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myohmy***NEWS FLASH....BOSTON GETS LOVEHAMMERED***
LH HAVE MANY NEW FANS!!!!
The coffee is brewed and in front of me, and I am hopefully going to be able to give a decent write-up of the show in Boston last night! I have had a few hours sleep after being Lovehammered....I still feel the adrenaline in my body so here goes....
After many months of anticipation...I FINALLY got to see the Lovehammers perform for THE VERY FIRST TIME! I attended the show with my husband and we had 3rd row PIT seat tickets. To say we had good seats is an understatement...as you will read later!!! I will break this up in sections to help me organize my thoughts better....
PRE-SHOWI still had to put in a few hours work on Friday so I "tried" to focus and get some work done til 1pm or so. Then I headed home to change and hook up with hubby. We had decided to get a bite ahead of time and to take the T (train) into the city to avoid parking hassles/costs. The con to this was the last T was at 12:30pm...so...we could not stay any later than that in the city. We arrived at our restaurant at 5pm and made our way over to the Wang Center....by 7pm. I am keeping my eyes peeled for the LH bus...but no sign of it heading in to the Wang area. I had cell phone #s to hook up with some other fans who were doing some street teaming ( Modiste & YNOTME).....I called from the Marriott lobby from across the Wang while my hubby used the restrooms...but no answer...so we just made our way over and we noticed some folks handing out flyers, magnets etc...and those were the people we were looking for! We introduced ourselves and my hubby (being the salesman he is!!) grabbed flyers and started handing them out on behalf of the street team effort....I must say it was dang cold out...a little windy....as doors opened we went inside....the Wang Theater is a beautiful place...very ornate setting. I have seen several plays/musicals there. My hubby and I hung out in the main lobby w/ YNOTME and her daughter...about 15 minutes prior to show time..we made our way to our seats....we walked by the sound system area..and saw the set list for LH......same as what has been played....
SHOWTIME!!! I could *not* believe how amazing our seats were! I was getting so pumped up and the butterflies in my stomach (due to an overload of anticipation)would not go away! We had smuggled in our digital camera...and we were going to be able to get some decent shots...we thought...we still didnt' know how agressive the camera police were going to be....finally ....8pm...lights went down...as with the other shows...Bobby was first up, pounding out the Ultrasound beat....Dino and Billy joining him on stage...and then....out ...he ....came! Maaaaaaaaartttttttttyyyyyyyyyy!!!! Thanks to my husband....I could rock out and enjoy the show while he manned the camera!
I jumped right up on my feet....yelling and singing and so excited....unfortunately....no one behind me was standing...
or around me much in the pit.....
I felt bad blocking views...so I elected to sit down...not that I wanted to...but...I did want people to see the show and felt it was the courteous thing to do. Marty's outfit for this show was a mix of old and new!! I had so wanted to see him in the red shirt....and he wore it! Thank you Marty!
He had a black jacket over it to begin with ....and black tank under the red shirt....and what appeared to be new pants to me!! They were a shiny black satin...with a black stripe down the side of the leg...kind of like a tux pant I guess...he had a chain/suspender hanging from the pants (which came undone once...uh oh...wardrobe malfunction!) but he re-attached it at the end of the song....never skipping a beat! The set list stayed true to what they have been doing...the sound was fantastic except a tiny bit of feedback once or twice...Marty's voice was cyrstal clear & so strong. He as always....did all his trademark moves....I almost fainted (and I ain't the fainting type!) when he came right up to the edge of the stage...dead center...getting into a crouching position...during "Better off walk away"...to sing "Indian style on my bedroom floor...getting a kiss and wanting more"....his eyes were just indescribable...so much emotion coming from them, wild....and all I could do was watch in a trance...singing along I am sure....but in a Marty trance....it was one of the highlights if you were close enough to see it. People were sitting still for the most part....Marty of course at one point thanked INXS for being so good to them. This is where I must add my thanks to them too...had it not been for Rockstar:INXS I would possibly have never learned about Marty and the LH. I know some are angry with INXS at this point...for tour decisions as of late....but the LH have been at least given a chance to get out on tour and get some exposure...that I am sure will carry them on to bigger and better things....JMO. Ok..back to the show! The next highlight happened during "The Tunnel"...I was wondering when and where Marty would go out into the crowd...and it happended during this song. He run down the main aisles....but I really couldn't see who or how he was interacting with as the lighting made it kind of hard to see....then he ran back up on stage...and then....right dead center he jumps down from the stage...climbs over the chairs in the first two rows...and is now STANDING IN THE SEAT right in front of my husband...and I am freaking out!!!!! These were free-standing chairs...not theater seats ...in the PIT section...all I can think is ...please do not fall down!! My hubby thank God keeps his composure...and takes a couple pics.....up close...and I mean...up close! Now..he has been taking pics right along...unbeknownst to me...I am too far gone into my Marty trance.....even during this time...I am too focused on the singing rock God on the chair in front of me to realize this! He sings a few lines standing on the chair....now, people literally had to jump off the seats....to let him by in the first two rows....and they help him back up and get back on stage to finish "The Tunnel". At this point in the show he has removed the jacket and shirt...has his black tank & pants on...has sweated up a storm....so much energy goes into his performance. Now come along the sing alongs - well, maybe for those who are not yet familiar with their songs - the whole concert was a sing along for me!!
First "Trees"...and then "Ring of Fire"....asked us all to "get up off our seats"...Thank goodness you asked Marty..finally I can get up without pissing someone off behind me!! He is getting everyone pumped and ready for INXS...who he tells us will blow us away...more kind words from Marty...he is doing his best to warm us up....and he suceeded on so many levels!!! They leave the stage at the end of Ring of Fire...and ...receive such a great reaction from the crowd by the end...they loved them!! All I can do at this point...is sit back down to regroup & compose myself....I learn about the pics and video my hubby has taken and he tells me that though he was asked to stop at one point, he takes shots of Marty standing right in front of him on the chair he climbed up on!!! I am beside myself....he even managed to shoot some video!!!! As soon as we can upload & send in, we will!! Words can not really describe how I feel after seeing them perform for the first time...except....LOVEHAMMERED!!
Two other notes from show...Marty made reference to Dino's injured hand...& said...yes, there will be a meet & greet after INXS set!! Woo-hoo!!!
INXS SETOk...so I have set up a plan to meet YNOTME in the lobby ...about 30 minutes into the INXS set. Hubby wants to see them too...and after all he did to get those pics and video...can I say no? But he is ok with me having a "bathroom" break to meet up with YNOTME to see if the guys were hanging around anywhere....TOOKS is also there...so I get to meet her! They have already been looking around..no sign....The Wang main lobby is where the merch is set up....YNOT has spoken w/ Jeremy...and says guys are "around"...we roam the upper and lower levels...no sign of them. I return back to the INXS set to sit w/ Hubby and tell them we will meet up with them at 10:30pm ....to get in the meet & greet line. A few comments about the INXS show. I am not a huge JD fan...but I did want to see him perform & I like many of the back catalog songs from INXS...The opening was strong with Suicide Blonde...( why did I keep hearing Marty's version in my head??
) The sound seemed to go down hill as the songs progressed...and JD seemed muddy and difficult to understand at times. I know many of the older songs from INXS....could make out the words on those...but since I did not get "Switch" the only song I could hear the words to from that album was...you got it....Pretty Vegas. He really does enjoy his mic stand...I'll just leave it at that.....to each his own style! At 10:30pm ...the set was wrapping up and we bolted for the lobby.....
AFTERSHOW/MEET & GREETThe line had already started forming...but we were not too far back at this point....they started to set it up in the main lobby....and the encore was now going on w/ INXS....we stood with YNOTME, her daughter, TOOKS, and her friend. It became apparent to us that when the show ended...and people came flooding into the main lobby....we would be blocking people's way and chaos would ensue!! Thankfully....they moved us to the downstairs lobby....and this avoided a big mess. They announced no personal pics, sign only one thing please....CD liners only...typical of what has happened with the other organized meet & greets.....I will let YNOTME and TOOKS recount their time at the table with Marty...along with of course their other experiences. I was truly grateful that I was at the very least getting a moment to tell the guys how much I loved the show...my hubby stood to the side of the table...taking pics....as I had my turn. Marty was first one up....I handed him my L'Strange CD liner...and he made the "old school" reference...he did not have his sunglasses on....
...Lord have mercy! He also had that adorable green striped scarf & black jacket on ....so I think they might have been hanging in the bus just prior to the meet & greet, had to walk in from outside......I handed him the CD liner...he signed in silver sharpie....and when he handed it back....I just gazed long and hard into those splendid blue eyes...and thanked him for putting on an amazing show...next up was Dino....I told him I was so sorry about his hand....Bobby was next up....told him I so enjoyed the show as well....then lastly Billy...who I told was a guitar God...and he shook my hand for the compliment! Even though they were shoo-ing us to leave once we had our turn at the table....we hung around...watching them.....eventually time was getting late and we had to make our T before it was too late and we had to pay for a very expensive cab ride back to where our car was parked .....many stops up on the Orange Line. I *hated* to tear myself away...hubby kept gently saying....we really need to go. We exited onto Tremont St in front of the Wang...and...what drives by....their bus!! Hauling trailer behind!! Ok...we have maybe a 1/2 hour before last T...but I am screaming...."We need to get a picture of the bus!!" So hubby humors me and we run down middle of block as it has taken a left turn...to see if we can see where it is going and hopefully get a pic. But...we have no idea where it has gone
Then I recall where I have seen performers exiting the Wang in the past....I suggest we go there and as we are walking to the side door of the Wang...we go past INXS busses!! We see INXS fans waiting by that door....INXS has not yet left! Two busses are parked waiting for them to come out. Minutes later...out comes JD and gang....!!! Ok...kind of cool...but not the LH! After they board and leave, LH fans are now starting to gather...but no green bus yet...and judging by the size of the meet & greet line...it will be quite some time before it is over and it is getting very close to last T time...damn!! Also, hubby says...BTW...card is full on the camera! Apparently the video footage took up lots of the card...in addition the pics we shot. So...I would not have gotten any more pics...even if we could wait indefinitely for the LH to show up. It is now about 16 degrees out as well.....not that I was feeling it ....I was on such a high still! A very nice woman who was waiting with her hubby...says...I'll use my camera and send you a pic if you want to wait!! Ahhh...LH fans are just the best! ;D
My hubby is starting to lose patience as we are now cutting it close for getting that last T....I know we need to leave...I thank her & wish her best in getting her pictures with the guys.....off we run for the T! We make it and once we get to our car....we still have an hour to get home....I am still pumped up...blabbering on and on about the show. I have my LH Tee, CD liners in a baggie....and hubby says "Do you realize you have been clutching that baggie of LH goodies to your chest and haven't let go since we left the Wang?" No...had not been aware of my intense grip on my LH goodies...but...they are so very special to me!
OTHER COMMENTS/CONVERTS!I did use the ladies room on two occasions last night after the LH set.....and while waiting for my turn, the woman in front of me turned around and unsolicited from me...said..."Wasn't Marty fantastic!?!"....I said yes, that is why I am here....for the LH. She said she had considered skipping them...to stay at dinner longer...but was so glad she hadn't and got to watch Marty...she was genuinely blown away! I gave her an LH magnet Modiste had given me...told her to please check out the new CD...and she said she would! Then washing my hands....the gal next to me said....wow, Marty was fantastic as well! She was in the PIT as well..first row....was there because of INXS....but became a Marty/LH fan....SO GUYS....MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I only heard positive, raving reviews from the folks I ran into....who LOVED WHAT YOU DID!
The hard work & time away on the road...is earning you legions of new fans....BELIEVE!
In wrapping this up...it is getting long enough....I am one content fan today...gotta get some rest and not get sick....as I am also going to CBGB's next week for my 2nd show....this will be a very different venue & experience....I now better undertand why and how this band is so addictive....and wanting to see them anywhere and everywhere.....It was great meeting fellow fans as well! For all each and every fan does to support the band..whether you bring gifts, street team, give garters, or just plain let them know how much you love what they do by buying CDs, merchandise and attending the shows...it all matters and is appreciated by the band.....well, off to upload pics & get them online as soon as we can!!!
Rock!!
Valencia
I think the batteries were frozen solid like we were. I could tell Marty felt really bad, and I probably had this heartbroken look on my face. I can't remember who came up with the idea...Marty or the girls...but they ended up taking my picture with their disposable and said they would email it. My fingers are crossed, but they'd have to scan it and everything...so I'm afraid they might just forget about it.