gravy drinker

here's a poem about catching dreams.
it's called dream catcher:

Dreams! Dreams! Dreams!
Boy, do I got a lotta dreams!

...that's a good poem.

jay-kay!

So basically, I decided to come and blog again! YAY!
About what, I'm not sure yet...but I'll think of something.

In the meantime, I drink your milkshake.
I don't care if that is a random quote from the movie that didn't win best picture...it's still hilarious.
And better than old men who, unfortunately, have no country.
Sorry, old folks.

Out of Commission

Yup, I think it's time for my irox to leave the hard place and venture out to elsewhere.

It was fun while it lasted, though. But now I'm on my merry way - running a new blog with a new purpose, and bidding adieu to this one.

'Til we meet again, my pets.

Adieu

See, now THIS is why people watch Idol!

Not really for the singing; definitely not for those cheesy Ford commercials. No, we watch for the drama: Randy's 'dawg' and 'yo' counter (or the number of times he mentions that a) he worked with someone in the industry, or b) he was in Journey once), the next weird think that Paula will slur, how the contestants react to being knocked down by the judges...and then moments like this, little gems that make watching American Idol good, fun entertainment:

Oh, snap! And poor Melinda ~ her reactions were priceless!! As were Ryan's, once he realized what Simon said and, conversely, what he said. Took him a second to come to the conclusion that "this is not about your wishes!" was probably not the best response to "come out of the closet."

And this is why we watch!

Panic! At the Disco - But It's Better If You Do...

Every single one of Panic!'s videos are amazing...
...this one is my personal favorite....



Now I'm of consenting age to be forgetting you in a cabaret.
Somewhere downtown where a burlesque queen may even ask my name
As she sheds her skin on stage
I'm seated and sweating to a dance song on the club's P.A.
The strip joint veteran sits two away
Smirking between dignified sips of his dignified peach and lime daiquiri

And isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety
Oh, isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety

But, but I'm afraid that I
Well, I may have faked it
And I wouldn't be caught dead in this place

Well, I'm afraid that I
Well, that's right, well I may have faked it
And I wouldn't be caught dead in this place

And isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety
Oh, isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety

Well, I'm afraid that I
Well, I may have faked it
And I wouldn't be caught dead in this place

Well, I'm afraid that I
Well, that's right, well I may have faked it
And I wouldn't be caught dead in this place

And isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety
Oh, isn't this exactly where you'd like me
I'm exactly where you'd like me, you know
Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety

Praying for love and paying in naivety
Praying for love and paying in naivety, oh

Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around...

...comes back around...
This is amazing song, and a brilliant film created around it.

Hey Girl
Is he everything you wanted in a man?
You know I gave you the world
You had me in the palm of your hand
So why your love went away
I just can't seem to understand
Thought it was me and you, babe
Me and you until the end
But I guess I was wrong

Don't wanna think about it (uh)
Don't wanna talk about it (uh)
I'm just so sick about it
I can't believe it's ending this way
Just so confused about it (uh)
Feeling the blues about it (yeah)
I just can't do without ya
Tell me is this fair?

Is the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Shoulda known better when you came around
That you were gonna make me cry
It's breaking my heart to watch you run around
Cause I know that you're living a lie
But that's ok, baby, cause in time you will find

What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around, goes all the way back around
Yeah

Now Girl
I remember everything that you claimed
You said that you were moving on now (on now)
Maybe I should do the same (maybe I should do the same)
The funny thing about that is
I was ready to give you my name
Thought it was me and you babe (babe)
And now, it's all just a shame
And I guess I was wrong

Don't wanna think about it (no)
Don't wanna talk about it (hm)
I'm just so sick about it
I can't believe it's ending this way
Just so confused about it (uh)
Feeling the blues about it (yeah)
I just can't do without ya
Can you tell me is this fair?

Is the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Shoulda known better when you came around
That you were gonna make me cry
Now it's breaking my heart to watch you run around
Cause I know that you're living a lie
But that's ok, baby, cause in time you will find

What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around, goes all the way back around
Yeah

What goes around comes around
Yeahhh
What goes around comes around
You should know that
What goes around comes around
Yeahhh
What goes around comes around
You should know that

Don't wanna think about it (no)
Don't wanna talk about it (hm)
I'm just so sick about it
I can't believe it's ending this way
Just so confused about it (uh)
Feeling the blues about it (yeah)
I just can't do without ya
Tell me is this fair?

Is the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Shoulda known better when you came around (shoulda known better)
That you were gonna make me cry
It's breaking my heart to watch you run around (now it's breaking my heart)
Cause I know that you're living a lie
But that's ok, baby, cause in time you will find

What goes around, goes around, goes around, goes all the way back around
(what goes around comes around, baby)
What goes around, goes around, goes around, goes all the way back around
(what goes around comes around, baby)
What goes around, goes around, goes around, goes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around, comes all the way back around
Yeah

Yup
Yup
Yup (let me paint this picture for ya, baby)
Yup

You spend your nights alone
And he never comes home
And every time you call him, all you get's a busy tone
I heard you found out
That he's doing to you
What you did to me
Ain't that the way it goes
When you cheated, girl
My heart bleeded, girl
So it go without saying that should left me feeling hurt
Just a classic case
s-s-scenario
Tale as old as time time
Girl, you got what you deserved
And now you want somebody
To cure the lonely nights
You wish you had somebody
That could come and make it right
But girl, I ain't somebody
I'm out of sympathy
See...see, see

What goes around comes back around
I thought I told ya
Hey (hey)
What goes around comes back around
I thought I told ya
Hey (hey)
What goes around comes back around
I thought I told ya
Hey (hey)
What goes around comes back around
I thought I told ya
Hey (hey)

Take it to em, J

Haha
See
You shoulda listened to me, baby
Take it to em, J
Because
What goes around comes back around
Hahahaha
Ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Apology (Sorry, But Not Really)

The Delicate Balance of Sorry and Not Sorry

I have lost
The necklace
That was in
Your jewelry box

I think
You were going
Wear it
To the party tonight

I am sorry
It looked beautiful on me
When I borrowed it
Yesterday

Um....Glutes

So I'm doing my Googles today, and I came across this video. I can't even begin to try to explain, so without further ado:



Wow, right? That's...something else, eh? I really want to say something witty or clever, but honestly, words fail me at the moment...

...In The Purple Rain...

I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted one time to see you laughing
I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain

purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you bathing in the purple rain

I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend, baby
I... I could never steal you from another
it's such a shame our friendship had to end

purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you underneath the purple rain

honey, I know, I know, I know times are changing
it's time we all reach out for something new, that means you too
you say you want a leader, but you can't seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it and let me guide you into the purple rain...

purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you, only want to see you in the purple...rain

My Supernova Experience

I am still completely lost in the euphoria of Tuesday night. How incredible was this night? This was, without any doubt, the BEST NIGHT of my entire life. It was the most amazing, magical experience I have ever had, and words cannot even begin to describe the happiness I have at being able to have attended. And my feelings were echoed by the entire crowd - there was so much love for every person who graced the stage...it was overwhelming. There were some incredible fans in the audience tonight, so, so much love for every single person up on that stage. Every person, every set. The love was palpable. It was amazing. The sound was more perfect than anyone could have asked for, and every set was on FIRE!!

The show started at 7:30, so me being as excited as I was, we got there about 45 minutes prior. And I must say, from the moment I stepped into the venue, the magic of the night completely engulfed me. Right at the top of the steps was the Juke Kartel street team, handing out glowing bracelets. We got ours and started to move along when we noticed that someone with the most gorgeous Australian accent was talking to the street-teamer....It was TODD! *dreamy sigh* He has amazing hair, and gorgeous, gorgeous eyes :)

Me and my dad went over and told him how excited we were to see Juke perform, and Todd was so sweet. He talked with us for a bit, took pictures and told us to watch out for him on stage – he would be the one with the wild hair flipping all over the place. *LOL*! After buying some band merchandise, we went and found our seats, and worked out the bugs in our camera while we waited for the show to start. They were playing songs over the system while we waited, and Greatest Day came on the system - squee! I think I was the only one in the general area who knew the words to that song, but I sang along (loudly!) anyway.

Then, the lights began to dim, and the noise level in the crowd began to rise. The show was starting!! I cannot even convey in words how excited I was for this show – best night EVER! Lights begin flashing, Eddie is beating away at the dreams, and the members of Juke come out onto the stage one at a time: Tommy, Dale, Todd – then Toby bounds on stage, yells into the mic, and the boys begin playing Goodbye, My Lover, which was amazing – it got the whole crowd to their feet. Toby has such a fantastic voice...clear, and it cuts perfectly through the music. It never faltered, and it is really, really powerful. Also, he is so, incredibly gorgeous – even more so in person – all the Juke boys are; I’m in love! G,ML, Toby introduces the band and laments about Colorado’s cold weather. Then he adds that he is going to like playing in Loveland (at the Budweiser Events Center): "I really like playing at places that are sponsored by beer!" He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. The boys are so tight together, and they are effortless. Next was Burning Down The House, and he really got the audience participating in that one, having the crowd sing "burnin’ down the house!" taking pictures with audience cameras and getting everyone to put their hands in the air. I think it was during this song too, one of the girls in the audience was on crutches, so she was waving those in the air. Toby came by, and the girl handed him a crutch, so he took it on stage and sang with it for a bit, wobbling on it while he sang...it’s hard to explain, but it was funny! The next song was December, one of my very favorite JK songs. It was brilliant – Toby got the audience to participate with this one too, during "ooh oh ooh oh’s" – he had the crowd sing that and then sing, in the same tune, "it is f**kin’ cold" which got the audience completely pumped up. "Things are getting heated up in here...so take off your clothes!" Toby was completely effortless with crowd interaction, and everyone in the crowd completely loved it! Next was Rebel Yell, and the majority of the audience was singing along to every single word. The sight of thousands of fists pumping into the air screaming "more more MORE!" was amazing! Juke mentioned how much love they could feel from the audience.

When Toby announced that they were going into their final song of the night, it seemed like too soon. Their set was absolutely amazing, and I didn’t want it to end. Toby told us Magni and Dilana were next; then he said that him and Tommy slept on the Supernova bus the last night, and he said that Lukas was completely pumped and excited for the Loveland show. Road crew brought an acoustic guitar on stage, and they began a beautiful acoustic version of Throw It Away...then the music stops, Toby puts down the guitar and the song completely kicks into gear. Toby was all over the stage, making sure that everyone had their hands in the air and that everyone was singing along – 'oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh!' Fists were pumped into the air, everyone was pogoing to the beat and it was like time stopped for those minutes while the crowd and the band was encompassed with this amazing energy. "We are Juke Kartel, you guys have been AMAZING!" The crowd cheered and cheered – we all wanted more.

After a short intermission (probably around five minutes), it was time for Dilana and Magni to come on stage. Dilana is so little in person, and her hair...I am in love with her hair. Seriously, that girl has awesome hair. During the set she had her hair in two bunched pig-tails, but after the show during the meet-and-greet it was down, and wow. Her hair is amazing. She was wearing all black – a skirt held up by a goggle belt, and a flowing black shirt that tied in the front...this is important, I will get to it later! ;) Magni was wearing all black as well, a long sleeve silver embroidered black thing, and black pants. Dilana said 'What’s going on, Colorado!?" then they both sat down with their acoustic guitars (Dilana used the one that was signed from the show) and began their first song, and gorgeous rendition of Wicked Game. This duet was stunningly beautiful – it gave me chills. There was not one hint of a rasp in Dilana’s voice...it was pure and simply amazing. They sound perfect singing together; their voices really compliment each other. The cheers for this song were long and loud. They also talked about how cold it was in Loveland (and it was COLD!) Magni said something like, 'Wow, it’s a lot colder here than it was in....that one city we just played in.' I just have to add here that I love Magni – seriously, the boy is wicked talented, and he is hilarious! Their second song was a duet of Creep, and right when Magni sang the words ‘one year before...’ the audience went absolutely wild. This duet was also stunningly beautiful; their voices go together so well.

After this song, the two stood up from their seats, and Dilana told us that she was going to sing an original song, Holiday. I really liked this song – it was insanely catchy, and by the end of it even audience members who had never heard the song before were singing along to it. Dilana was all over the stage for this one, jumping and dancing. When she came back to center stage after the song, she noticed that her shirt, which tied in the front, had untied even more than she had wanted it to. "I got a little cleavage for you," she said, to cheers from the audience. In response to the cheers, she goes, 'Thanks, the girls like it." Without missing a beat, Magni goes, "But the boys don’t like it? WTF?" It was so, so funny, the audience was roaring with laughter. Dilana was trying to get her shirt to lace back up, saying that she had a plan to show some cleavage, but look what happened – she had her plan and it (her shirt) fell apart. Then she said that they had better get on with singing their songs...she said she talked too long in Dallas and went six minutes over; she told us that they spanked her for it, but said she kinda liked it. The interaction between Dilana and Magni, and between them and the audience was amazing, and the crowd was eating it up. Next was SuperSoul, which the crowd sang along with at Dilana’s cues. The set ended with a brilliant performance of Zombie. Dilana and Magni were in perfect time with each other as they played their guitars – they would both lean back and move forward at the exact same time. D had the audience sing out the 'what’s in your head...in you head...' parts of the song, and it was fantastic; really great. I was so impressed with the entire thing - Dilana and Magni’s set was amazing, their first song especially. Chills. "There’s so much love here, thank you!"

There was about a 20 minute intermission between Dilana and Magni’s set, and the Panic Channel’s set, so my dad and I talked to a couple in the row in front of us who were also extremely pumped to see Lukas and Supernova. The lady and I talked about how excited we were to finally see Luke live after having seen him on the show; his back catalogue of music; his stage presence; and how we wished we could move forward to first row (my dad and I were in row five, she and her husband were in row four). Her husband had asked several times if they could move up, but there was a security guard lady who wouldn’t let anybody through. This lady comes in again later, lol.

Then the lights dimmed again, the cheers rose again and it was time for The Panic Channel. They all sauntered on the stage as a personification of rock and roll – Dave was even smoking on stage, even though this was a non-smoking venue. Dave was shirtless, of course, with black pants on. Steve was wearing a sleeveless black/grey shirt with black and white striped arm bands and black pants. Stephen was wearing all black, if I remember correctly. And Siggy (who, I might add, I have a total crush on now) was wearing a black and white striped shirt with a black vest overtop, and black pants. I am probably sounding like a broken record by now, but they, too, sounded absolutely amazing. Steve has such a fantastic voice. It cuts perfectly through the music, and it is clear and on point at all times. He never wavered, not for one single note. He is an AMAZING frontman. I can’t remember the exact order, but I know they sang Awake first, and it was stunning. Teahouse of the Spirits was next, then, if I remember right, Blue Bruises, Left To Lose, and finally, She Won’t Last.

Steve told us that Jonas was in the audience tonight, and Jonas gave us all a “yeaaaiiiaahh!” to huge cheers. Steve also told us that his family was in the audience, and said that it was amazing to have the love from his family as well as the love from his fans. There was some awesome band interaction, as well as band/audience interaction. During Blue Bruises, I believe, Steve actually jumped down into the audience, bumping fists and shaking hands. He came down from left stage and made his way around the entire stadium before climbing back on stage again. To close their set, they had Dilana join them on stage for Highway to Hell – the entire audience was, again, singing along, putting our hands in the air and waving them like we just didn’t care. Steve touched his heart and bowed his head, and thanked us. The cheers were louder than ever. They were awesome, truly incredible.

The lights came on again, as did the sound system songs, and we had ourselves another intermission before Supernova took the stage. In my mind, this intermission lasted a really long time, but I would estimate that it was approximately 40 minutes. My dad went to get us some water – I have never screamed so much in my entire life – and I talked again to the woman in front of me, probably in overloud tones since normal hearing had not fully returned to my ears. I did hear, however, when Drive came over the system – squeee!

And then....

And then, finally, it was time for the moment that I have been anticipating since October – this was my night, this was happening, this wasn’t a dream. I was really here, and in seconds, I was really going to see Lukas, Tommy, Gilby and Johnny up on stage. It seemed surreal, and I think I had to pinch myself in order to tell myself that this was happening; that this wasn’t just an extremely lucid dream. I had an uncontrollable buzzing in my stomach, I was full of excitement and emotion – it was here!

The lights went down, and the cheers from the audience – that had somehow seemed to have grown to twice its size during the intermission, probably due to sheer adrenaline – were so loud, louder than they had ever been. We hear creeping music, then Warning; Warning; Warning. Lukas’ face appears on screen, welcoming us to the show. I am getting a buzz in my stomach just recalling this moment. Then, white lights begin to flash and a drum beat begins to rise, steadily louder and louder, and the lights brighter and brighter until the stage has become almost un-seeable and the lights blinding. Then...darkness, and a flash and here comes Gilby, then Johnny, Tommy, of course, is already beating on the drums. Then...Lukas bursts on the stage right as the guitars and bass begin their first cords, and we’re into it! They open with Let’s Spend The Night Together and the crowd went crazy! Luke would point the mic to the audience, and the crowd sang along at the top of their lungs: ‘Let’s spend the night together, now I need you more than ever!’ Lukas was all over the stage, never standing still, full of the excitement that Toby was telling us about earlier in the night. He had the biggest smile on his face from the moment he walked out on the stage, and we all just knew he was feeling the Colorado love.

Right after LSTNT, the boys went straight into Underdog, and it was awesome. Luke was, again, all over the stage, right to life, front to back, climbing on the drum risers, letting the audience sing with him. He really looked at home up on that stage. “I love it here! You guys are so amazing!” The crowd was so supportive, and the cheers were soooo loud – screams, whistles, whoops. After Underdog, the guys played Boys of Summer – “It’s cold as f**k out there, let’s heat things UP!” I didn’t know that that song was Boys of Summer, I had been thinking of a different song entirely! I LOVE that song, and they performed it brilliantly. Something about this song really hit home with the crowd, because it got almost every single person singing along with Luke as loud as they could.

After this song, Lukas talked a little bit with the audience. “I’ve been to Disneyland, and I’ve been to Tommyland, but I f***ing LOVE Loveland – you guys are unbelievable!” Tommy giggled, and Lukas started in on a really cute, coy sort of laugh. Luke then asked us how we were doing, which was matched by enormous cheers and applause from the crowd. Lukas went from each side of the stage, holding the mic out to see who screamed the loudest, dancing along the way. It was adorable :)

After Luke's proclaimation of Colorado lovin' (*dreamy sigh*), I am a little unsure of the overall song order, but I do know that right after he said this, they peformed Headspin, and it literally brought me to tears. Lukas introduced the song, saying it was dedicated to his mother, who was very ill right now. At that moment, a hush fell over the crowd – bated breath waiting for the song to begin. It was as though the entire world had melted away, and it was just Lukas up on stage, backed by a single light, singing this song with all the passion and emotion one could ever imagine. All the intensity, all the rawness – it was in the song, plus so much more. The added beginning and ending to the song added a completely new dimension to the song...especially the end, when Lukas whispers “Stop the war, stop the war, stop the war,” and then belts “Stop the war...in my...head....” Just recalling this moment gives me chills, and I know I was not the only one. All around me as far as I could see, the crowd was standing in complete rapture, as Lukas poured his heart and soul into this song. It was enchanting, and hauntingly beautiful.

The cheers after this song were thunderous, and Lukas, you could tell, was incredibly touched by how well received this song was from the audience. I think it was here that Luke told us all, “Babe, I don’t care if I have to walk, we are coming back to LOVELAND!!!” Of course, this was met by the most thunderous of applause yet – SQUEEEE!

I think It’s All Love was next, and it started out acoustic (with Lukas playing his guitar), which was absolutely gorgeous! It was slowed down, and the melody had slightly changed. Then Tommy beat down on the drums and they flipped the song into high gear, playing it with the full band. Most of the audience was singing along to this one as well, and we would all shout “It’s all love, it’s all love, it’s all love” when Lukas would point the mic at the crowd.

From here on, I really can’t remember the song order, but I do remember every song and what happened with each...so things may get a little jumbled, but that’s just how I roll ;)

And in some point during this, Gilby introduced the band: himself, Johnny, Tommy (straight from Hollyweird, California, was what Kilby said), and then Tommy took over to introduce Lukas, who had run off the main stage and hidden himself behind the kind of wall-metal-bar thing...it was too cute. Tommy was like "Where’d he go? Lukas? Where is that f***er? Oh, there he is...Lukas ROSSI!" That was when Lukas bounded back on stage again, with the biggest smile on his face, and the fans gave him the loudest cheers thus far of the night. He gave a bashful little "yeaaaiiiaahh!" after he was introduced and then the band started in on Valentine, which was appropriate, as it was the day after the show. They friggin’ KILLED this song – it was soooo amazing. Luke was again all over the stage with this one, and when he came over to my side I held up my sign (Red From A Rose) and he pointed right at me, smiled, and gave me a little wave! I completely melted. I am all wibbly just thinking about it! <3>Be Yourself was next, but I am not positive. This song was so much fun, I cannot even begin to describe. Everyone was pogoing up and down, singing out the ‘heys’ and the ‘hos’ I think it was during this song that Gilby wandered about midstage to dance a bit with Lukas and then with Johnny. That was one of the best parts, when The Kilb came on over and danced with the guys. Their little interactions were adorable: shoulder pats and the like. This band is so tight, and so comfortable up on stage – watching them, it is as though they have been performing together for years.

I think it was after this, Tommy came off his drum kit and goes, "Okay, who wants some shots of jagermeister!?" The crowd went nuts - cheering and screaming. Tommy went from one edge of the stage, looking for people who were crazy enough. He gave it out and told the people to take a shot and pass it back - "I mean it folks!" He said he wanted everyone in the entire stadium to have a shot, which got the crowd riled all over again. Have I mentioned already how amazing this show was? It was a rock show, baby, and it was so, completely AMAZING!

After Be Yourself and the jager, I am pretty sure Leave The Lights On was next. This was a song I suppose A LOT of people were looking forward to, because as soon as the opening riffs and drum hooks were played, the crowd (at least in my general area) went crazy! They started dancing like mad and singing along, throwing their hands in the air. And I gotta tell you, Leave The Lights On live is a really amazing, sexy, rock-and-roll party song. When it got the bridge part, Luke did this cool sort of hum thing, like...it's hard to describe he sort of half sang a melody and half hummed it, and then it went into the "girl with a wifebeater" part of the song, which, again, the people in my section thought was the best...did I mention I completely loved the people in my section? They were great! And the boys were feeding off of the energy of the crowd, especially for this song. Lukas was a blur for most of this song, climbing, dancing, twirling - and Gilby and Johnny were dancing and grooving as well. When Luke sang "....cuz everything else in the room is gonna be off...." the last time, the cheers were very, very loud.

"There is so much love here!" Luke said to us. "I just wanna..." and then he grabbed the air around him in a big hug and gave the sweetest little grin.

After LTLO, the boys went right into Personal Jesus. Oh my DOG, was that song amazing. This was one of the very best of the night. I had never heard this song before that night, but it was absolute perfection, and I was singing along by the end of the song. Luke had everyone sing out "Reach out and touch faith" and everyone...EVERYONE did. Everywhere I looked, hands were beating the air with slightly cupped hands, like they were touching faith. For part of the song, when he sang "...your own...personal...Jesus" he grabbed his crucifix and showed it to the crowd, then sort of touched it to his heart before letting fall against his chest again. It was a touching moment, right in the middle of a high powered song that was so amazing to witness.

After Personal Jesus, a hard-rock riff started, and I recognized it immediately - Social Disgrace. If Personal Jesus had impacted the crowd, it was nothing compared to what this song did. This is a powerful song on the album, but live, its effect is so strong. When they went into the chorus, I don't think there was one single person who did not have their hands in the air. This has always been one of my favorite songs, and there was something...more amazing, more gripping that night than it had even ever been before.

I think its words really resonated with the crowd: earlier in the night, Lukas was telling us about how he had almost given up on his dreams - and here was this song..."I won't look back, I won't look back..." - it was a different angle to song, and it had an impact, at least with me. Hearing this song live was spectacular. If I close my eyes, I can picture it again: blue and red strobe lights, Lukas standing tall atop the drum riser holding his hands in the air, and then a mass of fans, surrounding me, all singing along, all putting their hands in the air, all experiencing the same moment I was, perhaps in a different way, but it was the same moment. This was one of the most powerful songs...one of the most powerful experiences...of the night.

The applause and cheers after this song came fast and loud. The lights had come to darkness after that song ended, and the intense reaction the crowd had to this song must have been amazing for the boys - they had the biggest smiles on their faces, looking around to the audience, pointing, waving. Soaking it in.

Then Luke steps forward with a guitar, and says, with all the sincerity in the world, "This is my first world tour, but this venue has been one of the most amazing we've been to. There's so much love." This was met with thunderous, thunderous applause, screams, cheers and whistles. The energy and the passion of both fan and band in that stadium was something I will never, ever forget.

After a pause, Lukas goes, "So...I heard you guys watched a show called Rockstar Supernova last summer?...Then you just might remember this song..."

We hear guitar and violin, and it's Bittersweet Symphony. This was also an astounding performance. It was during this song that I looked over at previously mentioned security guard lady (see Part 2) standing a little farther away from the front row rails than she was before, and she was wearing a smile on her face. I looked in front of me, and the couple we were talking to earlier was now standing front row. I looked over at security guard lady again, and she gave me a smile and a head nudge toward front row. I immediately grabbed all the stuff from my chair, grabbed my dad's arm and said, "Come on!" We walked forward, and the guard let us right past. We were front row! I can't even put into words what I was feeling right at that moment - that I was front row, watching Lukas Rossi on stage was more than I even imagined...it really was like a dream come true! Then, the stadium went dark, the cheers rose...and the lights flashed on the stage again as Lukas rose into the chorus, (and the crowd was singing it too) - I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down...

...It really was a moment where I had to catch my breath. This was really happening, I was really here. When the song ended, the cheers grew louder and louder. Lukas told us that we were absolutely amazing, he thanked the violists for making the next song even more beautiful than he ever could have imagined, Tommy walked to the piano, and single blue light graced the stage...

...The piano starts, the violins chime, and Lukas' voice fills the air. Tears started falling down my cheeks before I even realized it was happening. This was it, this was the moment, the song...a pause, a break, a bow from Tommy as he runs back to his drums...then an explosion of power:

"Every word just turns a fire that you say;
All I can do is light the fuse and walk away...

I could feel the bass coursing through me, the drums pounding away, guitars strumming, Lukas' voice filled with emotion and passion - I took a deep breath and let the moment sink in. I don't know if words are enough to describe how beautiful this song is when you hear it live...Lukas' voice is so pure, so clear, so completely breathtaking. This was one of the defining moments of the night - I just know that everyone in the crowd was moved by this song. When the confetti began to fall, it was as though time was moving in slow motion; slowly and gracefully they fell to the ground (and as a blanket upon every person!) as the song and the experience of the night washed over me and the rest of the stadium.

When the song ended, the cheers and screams rose higher than they'd ever been before. All four came to center stage to take a bow, all positively beaming, all of them, at one point, touching their hearts.

When they walked off the stage and the stadium went dark, the roar of the crowd was deafening. People started stomping their feet and clapping their hands, screaming louder than ever, cheering, yelling, encompassing all the love of the night into sound, into pure adrenaline. We see some movement from the side of the stage, and the cheers grow even louder. Then, the strobes come back on, and the boys walk back out, smiling wider than I'd ever seen them smile. OMD! We were getting an encore! I turned to my dad and grabbed his arm, jumping up and down.

Lukas walks straight to the microphone with his guitar, and looks over the entire audience before speaking. "We heard you back there! You guys want one more song?" The entire audience cheered and screamed again.

"Alright!"

The opening chords began, all light is gone but for a single, glowing, purple ray. They were playing Purple Rain! What happened next was the most amazing rendition of Purple Rain I have ever heard, and I am including Prince in that tally! It was stunningly beautiful, fully and completely. Perfection in every since of the word. People were swaying to the song, and by the end, it was a chorus of voices, Lukas and the audience, singing out:

"I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain..."

Just like during Headspin, the crowd was lost in a rapture, bathed in a glowing purple, still getting sprinkled by the occasional piece of confetti as it slowly descended.

When the song ended, the cheers seemed to go on and on, and all the boys looked truly touched.

As they began to make their way off the stage again, Tommy started the chant: When I say Super, you say Nova! SUPER...NOVA! SUPER...NOVA! When I say F**k, you say You! F**k...YOU! F**k...YOU!

As soon as the walked off the stage, the full stadium lights turned on, as did the sound system. I didn't want it to be over...I didn't want it to end! The crowd began to thin as the stadium that was not five minutes ago filled with music was now filled with eager discussion of the night's events. As we walked out, my dad asked me what I was feeling. "Dad," I said, my eyes welling again with tears. "This has been the most amazing experience of my life."

We exited the stadium, both of us, I knew, engulfed in a circle of bliss - I can never remember being so happy in my entire life. It was everything I ever could have imagined and so much more. And the fact that everyone, everyone, had felt that power, that emotion - it made it all that more sweet. And much to my happiness, the night wasn't over yet!

We walked through the outer halls in a torrent of conversations about the show, and joined the queue for the Juke meet-and greet. There were the boys (minus Eddie, who was not at the table) laughing and joking with each other and with the fans. It seemed surreal that just hours before they had been bringing down the house with their set...although, indeed, hours ago seemed like much longer that that, and any time before the concert seemed a world apart. When we came forwards, the Juke boys signed the cover of their album for me, and a picture my dad had brought. They are all so incredibly sweet and kind, and their accents make you melt into a big ol’ puddle. I could listen to them speak for hours, read the phone book, even. They have amazing voices, and are really down to earth and appreciative of their fans; they make you feel really comfortable. I told them how much I loved their set, and that I hoped they were coming back to Colorado soon. Dale said they had been in Aspen in Decembah, and that they would hopefully be coming back to Colorado sometime this summer!! Squeeee!!! : ) Tommy asked me my name, and when I told him, Todd looked up and said, “Hey! Hi again!” He remembered me from earlier that night! *warm fuzzies* Then we went up to take piccies with Toby, who was now wearing these awesome red and black skeleton gloves of unknown origin (Dale and Tommy kept asking him where they came from, it was cute!)

I brought this picture to the M&G for them to sign:

And Dale got really excited because he said he didn't even remember having taken that picture before. Then Dale and I were joking about Tommy's pose in the picture; it was hilarious! I'm getting all smiley just remembering! :]

After the JK meet-and-greet, we went over to the Magni/Dilana meet up, where they were also signing things, talking with fans and taking pictures. When we got up to the table, a manager type came over to whisper something in Dilana's ear. Always hilarious, Magni goes, "Wow, I have no idea what he is saying!" After the manager walks away, Dilana tells us that they are telling them it is time to go, so they can sign some things, but can't take pictures anymore. Hurrying, Dilana starts going into the line to sign things, while Magni is standing at the table still looking kind of confused. "D, there are only like 20 people, we can take pictures, come on!" So completely disregarding what Mr. Manager dude said ("F**k it!"), Magni comes away from the table and starts taking pictures with everyone who wants them, talking about the show, laughing and joking. It was incredibly sweet! Dilana soon stopped all her hurrying too, and starting taking pictures with everyone as well. Did I mention how much I love her hair? We got pictures with both of them, and I got a chance to tell them both how much I enjoyed both of their sets. They were both extremely appreciative, and very sweet.

As we headed outside and back to our car, snow started falling thick and fast overhead. We ran to the car to get out of the cold, me screaming purely out of energy and bliss, my dad laughing at my excitement and yelling right along with me. My stomach was buzzing, my pulse racing...I swear, if you had asked me right then to fly, I would have; I can never remember being so happy, having so much fun, feeling so much. My cheeks were sore from smiling all night - and I don't think I have stopped smiling since!

It's hard to describe in words the feeling I found through the grace and passion of the show; found through being on the ground, cheering and feeling the power of the night, feeling as the music courses through you, feeling as waves of emotion wash over you, feeling as an inexplicable happiness sweeps through: it's pure love.

Later that night as I was brushing my hair before bed, a flash of light caught my attention. There, held fast in my hair, was a tiny silver piece of confetti, winking and twinkling back at me. It was one of those moments that made me catch my breath, and the full impact of the night came rushing back toward me. I gently removed the confetti from my hair and, smiling, tucked it safely into my pocket. It was something I wanted to keep with me...just like the experience of the show; just like the amazing memories; just like that night...a night that I will keep with me forever, a night I will never forget. :)


Here are a few of the photos I took that night! The rest of my pictures can be found at Rockband.com. Feel free to save 'em and sore, just be sure to leave on my watermark!