Current mood:

calm

4/18- Chicago Show
Probably one of the best things to close a semester with.



My friends and I got there at around 4pm ish. We had some trouble finding a good parking spot. There was some guy charging 20 dollars to park at a store nearby. I can't remember which one it was. But a really nice girl told us there were spots that we didn't have to pay, so that was pretty awesome. We wound up having to make an extra trip back to the car to put away our cameras when we saw the "No Camera" signs. My camera is kind of big, so there was no way in Hell I was going to get by security undiscovered and my friends didn't want to risk getting their cameras taken away.

We finally got in line and inside the lobby. One of my friend's actually forgot she still had her pocket knife in her purse so it got thrown away (oops...). I'm glad she didn't get into any more trouble.

First point of madness for the evening: waiting for the doors to open. The security guard was pretty nasty about threatening to kick out the people that ran. But I can't say I'd blame him either. The rush to the front was mad. We walked to the front, but there were people scrambling from behind us and screaming and all. It was crazy! We still wound up with a decent spot near the stage, until the bands started playing.

So Friday night was my first time in the pit. Second point of madness. I've heard stories and stuff, but never experienced it before, I apologize if I'm just repeating old stuff. It really wasn't that bad until David Costa started playing, and then got progressively worse until Billy Talent. Do some people really have no consideration of those around them? I think it got really bad around Drive By...at least that's when we were in the pit. The squishing madness started. There was a girl to literally tried to shoulder her way in between me and the guy next to me, when we were literally wedged together. I felt really bad when I got shoved really hard into the people in front. They were getting kind of pissed too (for good reason). I kept on asking my friends if they were okay and apologizing to the people around me. I probably looked like some retard going, "Sam! Becky! Are you guys okay?" and "OMG, I'm so sorry!" Becky really freaked out so Sam and her left the pit. I think they were hinting at me to come along, so I left the pit too and retreated with them to the side of the stage. After a while, I wanted to get back in, so I found a decent place to the side of the stage (before it got crowded too). Looking back, I think I should have stayed a little longer. To anyone in the pit, how was it when My Chem got on?

I wasn't expecting anything different, but now I can say I've been in one. XD

I apologize ahead of time for the crappy review. My memory is just as good as one of a goldfish, maybe even worse, but I'll do my best.

David Costa was alright. I tried to get into it, but it was kind of hard. I felt really bad because the guy next to me was getting into it. Got all excited when they asked if anyone was from Indiana, even though it's not the most exciting thing.

Drive By was pretty awesome. They were my favorite. I should have bought their CD before I left. Becky did before we left and we listened to it on the way back. I may need to "steal" it from her one day...

Billy Talent was okay. I've heard of them before. Benjamin Kowalewicz was getting really into it, and it made the performance really enjoyable.


I didn't ask for a set list so I'll try to recall the songs the best I can. Not in order.

Thank You For the Venom
Heaven Help Us
Dead!
This is How I Disappear
Welcome to the Black Parade
The Sharpest Lives
House of Wolves
Headfirst for Halos
I Don't Love You
Give 'em Hell, Kid
Helena
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us in Prison?
Hang 'em High
Mama
Sleep
Teenagers
Cancer


Encore

Desert Song
I'm Not Okay
Famous Last Words



Thank You for the Venom- The first thing I noticed when they came out was Ray had either a Mountain Dew or a Sprite in his hands. I don't know why it was so entertaining to me, but it was.

Heaven Help Us- I was so happy they played this song! It's definitely one of my favorites. A lot of people sang along.

Dead!- My favorite song off of "The Black Parade." Ray was amazing during the solo.

Cancer- I love this song. We actually just got finished with learning about cancer in Genetics. I really hope someone can find a cure for it soon.

Desert Song- I really wasn't expecting this at all. I really loved Gerard's little speech in the beginning. It was either before this song or another when he said something like, "I hope this inspires you to start a band, write a poem, or draw a comic." And then something about not taking shit from other people, which I reaaaalllly need to start doing. One of my roommates (friend of 6 years) has come to the realization that she can take advantage of the fact I'm willing to do anything for her while treating me like shit when she doesn't need me. Ugh. Before the concert, she had the nerve to ask my roommate to ask me to borrow my car. ANYWAYS.

Teenagers- Harmonica's for the win!

I Don't Love You- This song meant a lot to me just because I've been going through a lot of problems with one of my friends right now. She's changed so much that I don't even feel like I know her anymore. There were days she's talk to me like nothing was wrong and made me feel like we were okay. Until the next day, she'd act like she was embarrassed to be seen with me. All I wanted to do was call her phone and go, "Listen to this."


Coming to this concert was worth it. All the guys are so inspirational. I remember when I fell in love with Ray when watching him on SNL. There was so much emotion in his face while he was singing and playing the guitar. I loved it. He was just so into it. They are all so into it. I really love watching people do what they love doing. One, because they're enjoying themselves, two, because it really motivates me to work toward what I'm aiming for. I think the most important part of figuring out what you want to do is making sure you really like doing it and that you're willing to overcome obstacles that come with it.


Some highlights:

-Everyone singing the beginning of Welcome to the Black Parade while Gerard conducted.

-Mikey thrashing (for lack of a better word) his head around so it made his hair go in circles. I think I stared at it for a good 15 seconds while it was going on.

-Bob throwing his drumsticks up in the air at the end of the song before Cancer.

-Watching Frank play. I noticed he wasn't as crazy as he was in other footage I've seen, but he was still really into it.

-Gerard saying something about "Mikey and his fucking unicorns."

-Mikey Fuckin' Way

-Bob's hair. Enough said.

-I think it was during Mama, but I could be wrong, Gerard was talking about making out with everyone in the audience? Something like that? It was funnier when he said it.

-Gerard's speech about getting out there and doing stuff.

-The balloons! I got to hit one, but I hit it in the wrong direction....I felt bad. Was it just me, or was there a condom drifting around at some point?


Lowlights:

-Being used as a human handrest so people could jump up and down without losing balance.

-My friends wanted to beat the traffic, so we left after Desert Song thinking that was the last song, until they started playing I'm Not Okay when we were in the lobby. I felt really bad because I think Becky really wanted to leave. Thankfully they started playing Famous Last Words and Sam was like "I've never seen them play this one! We have to go back in!!" So we did.

-It's not too big of a deal, but I wanted to stay after and see if they'd come out, but everyone else wanted to leave. :(


Interesting moment:

-Thinking I locked the bathroom door at Baskin Robbins. I was wrong.


So, I think I've completely rambled on and on. XD I apologize for not having any cool pictures or videos that usually come with one of these posts. :(