piratesunk (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
piratesunk) wrote2011-08-05 01:49 pm
piratesunk) wrote2011-08-05 01:49 pm
Entry tags:
The Bouncing Souls - Aug.1st to Aug. 4th - Islington O2 Academy
Where to even start?
Let's start from Monday morning and how I woke up at 5am to go to work after getting home impossibly late after my shift.
It was hard, not going to lie, but I went and tried to not fuck up too much. Then I had this stupid meeting at work that was just a lot of pointless talk and homework (apparently, working for this chain is like being at school again).
Then, I left and met up with Kellie at the tube station.
It was lovely seeing her again. I got hugs and then we went home to drop her bags. Since we weren't sure how big the queue would be when we got to the venue, we decided to go there straight away.
It was the longest train ride because Islington is at the other end of London but we got there before 7pm.
We had some time time to kill and went into Cyber Candy to look at all the amazing things they had and came out with a box of Ice Cream flavored Oreos and white chocolate Reese's peanut butter cups. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE. I need more in my life.
Now, let's talk about the gig. That's probably why you're here anyway.
The queue was made up of five people when we got there, a few minutes before the doors opened.
It wasn't busy at all for a while so we grabbed a seat and waited until the opening band showed up.
The show wasn't sold out so they put us in the tiniest of the O2 Academy venues which was very nice and had no barrier.
I don't really remember the opening band. The only thing I remember is the lead singer sounding a lot like Dave Grohl but that's about it.
Then it was finally time for the Souls.
We got squished against the stage and right in front of The Pete. We thought he was going to poke our eyes out with his guitar a few times. That was how close we were. I got to grab one of his pick on the floor too :)
Everything was Bouncing Souls and nothing hurt for the next hour.
Greg was wearing a tie with ONE written on it (for night #1). Bryan was full of energy and Mike was on fire. It was so great that I never wanted it to end, even while I was being so exhausted I could barely think.
Since the albums are not long, we managed to go home early. We got there at maybe half past eleven (which is still very late considering I had to go to work the next morning).
I actually tried to call in sick on Tuesday. I was feeling like shit and the lack of sleep was a bit too much. I called the manager on duty and he told me I had to come anyway because someone was already sick and they were short-staffed. So I fucking went, feeling like crap and looking forward to going home after my shift.
The manager put me on switchboard because he said I did look dreadful. So at least I got to sit during my shift.
I survived. I went home and Kellie was waiting for me at the tube station with a Starbucks frappucino. :D It was so great.
We got a little nap, had some food and then set off to night 2 of The Bouncing Souls.
The venue was bigger but we still got a spot at the barrier in front of Bryan this time.
I won't lie, being this close to him triggered things in me. I may have a crush on him because he is one fucking amazing musician and person.
I caught his eye during Night on Earth and I melted.
I tried to concert call Mikey during East Coast Fuck You but her phone was off.
Another highlight of this night is a dudebro and a girl coming up on stage to sing Wish Me Well and acing it.
I got headbutted from the back and the guy apologized right away. It didn't hurt too bad so it wasn't a big deal. I did get a giant bruise on my back from a guy digging his elbow in it like he was trying to give me a very brutal massage.
After the show, we didn't stick around. We got home about the same time as the day before and I slept like a baby until my alarm woke me up at fucking 5am.
Work was stupid and terrible and I did so many mistakes that I would have fired myself (like for example giving a room to someone who wasn't supposed to be here until the next day). I left a lot of unsolved crap to the next shift and I'm expecting a lot of crap from them when I return to work on Saturday.
After this clusterfuck, I joined Kellie in Islington and we hung out for a while, browsing the shops and eating dinner at the wonderful Wagamama. I love this place so much and the Islington branch is so rad because the people working there are all tattooed and beautiful and punk rock.
Now, let's talk about the show.
We got the same opening band from night 2 which I forgot to mention before. They were called Pacer and they were very good. I think they were the best out of the 3 opening bands we got.
It was rad like the other nights but this time, it was sold out and crowded. The Souls were late and they played the longest album in their career. Good thing that I didn't have to go to work the next day. It would have been terrible. There was a lot of crowd-surfing and moshing but we were in our safe little corner in front of The Pete so we didn't get too roughed up.
We got our souvenir laminate and went home to sleep, looking forward to the last night.
Thursday morning, we slept until maybe 9am, went outside in the rain and got lunch at this amazing place I didn't even know existed around my town. Seriously, their food os the most amazing. I was tempted to order everything but that would have been a mistake since the waffle I got actually filled my belly and I didn't have to eat anything else all day. We got chocolate milkshakes for dessert and they were amazing and so full of chocolate that it was almost sickening.
We got home, napped for an hour and then went to Islington again.
I wanted to check out this tattoo place called The Family Business because Kris got her magnificent ink there and they weren't too far from where we were anyway.
I have a couple of ideas for what I want done and the guys at the shop were just so helpful and amazing. We sat there, looking at their book and it was just so wonderful.
Then it was time to go to the venue again.
We got a spot in front of Bryan again (we basically switch from The Pete to Bryan each night). The opening band wasn't very good. They weren't my thing. They were pretty though.
Ok. Now, let's talk about The Bouncing Souls.
They were so fucking good and I think it was the best night of the 4 for me.
I tried to concert call Mikey again when Lean on Sheena started but before I even got to dial her number, Greg was on me and he grabbed my hand. He was squeezing it and singing to our faces and it was just amazing.
We screamed the lyrics back to him and I made my call to Mikey but once again, her phone was off. :(
Kellie managed to call Nathy though so that was good.
I think that was the highlight of the night for me although everything was great and perfect and I couldn't have asked for better.
After the show, we headed off the smaller venue with the other VIP ticket holders to get a signed poster and hang out to the after party.
Greg came in first but we froze up and didn't talk to him.
Actually, we stood there for a while, unable to talk to any of the guys until Bryan walked past us and I managed to introduce myself to him. I got an epic hug from him. We talked about how we want to get tattooed by him the next time we're in Jersey. We talked about how The Souls didn't go to France. I didn't remember the rest but Kellie and I got a picture with him and we said thanks and he also thanks us a lot for coming out.
BRYAN, YOU ARE MY FAVORITE.
Next, we got to get a picture with The Pete and got some champagne. It was delicious.
Then we hung out near Greg, waiting for him to be available to talk to us.
He actually turned to us after a while and then I started word vomiting all over him. LOL Well, I thanked him for the four amazing nights, said it was my first time seeing them, talked about my job and how I had been going to work every day in between shows. He seemed fairly impressed, I think.
Kellie and I got a picture with him and we said our goodbyes before heading to see Mike.
He was so nice. We didn't want to interrupt him while he was chatting with a couple of girls so we waited and then finally, I managed to get his attention and got to introduce myself to him.
I think we got hugs from him too. he was so sweet. We got pictures with him too, thanked him and then went our merry little way home, our heads filled with amazing memories.
So yeah. That's all, folks. I hope you enjoyed reading this, even though it's a bit fuzzy in some parts. That's the best I could do today.
In conclusion: BAND!
Also, pictures of my face with the Souls:
BRYANNNNNN *____*
BRA STRAP, GTFO.
:D
I have a stupid face.
Let's start from Monday morning and how I woke up at 5am to go to work after getting home impossibly late after my shift.
It was hard, not going to lie, but I went and tried to not fuck up too much. Then I had this stupid meeting at work that was just a lot of pointless talk and homework (apparently, working for this chain is like being at school again).
Then, I left and met up with Kellie at the tube station.
It was lovely seeing her again. I got hugs and then we went home to drop her bags. Since we weren't sure how big the queue would be when we got to the venue, we decided to go there straight away.
It was the longest train ride because Islington is at the other end of London but we got there before 7pm.
We had some time time to kill and went into Cyber Candy to look at all the amazing things they had and came out with a box of Ice Cream flavored Oreos and white chocolate Reese's peanut butter cups. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE. I need more in my life.
Now, let's talk about the gig. That's probably why you're here anyway.
The queue was made up of five people when we got there, a few minutes before the doors opened.
It wasn't busy at all for a while so we grabbed a seat and waited until the opening band showed up.
The show wasn't sold out so they put us in the tiniest of the O2 Academy venues which was very nice and had no barrier.
I don't really remember the opening band. The only thing I remember is the lead singer sounding a lot like Dave Grohl but that's about it.
Then it was finally time for the Souls.
We got squished against the stage and right in front of The Pete. We thought he was going to poke our eyes out with his guitar a few times. That was how close we were. I got to grab one of his pick on the floor too :)
Everything was Bouncing Souls and nothing hurt for the next hour.
Greg was wearing a tie with ONE written on it (for night #1). Bryan was full of energy and Mike was on fire. It was so great that I never wanted it to end, even while I was being so exhausted I could barely think.
Since the albums are not long, we managed to go home early. We got there at maybe half past eleven (which is still very late considering I had to go to work the next morning).
I actually tried to call in sick on Tuesday. I was feeling like shit and the lack of sleep was a bit too much. I called the manager on duty and he told me I had to come anyway because someone was already sick and they were short-staffed. So I fucking went, feeling like crap and looking forward to going home after my shift.
The manager put me on switchboard because he said I did look dreadful. So at least I got to sit during my shift.
I survived. I went home and Kellie was waiting for me at the tube station with a Starbucks frappucino. :D It was so great.
We got a little nap, had some food and then set off to night 2 of The Bouncing Souls.
The venue was bigger but we still got a spot at the barrier in front of Bryan this time.
I won't lie, being this close to him triggered things in me. I may have a crush on him because he is one fucking amazing musician and person.
I caught his eye during Night on Earth and I melted.
I tried to concert call Mikey during East Coast Fuck You but her phone was off.
Another highlight of this night is a dudebro and a girl coming up on stage to sing Wish Me Well and acing it.
I got headbutted from the back and the guy apologized right away. It didn't hurt too bad so it wasn't a big deal. I did get a giant bruise on my back from a guy digging his elbow in it like he was trying to give me a very brutal massage.
After the show, we didn't stick around. We got home about the same time as the day before and I slept like a baby until my alarm woke me up at fucking 5am.
Work was stupid and terrible and I did so many mistakes that I would have fired myself (like for example giving a room to someone who wasn't supposed to be here until the next day). I left a lot of unsolved crap to the next shift and I'm expecting a lot of crap from them when I return to work on Saturday.
After this clusterfuck, I joined Kellie in Islington and we hung out for a while, browsing the shops and eating dinner at the wonderful Wagamama. I love this place so much and the Islington branch is so rad because the people working there are all tattooed and beautiful and punk rock.
Now, let's talk about the show.
We got the same opening band from night 2 which I forgot to mention before. They were called Pacer and they were very good. I think they were the best out of the 3 opening bands we got.
It was rad like the other nights but this time, it was sold out and crowded. The Souls were late and they played the longest album in their career. Good thing that I didn't have to go to work the next day. It would have been terrible. There was a lot of crowd-surfing and moshing but we were in our safe little corner in front of The Pete so we didn't get too roughed up.
We got our souvenir laminate and went home to sleep, looking forward to the last night.
Thursday morning, we slept until maybe 9am, went outside in the rain and got lunch at this amazing place I didn't even know existed around my town. Seriously, their food os the most amazing. I was tempted to order everything but that would have been a mistake since the waffle I got actually filled my belly and I didn't have to eat anything else all day. We got chocolate milkshakes for dessert and they were amazing and so full of chocolate that it was almost sickening.
We got home, napped for an hour and then went to Islington again.
I wanted to check out this tattoo place called The Family Business because Kris got her magnificent ink there and they weren't too far from where we were anyway.
I have a couple of ideas for what I want done and the guys at the shop were just so helpful and amazing. We sat there, looking at their book and it was just so wonderful.
Then it was time to go to the venue again.
We got a spot in front of Bryan again (we basically switch from The Pete to Bryan each night). The opening band wasn't very good. They weren't my thing. They were pretty though.
Ok. Now, let's talk about The Bouncing Souls.
They were so fucking good and I think it was the best night of the 4 for me.
I tried to concert call Mikey again when Lean on Sheena started but before I even got to dial her number, Greg was on me and he grabbed my hand. He was squeezing it and singing to our faces and it was just amazing.
We screamed the lyrics back to him and I made my call to Mikey but once again, her phone was off. :(
Kellie managed to call Nathy though so that was good.
I think that was the highlight of the night for me although everything was great and perfect and I couldn't have asked for better.
After the show, we headed off the smaller venue with the other VIP ticket holders to get a signed poster and hang out to the after party.
Greg came in first but we froze up and didn't talk to him.
Actually, we stood there for a while, unable to talk to any of the guys until Bryan walked past us and I managed to introduce myself to him. I got an epic hug from him. We talked about how we want to get tattooed by him the next time we're in Jersey. We talked about how The Souls didn't go to France. I didn't remember the rest but Kellie and I got a picture with him and we said thanks and he also thanks us a lot for coming out.
BRYAN, YOU ARE MY FAVORITE.
Next, we got to get a picture with The Pete and got some champagne. It was delicious.
Then we hung out near Greg, waiting for him to be available to talk to us.
He actually turned to us after a while and then I started word vomiting all over him. LOL Well, I thanked him for the four amazing nights, said it was my first time seeing them, talked about my job and how I had been going to work every day in between shows. He seemed fairly impressed, I think.
Kellie and I got a picture with him and we said our goodbyes before heading to see Mike.
He was so nice. We didn't want to interrupt him while he was chatting with a couple of girls so we waited and then finally, I managed to get his attention and got to introduce myself to him.
I think we got hugs from him too. he was so sweet. We got pictures with him too, thanked him and then went our merry little way home, our heads filled with amazing memories.
So yeah. That's all, folks. I hope you enjoyed reading this, even though it's a bit fuzzy in some parts. That's the best I could do today.
In conclusion: BAND!
Also, pictures of my face with the Souls:
BRYANNNNNN *____*
BRA STRAP, GTFO.
:D
I have a stupid face.
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