My friend Ashlea and I got there a little early and stood
outside for about an hr. We were far back in line but then the
croud pushed up to the doors so we ended up being one of the
first people in. We had floor tickets so we headed down and
waited for the show to start. Everyone was sitting down, but we
knew that once they all stood up that we would be able to get
close... and sure enough, we ended up about third row, and then
I squeased into second row right behind this guy who was over a
head taller than I was. It was ok though cuz the opening band
was Veruca Salt and the guys shoulder blades were more
interesting than the band. People went crazy though, the stage
was rushed several times and I was getting so squished. Finally
though they played their last song and things quieted down. I
wiggled in next to the tall guy and then got in front of him
(hey, he had no problems seeing over my head so it was like he
was front row... and he was big enough to stop the croud surfers
from landing on me and he pushed the croud back, so it was a
good deal. :) Ashlea got in next to me and we were just a
little to the left of where Gavin would be standing. So we
waited... and waited... and then the lights dimmed and smoke
came up at the edge of the stage. Really cool music started
playing while the smoke kept billowing... they were making a
great build up... just when everyone was wondering if the band
was really going to show up Winston's face appeared on the
screen at the back of the stage and his familiar growling
started up (Razorblade Suitcase starts off with Winston growling
btw, winston is Gavin's dog). Finally the guys appeared on the
stage and everyone went wild... Gavin was beautiful as always,
and so was the rest of the band... Gavin had on a nice light
blue shirt and a pair of black pants... very nice. They started
the show with A tendency to Start Fires, and played an
incredible show for about 2 hrs. Gavin sang Bonedriven and
Glycerine by himself which was a nice touch, and when he played
Alien he said something like "The message is in the music" I
thought it was very fitting. People kept throwing t-shirts onto
the stage and Gavin got upset at one point and said "People keep
throwing there shirts up here like I want them, fuck off" and
then he threw the shirt back into the crowd... well of course
one idiot in the crowd didn't take the hint and during Glycerine
a shirt came up onto the stage and hit his microphone and I
think the mic hit him in the face. After the song Gavin said
"To the person who threw the shirt after I said not too... one
asshole out of 12,000 aint bad." Of course they dissapeared
after playing for about an hr and a half and the crowd went
wild, but we knew that the show wasn't over because the lights
weren't going up... so everyone went crazy... and they came back
on the stage and Gavin said "God you guys are loud" so of course
we got even louder!!! They played Swallowed and Bomb and a few
others and I was getting antsy because they hadn't played my
favorite song, Little Things... then Gavin tells us good night
so I was thinking great, there not playing it... till I heard
the opening cords... I've never been so excited!!!! I started
Jumping around and my friend was just laughing at me... it was
the best song ever!!! Well the show ended and Ashlea grabbed my
arm and we got out of the crowd... she had to make a pit stop at
the bathroom, but I told her we were going for a walk and she
was like ok. (I've got so many *battle scars* though... but let
me tell ya they were all worth it... my arms are bruised and
sore, my legs hurt, and my ribs are sore... but oh well...) We
left the building, both freezing because we only had on t-shirts
and it was windy and probably in the 40's. We walked down the
parking deck and knew we were in the wrong place, but we saw the
buses and knew where we wanted to be. After walking around a
bit we saw some people start walking down a set of stairs... I
asked one of the guys if he knew where he was going and he said
yes, but then told me I couldn't go with them. I begged and we
made introductions and then he let us follow them. So we
finally made it down to the tour buses... but the band was no
where to be seen... there were about 20 people down there but
they slowly started to leave since roadies and security guards
were driving by telling us that the band was either gone, or
that they were going out a different door (WORD OF ADVICE:
Don't ever listen to them... their just trying to get rid of you
so that they can A, go home, or B, just get you out of the
way)... Anyway Ashlea and I stood outside in the cold for 2
hrs... she had only had a little bit of sleep and wasn't even
planning on coming to the show, but she's such a darling she
stuck it out with me anyway... YOU ARE MY GODDESS!!! And after
all that time it payed off because just when we were losing hope
who walks out but Gavin Rossdale himself!!!!! It took me a
minute to register that he was there and it wasn't just another
roadie... but he saw us and got a suprised look on his face and
was so sweet... I walked over and jokingly told him that we had
been out there for hours freezing our asses off... and he said
"I'm sorry, come here" and he proceeded to put his arm around me
to keep me warm while he signed autographs!!!!!
It took me a few seconds to register what was going on... I
couldn't beleive it... Ashlea shook his hand and I got his
autograph and asked since she shook his hand could I get a hug,
and I got one... I still don't beleive that this all happened...
it's just so... oh my god! I just kept saying that over and
over... I'm going to be on cloud Gavin for a long time to
come... now all I have to do is meet Trent Reznor and my life
will be complete... Gavin was so nice and such a good sport for
signing stuff for everyone... you could tell he was in a rush
but he still obliged everyone... and he kept me warm!