Never A Silent Night

Click the picture to see the rest 🙂

This was the big night dubbed MARS300. The show where the guys would receive their Guinness World Record for the most shows played in support of a single album. I forget the actual record title but I know that it mentioned them playing 309 shows. When this show was announced I knew I had to go. Rumors were circulating about a possible end to the band and while I didn’t really believe they would break up I didn’t want to take that chance. Too many of the bands I love had broken up and I hadn’t seen their farewells; I was not going to add 30 Seconds to Mars to that list. At the same time that I made the decision to go, I also decided that since I was going all that way to NYC see them I wanted to make it an experience of a lifetime so when tickets went on sale I bought a Golden Ticket. Best decision ever.

If you read the post about my experience at the first show you will understand why this was a drastically different experience. The GT I purchased gave me early entry and side stage access, which for a girl that is only 5’2″ (okay, 5’1″ but thats as low as I am going) was perfect. They line you up according to height with the “petite” being in the front and working backwards to having the tallest in the back. So guess where this shorty was? Thats right, front row side stage…right next to TOMO!  We were placed in this “box” area which was really a taped off floor area that we had to adhere to. Since the show was being broadcast live all over the world via the internet it was a big deal to “behave”.

“Behaving” at a 30STM show isn’t like when your parents tell you to behave and that means listen intently, be quiet and stand still; it just means don’t run on to the stage and stay in the box to avoid effing up the show. Inside the box you are to go as freaking crazy as possible. I honestly wasn’t sure how well that was going to work out but I was excited to find out. While my experience the night before had been amazing I was looking forward to actually seeing the show. The pics I took the night before were taken with the camera above my head. When Jared went to the end of the catwalk extension I could see him by looking up but seeing Tomo and Shannon was tricky. In fact, I didn’t even know I had gotten a picture of Tomo until I looked at the pictures on the plane home. Anyways, I digress. Where was I, oh yes, the box.

The location of the box was perfect (well as perfect as you can get unless you want to be as close to Shannon as possible, because sadly he was on the other side of the stage). We were right in front of Braxton and next to Tomo. I have to say, Tomo is one of the raddest folks ever. He smiled and talked to us in between songs and even during songs. Raddest moment of the night involving Tomo…he hi-fived me! Thats right, a hi-five from Tomo during the show. How rad is that. I was beyond stoked. I’m getting a little ahead of myself though, so I will go back to the beginning of the show.

The lights went down, Braxton and Tim were in place before the guys came out. In the next minute or so came Shannon and then Tomo on to the stage. Shannon started playing the intro to This Is War. Then you could hear Jared’s voice start to ring through the air. Think of an event that you were extremely excited for and how intense the wait was for it to start and then it began and then everything seemed to stop around you for just a second and then whoosh back in the moment. Thats what it was like when the triad lit up and the lights started to go crazy. The show had begun.

It was a whirlwind, not to be confused with Jared’s signature dance move of wild spinning and dancing, of an experience. The band tends to go full speed and then stop dramatically, each time creating and intense experience…dare I say…EPIC lol Seriously though, being so close to the action there was no missing the joy these guys have for performing. At first I was hesitant to jump (as were many of the others), so I sang and danced along but the restriction of the box was in the back of my head as well as the fact that I could see a camera pointed in my direction and I wasn’t sure if it could see me (stage fright?). Then Tomo looked at us and said “JUMP! GO Crazy! Are you guys having fun?” Then it was on like Donkey Kong. I danced, jumped and sang along like I was at home by myself. I didn’t care if I looked like an fool, I was enjoying every minute of it. Every time I would get a little tired one of the guys would look at us and point, trust me you don’t want to let them down. The energy to keep going and give back as much as they were giving seemed to rise out of nowhere each and every time. At that point I was pretty sure that red bull and all other energy drinks would be in some serious trouble if someone found a way to bottle that feeling. Their love was my drug (yeah, I went there).

Awesome things…for me 🙂

1. Guiness World Record presentation. I mean, how effing rad was that and the speech…I may have teared up a little.
2. I relate Vox Populi live to being at a rally of like minds where you all want the same thing and won’t take no for an answer. Passion. Enthusiasm. Heart.
3. I will never tire of hearing Closer to the Edge. Although, being in the crowd during that song would have been awesome. Something about it makes me joyful and hopeful. Its a big celebration of who we are right then at that moment in time. No regrets, no problems, no insecurities, we are PERFECT. That song makes me feel that each and every time
4. I’ve long since been over the jump and squeal phase of being near a rad musician and yet when Shannon was returning his guitar to the tech right next to use it took everything in me to keep it together. I didn’t want him to remember be as some crazy chick that jumped him from the side of the stage. And Im pretty sure that would have been considered “misbehaving”.
5. HI-FIVE FROM TOMO!!! (yeah, it was that awesome I had to type it again)
6. Each time Jared would look at us point or sing to us on the side…feeling like you are a part of the actual show is awesome 🙂
7. When the guys came out for the encore and decided to play older songs. They look terrified for a moment, in disbelief that they were going to do it and then just kind of went “why not”. After the first song I could see Tomo shaking his head laughing and then he looked at us and gave that shoulder shrug you give when something just happened and you are not sure what to do. The somewhat embarrassed “yeah, that just happened” shrug. Shannon and Jared  just laughed but then they kept going and playing more of the oldies. It was priceless to be that close and see them interact during those moments.
8. Seeing all the confetti falling and the balls dropping and yes, the crabs. The inflatable crustaceans were there as well. Seeing this happen while looking into the audience is even more astounding than being in the crowd.
9. During  Jared’s acoustic solo a new friend asked me to take a picture of Shannon, he was sitting behind the drum set on the stairs. Im not sure if he saw me but apparently he noticed someone or a few someones looking at him instead of Jared. He pointed to Jared, as if we didn’t know and laughed. Basically telling us to pay attention to Jared not him. Couldn’t help it lol.
10. Being on stage for Kings and Queens. I didn’t realize that being on stage would be so much like being on the floor but in this case most of the shoving occurred because they needed to keep areas clear for the guys to play and all the people trying to get to the front of the group. I didn’t care, it was just rad looking into the crowd during that song.

I could go on and on because really, the show was just that fantastic for me. It goes on my list of favorite shows ever. Experiencing the show, looking out into the audience and enjoying the same view the guys look at. I know why they are so into it and care so much about their fans. Its a tremendous thing to take in.

So I know this is really long, but I have to say one more thing…Jared, Tomo and Shannon are so genuinely nice its kind of unnerving. When it was my turn to meet them I was very aware of being in the middle of the room with the guys while other people were all around but they welcomed me into the room. When they talked they didn’t talk at me but with me and it was like hanging with friends for a few moments. Albeit I was like the nervous friend at the end of the year having them sign my yearbook lol but it was still a great moment. Spending the money for the GT and flying to NYC for the show was worth every penny.

Friends and family have often tried to talk me out of spending money on trips to see my favorite bands play. To them its not worth it, I could be buying a TV or something else equally flashy. However to me, these moments are the ones I will take with me and cherish for the rest of my days. Money is money, but memories and experiences are priceless.

Part 3: Church of Mars coming soon…

Did any of you go to the show (or see it on the interweb)? Im curious what you guys thought.