Although I love writing, it's hard putting how excellent that
show was into words.  You know how people sometimes tell you of a
life-changing experience?  Some time where things were really rough but
something happened to change their way of thinking?  Well - and I know this
sound stupid - that show was my "turning point" moment.

I was having a really rough time with stuff at home and with my friends and
generally feeling like shit every day.  I heard on the radio that Sebastian
was coming to Edmonton and was excited to see him: I've been a fan ever
since I was 8, when we played musical chairs to Skid Row at my birthday
party (I tell *everyone* about that!) and now at 17, I still listened to his
music!  So imagine my disappointment when I find out the show is NOT all
ages and I can't get in.  And I miss it by just a YEAR!  a lousy YEAR!! Sad.
Very sad.  I tried making a fake ID, but it didn't really work.. SIGH.

What makes it worse is that i had already bought my ticket - a waste of
money.  But thank god for big brothers, hey?  Mine managed to get me in (the
club has a policy where if you go in withs omeone over 18, you can stay in
this certain area where no alcohol is served.  IT's this catwalk area where
you watch the show from above with a bunch of old people SMOKING CIGARS
WHICH IS JUST CRUELTY BUT ANYWAYS)!

I sat through the boring opening band (some locals I can't even remember..
They were so bad they had to resort to covering NEW songs by the Verve),
wondering if I should have come.. It seemed like a total waste of time.
Unttttiiiii.. Until I saw some figure with a head of bushy blonde hair and a
glittery silver suit.  "Who the hell is that??" I though to myself.  "It's a
kick ass suit!!!"  ( I love silver and I love glitter.)  Within a few
seconds, I knew who it was - Sebastian Bach!!!!  His energy spread like fire
as I found myself jumping around to "Slave To the Grind" and singing along
at the top of my lungs.  I was smiling and so happy to be there - so happy
to see this guy I had practically worshipped for about 9 years.

This guy is the most positive person I have ever known of - it's amazing!!!
Not only was he bursting with contagious energy and happiness throughout the
entire show, but he was so damn positive as well; making comments about how
wonderful it was to be here and how great it is to share excellent moments
with fellow rockers.  I was so happy to hear all those songs I had loved for
so long: Sweet Little Sister, Big Guns, 18 & Life, I Remember You, Frozen,
Slave To the Grind (opener), Riot Act, Mudkicker, Monkey Business, Get The
Fuck out (where everyone in the audience was screaming, "GET THE FUCK
OUT!"), Darkened Room, 2 Kiss covers, 2 new songs whose names I can't
remember, and some other stuff I can't remember anymore.

And the other guys in the band are just hillarious!! I loved their suits, so
dead kool.. And I loved how Sebastian joked around with them so much, like
they're true friends!  And Bam Bam really reminded me of Axl Rose in the
"Welcome to the Jungle" video.  And let's not forget the most important
thing - their excellent musicianship! I have never heard a band SOUND so
well before, it was just incredible... The entire show was incredible, I was
dancing on air the entire time, even though I felt alienated from everyone
having fun as I was up top watching from afar...

Now, the best part:  YOUTH GONE WILD!!!!!!  Before the song, the band's
last, Sebastian talked about someone he had visited in the hospital earlier
today - a girl named Lulu who had cancer.  He said her husband got in touch
with him and said that Lulu is a big fan but could not make it to the show.
Sebastian looked into the audience and told us that she was going to be okay
- then he looked at whom I presume was her husband and repeated, "She's
going to be okay."  He was talking about how he's going to send her to
Honolulu in August, "'cause we need to take care of some of our fellow
rockers sometimes."  So sweet.  Then he said the best thing I could have
possibly heard at that time: "You know, it's things like this that make you
realise that as long we've got our health, we're all going to be okay.
Everything's going to be okay, isn't it?"  I heard that from so many people
so many times, but it never really clicked.. It never seemed sincere and it
was never from anyone I remotely respected.  But to hear it from Sebastian
was just amazing.  Right then, I KNEW everything was going to be okay (I
know that's cheesy and lame but it's true) and I was going to be alright.
FUck my "friends" and fuck what's happening with my family right now, it'll
work out okay.. As long as I'm myself, it'll work out fine.  Everything he
said in between the songs was so positive and so encouraging, it really made
me feel so much better about everything.  I knew that as long as I was
myself, i'd be okay.  It was truly such an amazing show.. I don't know if
I've explained very well how much I loved it and how excellent it was, but
truly, it was the best show I've ever been to and probably the best show I
ever WILL go to (until I see Sebastian and friends again, of course:)).  For
the past few months, I was so discouraged every day.. I'd wake up feeling
defeated, walk into school feeling dead, talking to no one, and wanting to
just sink.. But for weeks after that show, I really pulled myself together
and I had enough energy to fuel the city of Toronto for a month.  It was
amazing, truly amazing.  I love Sebastian!!

AygarP