Post by imstillhere on Mar 22, 2010 17:45:12 GMT -5
Ok, I think Esther and Judith were on the verge of internet beating me if I didn't post this review here soon. 
So without further adieu here's my night with LH, Daughtry, and the Daughtry VIP experience.
My dad took me and we got to the Newark Prudential Center at a little after 4PM. We walked in, got our names checked off and got our 'tour laminates' or backstage passes with their picture on it. We stood in line for a while and then Chris's security guard came out and talked to us a bit. Most of what he said was straight forward rules and how things would work, but he did manage to throw some humor in there. When he got to the meet and greet picture he said stuff about 'don't ask to get anything signed or to take your own picture, the package comes with a professional photograph and a signed poster, that won't happen, just get your 'hello', hug, pic, and leave.' Then he went on: 'Now, about this hug. Be mature and respectful, all the guys are married I don't want anything below the waist or anything like that, don't embarrass the band and yourself. And, yeah, Chris has hair now, but don't go crazy over it and start running your fingers through it.' It was really adorable and funny.
So then a few minutes after that little talk we were let in for the soundcheck jamboree. I took some pictures but didn't realize my camera would work better without flash in that setting so they all came out really dark. (Don't worry, by the time the concert started I had figured that out and got some cool piccies). They played parts of September and Over You and then we were all herded into their little band suite, room, thingy to get in line for our meet & greet. It took a while, and at first we were cramped in this tiny, 4 ft wide space and I was dying from the heat, but we finally got back out to the suite and then it was finally my turn.
I'm trying to remember the order they were standing. I know the bassist, Josh Paul, was first (that Mohawk isn't something you forget ) Then, I think it was the drummer, but I'm not sure it was Joey Barnes or not. If it was his hair was A LOT different. Medium brown, in a big curly bush! Then Chris, then, I'm pretty sure, guitarists Brian Craddock and Josh Steely. They were all really nice and sweet. They all shook my hand and greeted me with a nice 'how are you?' Then, when I was shaking hands with Josh S. he saw my Henna tattoo that I got the other day and said, 'Wow, that's really cool. What's that?' I told him it's a Henna tattoo and Chris and Brian looked and commented about it's coolnees too. (Josh P. and drummer dude were too far away to see). I giggled on the inside thinking that the rock stars with the real tattoos up and down their arms are noticing my stupid little Henna thing. (See, sweet.) So after the tattoo thing, I told them I had tow things to tell them. They all stared at me and I got really nervous ("and it won't take long to burn, all eyes on me" [yeah, I went there]). After the initial anxiety wore down I told them that an internet friend of mine wants them to go to Holland (Esther 
). Chris gave me a confused stare and said, "But we've already been there." So I just said, "Oh, well she wants you to go again, then." They all laughed in good humor (not as in laughter that suggests it will never happen) and a few of them said something like, "Oh, it's always someone who hasn't seen us." I was about to say something else but then the photographer started the countdown and I turned around and smiled for my picture. (The photo still is not up on the web yet, once it is I'll post a link [if I don't look stupid]) So when that was done I told them the other thing. (The last time I had an infusion I was put in a private room again and when that happens I always have my music speakers turned on. Daughtry was playing at one point and my usual, and wonderful, nurse walked in and said 'Oh! I love them!' so then I told her about the upcoming meet & greet and she told me to tell them that she loves them, so I did). I said, "One last thing. One of my nurses wanted me to tell you that she loves you." They all said 'awww, that's so nice.' So then it was time for the next person, I said my goodbyes and thanks and walked away.
Then I got the signed poster, an exclusive t-shirt, and guitar pics (each signed by a separate band member). Then we were told we could do some 'early bird merch shopping'. I liked the shirts, but they were a little pricey and I was going to pass, but my dad kept saying 'we're here you might as well.' So I got a white Daughtry shirt with their name and pic on the front and tour listings and LTT cover art on the back and a black LH shirt with their name, the blue smoke around it, and their picture below it on the front and the tour listings on the back. So, by the time all that was done and my dad and I got back to the car it was 5:45 and the doors wouldn't open for the show until 6:30. We sat in the car, I text-tweeted stuff about the guys, called my mom (got into a stupid argument with her that my dad later resolved) and just sat there in awe talking to my dad every once in a while.
The tickets we bought for the show were this special VIP access thing. At 6:20 we walked over to the VIP entrance, got let in at 6:30, and walked into the VIP lounge section. We both got something to eat, because we hadn't eaten since about 2 (I kept asking my dad if he was going to go into a diabetic coma or if he could make it until 6:30 [he had an ice coffee and potato stix in the car so he was ok ]). Then I got a little dessert, 2 delicious Mrs. Fields cookies, and then at 7:20 we went to get our seats and waited for the show to start.
It started pretty much on time somewhere between 7:30-35. Cavo was alright, but they were a little harder rock then I usually go for. They played for about a half an hour and then we had a 15 minute intermission. Then Lifehouse came on.
LH was absolutely awesome! I was really blown away. Especially since I'd been getting really bored with LH music recently. The concert really got me into them again. Setlist (in order just because I took a note down on my cell because I knew I wouldn't remember everything if I didn't):
1. All In
2. Halfway Gone
3. Nerve Damage
4. Smoke & Mirrors
5. Whatever It Takes
6. Wrecking Ball
7. First Time
8. It Is What It Is (FAVORITE!!! So happy they played it!)
9. Had Enough
10. Hanging By A Moment
The venue was a huge (well, huge to me but I've only been to 3 other concerts) practically brand new, sports arena. They probably had 10,000 available seats for this show and by the time LH was one I'd say about 9,000 were full. Unfortunately, I got stuck behind two of the ten people who were standing during nearly every single song. I mean, it's a concert, have fun, rock out to a couple but this really isn't a GA place and we weren't on the ground seats, have some respect for the people behind you. I didn't really want to stand because I didn't feel like it and I didn't want to bother the people behind me, so luckily one spot over to my right hadn't been claimed yet and I sat there for a while and saw without trouble. However, I think Jason noticed the crazy fan girls because during Nerve Damage he ran off the stage and started running toward OUR SECTION. My dad and I were about 3-4 seats in from the end, but GET THIS, the two seats on the end of the row where Jason was going up the aisle had NOT been claimed yet! I darted over and held my hand out for him to give me a high five/hand shake (which he did with like 10 or 15 other people) but, apparently, I wasn't worth the effort. But, I told myself that I wasn't letting the chance pass me by, and I didn't necessarily want to be this random, but since I tried to be polite and he didn't care to acknowledge it I just reached over and touched his shoulder. (I felt like a weird creeper but how could I not? The circumstances were just perfect!) When he ran back down I tried to be polite again and just held out my hand for him, but he ignored it again (granted he probably thought I was a weirdo creep after the random touch) so this time I touched his hand. That was awesome. They played for about 45 minutes and then another 20 minute intermission and then Daughtry went on at 10:35.
By the time these guys went on the attendance was up to at least 9,500. They were awesome too! Unfortunately, the seat next to me and the two end ones got claimed fairly shortly after he got on so I had to stand to see behind the two crazy jerks in front of me. Setlist:
1. Everytime You Turn Around
2. What I Want
3. Ghost of Me
4. No Surprise
5. Life After You
6. It's Not Over
7. Learn My Lesson
8. September
9. I think this was a B-Side that I can't seem to place from the titles online
10. Definitely a B-Side, he said it was and he said the name but I couldn't understand what he said and I can't figure it out from the titles online either
11. Over You
12. Feels Like Tonight
13. You Don't Belong
14. (Encore) Call Your Name
I don't know if they did a second encore or not because I don't especially love Call Your Name, it was WAY past dad's bedtime, I knew he wanted to get out before the mob, and he had done too much for me that night that I said we could leave during the middle of the song.
So, yeah, that's it. Cudos to you if you read that entire thing. Had an absolute blast! Makes me REALLY excited for AVA in May! Oh, and if you want to see some pics, I don't feel like taking up more space and playing around with the photo sizes so just go here: the-sparklingdiamond.deviantart.com/gallery/#Band-Related-Pics I put all the good ones on dA.
That was my concert. *bows*
So without further adieu here's my night with LH, Daughtry, and the Daughtry VIP experience.My dad took me and we got to the Newark Prudential Center at a little after 4PM. We walked in, got our names checked off and got our 'tour laminates' or backstage passes with their picture on it. We stood in line for a while and then Chris's security guard came out and talked to us a bit. Most of what he said was straight forward rules and how things would work, but he did manage to throw some humor in there. When he got to the meet and greet picture he said stuff about 'don't ask to get anything signed or to take your own picture, the package comes with a professional photograph and a signed poster, that won't happen, just get your 'hello', hug, pic, and leave.' Then he went on: 'Now, about this hug. Be mature and respectful, all the guys are married I don't want anything below the waist or anything like that, don't embarrass the band and yourself. And, yeah, Chris has hair now, but don't go crazy over it and start running your fingers through it.' It was really adorable and funny.
So then a few minutes after that little talk we were let in for the soundcheck jamboree. I took some pictures but didn't realize my camera would work better without flash in that setting so they all came out really dark. (Don't worry, by the time the concert started I had figured that out and got some cool piccies). They played parts of September and Over You and then we were all herded into their little band suite, room, thingy to get in line for our meet & greet. It took a while, and at first we were cramped in this tiny, 4 ft wide space and I was dying from the heat, but we finally got back out to the suite and then it was finally my turn.
I'm trying to remember the order they were standing. I know the bassist, Josh Paul, was first (that Mohawk isn't something you forget
) Then, I think it was the drummer, but I'm not sure it was Joey Barnes or not. If it was his hair was A LOT different. Medium brown, in a big curly bush! Then Chris, then, I'm pretty sure, guitarists Brian Craddock and Josh Steely. They were all really nice and sweet. They all shook my hand and greeted me with a nice 'how are you?' Then, when I was shaking hands with Josh S. he saw my Henna tattoo that I got the other day and said, 'Wow, that's really cool. What's that?' I told him it's a Henna tattoo and Chris and Brian looked and commented about it's coolnees too. (Josh P. and drummer dude were too far away to see). I giggled on the inside thinking that the rock stars with the real tattoos up and down their arms are noticing my stupid little Henna thing. (See, sweet.) So after the tattoo thing, I told them I had tow things to tell them. They all stared at me and I got really nervous ("and it won't take long to burn, all eyes on me" [yeah, I went there]). After the initial anxiety wore down I told them that an internet friend of mine wants them to go to Holland (Esther 
). Chris gave me a confused stare and said, "But we've already been there." So I just said, "Oh, well she wants you to go again, then." They all laughed in good humor (not as in laughter that suggests it will never happen) and a few of them said something like, "Oh, it's always someone who hasn't seen us." I was about to say something else but then the photographer started the countdown and I turned around and smiled for my picture. (The photo still is not up on the web yet, once it is I'll post a link [if I don't look stupid]) So when that was done I told them the other thing. (The last time I had an infusion I was put in a private room again and when that happens I always have my music speakers turned on. Daughtry was playing at one point and my usual, and wonderful, nurse walked in and said 'Oh! I love them!' so then I told her about the upcoming meet & greet and she told me to tell them that she loves them, so I did). I said, "One last thing. One of my nurses wanted me to tell you that she loves you." They all said 'awww, that's so nice.' So then it was time for the next person, I said my goodbyes and thanks and walked away.Then I got the signed poster, an exclusive t-shirt, and guitar pics (each signed by a separate band member). Then we were told we could do some 'early bird merch shopping'. I liked the shirts, but they were a little pricey and I was going to pass, but my dad kept saying 'we're here you might as well.' So I got a white Daughtry shirt with their name and pic on the front and tour listings and LTT cover art on the back and a black LH shirt with their name, the blue smoke around it, and their picture below it on the front and the tour listings on the back. So, by the time all that was done and my dad and I got back to the car it was 5:45 and the doors wouldn't open for the show until 6:30. We sat in the car, I text-tweeted stuff about the guys, called my mom (got into a stupid argument with her that my dad later resolved) and just sat there in awe talking to my dad every once in a while.
The tickets we bought for the show were this special VIP access thing. At 6:20 we walked over to the VIP entrance, got let in at 6:30, and walked into the VIP lounge section. We both got something to eat, because we hadn't eaten since about 2 (I kept asking my dad if he was going to go into a diabetic coma or if he could make it until 6:30 [he had an ice coffee and potato stix in the car so he was ok
]). Then I got a little dessert, 2 delicious Mrs. Fields cookies, and then at 7:20 we went to get our seats and waited for the show to start.It started pretty much on time somewhere between 7:30-35. Cavo was alright, but they were a little harder rock then I usually go for. They played for about a half an hour and then we had a 15 minute intermission. Then Lifehouse came on.
LH was absolutely awesome! I was really blown away. Especially since I'd been getting really bored with LH music recently. The concert really got me into them again. Setlist (in order just because I took a note down on my cell because I knew I wouldn't remember everything if I didn't):
1. All In
2. Halfway Gone
3. Nerve Damage
4. Smoke & Mirrors
5. Whatever It Takes
6. Wrecking Ball
7. First Time
8. It Is What It Is (FAVORITE!!! So happy they played it!)
9. Had Enough
10. Hanging By A Moment
The venue was a huge (well, huge to me but I've only been to 3 other concerts) practically brand new, sports arena. They probably had 10,000 available seats for this show and by the time LH was one I'd say about 9,000 were full. Unfortunately, I got stuck behind two of the ten people who were standing during nearly every single song. I mean, it's a concert, have fun, rock out to a couple but this really isn't a GA place and we weren't on the ground seats, have some respect for the people behind you. I didn't really want to stand because I didn't feel like it and I didn't want to bother the people behind me, so luckily one spot over to my right hadn't been claimed yet and I sat there for a while and saw without trouble. However, I think Jason noticed the crazy fan girls because during Nerve Damage he ran off the stage and started running toward OUR SECTION. My dad and I were about 3-4 seats in from the end, but GET THIS, the two seats on the end of the row where Jason was going up the aisle had NOT been claimed yet! I darted over and held my hand out for him to give me a high five/hand shake (which he did with like 10 or 15 other people) but, apparently, I wasn't worth the effort. But, I told myself that I wasn't letting the chance pass me by, and I didn't necessarily want to be this random, but since I tried to be polite and he didn't care to acknowledge it I just reached over and touched his shoulder. (I felt like a weird creeper but how could I not? The circumstances were just perfect!) When he ran back down I tried to be polite again and just held out my hand for him, but he ignored it again (granted he probably thought I was a weirdo creep after the random touch) so this time I touched his hand. That was awesome. They played for about 45 minutes and then another 20 minute intermission and then Daughtry went on at 10:35.
By the time these guys went on the attendance was up to at least 9,500. They were awesome too! Unfortunately, the seat next to me and the two end ones got claimed fairly shortly after he got on so I had to stand to see behind the two crazy jerks in front of me. Setlist:
1. Everytime You Turn Around
2. What I Want
3. Ghost of Me
4. No Surprise
5. Life After You
6. It's Not Over
7. Learn My Lesson
8. September
9. I think this was a B-Side that I can't seem to place from the titles online
10. Definitely a B-Side, he said it was and he said the name but I couldn't understand what he said and I can't figure it out from the titles online either
11. Over You
12. Feels Like Tonight
13. You Don't Belong
14. (Encore) Call Your Name
I don't know if they did a second encore or not because I don't especially love Call Your Name, it was WAY past dad's bedtime, I knew he wanted to get out before the mob, and he had done too much for me that night that I said we could leave during the middle of the song.
So, yeah, that's it. Cudos to you if you read that entire thing. Had an absolute blast! Makes me REALLY excited for AVA in May! Oh, and if you want to see some pics, I don't feel like taking up more space and playing around with the photo sizes so just go here: the-sparklingdiamond.deviantart.com/gallery/#Band-Related-Pics I put all the good ones on dA.
That was my concert. *bows*
