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Hey there Kids!

Okay ... since I try to make all of you send in your SJ experience ...

I thought maybe it's only fair that I share my fun with ya'll too. Here goes:

A week or two before the July 29th show, I found out that Silver Jet was the opening band for Dogstar. So, I did some research on the 'net and listened to some Real Audio's just to be familiar with their music. I thought, "Damn, they rock!" So, a day or two before the show, I had the lyrics of "Plastiqa" sent to me so I can be cool with the crowd and sing along to at least *one* of their songs. *smile*

Also, Nancy (our awesome webmaster) sent me a letter (it contained publicity info) via e-mail to print and give to Jeff Gross.

So, the day of the show, we left our house around 3:30 p.m. and got to the club around 4:00 something (the doors were to open at 7 p.m. and the show was to start at 8 p.m.). I'm thankful that we left early 'cuz my buds and I were, like, the 15th people in line.

Anyway, while waiting in line, we noticed a white van pull up ... I recognized the Silver Jet boys and got a bit excited.  I just stood there lookin' at them but didn't do anything.  I remember guys coming in and out of the white van hauling their equipment in the club. The first person I saw was probably Luke. I remember thinking, "Is that Luke? Nah, it couldn't be ... his hair looks too damn light!" Yep, that's exactly what I was thinking. But of course, I came to my senses and realized that he was indeed Luke. The second person I noticed was Jeff. Then, I just remembered the letter I was to give to Jeff.  It was easy to tell that it was him 'cuz he was so tall and his bleached hair gave him away. Jeff disappeared around the corner and that's when I remembered that I had a letter to deliver to him.

I asked my friends, "Hey ... you know where Jeff left to?"
They all went, "Oh, I think he just went into Dogstar's bus. Why?"
I said, "I'll wait then. I have a letter to give to him."
They said, "Why don't you just go and knock on the door and give it to him?"

Jeff had run off into the Dogstar bus and I was too chicken to go there and knock on the door myself and hand the letter to Jeff.  So my buds, Kayte and Kelly they dragged me over to the bus and knocked repeatedly on the door. Out he came looking at 5 curious female fans. What a sweetie Jeff is! I explained the letter and gave it to him. He was soft spoken and seemed appreciative of the letter. Us girls went back in line. The door to SJ's bus was open so we watched as Jeff read the letter and handed it over to Luke who read it thoroughly. "That's cool." I thought. By the way ... during that time, I don't think I saw Grant at all.

A couple of minutes later, we could hear SJ's soundcheck from outside the club wall ... it was real cool cuz this was actually my first concert.

We stood in line for, like, 3 hours.  The line did get pretty long ... but only about 200 people showed up at the show.  It was good though ... not too crowded. We got in, I took my spot, left-center stage ... a little squished but could see the stage very well.  It took a while for the first opening band to set up ... but it was worth the wait. 

Okay, 8 p.m. rolled around and we were finally let into the club. Yeah, guess you can say they were running a *little* late. Before the show even started, I had already bought "Pull me up ... Drag me down". I got a really good spot right in front of the left side of the stage. The first opening band, Chaser, was awesome. Then the moment came when SJ began to set up the stage. I just thought, "Wow!" They began their set and they rocked the stage. And yes, I *did* sing along to "Plastiqa" (thanx to Nancy and Jason) and was surprised to see that I was only one of few fans who were singing along.

Luke did a bit of chattering and the crowd seemed to really love 'em.  At the end of their show, a roadie gave a lucky fan Grant's drumstick. There was one moment where Luke broke a string on his guitar and stalled ... which he did rather well. He made us (Seattle people) feel special by plugging in his chord in and out making a screeching sound. What's that called? Sorry ... I'm not a guitar specialist. And he said, "You notice whenever we go back to the west side, we always break our strings ... what is it about that? This is for you Seattle ..." That was cool. Well, they rocked the stage.

After the show, we all stayed a few minutes inside the club just to see if we could get souvenirs. I ended up taking Dogstar's set list and a promotional poster of SJ that I ripped off the wall. They employers started kicking us out. So, while walking out, there stood Luke already chatting up and signing with fans. I thought, "Wow ... just like that, huh? Cool!" Jeff was indoors playing pool or something like that. Anyway, I had my cd all ready for Luke to sign. What a huge sweetie! He was so damn nice I wish I could've given him a huge ass hug!

Me: "Hey! Can you sign this for me?" (I gave him my Sharpie without the cap.)
Luke: "Yeah, sure!" (He took the cap away from me and stuck it behind the marker.)
Me: "You guys were really great!"
Luke: "Thanx!" (After that, I sorta realized how retarded I sounded ... but that's okay cuz I at least said something to him.)

He still had a hold of my marker and I started reaching out trying to pull it away from him.
I just said, "Umm ... can I have my pen back?" He never said anything. He just stood their smiling. About 2 or 3 fans came up to him and started getting autographs and I stood there with my fingers still trying to grab my pen. So, if your signature looks screwed ... it must be my fault cuz I was trying to take *my* pen away from Luke. I finally got it back and I just said, "Thanx." and gave him a smile.

Grant was my next victim. I told him the same things that I told Luke. But Grant seemed very distant ... when I asked him to sign my cd, he stood there staring at it. But finally he took it and I tried to hand him over my pen but he wouldn't take it. He pulled out a HUGE ass maker and said, "Sorry, this pen is too big, it might take too much room." But he used it anyway. I told him they did great and he took a while to answer me back ... and finally said, "Thanx."

Later, Bret, lead singer of Dogstar, came out, surrounded by 2 security guards ... no one was able to get to him ... only pics were taken.  After that ... Jeff came out (I don't know if he was trying to create a diversion for Keanu cuz he came out at the same time).  I was gonna get Jeff's autograph, he was still busy signing others.

After that, my buds and I walked back and forth around the club to see if we anymore victims. I realized that we hadn't taken any pics of the SJ boys so we came back to Luke. He was busy talking to 3 chicks ... but we just stood there waiting. He turned to us after a minute and said, "What can I do for ya?" And we asked him for pics and he said, "Sure!" Sorry to those 3 chicks! Ha, ha, ha! I was the first to take my pic with him. It surprised me when I felt an arm go around my shoulder. I thought, "Cool ... I'll just slide my arm around his waist." What a sweetie! You can see the scanned pics.

So, we stayed a while just watching the scene ... the SJ boys went back in the club, I think, to play some pool.

I saw on the bumper of SJ's van for a while ... but that kinda got uncomfortable so we sat on the steps in front of the club. I said to my friends (I'm not gonna say who cuz they just might get embarrassed), "I wonder what happened to the letter I gave to Jeff ... you think they tossed it?" They said, "No! But we'll check for you." So they went to the van and started looking through the window. One of them yelled (while cupping her eyes to see better through the tinted window), "I don't see it!" When she turned around to see my response, there stood Luke staring at her with a goofy grin. Man, that was hella funny! Guess you just had to be there ...

Anyway, we finally left to go home with a night to remember.

Rock On!

Allysa

Silver Jet was good - first time I heard them. I wanted to hug the drummer, Grant, he was so cute. He came out to the edge of the stage after they were done to say hi and I asked him for a drum stick. He brought out a handful and walked along the barrier passing them out. I managed to get one but later regretted it because I had to stick it down the front of my shorts to keep from losing it or poking out an eye in the pushing and shuffling going on.

Okay, on to the show. Silver Jet was very good. We talked a little bit with the singer after the show (outside the club) to tell him that they had done a great show and he seemed pleased to hear it.

Silver Jet came on before 9pm. It was clearly going to be an early night. (Probably Keanu has to get up and get filming today. )Of course they were great, and they were well-received. Before you knew it they were off again.

Silver Jet was good, as previously reported. The bass player's mouth hung open the whole night, and he was utterly relaxed. The lead singer was animated and seemed comfortable talking to the crowd. They were fun.

The 9:30 Club in Washington, DC

Don't forget to read in my Welcome letter my little brush with the law... and I blame it all on Silver Jet! *smile*

I admit that I went to the concerts purely for the main act, Dogstar. However, I had read reviews from others who also went to Dogstar concerts and said that the opening act, Silver Jet, rocked.  I was so psyched about it.  I immediately went on the Internet to find more info on these guys and got a chance to hear the soundbites.  Wow!

I remember going to the DC101 Chili Cook-off on May 17th (Can ya believe I skipped graduation and the commencement speech by Bill Cosby to go to this?) in Washington, DC and knew that Silver Jet will be performing but I had to leave around 3 pm and the DJs said that Silver Jet wouldn't be on until much later.  Needless to say I was bummed.  But I did get to see Sponge and well, Tim Palmer - you got another winner in the Silver Jet boys!

Arrived at Bohager's in Baltimore around 7 pm.  There was a small line.  I could hear the sound check and couldn't figure out if it was Silver Jet themselves doing it or someone else. (Oh, well....)

There were questions about age going around - especially on Jeff. But I did find out that he's 25.  He wasn't feeling well during this concert or the one in DC but, Man, you couldn't tell by the way he played.  The music was awesome and the lyrics were memorable.  Luke said to the audience, "Let's time, I expect you to be singing along." Well, I was singing along in the DC concert the next night!  I bought the Silver Jet CD before the concert knowing that I wanted it.  This was *before* I even heard them perform.  Just to show you what positive fan reviews can do. *grin*

Luke introduced some of the songs and a little of the stories behind each one.  "Kid" is for all those guys who see a beautiful girl at  a bar but are too shy to approach them - afraid of the rejection.  And of course, there's "Plastiqa" - penis enlargement, huh? *grin*

Oh, and there's a running joke on who can catch Jeff smile.  I'm sure you've noticed that when he plays, he's totally into the music.  If he cracks a smile, it was like this big "thing."  In Baltimore, I caught him with a brief grin after Luke introduced "Plastiqa" *grin*  I grinned myself (see above).  In DC, he cracked a full smile (what a smile!) *sigh* when someone in the audience yelled to Luke as he was taking off his blazer - "Take it *all* off!!!"  Luke came back to the mike, "Take it *all* off?  Be careful of what you ask for."

Oh, and a tip from one of the SJ guys, drag bars are the places to go because they know how to have fun! *grin*

As I was heading to the door to leave, I saw Jeff sitting on the rail and Luke and Grant on the other end of the rail.  I wasn't sure if I was gonna ask for autographs but Jeff kinda looked up and I was in his line of vision.   (Pictured at left) I had the CD out so, I mean, what was I to do? (Decision, decision, decisions...)  I went towards him and asked him if he would sign it.  What a sweetheart!  Not only did he sign it, he even took a few seconds to think of a message to write on the CD. After he signed it, I told him I'll see them tomorrow night.  "Oh, you'll going to the DC show?"  "I live in DC."  I couldn't walk down the stairs without passing Luke and Grant and since I was in *their* line of vision as well *grin*  Gave Luke the CD after asking them if they would mind signing it for me.  While Luke was signing, told them that I would see them the following night in DC and heard that there would be another opening act.  Asked them if they would go on first or second.  It was cute to see them answer at the same time with different answers *grin*

Grant said, "I don't know."
Luke, "We're on 2nd."
G: "Oh."
L: "Yeah, the first act is a local band."

When I *finally* left, I went to the back near the main act's tourbus to get some autographs.  Those Silver Jet guys!  They do their own instrument set up and all.  (Note to Virgin Records: Get these guys Roadies!)  What a team!  It was kinda amusing seeing Luke, Jeff, and Grant going back and forth from the club to their van (Another note to Virgin Records: Get these guys a tourbus.)  What great 2 nights!

Oh, one last thing, I had printed out a few fan reviews by Dogstar fans who had mentioned Silver Jet. I thought the guys would appreciate what people thought of them so far. I inserted it in an envelope and wrote a little note for them. I saw Jeff after the DC show just standing around. Man, is he tall! I didn't realize how tall he was from the night before because he kinda just sat on the rail the entire time he signed my CD cover. (But, then again, I'm only 5' 2 1/2" tall *grin*) After I handed Jeff the envelope, I kinda explained to him that I was the listowner for the Constellation (Home of the Dogstar mailing list) and that there was a positive buzz about Silver Jet going through the internet. I told him there were unsolicilated fan reviews in the envelope. I didn't want him to think it was useless junk mail and just toss it! He thanked me and I told him I'd find some way of getting him more as I received them. (See Allysa's review above.)

Thanks Silver Jet!

Nancy

Silver Jet came on about 10:05 and played for about 35 minutes. I had to put in ear plugs for their set because they had really turned up the volume. I felt sorry for them as they did not get the same reaction from the crowd....And one girl kept shouting to the bass player something about his butt.....we managed to finally ask her to cut it out.

But, my son plays bass, and I have this (appreciation) about the bass guitar.....if this kid didn't look almost like my son.....well, let's just say, he was slamming and plucking and driving it home. I watched him play with such delight....his fingering was so grand.....of course, I could have reached out and plucked a few strings myself, he was that close.....

And J. , I had copied their names so that I could remember to say hello and I couldn't find the list!!!! I felt so bad....."Hey you" just wouldn't work....;-(

(Support this band when you go to see Dogstar...they really are working their butts off out there....and they have one guy who is the manager, the roadie, the booker, the technician, everything! I wanted to help them pack up their gear when they were finished.

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