welcome to the show

there was a time in my life where i felt like a failure as a music fan. i loved music, listened to it as much as i could, learned the words to every song i loved, wrote my own lyrics, etc. but something i hadn't done enough, i thought, was go to concerts. i was too young in my mother's eyes to be dropped off alone/with friends at a concert, and she herself had no interest in seeing the shows that i did. and at the time, a lot of the shows my friends were going to [patent pending, etc..] were bands that i just wasn't into. most of the concerts i've went to, i went to after i was 18. but now i no longer feel like i'm missing out. because i keep getting to go to the concerts i want to go to, and there are so many more that i know i will see.

here's where i've been and what i thought of the show =]

1. spice girls, my very first concert. circa 1996. i don't remember much about this show, but i can assure you that i was so very excited. it was at jones beach, and, living in queens at the time, i never really got to go to the beach. jones beach was "far" for a six year old to travel. i'm sure i adored this concert, as i woke up every morning at the crack of dawn, put a cassette of Spice World into my walkman, and sang until my mother woke up.

2. 2004, evanescence/breaking benjamin/seether/3 days grace. i went to this concert mainly to see Evanescence, partly to see Seether. i had never heard of breaking benjamin, but 3dg's "i hate everything about you" had been in constant rotation on my stereo. the concert was just phenomenal. i became an instant fan of breaking benjamin. the singer was cute and their song Cold(?) was just amazing. i went with my friend emily, and our moms hung out on the beach as we watched in awe as our IDOL, amy lee, sang all of their hits and a cover of Korn's Thoughtless. it was beautiful. i will never forget that night.

3. tori amos. 2006? the beekeeper tour. went with arianna and her dad. i was so excited to be in the presence of an artist who's music i truly appreciated for its honesty, and raw passion. watching her play two, three instruments at once was wonderful. i don't think tori was feeling well that day, though. something was missing.

4. summer 2009. janelle monae/ paramore/no doubt. let's go in order of act. every time i hear a critic praise monae, i want to throw up a little bit. have they seen her live? she is absolutely awful. just terrible. just because her vocals get tweaked in the sound studio doesn't mean she is actually good in real life. i really wish i didn't catch her screeching and whining into the mic. paramore- before the show i honestly couldn't care either way about them. i liked them but i couldn't and didn't consider myself a fan. after this show, i was a fan. no freakin doubt. i cried when gwen hit the stage. the energy, the love for the fans and the music. i was just in awe of my icon. i would go to another no doubt concert in a heart beat. want to join me?

5. tegan&sara. october 2009. i got to see them at town hall in nyc. they were so cute, the venue was awesome. every seat was a great seat. they played their entire album, Sainthood from start to finish. i fell in love with sara, and with the fact that they sounded great live. 

6. LIGHTS came to nassau community college in the spring of 2010. she was so tiny, so cute, and sounded just like her cd, only better. best of all, the show was free. afterwards she took pictures and gave autographs but i didn't get to be there. i got a LIGHTS sticker from this really adorable boy. wonder where i put it!!

7. may 2010. kellie pickler/gloriana/ taylor swift. kellie pickler is, at best, annoying. i did like her song "rocks instead of rice." gloriana, i thought were nice. but taylor. ohhh taylor. the sets, the costumes, and she could actually sing live, contrary to what i've heard about her. i had so much fun watching her play even though i was amidst a sea of little girls. taylor is coming out with a new cd on october 25, 2010. can't wait!!

8. july 2010. nothing to lose. i arrived just in time for their set, and unfortunately had to leave early. but it was really awesome going to their first show. these guys are playing again, august 21st, and september 4th. make sure you check them out!! they're cute :)

9. john mayer/train, august 2010. jess and i went to PNC Bank arts center in NJ. john mayer was a guitar god as i suspected, and train was lively. unfortunately we missed most of trains set, but john mayer was a show all his own. he opened with "bigger than my body", i loved it. i would definitely go back to that venue [i would go back to all the venues mentioned {jones beach, nassau coll., town hall, pnc bank arts center, the vibe lounge, and my college}]. it was awesome because they let you bring your own food, and we sat on a sheet on the grass.

9 concerts, 17 bands. i'm going to a florence and the machine show in nyc on november 1st. i can't wait, it's going to be so amazing. i really would love to see: gaga, evanescence again, dave matthews [ i could have went to a dave show but the timing didnt work out for me unfortunately] and so many more bands. what was your favorite concert you've ever been to?