Getting to this show was a bit hectic. I've decided that I never want to drive in New York again. This was my first time going there, and I had a terrible time getting around.John from CT came with me (My friend Barbara was going to come too but her mom wouldn't let her) and we got sort of lost. That wasn't the worst part though. The traffic was what was really bad. There were so many cars. As if that weren't hectic enough, the drivers were all really mean! I'm not the most aggressive driver in the world (in fact, I'm rather passive) which made driving in New York exceptionally stressful. Finally we made it though, and even found a parking space (8 blocks away).
We walked to the club and got there a little while after the doors had opened. (I think that's a first for me.) We found Joel downstairs, and Frank came down shortly after to do some interviews. I listened to them, and then upstairs to catch the end of the first band, the Heartdrops, who were actually quite good.
I had forgotten my camera in the car, so John and I walked to get it. It was raining pretty hard, and even in a raincoat I still got soaking wet. We got back to the club and fought our way through to the backstage area. It was so packed in there. The club was set up in a way that made it really hard to get around too (long and narrow). I stayed downstairs for a while, and later Joel came down to make the set list.
After the Teen Idols finished, I tried to find a spot to stand for MTX. It was too crowded, and there was no way that I could get a spot in front. Rather than getting stuck in the middle, I decided to stand on the side of the stage.
MTX started playing after about 15 minutes, and it was such a great show. All the kids were really into them. During the set Frank said something really funny. A lot of kids were there wanting interviews, so Frank said, "In case we don't get a chance to do your interview, our favorite cereal is Captain Crunch, our favorite Star Wars character is Chubaka (sp?), and our position on Nazis is that we don't like them." When he said that all these kids started clapping. It was so funny. Then he talked about how he's glad that he got a good reaction to not liking Nazis, since he was really going out on a limb with that one. Haha.
At one point these kids that were sitting on the edge of the stage in front of me (I forget which song) got up and started dancing behind Joel and Frank. Then some other kids joined in. After the song was over they went back to their spots, except for one girl. She remained on the side of the stage for almost the whole set. I got a little annoyed with her because she kept dancing the whole time. I mean, sometimes I stand on the side of the stage and sing along and sort of bounce, but I don't start all out dancing on what's already a small stage. Plus, she went and patted Frank on the back while he was playing, and, maybe I shouldn't judge, I don't know if they know each other, but I wouldn't pat Frank on the back in the middle of a song. Oh well.
That was not the end of the crowd interaction. During "I Fell For You" some kids jumped up on the stage and sang the whole song. It was pretty cool. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it at an MTX show. After the song was done the kids got down off the stage, and MTX did an encore.
Once they were finished playing, Frank did tons and tons of interviews. I tried to get as many of them as possible to promise to send me a copy. I hung out with Keith and some other people for a while, and then went back upstairs.
Another show was starting, and guess who was there... Joan Jett! Everyone was running around all excited. Paige, Jym, Joel, and Robert all got their picture taken with her. It was really cool. I just stood back and watched.
Frank came upstairs and was wearing Robert's leather jacket. It was the first time I've ever seen him wearing a leather jacket other than in pictures, so it was sort of surprising. Everyone was standing around for a while, but then it was time for MTX for leave.
We said goodbye to everyone and walked to the car. The night wasn't over yet though. Barbara had arranged for John and I to stay at her friend Hannah's house on Long Island. Everything seemed fine... until we got to her apartment. We had trouble finding a parking space, and it was still raining hard. We arrived at the apartment building soaking wet, and rang the doorbell. No one answered. We thought maybe they'd fallen asleep, so we kept buzzing them. Still no one answered.
John went and called them, while I kept buzzing their apartment. When he got back he told me that they weren't letting us stay. What?! In 8 hours they'd magically changed there minds. They weren't even going to come downstairs to tell us that we weren't allowed to stay! I was so pissed. How could anyone tell a couple kids that they can stay at there house, and then turn them out into the pouring rain in the middle of the night when they show up at their door. Geez. Some people. The perfect ending to what was already a really stressful day (outside of the MTX show that is).