Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Your Favorite Band Sucks!!!

Think about the first time you saw your favorite band live.  Was the concert hall packed and sweaty?  Did someone spill their beer on you, or burn you with their cigarette?  Were you deaf for days?

Alternatively, think about the first time you heard your favorite band (not live).  Did you have a sudden moment of enlightenment when they came on the radio?  Were you listening to the cd when you had your first kiss?  Did you steal the record from your dad's collection?

Spend a few minutes jotting down details about ONE of these experiences (whatever you think is most vivid).  Then, tell me a story (in about three paragraphs), using sensual language (I don't mean sexual language, I mean 'involving the senses'--I want to hear the music, smell the beer and cigarettes).

The point is to convince me that your favorite band rocks, not by invoking logic (I don't care how many grammys they won), but by making me wish I were at that show or listening to that cd.

Of course, I'd like to know the name of the band, but other than that, try to keep background info (like the band's bio) to a minimum.

The point of this assignment is to measure your ability to make a point through storytelling, a skill that will be necessary for your first major paper.  Please write your response as a comment.

Good luck!

28 comments:

JM Robinson said...

      I have to start out by sayimg that my favorite band is not one that I have enjoyed for a very long time.  I am not much of a music person, but when I want to relax and chill out, I listen to 311.  The first time I really listened to them was on my senior trip with all of my friends.    It was the end of May and my friends and I were all sitting on a beach in Cozumel, Mexico.  We had just graduated three days earlier, and the realization that we had finally graduated was just sinking in.  Honestly, all it made me want to do was be lazy and relax.  That is just what we were doing, and it felt amazing.   It was getting late and the sun had just started going down, when my friend Jack turned on his Ipod station and began blaring the song Amber on the speakers.  I could smell the ocean and the sun was going down over the water.  The sky began to make an "amber" color and I couldn't help but notice the correlation with the song.  There were iguanas, beautiful girls, and dolphins, all in plain sight. I could not have pictured a better way to say goodbye to friends and to end my high school career. In these past few months I have grown to like many more of 311 songs. However, if you can find a better song to go along with that perfect paradise of a situation, let me know. 

Tracey Duncan said...

There was a thick haze of pot smoke around us. We didn't have any pot, and indeed, might not have known what do with it if we had, so we all smoked cigarettes. Theresa had bought them at a gas station on the way to the show, telling Robin's mother that she needed "some feminine products". It was our first concert without our parents.

While Skid Row played, we all danced and sang along, chainsmoking, and checking out the crowd around us. During intermission, a tall, light-skinned black man with long dreadlocks arrivedwith an entourage of beautiful women. "Holy shit," I said, "That's Lenny Kravitz!" Immediately, my two friends and I went into our bedroom mirror version of "Are You Gonna Go My Way."

"It's so lame that we have to be so far from the stage," Robin said, sighing, and pushing her thick blonde bangs out of her eyes. We were in Row X, on the floor, but far back.. "Maybe we don't have to be," I said, "Hand me a pen." Robin handed me a purple pen with a glitter cap. "No, stupid, a black pen." I took all our tickets and put little upside-down Vs over the Xs, so they looked like As. "What if we get in trouble?" Robin asked. Theresa and I rolled our eyes. "Come on!"

We walked through the next security gate with no problem. There crowd was as thick as the pot smoke, and even more intoxicating. Everyone was older, better looking, cooler than us. But we were here with them. We pushed our way to the front row, and handed the front row bouncer our tickets. He shined a flashlight on them and sent us through to our new seats.

Almost as soon as we got to our seats, the lights went down. There was a bizarre howling from off-stage, and then Axl came out, writhing and whirling. He looked exactly like he did on my tv. I was screaming and jumping, so close to him that I could almost touch his legs on the stage above me, and sure that if I screamed loud enough, he would notice me. We all threw our hands in the air and waved. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an older couple, an old couple, frantically gesturing to the bouncer, who had his flashlight on their tickets. They pointed to us, to their tickets, and back again. "Oh shit," I said, "don't look now, but I think we're busted."

rebecca paz said...

"Guess who's going to the Rascal Flatts concert tonight?!" exclaimed my older sister as she barged in my room. "We are! I won two tickets on the radio!" she said waving them proudly in my doorway. I would usually give her a dramatic lecture about how she should learn to knock, but not this time! This time, I was thrilled to hear the news! I've loved country music all my life. Rascal Flatts songs are usually about love, living life, good times, and getting through hard times- which, in my opinion, is what life is all about. Now I had the oppurtunity to see him LIVE in concert! I felt my excitement quickly turn to panic. "Tonight?! That only gives me like 2 hours to get ready!". So I took the quickest shower of my life, threw on some jeans, a cute shirt, and some heels. As I walked in my living room, I found my sister wearing a ridiculous pink cowboy hat. I told her it looked retarded but she insisted on wearing it. So I reluctantly got in the car with my lame sister and headed to the SuperDome.
After standing in the tremendously long line, riding up the escalator, and buying some Budlight- we found our seats. And what great seats they were! I had a perfect view of the "T" shaped stage. The concert hadn't begun yet. We felt like we had been waiting forever, my sister was already on her third beer! You could hear the excitement throughout the building. You could feel how anxious the crowd was as we waited to see the show.
Finally, the "T" shaped stage lit up in what seemed like a million different colors, and i heard his voice! The concert had began with "Life is a Highway", one of my sister's personal favorites. Rascal Flatt's voice sounded even better in person than it did on the radio. His voice was so strong and clear, I felt goosebumps rise on my arms and legs. My sister and I, along with everyone else around us, were yelling, singing and dancing. By about the seventh or eighth song, my sister was on her ninth beer! She sat for the rest of the concert. Finally, the last song was over and I told myself "I'd definitely pay to see that again". The last thing I remember was driving my drunk big sister home, tucking her in, and telling her "Thanks for the night, light weight". Then she snorred. I love family bonding.

jimmy egu said...

I cant really say that i have a favorite band but i do, however, have a favorite music artist and his name is lloyd. I remember the first time i heard him sing. I had just gotten out of a difficult relationship because of another in new jersey who was my first love.
I had just broken up with my girlfriend n i was on the pc looking for a song to put on my myspace to page to express how i was feeling. My first love thought that i betrayed her by getting a new girlfriend. I still had strong feelings for to so i wanted to express the fact that i was sorry. After about 30 minutes on the pc i found a song called "players prayer." The concept of the song was lloyd apologizing to a girl because he had been a player and he sings about changing his life for her. That song related so much to what i was goin through so thats when i began to take notice of him.
About a year later lloyd came out with a single called "i cant get over u." My first love and i were still in turmoil n i wanted to let her know that i couldnt get over her n move on so i found that sng n put it on myspace. I began to realize that lloyd and i shared similar problems. that's wen he became my favorite music artist

GeraldSoder said...

“Mom for the last time I know I’m not old enough to go to scummy New Orleans,” I stated as I walked out the door one late week night. New Orleans was a scummy dirty place to my mom, and she often quoted this like a scratched record stuck on repeat in my ear. I usually shrugged it off responding with the usual teenage white lie, “I know mom I won’t, I promise.” This worked ninety percent of the time, and luckily tonight wasn’t any different. I told my parents I was attending a concert in Thibodeaux, a small town half an hour away. The real story was that I was going to a concert at the House of Blues in good ole New Orleans, LA. It was my first show in New Orleans, and my first show free of supervision. As soon as my friends picked me up it was loud music, and screeching tires. Finally we were going to see Minus the Bear!
We blasted the album as if our radio was the only thing keeping the band together. Soon, after many joints and cans of cheap beer we arrived at our destination. The ride which took less than an hour seemed more like a pilgrimage, and our tiny green Toyota was a horse drawn buggy. We rushed out of the car and ran down the hot muggy alley to the bar. Rounding the corner you could hear the yelling fans and rowdy teens. As we stopped to gather our tickets and pocket money I took a deep breath and enjoyed the comforts of my intoxicated state. My senses were heightened and every fiber of my being was calmed to a point of meditation. The air was light and smokey somewhat like the smell of a Christmas night. I was ready to see my favorite band blaze the stage. As we made our way to the front of the crowd we realized it was just a crappy cover band, this brief let down almost killed my concert buzz. The duo cover band sat and strummed out lame indie tunes which I paid little attention to. The lead singer looked as if he was on a bathing strike, and his crummy guitar was missing a string. After cracking some jokes on the poor performance, the band finally got their fifteen minutes of fame and left the stage. The stage went quiet as we awaited Minus the Bear’s arrival. While waiting we passed around a few joints, and quickly the thick marijuana smoke filled the small bar. Through the haze I could make out some movement on stage. I mumbled to myself, “Could this be it, is it finally concert time.” Soon the room went pitch black, and a bright light shot up to the roof. All at once the sweet sounds of the synthesizer broke the silence, followed by the sound of organized drums, vocals, and guitar. This was it, my favorite band was playing, and I was at the front of the crowd.
The music was loud but for me it was the perfect volume. As my favorite songs played I fell deeper and deeper into my state of relaxation. I was one with the music, totally oblivious to anyone around me. My ears had a sort of tunnel vision, and I blocked out all the background noise and let the lyrics and beats flood my ears like a roaring river. The lights were beautiful and intense like bright sunshine hitting you on a weekend morning. The vibrations of the speakers and slams from the bass would travel throughout my whole body. It was a numbness unlike any other feeling I had ever experienced before. I was completely and utterly lost in the music.

Colin said...

“5 dollars for a Better Than Ezra concert!” I explained to my friend. All right so what If the concert was at a gym the size of a high school classroom. Nevertheless my buddies and I were real excited to go to another Better Than Ezra concert. The last one was great, but my buddy could not enjoy himself because an old man who wreaked of BO and Jack Daniels kissed him. So he, as was the rest of us, were excited for an enjoyable show.
We got there early anticipating a huge turnout. We bought our general admission tickets and headed to the font of the stage. My buddies and I watched the opening act still anticipating a great BTE show. After Black Violin, the opening act, had finished a group of about ten people started to make there way to the front of the crowd. Even though the tickets were all general admission we felt we deserved our spot because we got there early and waited it out. For the most part we kept the group that was mixed with girls and guys behind us for the most part of the show. Every once in awhile we had to push them back.
As the night went on this rowdy group of people were starting to piss us off. One thing lead to another and I saw my friend screaming and yelling at one of them. After seeing this I pushed one of the dudes. All hell broke loose after that. One of the guys who smelt like he hadn’t showered in months wearing a flannel shirt that was three times too big for him swung at me. Three over weight security guards jumped in the crowd one grabbing me and tearing my blue jacket. As this was going on the lead singer, Kevin Griffin, was giving a play-by-play of the whole brawl. When the dust settled me and two other guys were kicked out of the concert before I could hear my favorite song, “Desperately Wanting.” What a waste of five dollars!

Evan Riley said...

All year long I wait for Jazzfest to come. The line ups are posted in the newspaper about 3 months before, meanwhile the rumors buzz around New Orleans of who may be coming this year. As I am looking in the New Orleans Lagniappe section I see Tim McGraw closing on Sunday of the first weekend. I knew I had to go to the show, but I am never excited about paying the 50 dollar ticket price. I told my girlfriend that we were definately going to the show and not being as big of a Tim McGraw fan as I am, she still agreed we should go.
All opening weekend it stormed in the city, flooding the fair grounds, but not keeping the crowd away. I still had not purchased the tickets, but my girlfriend had two 5 dollar child tickets and ten bucks for the show seemed more appealing to me at the time then 100 dollars. It called for rain that day, so we packed a tarp, a blanket and wore old sandals that we knew would either break or get ruined. The day started out positive, we were able to sneak in with the 5 dollar tickets with back up plans in mind of playing dumb as if we just gave our money to scalpers and they ripped us off with kids tickets instead of adult tickets. Once we were in the day seemed pretty enjoyable, the sun was out, it wasnt too hot, and it seemed like a good day to hear Tim McGraw.
Tim played at 5 and around 2 oclock things took a turn for the worse. The heavens opened up and it poured, the place flooded in no time and it continued to rain for another 2 hours as we were trapped underneath an art tent. I couldnt help but think my favorite show may be cancelled. At about 4 the rain slowed and we went to grab some crawfish bread to eat and look for high ground close to the stage, yet away from the puddles that grew into lakes in which people were swimming. Tim came out and started the show in still a constent drizzle and when a rowdy fan was throwing beer on stage he cut off a song and left and I thought the show was over, but as the security guards removed the man, he came back out. Then he started to sing 'Where the Green Grass Grows' and the rain stopped and the sun came out and he finished the show as my girlfriend and I watched from our tarp, suprisingly dry and clean.

Evan Riley said...
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Brittany Haynes said...
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zach rhodes said...

I am a concert junkie! But when my mom bought me tickets to see John Mayer at the woodlands in Houston, Texas, I cant say that I was overwhelmed with the emotions of excitement and anticipation. I expected to be drowned by a sea of screaming thirteen year old girls. Nevertheless my urge to rock took over and I pressued my passion for concerts and embarked on a journey to see John Mayer. As I arrived in Houston on the day of the concert I was, to say the least a bit grumpy from the four hour ride from my small home town in Southern Louisiana. To go along with my mood I was delighted to find that it was going to be well over a hundred degrees at the concert. Still, I made my way to the arena. As I entered the woodlands auditorium I sat down in my sweat drenched shirt and waited for the performance to begin. I was soon to be blown away! As John Mayer walked out on stage with no shirt on, every single girl in the crowd went nuts. John Mayer then opened with a rendition of crossroads and I was shocked to hear what I thought was simply a pop musician play some of the most substant, soul satisfying blues licks that have ever graced my ears. I thought to myself he is the blues child of Steve Ray Vaughn, Hendrix, and Clapton. As he continued his set, the heat intensified as his face melting chops filled the air. He continued to play for three hours and was having so much fun, that he began to play covers such as free falling and voodoo child. He ended the concert with a acrobatic guitar performance as he lit the world on fire by shredding the neck of his guitar behind his back. I stumbled my way out of the arena, stunned by the amazing performance that I had just witnessed. As I regained my senses on the ride back home to Louisiana I immediately pulled over to the nearest music store and purchased a live DVD of John Mayer in Los Angeles. Since then I have yet to watch regular cable, I find it boring compared to continuously studying the skills of the amazing performer that is John Mayer. Before this experience I would have been embarrassed to say that I was a John Mayer fan but now I am one of his biggest advocates.

Brittany Haynes said...

Everyone entered the gym wearing a navy cap and gown. Some were in tears and others were smiling from ear to ear. This day was an emotional day for everyone, it was our graduation day! As we walked into the cold gym our class song, "No Such Thing" by John Mayer, was playing. The song was just perfect for the occasion.
At this moment I was overwhelmed with emotion, I was upset and happy at the same time. The moment could not have been better when hearing the verse, "I want to run through the halls of my high school, I want to scream at the top of my lungs". This song is so significant because I think everyone in the class was wanting to run and scream in the halls that were once home to us. This day while listening to our class song we realized it was time for us to grow up and enter "the real world".

Phillip Westbrook said...

It was my first time in Baton Rouge. My friend and I were going to a fraternity party to see The Benjy Davis Project. I had heard of them before but never listened to any of their music. The night was perfect, a clear sky and warm weather. I only knew one person at the event so i planned on listening more than socializing.
Around eleven oclock I heard a violin start playing. Then a soft voice came over the microphone. The drums started playing and the whole band joined in. Not only was the music flawless but it was the catchiest tune I had ever heard. Hundreds of drunk kids were singing along going crazy as the band played. I watched and listened in amazement. I didn't know it at the time but i was listening to my now favorite band for the first time.
The concert went on and I found myself in the crowd singing and screaming with all of the other people there. The jazzy but rocking tone of the band was unmistakable. I truly felt as though I had found my new favorite band. I was hooked.

Taylor Moncrief said...

Breaking Benjamin is my favorite band; they are amazing entertainers. When describing to someone why they are my favorite band, one particular memory stands out. My two best friends and I decided to go all out and buy floor tickets to the Breaking Benjamin concert in Baton Rouge. It was a school night, but the hour drive there and back did not stop us!

One word of advice when going to a rock concert, do not wear heels! The pain shooting through my feet was almost unbearable! Then again, Breaking Benjamin was right in front of me screaming my favorite music into the microphone! People all around us were starting mosh pits, and they grew larger and larger. Trying to avoid the mosh pits and rock out to the band was becoming a a difficult multitask. It just so happened that during my favorite song, the mosh pit moved my way and I was helplessly elbowed in the eye!

There were so many distractions going on; my friend lost her shoe while she was crowd surfing, beer was being tossed in the air all around us, and the guys next to us were busted with weed. At the time, all of the interruptions seemed too much to handle, but when I reminisce on the night, there was not a single lyric I missed! Nothing could have stopped me from enjoying the presence of my favorite band, Breaking Benjamin.

kevin.tran said...

I can't really say that i have a favorite band, but i do recall a time where I saw a band live and ended up liking their music. It was a hot Saturday afternoon, at the annual BuzzFest held in Houston, Texas when I first heard the band, 30 seconds to mars. I remember walking up towards the colliseum and hearing the faint sounds of the band playing from afar. Eager to find out who band the was, I immediately ran up to the entrance and wasted no time.
As I drew closer to the stage, I began to smell the stench of marijuana and other foul odors around me. Being that this was my first time going to a concert, one with multiple bands to say the least, it didn't really bother me. The atmosphere was just intense, with people doing crowd surfs and mosh pits being formed right next to me.
As the band began to play more and more of their songs, i started to like how the beats and melodies of the songs went together. The clashes of the drums, but the subtleness of the music didn't overdue it. The song that I remember the most from the band's performance was "It's a beautiful lie." For some reason it stood out, maybe because it was their ending song or maybe because I thought it was their best song performed.
As the day went on, crowds began to branch off onto other stages, where other bands were performing and the whole atmosphere of the concert began to mellow down; one thing is for sure though, the band that caught my attention the most was 30 seconds to mars.

Kortney Sorensen said...

It was August 17th, and I had been waiting for this moment anxiously for what felt like forever; but forever is just another teenaged exaggeration. Finally, the most important night of my life had come. When we arrived, i quickly swung open the door of my friend's beat up, yellow Saturn. I quickly ran over to the Sugar Mill where the concert was being held. It looked like an old, suspicious warehouse.
When we walked we realized there were no seats, but we did not need them. The only thing i needed was to be there to feel the vibrations of Paramore's amazing guitarist. The room was full of smoke, and smelled of beer and old sweat. There was no air circulating because everyone was packed in there like sardines. The concert started with a few small, no-name bands, but I couldn't care less about them because i was preparing my lungs for Paramore.
As the multicolored lights shut off, and the spotlight showed on stage, the pushing and shoving became all worth it as Paramore stepped onto the stage.
We stood so close that I could feel the sweat drop off of them and onto me. All of the sudden, the lead guitarist threw himself into the crowd and glided across the crowd as people held their hands out for him to walk. He walked with his guitar to this metal, thick pole in the middle of the room, to rock out on his guitar for the people in the lowly, back row. While still playing, he fell into the crowd, who carried him back to his rightful place onstage.
Just like the lights, the crowd faded, and I realized I was the only one still there, still screaming for more.

Corday Barnes said...

I had just finished shooting basketball by myself outside of the car driveway which I turn into my own basketball court. I walked inside tired and in desire for glass of water. After drinking a glass of water, I decided to go search my cousin’s room knowing he had just left to go by his girlfriend’s house. Only thirteen, I looked up to him by him being 10 years older than me.
I walk into his room smelling the scent of cologne which was very strong but pleasurable. The room was clean besides a variety of outfits spread out on the bed. I begin searching. First, I searched underneath the bed finding some dirty magazine which was very interesting. Second, in his closet, which wasn’t anything but clothes I couldn’t fit. Then, I went in his drawers. That’s when I found his cd case. My cousin has always been a big fan of music and I know he had a large cd collection. I open the cd case and I saw a lot cd’s but the one that caught my attention was Lil Wayne & Sqad-Up. I had always been a fan of Lil Wayne but never heard him with his group Sqad-Up.
I close the door, put the cd in my cousin large black stereo, and played the music. I played the music loud but not clamorous. The first song had a kind of up tempo beat with aggressive lyrics that would make anyone hype or excited. I played that song almost before every football game to put me in an attacking mood. The second song had a more soft beat and was directed to the ladies. I sat down on my cousin’s bed for probably an hour listening to that cd. The music was interesting and sounded like nothing I never heard before. I took the cd out of case and maybe a week later told him I had it. These artist became my favorite rap group. Even though they are now split up, they are still my favorite music group.

Perfect Paul said...

The weekend had finally come and my brother and friend were looking for something to do. I offered to drive our crew around for the night if we could figure out something to do. The day was getting shorter and we still had no idea what we wanted to do; basically we were bored. I decided to go pick up my friend and just drive around until we found something to do. As soon as my brother and I got to my friends house he handed me a CD. I asked him what was on the CD. He simply responded, “Just play it.” We all got into the car and took off to who knows where. I had just turned into a main street called Veterans Blvd. which is filled with things to do but still no decision was made. I decided to finally put the disc into the CD player still not knowing what I was about to hear. I felt like a kid getting ready to go up to bat for the first time at a baseball game. I had no idea if the music I was about to hear was going to be the greatest thing I had ever heard or if it would strike out and be horrible. Well we all know what the answer to that dilemma was. The music that came out was quick and loud and it was definitely worth listening to. I still did not know what the name of the band was but I did know that it was a very satisfying sound. It made me want to jump up and down but I couldn’t because I was driving so I just pretend to be the drummer on my steering weal. Apparently the band was having the same effect on everyone else in the car. Looking up in my rearview mirror, I could see my friends head going all over the place like if he was being bitten by ants.
The song had ended and there was complete silence. We had just gone from total chaos to being more silent than the Night Before Christmas. Silence was the perfect response to what had just happened. I believe that this was the moment when I found out who my favorite band really was. I took this silence as a chance to ask my friend who we were listening to. He then gave my favorite band a name, The Ramones. We ended up cruising down Veterans Blvd. listening to the rest of the CD. I was no longer worried that we had nowhere to go or nothing to do. Listening to the band was enough for me and I really appreciated what I was listening to. I always listened to music but I did not really have a specific type. That day was an eye opening day for my taste in music. Before that day I had never really listened to any band or singer that I could truly call The Best.

Brittaney Hebert said...

Having no tickets to the concert, but a friend with major connections was a huge plus. As 16 year old girls we thought we were fairly mature but still secretly loved the Disney channel. If a friend would call while we were watching it we'd simply tell a white lie and make some comment on Vh1's “Life of the Rich and Famous” instead of “The Suite Life of Zach and Cody” to assure them we were watching the age appropriate show. Quite simply, we'd absolutely be mortified if we were caught. Non the less, we still watched away. We had a particular liking to Aly and AJ, a Disney channel band, and decided that seeing them in concert would be a dream. Tickets,however, were sold out. We resorted to her dad's assurement that we could get in the sold out concert anyway. As a member of the House of Blues, the tall and muscular security guards snuck us right in. We walked in the fairly compressed room as the high pitched screams of 13 year old girls rung in my ears. The concert was beginning. The strong and sweet smells of citrus fruit spray filled my lungs, as I figured the crowd was all probably too young to wear perfume. The dark room was illuminated by bright multi colored lights and the opening band began to play. I had no idea who the band was, but I was absolutely captivated, simply swept off my feet. I pushed through the crammed room and tried to ignore the irritation on my arms from rubbing hundreds of sparkled and beaded shirts to make my way to the front. Eventually, I was there. Staring with awe upon officially my favorite band ever. They winked at the crowd and sang with angelic voices hitting high pitches I never imagined possible. The main singer dancing around in tight jeans and a short mohawk-which might I add, is a breath taker for me- helped to confirm my thoughts. They were God's gift to mankind! When Aly and AJ came on I joined the younglings and screamed so much my face was hot and stinging from a lack of oxygen. The concert was great but when I heard the ending announcement of being able to meet the opening band, I had never been more thrilled. Being overwhelmed with excitement, I held my breath and walked up to the table to take a picture with the three gorgeous rocker boys. Months passed and luckily I saved that priceless photo because the jaw dropping, opening band was the Jonas Brothers! My love for the band has grown tremendously. I have a poster filled wall in my room to vouche for it!

Brittaney Hebert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Caroline14 said...

It had been storming all day. The ground was muddy and wet, the air humid and muggy. Despite the horrible conditions, along with hundreds of others, we still showed up for the Dave Mathews Concert. It was the New Orleans Jazz Festival of 2006. I joined my step-sister Shannon, and my mom in going to the Fest that year although I didn’t really want to because of the weather. So we went and spent all day trudging through the mud and trying to stay as clean as possible. We listened to all the different bands, jazz, reggae, blues, rock, Christian, and almost everything you could imagine, although none were very popular at the time. The big show of the day was supposedly this band called the Dave Mathews Band. At the time I knew who they were and I knew one or two of their songs but I wasn’t very familiar with them. I had a few friends that really liked them and listened to their music all the time, so I was excited that I would be getting to watch them live!
That day Shannon Mom and I walked around and slowly made our way over to the stage where Dave Mathews was playing. When we started getting close, my surroundings changed. The people watching Dave were a lot different from those watching the other bands. These people were more relaxed but at the same time more enthusiastic. Every person there was doing his own thing but all of them were screaming and yelling “DAVE!” and not just singing with the band, but chanting the words of the songs. The aroma was that of an old Bar down on MainStreet, the smoke, the drinks, the sweat, the body odor, the Cajun food, all mixed together creating such an instense feeling. There were so many people crowded in front of the strange there was hardly any room to stand. But Shannon knew how to make her way around, and she lead us to the center towards the front. I remember the first song I heard Dave Matthews sing was “Satelite”. The big-screen video was playing so the people in the back could even see him close-up. The one thing that I remember specifically from that song was the guy standing next to me. He was sweaty, dirty, he didn’t have a shirt on, but he was the happiest I believe he’d ever been in his life. He was screaming and shouting louder than anyone else there. He was laughing and having an amazing time when he looked over at me, a fifteen year old girl, and offered me a “smoke” and said I need to “chill and feel the music”. So I did exactly what he said, I “chilled” and “felt the music”. For the next thirty minutes I had the best time I’d ever had listening to music. Watching Dave on the stage, seeing him singing, the others in the band it was truly incredible.
After that day my view of music changed completely. I now have an open mind about all different types of music and all the different fans. The day that I saw what is now my favorite band, was a very memorable experience for me. The feeling I got from the Dave Matthews Concert marked the beginning of my career as a Dave fan.

joel j said...

For me picking a favorite band is tough because the music I listen to usually depends on the mood I am in. The name that comes up most though would have to be Slightly Stoopid, which is a band I have not been listening to very long.
The last day of school me and a bunch of my friends were going to a party. As usual to get to the party we all piled in to one of my friends trucks. We were all dressed in our khakis and polos ready to have a great time that night. We all are in an awesome mood because of the recent freedom we had obtained with the final bell at high school.
As soon as we got in the car the passenger of the car, my friend richard, turns his ipod to a band i had never heard before to the song named officer. We had it so loud that I thought the speakers in the car were going to bust. Everyone else in the car was singing it as the top of their lungs while I just sat there and took in the moment thinking that there would be no place on earth i would rather be at the time. After that any time that i heard that band play it would remind me of on of the best times of my life and would give me that back a little bit of the high i had that night.

zfickes said...

The days proceeding hurricane Katrina were extremely gloomy and eerily silent. An overall feeling and smell of dampness seemed to surround my temporary home. For weeks I was stranded away from my home and cut off from any loved ones who had stayed in attempts to wait out the storm. Not knowing what had become of my friends, my home, or my community hundreds of scenarios played out through my mind like miniature horror stories. Crowded into a two-bedroom house with twenty-five family members and friends I quickly became agitated. I wanted nothing more than to be alone with my thoughts. I constantly struggled to ease my mind turning to cigarettes and alcohol, but all to no avail. It turned out to be through music, which I found my release.

Through Dave Matthews’ music I slowly began to realize that with patience and faith I would get through these trying times. For a while I was down and in a somber mood, until I realized that if I was going to pull through this I just needed to stay positive. His soothing uplifting music became my way of imagining myself in better, happier times. It became if nothing else my escape and for the first time in a while I had forgotten about all of my fears and uncertainty. Once I learned to let go of my worries things slowly began to pick up and get better. I first learned that the levees near my house held up much to my relief and in the following days I got in tough with friends and neighbors. Although it would be a month before I could return home that news made it more than worth the wait.

I believe that writing and music are two of the healthiest ways to vent and relieve stress. To this day when I am feeling down about anything I know a positive place to turn. Although music does not offer a permanent fix, it makes the struggle a lot easier. It helps knowing that there is someone out there who can identify with your problems and overcome them. I have since learned not to dwell on the obstacles in life, which are out of my hands. In the end the problems that arise through out life seem to work themselves out more often than not. It’s just a matter of taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture.

Tiffany said...

I just knew that couldn’t be the line to get into the party! There wasn’t even a line it was just a big mob of kids outside the doors waiting to get in. I was so tempted to turn around and just go home. But, I remembered Weebie would be there so I got in the line. It was so hot and humid outside and everybody was so close together I was sweating my hair out!! I could hear the music inside which made everybody even more impatient. So everybody kept edging closer and closer to the door to try to get in and about three fights almost broke out. But I stayed in line in three inch heels, and got pushed around for about three to five minutes because I really wanted to get in.
Well if you don’t know Weebie is a rapper form Baton Rouge and he is my favorite rapper. Well, after standing in line for about a hour I finally got in. It was so crowded you couldn’t even walk and it had to have been over one hundred degrees in there because everybody was sweating just standing still! But that didn’t stop everybody from dancing and having fun. Well Weebie didn’t actually come out until the end of the party. They were playing his song and I heard his actual voice and I turned around and I saw him. A super strength came over me and I pushed anybody who was in my way out of the way. I made it all the way from the back of the room to the front of the stage in a matter of seconds! He did like five or six songs and I knew every word to every one of them! I couldn’t even breathe because it was so packed but I didn’t mind because I was in my own world. I didn’t know that fights were breaking out directly behind me!
So after Weebie got off stage I decided to go to the restroom to cool off some. While I was in the restroom my friend called me to see where I was. I answered the phone on the way out of the restroom. I was talking normally for about two seconds when the strong peppery substance filled my lungs and almost choked me to death! The police had actually thrown one of those mace bomb into the room. Everybody was running all over the place trying to get out of the room. I saw one boy fall on his back in the commotion. So I’m trying to run in three inch heels to find my friends and not get run over. I made it out of there safely and found my friends. We made it to the parking lot and there were police helicopters outside and about six police cars and an ambulance van! I couldn’t believe it. So when I got to my car I thought I was safe……Not! Somebody was shooting at the gas station I was parked by! So me and my best friend got down in the car. I didn’t really think I was going to get shot but I was still very scared because I was not used to things like that. It took about thirty minutes to get out of the parking lot. And once I felt I was out of danger I put my Weebie cd in my stereo and blasted it the whole way to my friends house!!

jitchmohn said...

In order to see my favorite band one would need to be alive in the 1970s era. Therefore in order to expeirience Led Zeppelin live in my life time would be simply impossible. But when I heard of he band Zoso, “the ultimate Zeppelin experience”, was coming to town I had to see what they had to offer in tribute to the kings.
Here I am walking into the biggest Guedo club in Lafayette. A club usually blaring with techno and smelling like hair gel and jager bombs. This place is terrible. If am not there for a purpose I don’t go within 200 yards of the place. I walk in and the guitar rifts of Black Dog are in full swing. We didn’t expect much so we came in late. But it sounded great!
As I walk toward the stage I notice the extremely diverse range of people a band like this, a cover band, can bring together. People young and old, large and small, women, men, ranging from 18 to 55 in age. The bar smells more like cigarettes and whiskey tonight instead of hair gel and jager bombs, which actually is lovely.
From afar I could see the long dark hair of “Jimmy Page” playing guitar while smoking a cigarette and the glowing blonde locks of “Robert Plant”. As usual “John Bonham” was sleeveless with a bandana. And “John Paul Jones” was played to the T.
As I move in closer their mannerisms become much more visible. The hand movements of “Robert Plant” are the same creepingly metro movements of the real Robert Plant. Their movements, the music, the atmosphere even felt right. Everything was in place, this was really the closest I was ever going to get to the real thing. And it was damn close. Kashmir followed by classics like Stairway to Heaven, Rock N’ Roll, Battle of Evermore. Then came the encore, an eight minute version of Moby Dick with a sick, mind boggling drum solo.
I’ve never seen anything like it. They played the part wonderfully. I was in total awe. They were even equipped with stupidly tight jeans and British accents. It was a heavenly expierence.

Cassie said...

As I stepped out of Jeffreys black nissan I could hear the music pounding against the gym walls. On the outside it looked like the same old gym that I was tortured in during PE, and the very same where we had mass. However when Jeffery escourted me inside it had miraculously changed, like it did for every dance. The walls were no longer gray but filled with St. Micheal red and black. Not only was there a killer dj that was playing the music so loudly that you could hardly think, but there were also the sounds of the Lsu game that was coming from a big screen in the corner. The music playing was mixing with the sound of the students screaming at the game as loudly as possible, which had taken a suddenly awful turn. There were grils wearing beautiful flowing dresses and boys reluctantly in thier coat and tie, were all huddled together wathing and yelling at the tv. That is alos were my date periodically disappered to, but then again so did I.

It was our senior year and homecoming was the biggest night for us;next to prom. Jefferey and I had been friends for all for years of high school, so it seemed fitting that we go together. We danced, took a million pictures and talked to what seemed loke a thousand people. The night was wearing on and my feet were starting to hurt. "Why did I have to wear four inch heels!" I shouted to my almost six feet tall date. As I took them off I went from looking into his hazel colored eyes to his chest. "Not fair" I wined and he laughed like there was no tomorrow.

As he continued laughing at me a slow song came on. It has to be said that many slow songs are played at dances, and we had danced to many. However when Micheal Bubles' song Home started playing something in that night shifted. The melody was surprisingly relaxing and the words were insightful. I looked around me as I felt that vibrations on my barefeet, it felt like ants were underneath them. I saw the colored lights flowing the air and the decoartions that were falling down. I saw my friends dancing and acting silly just because they could. Something about that song made my senior year real to me. Everything was frozen for just a second.It was just me, my best friend and the music. Michael Buble will always be my favorite because that song gave me a great senior memeory.

Nick Kreger said...

My parents were the first ones to bring me into the world of seventy's music. I can remember the first time I heard Pink Floyd, I was riding in the car with my mom going to mass. The car was a old mini van with wood grain on the outside, so it was somewhat embarrassing. I was 7 years old and started listening to my parents old "Dark Side of the Moon" record. As I got older the more and more I liked Pink Floyd, and I already knew so much about them. One day I was riding with my dad in his new BMW, I can remember the new leather smell, and the song "High Hopes" came on and I said "I wish I could have seen them live."

My dad went on search for tickets and found them. It was David Gilmour (singer and guitarist for Pink Floyd) live in concert. Unfortunately, the only ones we could get were for that next year in London, England. My Parents made a deal with me that if i could do well in school we could go. Well I did my part and the summer before I went to high school my mom, dad, and I were on a plane to England.

As soon as we got there we waited outside the concert hall for almost four hours. We finally picked up our tickets and went in and sat in our seats. Are seats were incredible, we were dead middle in the second row. We were all so excited. The lights dimmed and the crowd went insane. David Gilmour came out on stage and picked up an acoustic guitar and started the song "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and in the middle of the song an entire orchestra came in behind him and started playing. Song after song I felt so impressed with David Gilmour. On the big screen above David Gilmour singing there were intense images of many different things. Some of the images were sad while some were happy. I could also see one of the guards dancing to the music while the people to the left of us were making a drug deal of some sort. The light show was also amazing, the lights were moving to the beat of a big double bass. There were so many different colors everywhere, the smell of cigarettes, weed, and alcohol filled the room. But, we didn't care we were having a great time, also we were the nicest dressed people there. My dad and I in slacks and button ups, while my mom was in her favorite dress shirt and pants. At one points somebody threw a drink up and it ruined my moms shirt but she still found a way to enjoy herself. We were having so much fun it seemed like the concert was ten minutes long when it was really four hours. And it was over and I sung Pink Floyd the rest of the night and the entire plane ride back home.

Evan Riley said...

Zack Rodes - (good) 1. detail of weather and temperature makes you feel at the concert 2. good job explaining inner feelings of your attitude toward the artist 3. the transition of your attitude towards the artist works / (bad) 1. felt that there were left out details in regards to the song 2. song titles are not marked off 3. words are mispelled (pressued)
JonMichael - (good) 1.good job connecting the intro to the conclusion 2. good job making the reader feel as if he is on the beach 3. adjectives add good detail to the story /(bad) 1. poor ending 2. too short, seems to cut off the narration 3. not alot of description of the song
Ms. Tracy - (good) 1. excellent way of making us feel at the concert 2. leaves good suspense at the ending of the story 3. very narratively descriptive / (bad) 1. leaves reader questioning and wanting more 2. the appearance of lenny kravitz seems unimportant to the story 3. The Skid Row paragraph seems unrevelent

zach rhodes said...

Evan: (Good) 1. The first line shows how much you anticipate voodoo fest every year. 2. The description of the weather strengthens the imagery. 3. The part about you sneaking in with children tickets makes the reader feel like he or she is there. (Bad) 1. Improper word usage “show in still a constent drizzle.” 2. Misspelled words “constent.” 3. Not enough description about the actual performance. Rebeccas: (Good) 1. Good introductory sentence. 2. Good use of emotion evoking words such as, “goose bumps.” 3. Good description of scenery. (Bad) 1. Misspelled words “oppurtunity.” 2. Could have used more description on what you saw around you at the concert. 3. The ending kind of digressed away from the actual theme of the story.
Ms. Tracey: (Good) 1. I like how the introductory sentence puts the reader right into the action. 2. Good description of events leading up to the climax such as seeing Lenny Kravitz. 3. Good description of what was going through the characters heads. (Bad) 1. Improper punctuation, “arrivedwith.” 2. Not enough description about the main event. 3. The ending leaves the reader lacking information.