WelshinPhilly wrote:
Tsunami wrote:
Great show. Sounded fantastic and my seats were A-mazing. Loved that MJK looked good and weird and was more visible than he was in the last 3 tours I'd seen. It was a long wait of standing around (!!!) but in the end I'm content with the VIP experience. And folks were right about avoiding the vocal excursions - he didn't sing the $ delivery for Vicarious, but invited the crowd to.
His hair? A wig? Does he do his own makeup? I want that outfit!
You got a great setlist for your birthday!
How was VIP?
VIP experience. Arrived at gate C, showed ID for my included parking. Lined up at 1:45, guessing we were about 60th in line. Age range spanned 11 - 70+, wheel chair & walker included. The experience hosts came out shortly before 2:30 to explain entry. Signed waiver outside.
Entered through metal detectors. My eye glasses case set it off. Waited inside to reach the 1st tables where I gave my name (ID not rechecked though they said it would be), they looked up my special merch sizes, gave me my wrist band, tickets and the bubble wrap cell phone case (I take claim check, put turned-off phone in, hand it to them). My included merch: dark grey hooded zip up and backpack, both embroidered with band logo, backpack includes month and location and is better quality than any IM bag I've gotten; both it and the hoodie are my instant new favorites. Also got set of 4 pins with band member photos on them.
Line moves forward and after a long wait we get our chance at the merchandise that's for sale. None is as nice as the hoodie or the t-shirt I'm awaiting from my September order, so I pass. (T-shirts were $43 or so, the set of pins sold for $25.) While waiting in line after that (took about an hour to get everyne in past the 1st tables, and longer still to get everyone through merch-for-sale) we could hear but not see sound check. Around 4 pm MJK sang Swamp Song.
After MJK left the stage (4:15 or so?) we were led down to the first few rows of seating (I inserted my earplugs), and the concussion from the speakers was intense. I could feel the vibration of the legs of my jeans behind my knees and it was almost hard to breathe, reminding me of the first moments of a swim start in a wetsuit. We saw Fear Inoculum played and it was bleeping awesome.
We tightened up our grouping and Adam, Justin, and Danny came down to stand in front of us while a couple of photos were snapped of the entire group from up on the stage. Iām unsure if they send that out by email, or if Iāll ever see it. We were then escorted to āthe party areaā under the stands, where we got food. Cheesestakes, pasta salad, pretzel, cheese, hummus, vegetable tray, small pork appetizer, cookies, brownies. I think that covers it. There was a free liquid that I didnāt explore, instead paying for 2 IPAās. We got our cell phones back.
There was something of a scavenger hunt, where people lined up to rush out to find what was described as autographed posters. Two guys head back to the merch table and each scored signed drum heads ($500 a pop and once again leaving me wondering what all these people did for a living). I didnāt partake in this, but did walk a couple of laps around the interior of the venue to stretch our legs before using the VIP area bathrooms and taking our seats: Section 2, Row 3, Seats 1 & 2. Floor seats absolutely rock.
Thatās about it. Nothing else special to mention other than a fantastic show spent being physically pummeled by sound.
(grr, picture won't load).
To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.