Well, Sunday August 2nd and Tuesday August 4th were probably the 2 most awesome days I've ever had...and here's the long rambling story as to why...
On Sunday I went to see The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at Soma here in San Diego. The show wasn't really anything spectacular, not anywhere near as awesome as last year when I saw RJA. The turnout was very disappointing and the crowd in general was very lame. Also, Ronnie's (the singer of RJA) voice wasn't as great as last time. All of which I believe were contributing factors to the set being rather short, only about 45 minutes.
After the show, Ronnie was out front to meet with fans, as he usually is. I was one of the first out there and as soon as he saw me he recognized me from last year because we had a rather engaging conversation. We spoke briefly then he got mobbed by fans.
I waited until the crowd dissipated and I spoke to him some more and I don't really remember what triggered it, but he offered to put me on the guest list for the show in Anaheim 2 days later. So I gave him my name and phone number because he said he'd text me on Tuesday so I'd know he remembered to put me on the list.
After a little while of talking to him and 2 other guys, Ronnie realized that we were the only people out there, so he invited the 3 of us to hang out on the tour bus. On the bus, Ronnie showed us their new, unreleased music video. After a while a bunch of the guys decided they wanted to go to a bar, so someone located a bar and we all walked over and hung out. It was pretty sweet hanging out with Ronnie, Jason Lancaster (currently of
Go Radio, formerly the singer of Mayday Parade), and a bunch of other really cool guys.
As the bar was closing I said bye to the guys and asked Ronnie if he could possibly do something about the "NO CAMERAS" rule at House of Blues in Anaheim. He said the artists have zero control over that (contrary to what House of Blues told me...go figure...) but he'd try to get me a photo pass.
After I got the text from Ronnie on Tuesday, I made my way up to Anaheim. Went to the box office and picked up my free ticket as well as a photo pass
It was pretty sweet going through security holding a camera in my hand, the guard said "Sir, there are no cameras allowed in". I simply said, "I have a photo pass." "Oh, ok." And I wasn't hastled about it the rest of the night, it was pretty great.
During the show, I saw Jason and said 'hey' to him, and he asked if I wanted to go backstage, my answer doesn't have to be stated. We walked over to the security guard, and Jason said "This is my friend from San Diego, he's with me" and the guard said "No white wristband, no backstage", Jason tried to persuade him to no avail. So he headed off backstage to try to find what I assume was a manager of some sort to score me an all access wristband, but after about 20 minutes of looking he was unable to find him. So no backstage for Evan on this night.
The show was AMAZING...exponentially better than San Diego in every way possible. After it ended, I waited to talk to Ronnie again, but due to the fact that he's so outgoing and friendly (he literally has conversations with everyone), by the time he got around to me, they had to leave so he told me I could call him sometime.
That's all pretty much some of the coolest stuff that's ever happened to me.
So to summarize...I got:
To hang out with RJA in their tour bus.
To see an unreleased music video.
To hang out with RJA, Go Radio, and Monty Are I at a bar.
Guest listed by RJA.
A photo pass from the band.
Nearly got backstage
Am now on a first name basis with 3 awesome bands.
And have Ronnie Winters' phone number to call and chat.
On Sunday I went to see The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at Soma here in San Diego. The show wasn't really anything spectacular, not anywhere near as awesome as last year when I saw RJA. The turnout was very disappointing and the crowd in general was very lame. Also, Ronnie's (the singer of RJA) voice wasn't as great as last time. All of which I believe were contributing factors to the set being rather short, only about 45 minutes.
After the show, Ronnie was out front to meet with fans, as he usually is. I was one of the first out there and as soon as he saw me he recognized me from last year because we had a rather engaging conversation. We spoke briefly then he got mobbed by fans.
I waited until the crowd dissipated and I spoke to him some more and I don't really remember what triggered it, but he offered to put me on the guest list for the show in Anaheim 2 days later. So I gave him my name and phone number because he said he'd text me on Tuesday so I'd know he remembered to put me on the list.
After a little while of talking to him and 2 other guys, Ronnie realized that we were the only people out there, so he invited the 3 of us to hang out on the tour bus. On the bus, Ronnie showed us their new, unreleased music video. After a while a bunch of the guys decided they wanted to go to a bar, so someone located a bar and we all walked over and hung out. It was pretty sweet hanging out with Ronnie, Jason Lancaster (currently of
Go Radio, formerly the singer of Mayday Parade), and a bunch of other really cool guys.
As the bar was closing I said bye to the guys and asked Ronnie if he could possibly do something about the "NO CAMERAS" rule at House of Blues in Anaheim. He said the artists have zero control over that (contrary to what House of Blues told me...go figure...) but he'd try to get me a photo pass.
After I got the text from Ronnie on Tuesday, I made my way up to Anaheim. Went to the box office and picked up my free ticket as well as a photo pass
It was pretty sweet going through security holding a camera in my hand, the guard said "Sir, there are no cameras allowed in". I simply said, "I have a photo pass." "Oh, ok." And I wasn't hastled about it the rest of the night, it was pretty great.During the show, I saw Jason and said 'hey' to him, and he asked if I wanted to go backstage, my answer doesn't have to be stated. We walked over to the security guard, and Jason said "This is my friend from San Diego, he's with me" and the guard said "No white wristband, no backstage", Jason tried to persuade him to no avail. So he headed off backstage to try to find what I assume was a manager of some sort to score me an all access wristband, but after about 20 minutes of looking he was unable to find him. So no backstage for Evan on this night.
The show was AMAZING...exponentially better than San Diego in every way possible. After it ended, I waited to talk to Ronnie again, but due to the fact that he's so outgoing and friendly (he literally has conversations with everyone), by the time he got around to me, they had to leave so he told me I could call him sometime.
That's all pretty much some of the coolest stuff that's ever happened to me.
So to summarize...I got:
To hang out with RJA in their tour bus.
To see an unreleased music video.
To hang out with RJA, Go Radio, and Monty Are I at a bar.
Guest listed by RJA.
A photo pass from the band.
Nearly got backstage
Am now on a first name basis with 3 awesome bands.
And have Ronnie Winters' phone number to call and chat.
troa:
Lucky! That's seriously amazing. I met Jason in Albs actually...he's pretty cool.