Now that I've had a whopping four hours of sleep, here's how my show went.
Couldn't find the venue at first, still don't know how we managed that because we seem to have made a block around the place and then came up the middle literally stumbling over it, but whatever... Thanks to Kate (piggy28) for helping me figure all that shit out. (Hope yer wrist is ok!!!)
Arrived around 12 or 12:15 something like that and took our place in line among our fellow reznerd members. Met Kate, nincompoop, bloodroot, and a couple of other ppl. Hung out for hours. Many thanks again to the fellow who's name suddenly evades me that brought in some chicken strips from somewhere and kept our asses from starving!!! We got our spiral tickets (aka Reznerd Pass) and hands stamped. Met Justin, aka Super Fan, hung out with him a bit...Cool guy. Waited some more, then were informed that there would not be a meet and greet for this particular event. I was let down but not as much as some of the other people, maybe because I kept it in my mind that if I got soundcheck/meet and greet it would be a bonus and possibly wouldn't happen. <shrug>
One of the security guys came by and told us that we COULD carry our poster tubes into the venue, no problem. Then about 2 hours later, same guy comes back and tells us that we couldn't bring them. This actually did piss me off significantly, but I don't put that on NIN, I put that on the venue. I walked back to my car and put it in the trunk (because I had a poster in there that I'd hoped to get signed.)
We were then let into the venue. I briefly consider buying the lithographs that I needed to get then, but opted not to because...NO POSTERTUBE. I was told by someone that there would be plenty left if it was anything like Dallas two nights before. Knowing emperically that they would be destroyed by the end of the gig, I went ahead and got in line to enter the arena. We got let in, I got as close to where I wanted to be as was possible (in front of Aaron, just to the right of center.) I planted myself on the rail and then realized that I was about 2 feet from the right stacks. Never been so happy to have brought my earplugs in my life.
After what felt like forever, DFA 1979 played. They were good for what they were, I guess. I'm sure I'd have liked them more if I were a fan, but being that I'm not... meh... I'm not knockin' the guys, they played with heart and seemed to really be going for it, but just weren't my bag.
Then, a really brief pause occured between acts and Queens of the Stone Age took stage. Again, just not my bag. They were ok, but nothing I'd listen to on my own time. I'd take them over...I dunno...Britney or something, if I were forced to choose.
NIN took stage next. They played an awesome setlist, were outstanding as usual! There were a couple of things I noticed that didn't seem to go right for them. At first it seemed like the right side of the stage's lcd stuff was working, but it was fixed before long. The other thing I noticed, which I'm not sure if something actually went wrong or not, but there were two or three times that it seemed like the band took longer than normal between songs like they were adjusting something or whatever.
Like the last time I saw them, Aaron was all over the place. He broke his guitar at the end of "Head Like A Hole" and a piece of the body fell right at my feet. The security guy handed it to me, and the chick to the right of me grabbed it on either side of my hand. In a split second I figured out the following: A.) It's only a piece of guitar, not the whole guitar (broken or not.) B.) I've met Aaron North previously, shook his hand, and have his autograph. It could be argued that I've already had my 'memorable personal-ish NIN/Aaron North experience' and this chick probably hasn't.
So after staring at her for a minute thinking it over, I let go of the guitar piece and let her have it, deciding to be a "good" fan and share the experiences rather than be greedy about it. I kinda feel like a jackass for it, but oh well... I told her that she owed me for that in our next life. =P
After the gig was over, I went to the merchandise booth only to find out they were out of the size of thermal shirt that my wife wanted, but I got the next size up and she's ok with that. (She was unable to attend, so I figured I'd get her something.) Then the real pisser of it all, they were sold out of the lithographs. I had money from several ETS ppl to pick up lithos and they were out of 'em. I didn't even get one for myself. So those of you who sent me money, I've already PM'd you and the money's on the way back.
As I said above, If **ANYONE** got an extra Litho they are willing to part with, please PM me.
Thanks!
-Wil
Edit: photos being developed today, will be posted soon.
