Monday's Top 10: Concert Experiences

***Let me start by saying - I LOVE MUSIC, always have and I'm pretty sure I always will. There have been times over the years where I've grown to love particular bands in a way that would make people think I'm crazy. I wouldn't consider it obsession but maybe infatuation?!? I can't help it, when I love something, I'm just a real big fan. I have been blessed enough to attend many many concerts in my short life.

***A huge THANK YOU goes out to my mother firstly for allowing me to even listen to music, as I know there are a lot of people who can't. Also THANK YOU to her paycheck as it so kindly funded the many concerts of my youth - I love you! These concerts were located at but not limited to: The Masquerade, The Tabernacle, The Cotton Club, Philip's Arena, Lakewood Amphitheater and the Roxy. Some were even out of state concerts but I can't recall all the venue's.

~Disclaimer~
If you elect to check out any of the following bands, please note that some require PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT LYRICS.

10. Britney Spears

Go ahead, laugh out loud....go on, you know you want to. This was my list of concert EXEPERIENCES ok?!? Christmas 2008, Hardy got my tickets to see Britney Spears on her "come-back" CIRCUS tour. I have always been a fan of Britney, obviously more so in my younger days. I always wished I could dance like her...never happened. The only thing I knew to expect at her concert was for her not to sing. Odd, right? Most of the time people pay to HEAR people perform. For as long as Britney's been a performer, it's no mystery that she can't sing and dance at the same time. Although, in recent years it doesn't appear she's dancing enough for singing to be completely ruled out. At least the back-track didn't skip and cause a Milli Vanilli moment. Her dancing was cute and the set was really cool but the BIG show topper was the rude gay guy behind us. He was at the concert with a group of approx 7 girls and they were all plastered. He eventually spilled his drink on me, yep...all down my back. Hardy said a few choice words, as did I but we chose not to beat him up because there were still 7 girls with him and we didn't want to be arrested for a "hate crime". Unfortunately it totally ruined the show for me once this happened, I wasn't able to enjoy anything after the fact. I have seen Britney Spears live: 2009.

9. Linkin Park

I got to see them live right as One Step Closer was being played on the radio. They were still too new to have a huge following, but popular enough people knew the lyrics to their music. I had gone to this particular concert with Hardy, he wanted to see the headlining act - HED (PE). I was proud to have known more lyrics than my rock star loving boyfriend at the time :) . After Linkin Park's set, I took a break from the packed house and sat near the t-shirt booth. I was approached by an older gentleman who asked who I was there to see, I said Linkin Park was the only band I knew of, he said he was actually their bus driver and he'd previously toured with Slipknot...etc etc. I didn't believe him but after talking for a little while, he disappeared and came back 15mins later with a Linkin Park poster signed by the band. I was in shock. I guess I still have no way of proving it's validity but he would have worked hard to duplicate that many signature's in a short period of time. He then walked me over to the audio engineer's box and introduced me to Amir and Bobby of the band Orgy. They were actually playing a show the following night in Atlanta which I also had tickets too. I scored several autographs in 1 night - unbelievable!!! I've seen Linkin Park live: 2000.

8. Orgy

I know, they have a filthy band name, but the music was good and the singer was hot, at least at the time I thought he was. I think I'm starting to sound shallow, but honestly...I loved the music as much if not more than the appearance of the band members. I think I attended every Orgy concert with my friend Dannielle Boyd (Mclane), it was a great time. It's a shame they split up because I really enjoyed their tunes, it was rock/industrial with a hint of pop in some songs. Nothing lasts forever though, regardless of what it is.  In fact, Danielle Barthen, Azra Muftic and I actually made up a dance to their cover of Blue Monday, with the help of my mom. In 2000 we performed it at the Central Gwinnett talent show. We were put on first, which killed us!! I still think we did ok but being picked first really threw us off AND to top it off, whoever was running the sound TOTALLY ruined the first part of the song. Do any of you Central alumni remember that?? I've seen Orgy live: 1999, 2000, 2001.

7. Jimmy Buffet

Once in a life-time opportunity is the way I looked at this. The tickets were expensive considering the seats we got, but we bought them, we went and we conquered. We had no idea people tailgated the entire day of the show though. When we arrived, the parking lot was FULL of people grilling out on the back of their trucks, drinking under umbrella's, walking around in hula skirts, taking shots, singing, screaming, acting crazy...it was a party all on it's own. Parrot Heads take their man seriously. When Mr. Buffet finally started his show, the entire place was up and dancing..it was a really cool experience. There was no barrier between the audience, every one old/young, big/small, black/white...we were ALL dancing and having a good time. I've seen Jimmy Buffet live: 2005.

6. Van Halen w/ Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar is a great great great front man. He has so much energy and he interacted with the audience the entire show. He was constantly sitting on the edge of the stage, shaking hands, signing autographs and just smiling with the audience. I personally like him better with Van Halen than any other singer. He proved himself to me any way. I've seen Van Hagar live: 2004.

5. Wednesday 13

Go ahead, scratch your head, I'm positive you've never heard of him. But he's a GREAT musician with an awesome talent. He is also the lead singer of the band Murderdolls. I was introduced to them by Hardy of course. They're musical style is Alice Cooper/Rob Zombie-ish. Most of his lyrics consist of horror movie related theme's, death, zombie's, Edgar Allen Poe, Vincent Price. It's all quite catchy and comical - if you like that sort of thing. He's from North Carolina which to me makes him even cooler since he's from the "south". He even has a song titled Rambo, how cool is that? I have seen Wednesday 13 live: 2008, 2009.

4. 30 Seconds to Mars

I first heard about 30 Seconds to Mars when their song The Kill came out. Upon further research I discovered the lead singer was actor Jared Leto (hottie in the middle). I bought their first two albums and instantly fell in love. Their music was so different from what I had listened to before, it just peaked on an entirely different level for me. For Christmas 2006, Hardy got me tickets to the Taste of Chaos tour featuring 30 Seconds to Mars, as soon as I opened them, I cried. I felt like such a baby. I don't know why certain things strike a chord in me and make me so emotional, but this gift did the trick. The week of their concert I actually got slammed into by a Fed Ex truck so we had to drive Hardy's car - - he was sweet enough to let me paint GOING TO MARS on his back window. We had general admission tickets, so I had to stand for almost 3hrs just waiting for 30STM to come out, when they finally did - - what did I do? I cried...like a blubbering baby. I was trying to sing every word to every song in between wiping tears from my eyes. After their set, they set up a table to sign autographs for fans - - Hardy and I hopped in line, got their autograph and called it a night, it was a cattle call so we didn't get any picture's with them :( . For Christmas 2010, Hardy surprised me again with tickets to see them. We went in January and it was EPIC. They really know how to put on a show, it's amazing to see them live. I have seen 30 Seconds to Mars live: 2007, 2011.

3. HANSON

I couldn't NOT list them as a favorite concert. Hanson was the first concert I actually consider as "My first concert". It was in my prime obsession time with them...when I actually thought I had a shot at marrying Taylor Hanson (Thank God, although he did marry a brunette from Georgia, they have 5 kids!!). I remember trying to get tickets the morning they went on sale but never could get through the phone line's. Ironically enough, I ended up going to the Hanson concert with a girl named Jayne that I met through a Chorus Festival, I can't even remember what school she went too but we talked and talked about Hanson the entire time we weren't up on stage singing. I think I spent like $80 (of my mom's money) on memorabilia, a lanyard, hat, t-shirt, program, pin...oh dear. It was a BLAZING hot day - July 5, 1998. I enjoyed it so very much and it made me love them even more, of course. I have seen Hanson live: 1998, 2000, 2004.

2. CREED

They have always put on a great show. I have never been disappointed. I first saw them at Music Midtown in 2000, it was right around the time With Arms Wide Open was popular. I was taken aback by their performance, it was full of energy and the best part was - it was positive. Scott Stapp didn't feel the need to cuss between every song to make himself look cool, he was just natural. His vocals were great and they really got the crowd involved. I realize some years later he fell off the bandwagon and started drinking, thus leading to the band breaking up. They re-formed in 2008 and went on tour in 2009, I was apprehensive to see them at first, thinking it wouldn't be the same. Live Nation had a special sale for $11 so I jumped on it and we went to see them for Hardy's birthday. They did NOT disappoint. It was great to see the entire band together again, Scott's vocals were just as I remembered - wonderful. In fact, I teared up a little during some songs because the lyrics just really hit home. I have seen CREED live: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009.

1. Mötley Crüe

 

My most memorable was 2005 - This was their first tour back together with all four original members (Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars and Tommy Lee) in over 5yrs. In fact, Hardy had never seen the REAL Mötley Crüe together. For this particular show, we bought VIP tickets - at $400 a piece. We got a tour of the backstage area, meet and greet with the band, photo with the band and tickets guaranteed within the first two rows. We got the band to sign some photo's and spoke for a moment or two. I even told Tommy Lee that Hardy and I had met at one of his solo shows in 2000, he mentioned it to the band and Nikki Sixx asked when the Mötley wedding would be. Even though they weren't considered my favorite band at the time, I was definitely star struck. We didn't get our tickets until after the meet and greet, but it was worth the wait. We ended up with front row and center - I have never had better seats for a concert than on this night. I have seen Mötley Crüe live: 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and we have tickets to see them again this July. My husband is obsessed if you can't tell.