spend the rest of your days rockin' out
May. 11th, 2008 07:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
asimplechordWhere to start describing the Weekend of Glee?
It did not start off well. Weather in NY made LGA a one-runway show, so everything was delayed. Coulda been worse; I arrived an hour or so late, and![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ciel_vert was already at the hotel. I dumped my stuff (leaving Bed Left for randomepiphany) and we got a late lunch. We all had our tickets and had agreed that 6:15pm was the departure time for the Garden; late arrivals could drop off their bags and cab in later. But ciel_vert and I both wanted to see Drive By and Taking Back Sunday, and she wanted to get a The Black Parade Is Dead hoodie, so we ended up leaving earlier. randomepiphany wanted to get some supper, and she waited for madelinesimone, whose flight was delayed, also.
So.
Our seats. OMFG. You know that section where the parents and family sit? We were in the same seats on the other side of the stage. Literally, there was a railing and two rows of empty seats in front of us, then the stage. We were looking out at Frank Iero's guitars and Mikeyway's bass guitars the whole night. When Matt Cortez came out to tech for MCR and Drive By, he was Right There in front of us. I took a couple of pics with my crappy phone, but it's too blurry to really see anything, even zoomed in.
Also. There was a catwalk.ciel_vert and I had a brain-twin moment, and wanted to see Gerard prance down it to "I'm Too Sexy". Sadly, this was not to be. Actually, Matt Rubano, the guitarist for TBS, and Ray Toro were the ones who used the catwalk most effectively. Well, and GWay used it for Cancer, also. But I digress.
Drive By. I think this was their best set, of the three I saw. I didn't keep a set list, but they did Please, Please, Boring, and they ended with America. I like 'em. When I got my CD signed in Austin, Todd said they'd be doing another tour that would bring them to Houston/Dallas/Austin this summer. *crosses fingers*
The only thing I didn't like is how often they used MCR to get a cheer from the crowd. I mean, I know it's part of their job to get the crowd psyched for the main act. Two mentions, good. Three, okay. Four? Overboard.
Taking Back Sunday. (FTW!!!!) First, I hadn't seen them live before, which I admit shame-facedly. Bad fangirl. And somehow, I forgot that Lazzara is not a New Jersey/New York boy, because his accent surprised me. Again. Which is stupid, b/c I've listened to interviews. It surprises me every time. They had screens up, which was pointless from our angle, but I guess it looked cool from the floor? Dunno. They came out in creepy white masks and launched right into it. Again, didn't keep a set list, but they did Cute Without The 'E' and What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost and A Decade Under The Influence and ended with MakeDamnSure.
I can't compare to how they sounded in live performances before Fred Mascherino left the band, but they did sound less like their CDs. In some ways, the new guitar/backup guy (another Matt, I think) makes them sound more like every other emo/punk/rock band I've heard lately, at least vocally.
There might have been some bouncing on toes and glee-face on my part andciel_vert's. Possibly.
Who picked the music between sets? Seriously, it ranged from Flogging Molly to the Beatles. Which, um, okay. Sure. :)
MCR. We could see when the families all came in, and we had a direct view of Mama and Dad Way the whole show. Mama Way was rockin' out the whole time. (Hello, Jersey hair. I missed you. You are distinct from Texas hair in a way that is indescribable, but nonetheless significant.)
The band all dressed up, button-down shirts, at least, except for Mikey Way, who wore the same MFW t-shirt, Black Parade trousers, and space-hooker boots that he's been wearing. Gerard and Frank both dug out their old bulletproof vests. I thought at first that Frank just had a sweater-vest on, but when I looked closer I could see that it was the Revenge-era costume, complete with red tie. All he lacked was the red eyeshadow.
I don't know. Gerard did very little talking between songs, unlike previous shows, and it felt like they blew through songs pretty fast. Maybe they were nervous? Definitely they seemed really happy and excited to be playing MSG. More than once, GWay commented on how many people were there.
Set list:
Give Em Hell, Kid
How I Disappear
Dead
Cemetary Drive
House of Wolves (There was howling, pre-song.)
Welcome to the Black Parade (dedicated to the Make-A-Wish kid)
I Don't Love You
Sharpest Lives (Awesome live; not quite the same arrangement as on the album, I think. For sure the intro was better/different. They hadn't performed it at the previous shows I attended.)
My Way Home Is Through You (dedicated to Lyn-Z)
Headfirst For Halos
I'm Not OK (Lololol at the "karate" speech intro.)
Mama (Heeee, Gerard ended it with "I'm gonna win that (something?) bear if it fucking kills me." Almost as good as the "I'm gonna fit into this fucking prom dress if it kills me" from one of the TX gigs.)
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison (This was the least animated intro of any of the shows I've seen. But you know, at Dallas he demonstrated, complete with sound effects, how long and hard a "cupcake" like him would get fucked in prison, and I can't imagine he'd want to do that in front of his parents. Yes, he's an adult, but still. Parents.) (Aside: this reminds me. I want a t-shirt with "Gerard Fucking Way" on the front and a cupcake on the back.)
Sleep (YES! I hadn't heard it at all in the other four shows.)
Teenagers (Meh, still my least favorite song; it's derivative, and it totally doesn't fit with the album's concept at all.)
Famous Last Words
Cancer
Desert Song
Helena (GW said at one point that they would always end their sets with song; maybe at the show in Dallas or Austin?)
Random points of interest:
1. Make-A-Wish kid was introduced before WttBP. I read somewhere that they grant one of the highest percentages of requests for that sort of thing.
2. GWay did NOT drape any of the boas tossed up on stage around his neck and prance down the catwalk, to my disappointment.
3. This would have been the perfect opportunity for them to have Liza Minelli there to actually perform during Mama, right? But no. Opportunity passed them by.
4. Gerard PICKED MIKEY UP during Famous Last Words and carried him a few steps. Mikey just tucked his legs up and kept on playing. At the time, Frank was doing his sex-face playing to the amp facing us, so I was hard-pressed to decide which to watch.
5. Frank, here, was the most animated of all the shows I'd seen.
6. Mikeyway took pictures of the arena crowd during Cancer and Desert Song.
7. No smoking, man. Weird, after seeing Frank with a cig dangling from his lips in all the previous shows. And after he bummed some off Bob at the St. Louis gig. Although I thought that Frank and Bob crouched down with Matt out of sight to smoke while Gerard and James did Cancer.
8. Bob Bryar's drum-set was just about even with us. The man plays the most elaborate kit I've ever seen. (Seriously, at least five cymbals - maybe six - instead of the normal three. What?) Also, he plays more physically, with more arm motion, than any other drummer I've seen. I always thought that his motions in the video to FLW were exaggerated for the video. But no, he actually plays like that. Is that the cause of the wrist issues, or an effect?
9. Brian Schechter was all business-like, speaking into his little walkie-talkie, being managerial. And hot. With his button-down shirt and studded belt and cocked hips. As was Matt Cortez. You know how I feel about not-that-tall-men with dark hair and glasses, right? *waves toward MrIris* The band Mr. Schechter invested his life savings in, headlining a sold-out(?) show at MSG. Serious career high, y/n?
10. HAhahahaha, during House of Wolves, Gerard Way PRIMPED, using his reflection in Bob's bass drum. I just about died laughing. And that was not the only time he did it.
11. I maybe wibbled a little when, during his story-telling before Famous Last Words, Gerard said, "Now I have four other brothers" or words to that effect.
12. Frank in a Ewing Knicks jersey. Oh, Frank. You are such a boy. Even if it looked like a minidress.
13. The wave. At an MCR gig. Whatever makes your little heart happy, boys. Also, dedicating a song to your wife, whom you love very much? May I draw little hearts over your eyes?
14. Frank was having guitar issues. Not, you know, just switching out between songs, but coming over to Matt and talking during the song, then switching out mid-song.
15. Gerard Way ended the show saying, "If this is the last show we ever do, keep yourself alive."
Some people may interpret that as a goodbye. Me, I figure it was a comment related to the accusation that their music is to blame for a teenager's self-harm and subsequent suicide. And even if it WAS a goodbye, well, we had a good time.
16. There was much hugging and happiness at the end of the set, but also during. Seriously, Ray hugged Frank and kissed his head in the middle of a song. (Can't remember which one.)
17. Brian made Bob smile while he played. And it looked like he said stuff to Matt, but Matt was keeping an eye on the stage.
18. Ray Toro's glee-face at playing the Garden (must be the dream of every Jersey kid who's in a band) was almost (almost) as epic as his hair.
After the show we wandered around and found a place to have a drink before heading back to the hotel. We were all giggly and crazed and still glee-faced, and I have no idea what time we all finally stopped whispering and squeeing and fell asleep.
Saturday, we did three things: indulged in the hotel's whirlpool, visited the Museum of Sex, and had drinks at Angels & Kings.
Adam Siska of The Academy Is... showed up with his brother Jason, the Survivor guy. He is very very pretty. Both of them are, really.
Also, free vodka from 8-10pm. And a hot bartender with cool tattoos, including a lightning bolt knuckle tat. So it was a good evening all the way around.
I was sad to leave after meeting LJ folks in person and having a good time fangirling.
But I have to say that I am so fucking glad that I'm not going anywhere next weekend, you have NO IDEA.
It did not start off well. Weather in NY made LGA a one-runway show, so everything was delayed. Coulda been worse; I arrived an hour or so late, and
ciel_vert was already at the hotel. I dumped my stuff (leaving Bed Left for randomepiphany) and we got a late lunch. We all had our tickets and had agreed that 6:15pm was the departure time for the Garden; late arrivals could drop off their bags and cab in later. But ciel_vert and I both wanted to see Drive By and Taking Back Sunday, and she wanted to get a The Black Parade Is Dead hoodie, so we ended up leaving earlier. randomepiphany wanted to get some supper, and she waited for madelinesimone, whose flight was delayed, also.So.
Our seats. OMFG. You know that section where the parents and family sit? We were in the same seats on the other side of the stage. Literally, there was a railing and two rows of empty seats in front of us, then the stage. We were looking out at Frank Iero's guitars and Mikeyway's bass guitars the whole night. When Matt Cortez came out to tech for MCR and Drive By, he was Right There in front of us. I took a couple of pics with my crappy phone, but it's too blurry to really see anything, even zoomed in.
Also. There was a catwalk.
ciel_vert and I had a brain-twin moment, and wanted to see Gerard prance down it to "I'm Too Sexy". Sadly, this was not to be. Actually, Matt Rubano, the guitarist for TBS, and Ray Toro were the ones who used the catwalk most effectively. Well, and GWay used it for Cancer, also. But I digress.Drive By. I think this was their best set, of the three I saw. I didn't keep a set list, but they did Please, Please, Boring, and they ended with America. I like 'em. When I got my CD signed in Austin, Todd said they'd be doing another tour that would bring them to Houston/Dallas/Austin this summer. *crosses fingers*
The only thing I didn't like is how often they used MCR to get a cheer from the crowd. I mean, I know it's part of their job to get the crowd psyched for the main act. Two mentions, good. Three, okay. Four? Overboard.
Taking Back Sunday. (FTW!!!!) First, I hadn't seen them live before, which I admit shame-facedly. Bad fangirl. And somehow, I forgot that Lazzara is not a New Jersey/New York boy, because his accent surprised me. Again. Which is stupid, b/c I've listened to interviews. It surprises me every time. They had screens up, which was pointless from our angle, but I guess it looked cool from the floor? Dunno. They came out in creepy white masks and launched right into it. Again, didn't keep a set list, but they did Cute Without The 'E' and What's It Feel Like To Be A Ghost and A Decade Under The Influence and ended with MakeDamnSure.
I can't compare to how they sounded in live performances before Fred Mascherino left the band, but they did sound less like their CDs. In some ways, the new guitar/backup guy (another Matt, I think) makes them sound more like every other emo/punk/rock band I've heard lately, at least vocally.
There might have been some bouncing on toes and glee-face on my part and
ciel_vert's. Possibly.Who picked the music between sets? Seriously, it ranged from Flogging Molly to the Beatles. Which, um, okay. Sure. :)
MCR. We could see when the families all came in, and we had a direct view of Mama and Dad Way the whole show. Mama Way was rockin' out the whole time. (Hello, Jersey hair. I missed you. You are distinct from Texas hair in a way that is indescribable, but nonetheless significant.)
The band all dressed up, button-down shirts, at least, except for Mikey Way, who wore the same MFW t-shirt, Black Parade trousers, and space-hooker boots that he's been wearing. Gerard and Frank both dug out their old bulletproof vests. I thought at first that Frank just had a sweater-vest on, but when I looked closer I could see that it was the Revenge-era costume, complete with red tie. All he lacked was the red eyeshadow.
I don't know. Gerard did very little talking between songs, unlike previous shows, and it felt like they blew through songs pretty fast. Maybe they were nervous? Definitely they seemed really happy and excited to be playing MSG. More than once, GWay commented on how many people were there.
Set list:
Give Em Hell, Kid
How I Disappear
Dead
Cemetary Drive
House of Wolves (There was howling, pre-song.)
Welcome to the Black Parade (dedicated to the Make-A-Wish kid)
I Don't Love You
Sharpest Lives (Awesome live; not quite the same arrangement as on the album, I think. For sure the intro was better/different. They hadn't performed it at the previous shows I attended.)
My Way Home Is Through You (dedicated to Lyn-Z)
Headfirst For Halos
I'm Not OK (Lololol at the "karate" speech intro.)
Mama (Heeee, Gerard ended it with "I'm gonna win that (something?) bear if it fucking kills me." Almost as good as the "I'm gonna fit into this fucking prom dress if it kills me" from one of the TX gigs.)
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison (This was the least animated intro of any of the shows I've seen. But you know, at Dallas he demonstrated, complete with sound effects, how long and hard a "cupcake" like him would get fucked in prison, and I can't imagine he'd want to do that in front of his parents. Yes, he's an adult, but still. Parents.) (Aside: this reminds me. I want a t-shirt with "Gerard Fucking Way" on the front and a cupcake on the back.)
Sleep (YES! I hadn't heard it at all in the other four shows.)
Teenagers (Meh, still my least favorite song; it's derivative, and it totally doesn't fit with the album's concept at all.)
Famous Last Words
Cancer
Desert Song
Helena (GW said at one point that they would always end their sets with song; maybe at the show in Dallas or Austin?)
Random points of interest:
1. Make-A-Wish kid was introduced before WttBP. I read somewhere that they grant one of the highest percentages of requests for that sort of thing.
2. GWay did NOT drape any of the boas tossed up on stage around his neck and prance down the catwalk, to my disappointment.
3. This would have been the perfect opportunity for them to have Liza Minelli there to actually perform during Mama, right? But no. Opportunity passed them by.
4. Gerard PICKED MIKEY UP during Famous Last Words and carried him a few steps. Mikey just tucked his legs up and kept on playing. At the time, Frank was doing his sex-face playing to the amp facing us, so I was hard-pressed to decide which to watch.
5. Frank, here, was the most animated of all the shows I'd seen.
6. Mikeyway took pictures of the arena crowd during Cancer and Desert Song.
7. No smoking, man. Weird, after seeing Frank with a cig dangling from his lips in all the previous shows. And after he bummed some off Bob at the St. Louis gig. Although I thought that Frank and Bob crouched down with Matt out of sight to smoke while Gerard and James did Cancer.
8. Bob Bryar's drum-set was just about even with us. The man plays the most elaborate kit I've ever seen. (Seriously, at least five cymbals - maybe six - instead of the normal three. What?) Also, he plays more physically, with more arm motion, than any other drummer I've seen. I always thought that his motions in the video to FLW were exaggerated for the video. But no, he actually plays like that. Is that the cause of the wrist issues, or an effect?
9. Brian Schechter was all business-like, speaking into his little walkie-talkie, being managerial. And hot. With his button-down shirt and studded belt and cocked hips. As was Matt Cortez. You know how I feel about not-that-tall-men with dark hair and glasses, right? *waves toward MrIris* The band Mr. Schechter invested his life savings in, headlining a sold-out(?) show at MSG. Serious career high, y/n?
10. HAhahahaha, during House of Wolves, Gerard Way PRIMPED, using his reflection in Bob's bass drum. I just about died laughing. And that was not the only time he did it.
11. I maybe wibbled a little when, during his story-telling before Famous Last Words, Gerard said, "Now I have four other brothers" or words to that effect.
12. Frank in a Ewing Knicks jersey. Oh, Frank. You are such a boy. Even if it looked like a minidress.
13. The wave. At an MCR gig. Whatever makes your little heart happy, boys. Also, dedicating a song to your wife, whom you love very much? May I draw little hearts over your eyes?
14. Frank was having guitar issues. Not, you know, just switching out between songs, but coming over to Matt and talking during the song, then switching out mid-song.
15. Gerard Way ended the show saying, "If this is the last show we ever do, keep yourself alive."
Some people may interpret that as a goodbye. Me, I figure it was a comment related to the accusation that their music is to blame for a teenager's self-harm and subsequent suicide. And even if it WAS a goodbye, well, we had a good time.
16. There was much hugging and happiness at the end of the set, but also during. Seriously, Ray hugged Frank and kissed his head in the middle of a song. (Can't remember which one.)
17. Brian made Bob smile while he played. And it looked like he said stuff to Matt, but Matt was keeping an eye on the stage.
18. Ray Toro's glee-face at playing the Garden (must be the dream of every Jersey kid who's in a band) was almost (almost) as epic as his hair.
After the show we wandered around and found a place to have a drink before heading back to the hotel. We were all giggly and crazed and still glee-faced, and I have no idea what time we all finally stopped whispering and squeeing and fell asleep.
Saturday, we did three things: indulged in the hotel's whirlpool, visited the Museum of Sex, and had drinks at Angels & Kings.
Adam Siska of The Academy Is... showed up with his brother Jason, the Survivor guy. He is very very pretty. Both of them are, really.
Also, free vodka from 8-10pm. And a hot bartender with cool tattoos, including a lightning bolt knuckle tat. So it was a good evening all the way around.
I was sad to leave after meeting LJ folks in person and having a good time fangirling.
But I have to say that I am so fucking glad that I'm not going anywhere next weekend, you have NO IDEA.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 12:48 am (UTC)Was Desert Song audible? I couldn't hear anything to tell when/if your voicemail picked up, it was so loud there.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 12:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 12:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 01:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 01:30 am (UTC)I am inappropriately obsessed with Matt Cortez and Brian Schechter now, just so you know.
And I wrote a BUNCH of girl!Brendon/Jon while I was on the plane.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 01:32 am (UTC)I need to write. Now that the wedding is over, maybe I'll have time to.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 02:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 03:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 03:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 03:08 am (UTC)Me too! I'm just sorry we can't do it again soon!
no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 05:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-12 07:38 am (UTC)Is that the cause of the wrist issues, or an effect?
I believe it's to prevent further issues. He moves his whole arms rather than just his wrists, when he can.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 03:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 03:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 07:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 08:54 am (UTC)We were just to the right of the friends/family section!!! :D
Weren't the seats amazing???
~LOVED THE SHOW~~
I'll do pictures and wrap-up soon, probably tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2008-05-13 11:02 pm (UTC)