(originally posted saturday, the 6th)

Ah, so much to tell. So much to tell. Warped Tour 2002 at Vegas was far better than last year's attempt, but don't expect me to give you a blow-by-blow account. We were there for abour 9 hours. So, a few highlights:

While in line to get in, the Buddhist monks from Iowa came round again passing out books and asking for donation like last year. We got a book each, I was insulted by the ways that they depicted me (Buddha), sis ripped out the colored pics from the middle, and Christy pocketed hers to throw on one of the stages later. I took the two unused copies and placed them respectfully in the nape of a nearby tree.

At the GlassJaw booth, Christy spotted one of the band members working the merchandise and squealed. Also, the lead singer of the band playing at the nearby stage looked like a blonde Tyler.

While watching The Starting Line, the lead singer not only got some... erm, white substance smeared on his face from a flying cup, but his pants and boxers were threatening to fall off at any moment. We, being near the front, got plenty of ass-crack.

Before Finch started, I was getting extremely dizzy from the lack of food I consumed and reached for a PowerBar in sis' backpack before everything suddenly got blotchy. The next few moments aren't so clear; I remember suddenly finding myself on the ground looking at someone's shoe, then briskly exiting the crowd with my PowerBar in hand. After a few minutes sitting on the grass and filling up my stomach, the sparks of color finally subsided and I was dizzy no more. In the middle of the first song I was up and trying to get to the front again.

Good Charlotte was completely rough. Like Christy says, the worst crowds are the ones for the most unlikely bands. Last year it was New Found Glory. Anyways, I now know what it feels like to be a sardine packed into a can. The worst part was the grass beneath us. During the first concerts the grass was still alive, but the gradually increasing crowds quickly killed off the plants. It's a desert afterall. So, with the constant jumping from the crowd, the mass of body heat, the cruel syrocco-esque winds, and the cloud of dirt, dust, and grass flying everywhere... it was hard to breathe. Well worth the pain though.

Speaking of winds, the tents used at the tour weren't made for Vegas' windy tendencies. Half of the Drive Thru Records tent fell first, and several hours later the wind picked up. That sent many tents flying (I think I got a rather interesting shot of the Bob Marley/Weed tent fifteen feet in the air). Boys from Something Corporate (namely a half-nude Josh) worked to salvage both their tent and Good Charlotte's to little effect.

Now for the moment of the evening. Something Corporate, the single reason why I came. And damn it was well worth it. To get to the front I had to stick around for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and their legions of fans blowing smoke into my face. Afterwards, LeadWagon. Really talented group; the lead singer not only can sing/scream, but has an awesome electric-blue and white lightning hair-do and enjoys harassing the security guards.

(And a side note about the guards, there was one that was actually cute, shock, and he was completely flaming. How could I tell? He was watching the band more than doing his job.)

As soon as they were done the guy infront of me (who happened to be a purple-topped Ray from school) left and gave me his spot in the front. Dead center. Yes! I was sandwiched next to this awesome SC fan with whom I discussed the many bang-able attributes of 60% of the group and a really short japanese/chinese girl who strangely had a japanese accent but couldn't understand a single word in her native tongue. Hn.

So, sign that you're obsessed with a particular band: you take half your shots of em while they're tuning up. The way I saw it, it's easier to just get your shots over with so you could enjoy the entire experience. Uh, big mistake on my part. Yes, I got plenty of yummy pics of the almost-completely shirtless band (Andrew wouldn't take his off because he got sunburnt). None of Josh and the bassist resting their heads in eachother's shoulders while playing. None of Andrew sitting atop his piano or playing it with his feet. And, the worst part, I didn't get a pic of him when his crotch was in my face.

Yes, I had Something Corporate in my face almost completely. Like other singers before him, Andrew likes to jump from the stage and sing to the crowd from behind the barracades. And the most logical destination to start that is the center. In front of me.

As soon as Andrew came down someone pushed my head into his abdomen/crotch. My first thought was "oh shite" followed by a "what the hell?!" as I felt his hand pushing my head harder against his stomach. Apparently my head made him lose his balance a bit and he had to regain it by pulling himself up using my head. Hell, I'm not complaining. Not one bit.

::smiles the same smile he's had on for the past couple of hours::

THAT made my evening. A pity that he shies away from his guy-groupies (the wedding band on his hand being a big indication) otherwise it would've been very interesting.

He invited the SC fan next to me to hang out with the band afterwards though. I felt a bit left out... but fuck it! I had sexy-man abs in my face for a good five seconds. Now... if he had his shirt off... I doubt that I'd be able to control myself...

Oh the possiblities.

Well, I'm tired, sore, dizzy, and have absolutely no feeling on my right foot's smallest toe. G'night.