20 a year wasted on the Idiot Club is no longer wasted!)

I get in my car and hit the road around 4pm. The traffic gods were with me since I arrived at the venue around 8:15pm. Kat just got off work and was headed over in a taxi and she told me that [livejournal.com profile] leighrowena and [livejournal.com profile] _somniac_ were waiting in line to see if they were going release more tickets. Kat also found out that [livejournal.com profile] mindfuckamerica was going to be there too.

The show started around 10:30 pm. The venue holds maybe 1000 people, tops. Although Kat and I were about mid pack on the floor before the music started, we somehow managed to keep getting closer.

You guys! For most of the show I was about 4 feet away directly in front of Billie Joe Armstrong! I could hardly believe it! I could read the writing on the bass/treble switch of his Les Paul Jr. When he raised his hands in the air and his shirt pulled up, I could see his 80 tattoo. As I said after the PHGP show, I could see his fucking fillings! Here's the thing: After the PHGP shows, I thought "OK, I've gotten to see Billie Joe Armstrong perform in a club, close up. It's not gonna get any better than this." Then the FBHTs came along, and I got to meet them, and chat with Adrienne, and get pictures with them, and for one show I was actually on stage with my arm around Billie, singing into the mic with him, and spent the rest of the show sitting on the edge of the stage 2 feet from Mike Dirnt thinking "OK, now for real, this is the peak fan experience! It can never get better than this."

But Thursday night, I got to go to a Green Day show in a small club for 2 1/2 hours, and I got to be in the second row, and I got to hear the new album in its entirety only the second time it's ever been played publicly. I say this in all seriousness, I've gotten all that I've ever wanted from this band now. Meaning that, if I only see them play from the nose bleed seats in a stadium from now on, I'll never complain. Because I will always remember 9 April 2009.

Some stuff about the show:

~They looked amazing. They have not aged in 5 years at all. The styling is sort of American Idiot lite. All black, just a light touch of guyliner, no ties, Billie with black hair, Mike has gone back to the brown hair which looks sooooo much better than the blond on him, and Tré's still rocking the fauxhawk.

~The new guy Jeff Markita was there, hiding in the back, but introduced by Billie, along with the Jasons, of course.

~ They sounded great. It didn't sound like a warm up or a rehearsal performance at all. The set list:

All of 21st Century Breakdown
~~
American Idiot
Jesus Of Suburbia
St. Jimmy
Give Me Novocaine
Burnout
Coming Clean
The Grouch
80
Stuck With Me
Blood, Sex & Booze
She
Worry Rock
Basket Case
Going To Pasalacqua
King For A Day/Shout/Stand By Me/
Minority

~ The new stuff sounds amazing. You know how sometimes you have to listen to a new record a few times to differentiate ths songs, or get into it? Not with this. This was my first time hearing it and i feel like I know it already. I was very frustrated because I wanted to sing along, but I didn't know the words. I CANNOT WAIT to sit down with the lyric sheet and listen to it. There are a lot of different musical styles and tempos, even compared with AI. I loved how a lot of the songs started soft or mid-tempo, then just rip into your soul. Amazing! If this album isn't bigger than AI, I will eat my CD of it. (And then buy a replacement.)

~At one point Billie leaned over to whisper something in Mike's ear, then gave him a kiss on the cheek. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

~Just look at that set list of the old stuff! They never play Worry Rock! I love that song so hard. And I thought for sure I'd never ever again get to hear JOS live, but oh, it was great to sing along with the band and the crowd. I think Billie adores St. Jimmy so he will play it whenever he can get away with it.

~Billie laughed after Novocaine, saying it was the best they'd played it in three years, even though he had to show Jason the chords. And he was just adorable fucking up the lyrics on Coming Clean, and The Grouch. When he brought the girl in the audience up to to sing, he did that "Knowledge" thing he does: "Who knows the lyrics to this song? You do? You swear to God you do?" The girl knew the lyrics, but couldn't sing for shit though. LOL

~Here's the part where I died, only to be brought back to life with happiness. When they started Going to Pasalaqua, I pretty much lost my shit. I have always dreamed of hearing that song live. I was already going absolutely batshit when Billie turned around and looked up at the VIP section and said "Davey Havok, get down here!" I actually didn't recognize him at first! He's got his hair cut in this David Lynch style with blond tips, but HOLY SHIT, does he look hot! I mean, he was absolutely gorgeous. So that's when I really lost my shit. They sang together in the mic (oh man, what a slashy OTP right there!), then Davey sang a part by himself---sounding beautiful. I don't know what's going on with AFI, but it's way past time for a new album from them too.) That might have been the highlight of the show for me.

~Minority was as usual, the perfect song to end with. The crowd went wild. No encore. Tré Cool was almost responsible for my death. He threw a bunch of drumsticks out right where I was standing, and I got knocked down on to the ground with about 3 people landing on me. And I didn't even get one, but Kat did. :-)

It finished up around 1am. We hung out inside for a bit and found Lorrin and chatted for a bit. I also managed to stick my foot in my mouth all the way down to my duodenum in front of someone's boss, but I think it's all good. Sorry about that, hon! We got kicked out then chatted with Marisa and Audrey, and of course, all sang Happy Birthday to Audrey, because it was the 10th by then.

About 20 people were hanging around waiting for the band to come out to the limo. Billie was pretty friendly according to Janine who waited. (Kat had to get up early so we split.) I must bow down to Janine, BTW. She found out about the show and got on a PLANE with 2 HOURS notice to FLY from LA to go to this show. Makes me feel like a poseur.

I crashed on Kat's couch but barely slept. Yesterday, Kat went to go camping this w/e and I hit the road back home. Now today, it seems like a dream, except that my whole body is sore from being assaulted in the pit for 2 1/2 hours. Totally worth it though.




From this NYTimes review. See that upraised arm in the lower left corner? My chin was perched on her shoulder. That's how close I was.

What a week. Between going to LA to see Adam Lambert on AI and going to SF to see Green Day, I've put 850 miles on my car. Adam was free (heh, it was only one song), and Green Day might be the best $20 I've ever spent. (Still waiting for Gale Harold to show up on my doorstep.)

Thanks for reading all that. :-)

Date: 2009-04-11 10:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sick-of-me03.livejournal.com
I had the BIGGEST shot-eating grin on my face the entire time reading your post! I'm so fucking happy (and envious!) that you got the chance to go! :D

DUDE. THAT SETLIST! She?! The Grouch?! Worry Rock?! I just about died. I'm hoping they decide to go a couple shows in LA, since I don't have much cash to just hope on a Southwest flight these days (ya know, that whole "unemployment" thing. Bleh). I even filled out a draft email to the IC in the event that I do get that email about a show happening at The Roxy or some shit.

And Davey! My Glitter Princess! AFI has an album coming out later this year called Crash Love. Between Green Day, AFI, TLE (maybe) touring this summer, I can't stand it! GUH.

Date: 2009-04-13 03:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mikeyface.livejournal.com
Holy shit!! That is one amazing recap! I loved your conversation with Kat!! *cracks up* IT'S GREEN DAY! Indeed. I would have called in dead if I had to! (Then be miraculously ressurected the following day!)

Wow, Mary! You've been on a wild ride so far, but it's only just begun! I really hope they keep playing the small venues so I can have an experience like that. I haven't seen them in a small venue setting since ... *scratches head* I don't remember! I certainly wasn't a die-hard fan just yet, so I didn't fully appreciate it. Oh how I wish I could go back in time! :)

And ... Ohmygod. DAVEY!!!!!!?????????? DUDE. That is just... holy SHIT! That's amazing! You must have been freaking the fuck out, woman!! (PS: I'm adding AFI to my list of "MUST SEE IN CONCERT ASAP!" I've REALLY been loving them lately!)

Again, the set-list amazes me. (But again ... NO HOLIDAY. That part depresses me.) However, ending a show with Minority might be the best thing ever!!! That's right up there in my top 3 of favorite GD songs! :D

Randomly...OMFG! *FLAILY HANDS* I want to get up there & sing with Billie! I know all the words to The Grouch and I have a decent singing voice! (Hell, I know the words to nearly every GD song minus a few on the Insomniac album since it's not a favorite of mine.)

I am in such GD withdrawal that it's not even funny. THEY NEED TO TOUR ALREADY! Or I wish I lived in Cali so I could just jet up to wherever they were playing. I would call in sick, dead, personal emergency, whatever!! *whines*

Anyway! I am SO happy for you!!!!!!!!!! :D *HUGS* XOXOXOXOXO

Ps--I forgot to add. THE PICTURE!! Seeing that made me tear up actually. And now I'm listening to Warning and remembering driving around with you & Ash. :) I know some people think I've written GD off because I don't post about them as much, or that I've "moved on" with MCR but the thing is they both hold two very different parts of my heart. :)

Green Day trancends almost everything, but of course I'd never write off how much I love MCR either. :)

UGH. My heart is bleeding right now. I miss them so much more than EVER before!!! I'm used to their hiatuses. I've been going through this since the Dookie album was released but it gets harder and harder with each passing album. I always fear the worst, you know? That they'll just throw in the towel. I thought that this might be "over" this time, but I'm SO infinitely fucking happy to know that our boys are BACK and ready to kick all of our asses again! (Musically speaking!)

Sorry ... I'm just rambling!!! :D
Edited Date: 2009-04-13 03:51 am (UTC)

Date: 2009-04-13 05:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stumphed.livejournal.com
soooooooo happy for you. i really NEED some green day injected into my veins right this SECOND.

Date: 2009-04-13 11:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] revid.livejournal.com
Glad you liked it...it was fun. :-) And thanks for the 311 on the next AFI!

Date: 2009-04-13 11:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] revid.livejournal.com
You may ramble in my LJ for as long as you want forever!! XOXOXOXOXO

It's gonna be a kick-ass year honey!

Date: 2009-04-13 11:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] revid.livejournal.com
God, it's been like a cool glass of water after years in the desert. The new album just rocks.

(OT: Your long lost pup Quentin is going to be the guest mentor on American Idol tomorrow...should be very entertaining!)

Date: 2009-04-14 12:55 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mikeyface.livejournal.com
Aww thanks, honey! :) *SMOOCHES!* And hell yes it will be! :D

Date: 2009-04-14 04:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stumphed.livejournal.com
THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS UP ABOUT QUENTIN. Nnngh. I miss that man a whole lot. I've set my DVR to tape. Woo. Your boy better rock our socks off.

Date: 2009-04-14 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luminescencex.livejournal.com
Wow, that sounds so amazing. Damn, I wish I lived in the states. (:
I had such a smile on my face whilst I was reading that and I'm so happy for you. (And sososo jealous!)

Glad you had a good time!

<3

Date: 2009-04-15 05:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] and-ed.livejournal.com
Sooooooooooo happy for you! Awesome review, too (your Mary-Kat AIM convo cracked me up!) And Davey...that must have been just for you, huh? Being that I'm not a big Davey fan (no reason to DISlike him, I'm just indifferent) and that GTP is one of my all time fave GD songs and on my list of songs I'd kill to hear them do live, I would have been annoyed to see him share it with Davey, so I'll use that excuse to console myself that its just as well I wasn't there. And yeah...that's not really working. LOL I'm jealous as hell. But all kinds of stoked for you, man. Hoping you get to go again! *fingers crossed*

Date: 2009-04-15 06:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] revid.livejournal.com
Yeah, it really was a great time. Gotta love living in CA!

Date: 2009-04-15 06:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] revid.livejournal.com
Looks like I'm going to be headed up in a few hours again. I'm a nutcase, for sure.

Davey and Billie were AWESOME together. :-D

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