Music Builds Tour photos

O.K. So I was able to upload a few pics that didn't need editing to the my photo site right off the sd card via my hubby's computer. One of my usb hubs seems to have died, which means no dvd recorder on my computer, and no card readers. Anyway, rather than doing a massive edit on the last blog, I just thought I'd post photos in a separate blog. So, here they are, ready or not! :)

Jars of Clay:










Robert Randolph & the Family Band:












Switchfoot:









Third Day:








Meet & Greets:

Sometimes it isn't just the weather that's Hot in Phoenix

Yesterday was a long day. I think it was good overall, even though a few things didn't live up to my expectations. In the morning, my husband woke me pretty early (I was sort of awake already, but not really rested) to go out because I wanted to take Saguaro photos. Then halfway out, the sensor got dust. So I don't have any way to clean it now, and there is blue sky in the background, so I know they will show up. My lack of sleep showed as I was feeling pretty crabby most of the day.

Anyway, the rest of the afternoon, I just read, watched television, and killed time until it was time to get ready to drive to the Dodge Theater in Phoenix for the Music Builds Tour. I had some sodas for Dan of Jars, a couple of small items for Jon of Switchfoot
and some things for Mark Lee of Third Day. I left pretty early because I figured I'd need time to figure out how to get the sodas to Dan, and definitely didn't want to miss a thing. I got there between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. and saw the buses, so I went to see if I could get someone's attention, since I didn't see an accessible office. While I was waiting, Tim came up the street and I said, "hi" and told him what I was doing. I probably sounded really lame as I just went blank. It was and "I have a million things to say in 30 secs. kind of blank." Then a couple of guys came to try to meet the artists. They were disappointed because they just missed Tim. I was laughing because they had a list of who was who. We saw Matt of Jars get off the bus, and I pointed him out. They asked what he played. There was a guy with an all access pass on the curb chatting on the phone, so when he got off the phone, I told him about my gift for Dan, and he said he'd find someone for me. He was true to his word. He came out with Aaron who works with Jars, and Aaron said he'd take the sodas. So I went back to my car and got them, and came back to give them to Aaron.

After my little venture, I waited a little and chatted to the guys by the buses, but then figured I was starting to feel a little burn, so I went around to the front and chatted with anyone who would listen. LOL I get so chatty at concerts.

Someone told me that they only allowed disposables, so I got worried, and went to the front of the line to check. I ended up meeting Gina at the front of the line and found no one seemed to have a problem with my camera. I meant to go back to my spot in line, but they opened the doors while I was chatting and the guy wanted to check my bag. I didn't even have my ticket out. LOL They didn't even look in my camera bag. They were busy checking out my gifts to Mark. LOL

I chatted with Gina a bit, then went to find my seat. After I found my spot, I went to the Third Day tent to check in for the meet & greet. I asked about Jars meet after their set, and he said it was at the merch table. So, I went back to tell Gina, and then went to my seat.

Before long, Jars came out on stage with a really rocking version of The Flood, and continued to put on an amazing show. They played a really good mix of their songs, old and new. I could see the timer on the right side of the stage, so I was kinda sad as I saw the time was nearing an end. I prepared to rush back to try to meet them, but I made a quick stop to get the set list. I wanted to see Dan and maybe meet the rest of the guys (I've just met Dan and Matt before.) I waited by the merch table and was about 3 people back. I heard screams, so I figured they were around. I couldn't see anything. I went around and didn't see them. I asked and finally someone said "over there" and I went to look and finally saw them. By then the long was long, and we got cut off long before reaching them. The security told us 1 more minute, so I left the line and tried to get pics which didn't work out so well since there were people in the way. In the end, I was standing in front of Matt and he did autograph the set list, but that was about it. I walked just behind Dan until we split (he went left, the seating went to the right. That was one of the disappointments. I was really hoping to meet Jars. :( Next time I want to run the meet for them. LOL

Anyway, by then Robert Randolph had already started their set, so I got to my seat, and proceeded to enjoy them quite a bit. They are very good musically, and a lot of fun onstage. I didn't see a set list, so I didn't go up and ask for one. I waited for Switchfoot.

Switchfoot hit the ground running with Stars. The stage setup was absolutely beautiful with "starlights" in the background. All I can say is that Switchfoot's set was amazing as usual. Jon came down into the middle of the crowd with full spotlight. I couldn't see much then. Their set ended far too soon, and it was time for the meet/greet. I stopped real quick again to get the set list and ran for the meet and greet line. It was already really long. I was stressing because I didn't want to miss Third Day. In the end, I didn't leave the meet and greet, but it was really quick and not much time to interact with anyone. I didn't even really have time to think of anything much to say, and practically ran by Chad. I'm not sure I even really saw Jerome. He was there, but I went by too quick. I said, "this is killing me because I love Third Day, and I could barely hear. I asked security if I could listen at the door and then get back in line and was told if I left the line I would not get back. :( Anyway, I got the set list autographed, and then almost left it there. (Typically Melanie ditziness.)

I headed quickly for me seat, and Third Day was playing Rock Star. I was clapping before I even got to my chair. Mac sounded amazing as always. Mark did an incredible job on the guitar! They played my favorite song on the new cd (Run to You), and then Tunnel (my favorite on Wired.) At one point Tai, et al., were commenting on signs way in the back, and sent security to get the signs, which were song requests. Mac couldn't remember the words to Shine. I laughed, because no one else seemed to know them in the front. I just went blank. LOL I did know the words to Wire, but when he asked I didn't catch what he said. LOL It was pretty funny, actually. Then their set ended. Instead of leaving the stage for the encore, Mac said he was going to stay and then he brought out Jars of Clay for I'll Fly Away, and then Jars and Switchfoot for When Love Came to Town. Usually Robert Randolph comes out and sings a part on the last song, but he had to leave early, so Steve of Jars sang that part. Mac asked him to make his case as to why we should vote for him to sing Robert's part, and he said "I practiced real hard." LOL He did a great job. The entire finale was simply amazing and I realized just how many great vocalists were on the stage all at once.

After the show ended, I headed again to the stage to pick up a set list and was again successful (3 out of 4.) I was looking for Jason from the 3D boards because I wanted to meet him at the meet/greet. I was towards the end of the line, but I didn't care this time since it was much fewer people than SF's and I wasn't worried about missing anything. While I was standing in line, I saw Jason go by, and I hollered, but he didn't hear me. I saw someone I knew I recognized, but couldn't place him. Then after a while, Jason came by again, and I got his attention. I had a pic taken with him, and then I met the person I couldn't place. It was Tim! (Man, I should have known that - but it's only been 2 or 3 years since I saw him last. LOL) Then Tim, Jason and I had a pic taken together.

I don't remember the exact sequence, but the guys all came down the line and said "hi" to everyone before the actual meet. It was pretty cool. Mark even remembered my name. David remembered me as well. Mac recognized me.

We had a short conversation and I ended up waiting in line a little more. One of the stage guys came by and said there was something everyone didn't have, and gave me a copy of the rigging layout. It's pretty cool. I offered to take a pic of the family in front of me and e-mail it to them, since they just had a cell phone. (They were the ones in the back with the signs. She said her special ed preschool students helped make the signs.)

Finally it was my turn. Mac remembered me, but not my name. Then we had a short conversation. I gave him some gum, in memory of the K-Love cruise where he had been looking for gum. I don't think I ended up explaning that well. He probably has no idea what that was about. LOL I gave David a hug. Then I talked to Mark and gave him some baby things, and a bookmark. He thought they were really cute. LOL We talked about the book club, and books, among other things. Then I had my pic taken, and we talked a little more. On the way out, I talked to David a little a mentioned that last time I saw him I gave him a book. He kinda remembered, but then didn't know the book title which was O.K. because I was drawing a blank as well. LOL Between the 2 of us we finally came up with the author.
LOL He couldn't recall if he'd read it or not. He said he didn't read much, so I said he should give it to Mark. LOL We both laughed. Then on the way out someone asked David about his kids, so he took out his player/phone, or whatever it was exactly, and showed up pics of his boys. They are so totally adorable!!

Then I headed out, said goodbyes to Tim and his daughter, and a friend and headed back to the parking lot. I thought about going to the buses to see if Jars was still there, but decided it would be a bit much and didn't. I also figured I probably had missed them anyway. I'm sure everyone was really tired. After all, they just put on one "hot" show in Phoenix. :)

I left the lot and couldn't find a way to pay for the parking, so now I'm a little paranoid I'll get some notice asking me why I didn't pay. Just for the record, I had my parking ticket, and my money out, but not instructions were there, no envelope on my window (they do that in Boise) so I just left. I made most of the trip home fine, I went the wrong direction on the street off the freeway, but figured it out and turned around. So I stopped at a Chevron and bought a 44 oz. soda because I was realllly thirsty!!
and I got lost a bit on the last turn, so it took me longer than it should have to get home. Over all it was a great night.. not perfect, but still pretty amazing.

I hope some of the pics turned out. I'm sure most aren't sharp enough, but I think I have some. I hope so. I will have to post a big photo blog when I get back to UT.

To anyone who got through this whole post, you deserve an award. LOL

Peace out (that's Mac talk),

--Melanie

P.S. If you are ever at Dodge Theater, I recommend getting a drink before you go. $4.50 for a bottle of Sprite was a tad much!!

So much going on... my so called life, part 1

There has been so much happening lately that I don't even know where to begin. I'm not even sure where the beginning is. LOL This will, in all likelihood be a novella.
Creation West was amazing, but by the time the last day came around I was rather glad it didn't go on for one more day. My body was telling me it was enough of a good thing. :)
I am not a good long distance driver. My max is generally about 5 hours. It's more than twice that to The Gorge. Somehow I made it with very little sleep. On Tuesday (the 24th) I was up about 8 a.m. to help load up all of my daughter's salon furnishings (stations, sinks, hair dryers, cabinets, etc.) into a moving truck to be placed into storage. My plan was to leave for Creation at about 3 p.m., but we didn't finish with the salon business until about 2:30 and afterwards we went to have a late lunch (or was that early dinner?) By the time I got home, showered and the car loaded for the trip, it was after 6 p.m. I pulled out of the driveway at 6:22 p.m.
I did rather well the first part of the trip, but I was very tired. I had thought about stopping and sleeping a few hours at about Ontario, OR at the Motel 6 there, but since I left so late I decided not to. Instead I slept at a rest stop for about 2 hours. I stopped one other time to sleep along the way for about an hour. The other driver's on the road were rather appreciative that I finally was off the road, I have a feeling. I wanted to make Creation by 8 a.m. when the gates opened, but I ended up arriving closer to 9:45 a.m. - which was about 1/2 hr. ahead of my time last year. The funny thing is that I ended up almost in the same spot as last year. The Honeybuckets weren't too far away - fortunately far enough away, though. LOL The showers were not exactly close, but not too far. Everything else was a pretty good hike from my campsite. Setting up the tent was easy since I have a self-erecting tent. It was so hot at the campsite I decided I might as well wait at the gate, so I took my sunscreen, my snacks, a few drinks, the items I took for RK and my blanket and headed for the gate. It was a long wait as the gate didn't open for another four hours, but I was the first person in line. LOL In the end, I'm not sure how much that accounted for. Slowly people started joining me in line. Second in line was a Hawk Nelson fan I met last year and her friend. Eventually a group of young people had joined me, and they decided to play a game called "Big Booty." It was pretty funny. They tried to get me to play, but I was a party pooper. The game did take some concentration and on 3 hours of sleep, it just wasn't going to happen for me. LOL The game went on nearly the entire 4 hours, with new people joining and leaving the whole time. I do think there were a few hardy souls who lasted the entire game. Time seemed to just crawl by. The sun beat down, but all of us stood rather firm.
At last it was time for the gates to open. Everyone started heading through security. Some of the people that came after me promised to try and keep me at the front, but it all fell through. I think they tried, though, we just were separated. In the end, I was not exactly at the front. A few tall guys locked arms in front of me and wouldn't budge. Somehow during the trip down the hill, they hit a roadblock and fell back and I ended up in front after all. So I did get my spot in front of the stage, right where Jon S. would be during Relient K's set. That is exactly where I wanted to be. I knew I would be leaving, though, so the tricky part was hanging onto the spot. I started discussing my dilemma with about 4 or 5 people around me and told them I really needed to go and meet someone and not lose my spot. I finally told them who I was meeting, so they said they'd hold it for me, and I literally ran up the hill towards the merch tents. Did I say that I was too old and out of shape for this? LOL I made it to the top and hit an area that was blocked off. I asked how to get to the tents from there and the security guy instructed me to walk all the way around. I simply said, "I can't" and he took pity on me and let me take a short cut for which I was extremely grateful. I finally arrived at the tents, and found that they weren't supposed to open for another 15 minutes. SO, I was waiting, and thinking I wasn't going to make it back in time to keep my place. Then I saw Jon and shouted out to him. He came to the gate and the security guard said I couldn't go in, so Jon flashed his badge and said he was with the band and that worked. We had a nice visit, and I took pics. I tried to video for Brittany, but I couldn't remember how to work the recorder on my camera, so Jon wrote a note for her and I took a pic of him to go with it. He's cool that way. :) I was such a ditz the entire time. I mean, I'm a ditz anyway, but on such little sleep and all the oxygen deprivation from running up the hill, I was extra loopy. (Thanks Jon for being so patient.) Anyway, I finally said my good-byes, and headed back for the stage. When I got back I needed something to drink badly, so I stopped by the medical table, and tried to get something, but the guy said, "just a minute" and pretty much ignored me. There was one gal there with a couple of skinned knees and a few others sitting. It was so hot standing there that I just went back to my spot by the stage, which I was very grateful to still have. At one point I asked security if it was possible to get a little bit of water and he said I'd have to go to the medical table. (Been there, done that, didn't work.) So, I decided to take a chance and tough it out. I'm stubborn that way. He said if I had to be hauled out, I wouldn't like it. A few times I almost thought I'd have to be. But, I survived. Hawk Nelson put on an awesome show as they did last year. I think I had to sit down during part of their set because I was nauseous, though. Superchick was amazing and very energetic. I was especially looking forward to seeing Jars of Clay and Relient K, and I wasn't disappointed in either. Jars of Clay was fun, and I still get a kick out of their shorts and crew socks. I wasn't surprised, though since I'd seen pics from other festivals this summer. I did hear quite a few comments, though. I think others got a kick out of their attire as well. I think CW was Relient K's best show that I've seen to date. Matty was really animated on stage and really seemed to be having fun. I tried, in vain, to get some decent photos. Matty gave me a shout out (kind of a quiet shout out), but it sounded like he said, "Mellie" so I wasn't sure if he was talking about me or not. LOL I was just pretty excited that they were doing Sloop John B, because I love their rendition. Jon was fun to watch on stage, as always. And, as always, the set just seemed to go by too quickly.
I stayed after and picked up trash, as I usually do. I am just amazed that people leave so much garbage behind! If everyone decided to take two items more than they left behind and tossed them, I don't think there'd be anything for the clean-up crew to do, and I think they'd be o.k. with that, actually. I had kinda hoped to see Jon again, but never did catch up with him afterwards. I'm sure he had a long day as well. On the way back to the campsite I stopped at the tent for the "midnight" show and stayed for the remainder of Nazareth's show. He was pretty funny, and I really enjoyed it. Then I headed back to my campsite, ate some tuna salad with crackers, had some very vanilla soy milk and turned in for some much needed sleep. Day 1 was long and hot, but good.
Stay tuned for more... But first, I'd better actually get something accomplished today. LOL
Peace out,
Melanie
P.S. still to come... Days 2-4 and the trip home, closing the chapter on my daughter's salon, and 2 nights of David Meece. Oh, and pics. :)
P.S.S. If you check out Wednesday's Creation West 2007 podcast at http://www.monsterpod.com/ I can be seen going through the gate. Thanks to Socks for letting me know. Kinda scray, huh?