By: Crystal

First off let me start of by saying that 12 Stones rocked! I loved their performance, and so did my Dad. He enjoyed it so much he is promising me that we will go see them the next time they are in Virginia! Here is my review, sure hope you like it!

At approximately 3pm on June 11th, I was searching the web desperately, trying to find out how to get tickets to the 12 Stones concert that would be happening in just a few hours. I went from web site to web site searching for something! Finally my Dad kicked me off the computer, hoping that he would find something, and in a matter of seconds he found what I’d been looking for. He bought two tickets.

Around 4:45pm or so, my Dad got me, and told me that it was time to leave for the concert. It was going to be at least a 2-hour drive from where we live to Richmond, so we headed on our way. We stopped when we were getting close to Richmond, and we picked up some dinner at 7-eleven (How healthy), and asked where we were. We got back on the road, and changed the radio station in enough time to hear "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence, with Paul McCoy. Then we heard the DJ talking about the concert, saying how 12 Stones, Social Burn, and a new band called Closure would be there. The DJ played some Social Burn next to give the listeners a little taste of what would be at the concert. A few minutes later, Dad, and I were in Richmond, and we found some parking about 2 blocks from Alley Katz, and walked the 2 blocks to a long line outside the venue doors.

We waited in that line for half an hour! The doors didn’t open until 7:30, but while we were waiting I got to see the tour buses of all the bands, and I even saw Neal, the lead singer of Social Burn, talking on his cell-phone outside, by the buses. When we finally got in, Dad, and I instinctively ran to the back of the concert floor, where the merchandise table was. He bought a 12 Stones promo picture, two 12 Stones stickers, and a 12 Stones T-shirt. After that we went upstairs to listen to the opening band, Closure. Closure did a few songs, including a song called "Look Out Below" which I really enjoyed. They are a really awesome band, and sound great. Dad tried to get a few pictures of Closure from the balcony, but the lighting in the venue just wasn’t good for picture taking. Closure finished their set, and Social Burn set up, Dad, and I decided that we would go downstairs when before Social Burn was done so we could get a good spot on the floor to see 12 Stones. About halfway into Social Burn’s second song I told my Dad I wanted to get of the balcony, and go down to the floor. Dad came with me, and we went to the back of the venue, towards the merchandise counter, and before I knew what was happening, there he was…Paul McCoy! My heart skipped a beat, my Dad quickly snapped a few pictures, and I went up to Paul, and asked him to autograph my promo picture. I handed him the Sharpie, and he signed it, and gave it back to me. I love that picture! I went back to where my Dad was standing, and showed him the picture, he told me that I should ask Paul if I could get a picture with him. I waited in a line of some people asking for autographs. Finally it was my turn to ask him for a picture with him. Paul agreed to let me take a picture with him. Dad took the picture, and it was one of the greatest moments of my life.

Dad, and I moved away from the merchandise counter after that. We knew Paul had other fans that wanted to see him, and it was extremely hot in there, so we wanted to get a drink from the other side of the floor. Neal started splashing water at the crowd. They had been playing for at least 45 minutes, and knew that their set had to almost be over. We finished our drink, and headed towards the front as Social Burn began to leave the stage. I cannot say anything about their performance since there was so much going on while they were on. The little bit that I did hear was okay. I didn’t like it as much as I liked Closure, but I wasn’t giving my full attention to the band.

While waiting for 12 Stones to get on, my Dad, and I got in the middle of the floor, and he warned me against mosh pits, considering I was wearing a skirt…and I’ve never been in to a rock concert before. The heat was now unbearable, and it was so crowded that I had the guy in front of me sweating on me, along with my own sweat. I was no more than 4 feet away from the stage! There were 2 lines of people in front of my Dad, and I it was totally awesome! Then the moment I’d been waiting for, for almost a month! The 12 Stones intro started up, and the guys came out on stage. The second the first beat of "Back Up" was played I knew that this was going to rock! Paul jumped around like a monkey, and that pleased the crowd. You have not experienced a real concert until you have seen 12 Stones live! A few songs later Paul commented on how hot it was in the venue. I was dying, he asked if everyone was hot, and everyone screamed, when everyone was done screaming a man in the back of the venue yelled "Somebody buy me a beer!" Paul laughed, and said "Someone buy that guy a beer!" After that Paul splashed the crowd with water, which really pleased us all! I got splashed some, it was all good. Then a few songs later Paul got serious, and introduced the song "Photograph". Everyone in the room was touched by it, I was bawling in the middle of the floor. Paul was even crying. It was the most serious part of the evening. After that a mosh pit broke out, and I was pulled into it, luckily my Dad grabbed me out, and shoved the guy that had pulled me in (touch me, and Daddy kills you). A few more mosh pits broke out that night, but nobody dared to pull me in after that! 12 Stones played a few more new songs including "Shadows" which I really enjoyed, and they also played some off of the first CD including; "The Way I Feel", "Broken", "Crash", "Soulfire", and a few others. It was an awesome night. Towards the end of the concert some guy hopped on the side of the stage out of no where, and ran across into the crowd, trying to crowd surf. This scared the tar out of Eric, and Paul considering the guy almost knocked over those two when he got on stage. Paul backed up a little, and it looked like he was about to mess himself, while Eric kept playing, but did step back, but not as far as Paul did. Poor guys.

Then the concert was over. By that time I had an after-show-headbanger, and was dying of thirst. My Dad told me to go get everyone’s autograph while he went to get some Cola so we wouldn’t feel so hot. I ran around the venue, and got Aaron, and Kevin’s autograph, and then I got everyone in Social Burn’s autograph except for one guy. Dad had bought me a Social Burn single, and then told me to talk to Robin, the drummer from Closure. I went over to him, and introduced myself, and he asked if I needed anything signed by him, I apologized, and explained that there was no Closure merchandise at the table in the back. So he grabbed my Dad ran outside, and ripped a Closure poster off the building for me! He and Dad came back inside. Robin signed it, and told me that when I was done getting everyone’s autograph that I should go outside, and he’d introduce me to the band. Dad told me that while Robin was getting that poster for me, he talked to Kevin for a few minutes. Kevin told my Dad that Alley Katz was one of the smallest venues they have ever been to. After that, I looked around for a few more minutes trying to find Greg or Eric, but gave up, and went outside with my Dad. We went over to Robin, and he took us around, and got is everybody’s autograph. I even got a picture with Robin, Greg from 12 Stones, and some other guy from Closure. Greg gave me his autograph, and then my Dad and I camped out in front of the 12 Stones bus waiting for Eric to come out. I was hyped up. It was about 11:35pm, and I had just witnessed the best concert ever! 12 Stones rocked out! I started up a conversation with a boy, while my Dad, and a 12 Stones roaddee talked. Dad was trying to find some cigarettes, and I was waiting for Eric. Hahaha. It turned out that I was the only one waiting for Eric. Everyone out there was waiting for Paul. People started to leave at about 12am, and it was me and 5 other people waiting for autographs (Dad was still on his quest for cigarettes). One of the people waiting told me that some bands wait for everyone except one fan to leave, and then that fan got the royal treatment. I was determined to be that fan. Fifteen minutes went by, and everyone but that guy and me had left. Finally by 12:20am, the guy looked at me, and decided to let me be the one getting the autograph, since I am only a kid, and he thought I had school in the morning (which I didn’t…but I didn’t let him know that!). It was like magic, after the man left, the guy’s manager, or bus driver (I have no clue who it was) came out, and asked what I was waiting on. I told him I wanted Eric’s autograph, and the bus driver guy went in. A few seconds later Eric came out, signed the promo picture, and I had decided since I waited for and hour, and a half after the concert, why not ask for a picture, too? All he could say was no.I get my picture, and Eric went inside. Paul never came out, but he was on the phone with his girlfriend, so honestly I think it is understandable. Dad and I started to leave.

We didn’t get home until 3am, but it rocked. I’ll never forget this, and you’d better believe that the next time the guys are in Virginia, I’m going to catch that concert! ~12 Stoners 4 Life~