ST VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE - LOVEHAMMER STYLE
I just arrived home just a few hours ago from CBGB's...and want to get my review in before I crash & burn off my LH high......So here goes! (are you ready yak??
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Disclaimer: all "facts" reported to the best of my ability in my continued lovehammered state of mind....the LH effect has not quite worn off yet...anyone wanting to correct me if I get anything wrong...please do!!
MAKING MY WAY TO NYC/PRE SHOW FESTIVITIESI woke up very early on Tuesday...4:30am to finish packing and to get to the train that would take me to Boston to catch the Fung Wah Bus at 10 am to NYC. Travel Tip: It was only $15 each way for me to take the Fung Wah Bus...amazingly inexpensive!!! I heard of some cab rides in NYC that were $45-$50 just to get to and from the airport! So I made out well on that...so if you are ever looking to get to NYC from Boston...check out Fung Wah Bus! All went smoothly and I landed in NYC shortly after 2pm..and hoofed it to the HoJo's...less than a mile away..after a 4 hour bus ride I was happy to walk and stretch my legs...despite the messy sidewalk/road conditions....the city was definitely a mess...as Wendy had said it would be....but being from New England...a little snow, slush and mud was not a big issue for me getting to see the LH later that night!! After checking in...I felt I needed a "wake and feel alive" shower...got dressed and ready...and awaited meeting up with fellow fans for the dinner at NoHo Star. Met up with mondegreen first.....it was so good to finally meet up with her as we have chatted alot over the past few months...and felt like old friends already! Then we headed to the lobby and met up with Yakketyyak, Madamerubi, Jaimeinworth, her son, Wendy, and a couple that bought extra tix from Mondegreen. We did intros and found out where we were all from...and it is amazing how far some fans came...CA, Chicago, WA, NH...just in our little group! Like the Pied Piper....the LH had us following them to CBGB's....with the lure of the music....and to see Marty in action. But first, we headed off to dinner...to get in a drink and some food...to sustain us for the long night of rockin out ahead of us....those 2 Nutri-grain bars I had so far that day to eat...were not going to cut it! Thanks to our NY connection, Wendy
we had a great meal at the NoHo Star and got to chat for a bit..but we could all tell we were antsy to get to the club....to get in line...as early as we could....the night was thankfully mild....so walking around was not bad. And everything was very close. We did get in line relatively early...and soon they were letting us in....luckily
we were entertained by "Swear Bear" from Gallery 313 right next to CBGB's...who came out and swore up a storm...little did he know what he was in for....Yak and Wendy and others...had some "choice words" for him too...when he started picking on the Lovehammers name....They cracked me up! I think he soon realized he was going to be out-done and retreated back indoors...You rock girls!
No one disrespects the LH!
INSIDE CBGB's/ THE SHOWSo now we are have our bracelets..there is no re-entry and we are making our way towards the stage...once we get up there I go..."OMG..this is so small!!!" mondegreen, jaime, madamerubi and I gain a spot in the center...about 3-4 bodies back...and that is where we stood for the next 4+ hours. Yak and Wendy opted for the side and the ability to stand on chairs...at least I think that is why I can see them above other people! I must mention at this point....we are all relatively height challenged ( me especially at all of a little over 5 feet) but fortunatly the stage was high enough that we could just look up and get a great view of the band... We have about 1/2 hour or so before the first opener starts...anticipation is building...we are chatting it up with those around then P.R.Y.D.E comes on...a group of young teenage guys rockin it out...they were adorable! Little tough to make out the words...but they are rockers in training...they were well received and even got asked to do an encore...then, out comes Neal's band....and they were great! Didn't know their songs real well...but damn Neal is fun to watch...reminds of Mick Jagger quite a bit....
Again, very well loved by the crowd! He mentions how much he is looking forward to hearing the LH play...very cool. During the set up for the LH...just before the band takes the stage...they play Mr. Brightside and everyone is singing along!! This helps to build the excitement....everyone is so pumped and ready to get the LH out! Now I am beginning to understand what it is like to be at a show where hard-core Hammerheads are the audience...vs being at the show in Boston where they were openers...there is sea of red & black!!! I am now happy beyond belief I decided to do this...Finally...they start to come out one by one Bobby, Billy, Dino....and everyone is going crazy! Marty comes out wearing his RARE teeshirt under his leather jacket, blue striped jeans, he is wearing many cuffs and bracelets, several mc.org ones on his left arm BTW...and a silver neck chain....that shimmers in the light. Straight is the opening number....after that here is what I recall from the set list...in no particular order....Hold On, Riddle, Real Man ( woo-hoo!), Throw My Head, Clinic, Ultrasound ( full version!), Paint it Black ( my wish answered!), Eyes Can't See, Call of Distress, Rain on My Brain, Low-Life Insurance, Ring of Fire, Trees...encore of The Tunnel and This Town. Being dead center and fairly close...I am soon hypnotized by Marty & the music...singing, dancing and following every move that I could. Marty and the guys seemed very relaxed...happy...and giving it all they had....for each and every song....by the end they were drenched ( as was I !) with sweat.....every head shake caused beads of sweat to fly off of each of them....quite the cardio workout they put in! I continue to be amazed at their bond on stage..it is so clear they have been together for awhile and love what they are doing....
Here are some particular moments that stood out for me:
1) During Hold On...Marty reached out and held the hand of a young girl there with her mom, singing to her....it was too precious! They were directly in front of me....
2) Marty talked about Neal..how they had connections unknown to them prior to them being on Rockstar..said he was a cool mutha...f'er. As usual....Marty never fails to mention those sharing a stage with him...so classy!
3) Marty took a break and asked where everone was from...starting w/ being from NY..then out of state...( that seemed to be a larger majority for sure!) Out of country? Someone was I think...then, Dino asks "Who is from another planet?" Apparently at that time...we all were as everyone erupted on that question! Dino, you are a nut! And a very lovable one....
4) Marty interacts with fans in a most personal and extraordinary way...as we know...the eye contact is phenomenal....holding hands with those close enough...singing into people's faces...or letting them sing....I had been wondering...so how the heck is he going to get into the crowd? We are packed like sardines...but...during The Tunnel ....he jumps straight down onto the floor...and it is like the Red Sea parting...he heads straight back...and gets right between mondegreen and I! OMG!
It all happened so fast...I am stunned! Then he ventures further back....turns and heads back same way he came. If you have ever been hypnotized...( I have)....you can sometimes do things "beyond your control"...that being said, whatever I did when he went by me twice, was due to Marty's ability to "hypnoooootize you"....and was beyond my control....not saying anything else....
Don't worry Marty...I was very gentle!
5) During This Town, Jeremy is invited up to play with the guys...he seems to fit right in!
After the "meet & greet" during the Tunnel....he was back up on stage...and wrapped up the night with This Town....they had put on a full blown show for sure! Given the size of the venue and the extent they played...it was an unbelievably great night...words are not adequate. Only having been to the INXS show in Boston before this show...I knew they were like night and day shows...but others who had seen them at Viper and elsewhere...felt this was an extraordinary night...so I feel so lucky to have been there. mondegreen...you are a big reason I ended up being there...hugs to you girl! And..Grand Canyon...are you out yet?
POST SHOW
Once they had left the stage...the crowd started to disperse...and mondegreen & I headed towards the back hall...to get to the bathrooms....and we spied where they were post-show...in the green room as it's known. As we walked by, Marty still hadn't put his shirt back on....people were getting pics taken...( so that was you luxie!? Way to go!
So, we stopped and hung out along the wall....the air was much cooler there and it felt good..and we got to watch Marty interact with fans....at some point he went back in to the room...and someone was standing in front with his arms spread out....keeping folks out....and asking people to move along. There was no formal meet & greet....fans stood out front but they did not come out front....but eventually the guys left thru the back door. It is great to hear that some people did get to interact with them before or after the show...they were clearly not "hiding"...there really were no hiding places! ***Edited to add...just zoomed over to LH site...and lo and behold Marty and Billy have posted a quick post CBGB note & mentions about wanting to do a better meet & greet and what was going on with that...says place was so damn small...was yelled at for blocking the hallway...I am also blown away he got caught up in fan letters...and missed the post show party...
*****
As we head back up front....to meet up with everyone...and get something to drink...we hear last call at the bar....we all decided to find another bar to "decompress"..none of us are ready to head back to the hotel and sleep! We are still quite wired. We find a place and settle into a couple of booths...RB has joined the group who did dinner....( so nice to meet you BTW !) Ok...confession time....though I brought a camera....I did not take any pictures....I know...you are screaming "What are you an idiot?!" Well hear me out....first, I find I am distacted from the experience when I have to take pictures and I soooo loved being in the moment....I couldn't bear to tear myself away from it....the experience is totally seared into my brain. Second..since cameras were no issue...there were so many people taking pics and video...I knew there would be many sent in to posting online. Yak and RB and Madamerubi, mondegreen, and others all had taken some great shots...that we looked at on their digital cameras. Third, did I mention I was f'in short? Well, I had practiced early in the evening to see if I could get a decent shot...holding the camera a foot above my head steady enough to get a clear shot...ummm, no not really. And capturing fast as lightning Marty on film...ain't easy. Back to our late-night wrap up..mondegreen has to leave to catch a train back to LI....we sadly say goodbye...vowing to do this again....the rest of us hang out some more for a bit...and finally feel we can head back. I had to leave for a 9am bus the next morning and miss the breakfast/brunch plans...
...wish I could have done that! I had so much fun meeting everyone....wish I could have met more of the Hammerheads....I did meet stephd briefly....hope you had a great time...
Today I made my way home...I half-slept on the bus, my body is exhausted but the show kept racing thru my mind.....I can not get over the experience...not yet...I don't want to! I got the sweetest call from Yak...saying how much she enjoyed meeting me ...hoping we can all do it again ....and soon ( Jaimeinworth was in the background!) It was such a memorable time....in so many ways...and I can only hope that I do get to see another LH headline show sooner than later...and meet up with everyone again.
Hope you all had safe travels home....and Yak...if you read this before you read Marty's new diary entry...for God's sake....stop reading my entry and go read his!
Lovehammered for Life
Valencia
