This Is The Time (maybe?)

That time I shook Vince Vaughn's hand....I think

For the life of me I can't figure out if the following story happened at this Hepcat show or the next one, which was a year later, but I really feel like it was this one. Regardless, this happened at a Hepcat show. I swear. 

 

First of all, my enjoyment of ska when I was younger has not really carried into adulthood.  That being said, I still really like both Hepcat and the Slackers, who opened for them at this show. 

While watching the Slackers (or if it turns out this did happen at the next Hepcat show then it was during Deals Gone Bad) my friends and I noticed a very tall man, basically hovering over everyone in the crowd. My friend was the first to notice that this giant man was Vince Vaughn. Swingers had come out not long before this and we were all HUGE fans. She basically ran over to him before I even knew what was happening and by the time I got over there she had shaken his hand, talked to him, something, and he was off to make his way back stage. I was not about to let my chance to meet him slip by so when I saw him standing at the side of the stage (with Joey Lauren Adams) I wormed my way up to the front of the stage by the speakers. I waved to get his attention and he waved back. I then shook my head no and put out my hand. He actually bent down and shook my hand. Satisfied, I found my way back to my friends.

I would never do that now. I guess I did force Eric Bachmann to shake my hand and talk to me a couple month ago when he played at my work but I felt like a complete jackass when I did it. Back then, this was a proud moment. 

It's Gonna Take You Years To Find Out

The third time...

The Warped Tour was nice enough to put these posters up on their flickr account so I actually know the bands who played.  In case you can't read that small writing it says:

Descendents, Royal Crown Revue, Blink-182, Pennywise, Sick of It All, The Vandals, Lo Presher, Social Distortion, Millencolin, Bouncing Souls, The Suicide Machines, Face To Face, Lagwagon, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, Hepcat, Reel Big Fish

Other places on the internet say that the Alkaholiks, Limp Bizkit, Murder City Devils, Orange 9mm, Snot, Strung Out, Sugar Ray, Vision of Disorder, Hi Standard, Latex Generation, White Kaps and Jimmy 2 Times were also there. They're probably the names too little to read at the bottom. 

If I had to guess the bands I watched I would say Descendents, Pennywise, Social D, The Suicide Machines, Hepcat, probably Lagwagon, maybe Millencolin, Orange 9mm but really who knows. You probably could have found me at most of these bands. I just have no memory.

Can't You Hear It Calling

This causes me no shame.

My brother worked at Pine Knob this summer so I'm pretty sure this was free for us. Say what you will about them but I've always liked Queensryche...you know, for what they are. They are a group of very talented musicians and you will never convince me otherwise. My brother and I both enjoyed this show very much. 

bim skala bim

My triumphant return to stubs after six months of $5 at the door/get in for free because I know the band or the person putting on the show....

I don't remember anything about this show. I feel like I've blocked out all the ska show memories, not really but I don't remember this one. In fact, I'm not even sure I really ever listened to Bim Skala Bim, a fact that became abundantly clear as I searched for a song to use for this blog's title.

I like how I had to initial the ticket when I purchased it. I noticed this on Corey's Social Distortion ticket stub but I don't think I had seen it on any of mine before this one. Maybe they started doing it sometime during my stub-deprived months.

Social D at the State '96

I have another six month time lapse in ticket stubbed shows so my friend Corey graciously offered to guest blog. This show is a little out of chronological order but it's my blog so I can do what I want to....

Shop class, 3rd period. Only 6 hours until showtime. Sanding, cutting, buffing, did I make a clock? AP Algebra next, Mr. Fritz. Lots of yelling, followed by Fritz giving Burnt Toast a McNasty, painful screams follow. Is this really happening? Left school in a hurry as usual, I think Jonna was driving. A
few minutes at home to get ready and next thing I know, Nate and I are bombing down the Lodge to the State in a car that belongs to who the fuck knows being driven by who the fuck knows. One stop on Gratiot for Mickey's and we're on Woodward. Park the heap, finish the Mickey's and jump in a short line for the show. A mad rush to the doors with minimal security and we make it to the main floor right when Mike growls, "under my thumb..." The band is clearly not messing around tonight and madness ensues. "Don't Drag Me Down", "Prison Bound" and "Bad Luck" follow and the crowd is getting rowdy as fuck. A nasty "Sick Boys" comes next and then we get a couple minutes to catch our breath. Mostly sweaty dudes but there were quite a few ladies getting down. Mike switches guitars and says something about Detroit being as real as it gets. Crowd goes ape and the band gets to tearing it up again. "1945", "Another State of Mind" and "Let It Be Me" are the songs I remember most. "Ring of Fire" closed the show and everyone went bananas. 2nd show at State, 1st Social D show, so bueno.

It Seems I'm Getting Old

I was home for winter break

The perfect way to spend a holiday break is hanging out with all of your friends from high school. I'm sure this was an awesome time. I remember nothing. 

You Thought You Had All The Answers

A drive up to Chicago from Peoria for a band that does not play ska

Sharon and I drove up for this one. I remember it being really cold, but I also remember it being at the RIV so what do I know? Parking over there was never easy and we had to walk a bit. The show was pretty packed, as it should be, and we were both super excited to be seeing Social Distortion.

After the show we were sort of milling around and I found a shiny silver winter coat on a bench. I remember thinking whomever left it was completely insane for leaving it when it was so cold (and they owned a silver shiny coat so....).