The Sloan show just happened to take place at the time of Canadian Music Week in Toronto, so there were *loads* of bands in town that day. I went to the concert with 4 of my friends...but at the beginning it was just Me, Crissy and Elise, and then we met Lauren and Sammy. So, the three of us got downtown pretty early (at about 4:30-5, or around there), and we were going to try and get into the soundcheck. So, we walked around Massey Hall, and realized there was nothing happening. We passed by this security guard who said to me "i like your blue hair!" So then we started talking to her, and we pretty much made friends with her, cause we talked to her for like, 20 minutes. (she informed us that both bands had already done their soundchecks, and they were on their dinner breaks).
So then, after saying bye to Michelle (the security guard), we walked over to the edge, cause there were going to be lots of bands on that night. a few minutes after we walked in, george looked over at us, and told me that he likes my hair! (woo hoo!) So anyways, we waited for a while (and it was VERY stuffy in there, until someone got the right idea and opened the door!) Chris and Jay were the only members of Sloan who were going to be on Live in Toronto that day. they got there at around 6:15, and they were on the air at around 6:30. So, Chris started signing autographs, and i handed him my autograph book (i already have my cd covers 'n stuff signed) and he looked at me, and he remembered me, so he's like "umm...what's your name again?" so i said "katie" and he's like "nice to see you again!" and he handed my book back to me. Jay, i didn't really get to talk to *inside* the studio, cause it was really crammed, so i got another girl to pass my book up to him.
Then, during Sloan's interview, Rayna and Dez from Coal Chamber walked in (their interview was up next), so it was really hard to hear the rest of the interview, cause lots of people were freaking out. i got to meet Rayna, and even though i don't really know too much about the band, she was really nice.
then we decided to move out of the crowd, cause there were a lot of other people who would rather have gotten close to Coal Chamber than us, and plus, Chris and Jay were about to make their way outside into the small crowd that had gathered. Soon enough (like, after waiting about 15 minutes) they came outside. Elise asked me to get her Smeared cd signed, cause she didn't want to hand Chris a whole bunch of cd covers at once. So, i handed the cd cover to chris, and he said "Fuck! didn't i just do this INSIDE?" and i laughed and said "this isn't for me, it's for her!" so he's like "oh, alright....what's your name?" and elise goes to him "IT DOESN'T MATTER! JUST SIGN THE CD!!" and he looked at her, really surprised/shocked (the expression on his face was hilarious) and he wrote in her cd, beside his signature "Soorie!" So then Elise asked Chris about why he and Matthew Good have this kinda rivalry thing between them, and you had to be there, but it was like she was giving attitude to chris (he probably ended up getting really pissed off at us) but it was lots of fun.
then we saw Jay, and i reminded him of when i met him and chris at the airport last summer, and we had a little conversation about that, and he remembered my parents, and said that they were "cool" (?!) i don't really remember what happened after that, but there was something to the effect of me and Jay having the same scarf...and i told him to look for us in the right hand balcony.
then, Jet Set Satellite were the next band to be on, and the majority of the crowd that was there at the beginning of Live in Toronto had disappeared, except for a few people. so we went back inside, and at first i didn't really want to ask them for their autographs, cause no one else did, but then another girl went up, so i decided to go up after her. the guys, especially Trevor, were *REALLY* nice. trevor wrote in my book "hi katie!! i don't deserve this! Trevor" and we all started saying to him "of course you deserve it! you guys are so cool!" i later found out that that was the Second autograph they had *EVER* signed! So we sat there and listened to the interview, but we didn't get to stay for their acoustic performance because we had to grab some dinner, and then RUN to Massey Hall to make sure we got to see the Flashing Lights. (i felt *SO* bad for leaving!)
Now, going into the show, i only knew one song by the flashing lights (and i couldn't even remember what it was called until i actually heard them play it!--it's called 'where do the days go' if you were wondering...) but these guys *totally* won me over last night. they were really great. everyone should definetly check these guys out if they have a chance. Now, in the middle of the flashing light's set, Lauren and Samantha showed up, so now i actually had someone to sit beside! (we were spread out between the 5 seats before that) I was *totally* impressed by the tambourine player (i think his name is Gaven) because, being a drummer/percussionist, it really intrigued me, when i saw that he had banged the tambourines SO hard, that one of them actually broke! that was so cool! i've never broken a tambourine before!!
after the flashing lights' set, we went down to see the merchandise, and i think we all bought the same sloan t-shirt (navy blue, with sloan written three times, in different shades of orange) and elise bought two vinyls (why do i always have difficulty spelling that word!?) and lauren bought the flashing lights' cd.
then, a little while after we got back to our seats, the lights went low, and everyone started cheering...but then it got bright again, and everyone groaned...but not more than 2 minutes later, the lights went dim again, and everyone started cheering. They opened the set with Friendship (which sounded SO awesome!) and after that, i really don't remember any of the setlist...but it was SO awesome. we stood up for almost all of the concert. (i think we pissed off the people sitting behind us--oh well!)
through the whole concert, Jay kept looking up in the right hand balcony, but that wasn't good, cause although our seats said "right balcony" they ended up being almost dead center. so we kept on yelling "JAY!" but i don't think he heard us. except, he did seem to look at us at one point when the lights were pointing into the crowd, instead of on the band, but i'm not sure if he recognized us.
anyhow, they played a *really* long, great set (aside from a bit of feedback here and there...) The last song they played was "Delivering Maybes" and instead of having everyone cheer for them to come back on stage for the encore, they had the whole place (try) to sing the chorus. it fell apart very quickly. chris came back on stage and said that this was the ONLY city on the whole tour that didn't sing! Money City Maniacs was AWESOME. Patrick and Chris had a competition to see which side of the theatre could scream "HEY-O" louder...there was SO much energy in the room at that point! everyone was on their feet, screaming!
so, after the show, we found Lauren's and Sammy's mom's, and we all went to the stage door to try and meet the band(s). we waited for a *really* long time. (about 1.5 - 2 hours) chris came out, in a t-shirt, and saw everyone outside, and said "whoa! you guys are all out here! i'll get a sweater and come back" (he came back about 20 minutes later...) while we were waiting, i was standing right beside the door to exit the backstage area, with my back towards the door, talking to my friends. so, at one point, 2 guys and a girl come out the door (and the famous one brushed against my shoulder--keep reading!), and all of a sudden, we turn around, and elise goes "that's ryan from limblifter!" and then we (my group of friends, but no one else from the crowd) all started yelling "RYAN!!" and he turned around and smiled, but he didn't come back to talk to us, and no one would run down the street with me, so i didn't get to talk to him :(
The next to walk out was Andrew. now, Sammy's mom felt bad for all the people who were coming out of the door, not being recognized, so she said "the next person that walks out, i'm goign to get to sign this paper bag" (she had a paper bag that had the drinks that they bought in them) so, she goes up to Andrew, and we had to explain to her that he ACTUALLY was famous! so, she still wanted her bag signed, but Elise basically forbade andrew from signing it. (it was all very comical, actually!) (i actually at this point cannot remember what i said to andrew, cause i was laughing to hard about this whole "bag" thing...) but he almost burnt a hole through my program (which i got them all to sign) with his cigarette.
So then, i resumed my place beside the stairs, and Chris Murphy walked out. so, first he was talking to another girl, and then he turned around and talked to me. so, i handed him my program to sign, and he goes "What's your name again?!" and i say to him "WHAT?! you don't know my name?! i just met you like, 2 hours ago! and i met you 4 times before that! and you DON'T know my name?!" so then he started laughing (and so did everyone around us) and he's like "fuck, well what is it?! is it like, Katie, or something?!" and i'm like "uh, YES!" and he started laughing some more. then we just kept talking, and i was "giving attitude" to him...Then, i went to take a picture with him a little later, and he put his toque on my head, to "hide my lick" (i.e. cowlick--which i DO NOT have!) and i said to him "umm, NO! the whole point of the picture is my blue hair! i don't have any pictures with my blue hair yet!" and he started laughing, and he posed really funny, cause everyone around us started laughing (but it's better than the last pic i have with him i guess, cause in that one, he looks like he's looking down my top)
then Matt Murphy from the Flashing Lights came out, but i didn't want to go over to talk to him alone, cause i didn't know too much about them, and i never know what to say when i don't know a lot about the band, so i made Elise and Lauren come with me. so, Matt signed my autograph book ("hassey mall, 2000"--i thought that was so cute!) and i told him that the show kicked ass, and he said thanks, and i took a pic with him and elise. then we let him finish loading his truck, or whatever he was doing... (he somehow managed to get his shirt dirty while doing this though, which seemed to upset him a little!)
so then i talked to patrick, and he signed my program...i really didn't say too much to him, cause there were lots of people around. then i went over to jay (who came outside at the same time as Patrick, or very close to...) We told Jay how he and Crissy were like twins, cause they're like, exactly the same, and Jay said something to the effect of "but you're cuter, or prettier (or some kind of adjective, can't remember exacly) than i am" and it was so sweet! then i discovered that Jay and i have the same favourite tv show--The Simpsons! :) (cause we were talking to him about Degrassi, and he said that he hadn't seen that show in a long time, and we asked what his favourite show was, and he said the simpsons) then i took a picture with Jay...and i can't remember if i took one with Patrick or not, but i don't think so...
so that's basically everything that happened at the concert! sloan in a nutshell :)