Lovehammers ROCK Atlanta

[DG]

Cool story and pictures..

[thebeautiful]

A word about Ted, the Metro-sexual manager.

He's rude. You guys really have to look past him.

I was up there with some pictures that I had printed out that I wanted the LH to sign (you can only have one thing to sign I discovered) and as I was going through my pics for the one I wanted marty to sign, Ted says to me, "Oh, you didn't buy a CD?" I said, I got a CD and Kept talking to marty.

Now, that was the worst thing you can say to a fan. Guys, it made me so mad (like 15 minutes after staring at marty all night because I had forgotten about Ted McFly till I was on the way out the door).

I found another LH manager and pulled him aside and I said, "Listen, that guy up there is really rude. I can't believe what he said to me." The guy knew what I was talking about instantly. He just nodded.

I said, "I was trying to get this picture signed and he scoffed at me because I didn't buy a CD," and then I huffed and said, "Listen, I have three copies of that CD at home, two signed and I two of those are in the car. I have two copies of L'strange, one of MOMM and downloaded Albums of each. I have the LH Live DVD, I have the Rockstar INXS DVD, I have everything that Marty sang on Rockstar INXS downloaded, and i paid $100 for these tickets just to see LH." I said, "I wanted these pics signed," I showed him and he said they were nice. "I said, yeah and I made one for Marty. I said I told Marty I made him one (that's why Marty's mouth is all wide open in the other picture above) and I gave it to Billy at the end. He has them in the envelope by his feet. I said make sure Billy doesn't forget them because I thinK marty really liked the picture."

He was nodding in agreement and he said he'd make sure Billy didn't leave it behind.

I said, "I do not appreciate this man trying to belittle me as a fan because I didn't buy a CD THIS NIGHT. I think I've paid enough and I plan to keep on buying stuff because I'm a supporter. I said that he needs to straighten up his attitude because I know this is not a reflection on the band, but not everyone else does."

(I had read another Ted horror story earlier on the other LH board. That girl was crushed.)

He said that he understood and he was looking like he knew exactly what the problem was. And he said that this guy thinks he knows what he's going because he's worked with these other [name drop] bands.

I said that's fine. I want him to do his job, but let him know to be more polite. He didn't have to say all that he said to me in order to do his job.

This ted guy is the one standing there in the pics with me and Marty. Now, I don't know if Marty heard him say that to me, but I hope he did.

To you guys, I just want to say, Never mind that man. Respect the band and the rules as much as you can, but do not let that man ruin your Lovehammers experience. I am pretty sure he won't be able to stick with the band because he's just rude and LH aren't going to keep him around. Not if they are as Beautifully nice and patient as what I saw last night. Guys, they were so nice to everybody! Anyways, I'll post the signing stuff later. I can run my mouth a lot as you can see and i have a great signing story too.

[thebeautiful]

These are kind of blurry, but I picked out the best ones so you guys could get the experience.



This is Bobby of course on the drums during Trees, I think.



Billy was on the other side of the stage for this one.

[thebeautiful]

Marty on the Speaker:




One more!

[chk]

baby, i'm LOVING your pix with marty. forget whatshisname and wallow in that expression on mc's face!!! cool!

[thebeautiful]

INXS on Stage:




One more, JD on Speaker:

[thebeautiful]

I got more. LOL My boyfriend REALLY did his job. Made up for me thinking he wasn't coming.

[thebeautiful]

The signing:

Dino and bobby

[dlh]

Hey thebeautiful!

Awesome post and pics!!! I'm so happy for you.
It's about time right? Both of us finally got to see and meet the band...wooohooo!!! There is nothing quite like seeing them perform live and to talk to them. They are such genuinely nice guys. Thanks for sharing.
Email me when you get back down from the clouds.

Great job!!



Den

[thebeautiful]

The signing:

I'm getting ahead of myself. So Back to the story.

We left INXS in there because I was so sure we were going to miss the signing, even though it was only 846pm.

We wandered around, making sure we knew where it was going to be, found something to eat, met some Hammerheads (hey Vickie!) and we went back in to check out JD.

As I said before, the camera flashes were in full affect. Everyone seems to have purchased camera phones for just this moment. We were standing in the aisle close to the stage until an usher moved us and we got back to our seats (the people on the aisle were sick of us in and out). That's when my BF stared taking shots of JD. I was praying they would NOT come out better than my Marty pics. I would be so mad if I could see JD clearly and not Marty.

JD went over to the side of the stage on the left of him, where the balcony seats start slopping up into a u form out from the stage and he grinded all over this girl. I guess she loved it. She was really putting her hips into it. They played that one song on switch that sounds like a caribbean song. I like that one. And it was really good. The crowd got into it. When they started the old fashioned INXS light show and we heard "Dauht Dauht Daught--Da-na-na-na-nant!" it was time for "you're one of my kind!"

It was crazy. Jd did a wonderful job respecting the song and also making it his own. I was proud of him for that.

And the old boys, there's no dust on their fingers. They showed the reason that they have been around so long despite who's leading the lyrics.

After two INXS oldies and realizing that it was 1015pm, I decided we had to get out of there before we miss the signing.

We emerged and rounded the corner to discover that there was already a line of about 25 people, waiting beside two empty tables. We stood around and made Hammer chatter until the right moment. My boyfriend, I sent him out to the car to get the video recorder. He did not want to go. He was so scared that they would take his camera. He was like, what if they don't let me back in with it? I said to him, did they frisk you on the way into this joint? He said no. And I said, do you think they really will do it now? And he said no. So I told him, go on then.

So he went.

when he got back I sat down to write on the back of the photo gifts I had for the band. Just when I had it all organized, there was a huge uproar. I hopped to my feet and sprang forward. My boyfriend said that I slapped all the pictures at his chest and let go like I was about to run over there.

I don't remember all that, but I went as far as I thought it was safe to go. The band appeared out of nowhere and they looked like Rockstars! They were so cute. And hugging everyone as they went to the table.

The little rent-a-security was trying to keep everyone away, but the thing was, the fans are to be congratulated because they were so reserved. I mean screaming and excited, but we held ourselves back as if we knew not to do anything to hurt the band or to mess up our chances of having the LH moment.

Everyone swarmed around the tables and the photo bananza began all over again. My boyfriend was videoing it for me.

I got to the front finally and after my episode with Ted-the metro-sexual, I handed marty my photo. He goes, Cool Photo! and I said, I made it for you! And he beamed from ear to ear and jumped up, saying, "I love it!" and that's when we hugged.

I kissed him on the cheek and he pulled back and looked at me like a bashful little boy. I was thinking to myself you'd better keep backing up before you get another one and not on the cheek. How would that have been to have that on my boyfriend's video! Forever evidence of my transgressions.

Metro-Ted tried shooing me on and so I forgot to leave Marty his photo. I said what's up to Dino. Man, he looked tired. Happy but "Yes it do!" tired. I just felt so much for him, thinking poor Dino. You work so damn hard for us and still smiling.




Next, I scared the crap out of bobby, I think.

He was signing one of my photos and I leaned down into him and I said, "You are so damned sexy." and he half laughed, turned his eyes up to me and said, what?!

I said it again and he honestly was like a deer caught in the headlights! I told him, "You'd better hug me!"



And so he did. (Notice Metro-Ted in the background hollering at me to move along.)

When I got to billy, I reminded him about the conversation he and I had in the RockstarINXS board about clouds and his guitar solo. He didn't remember at first, but I told him that he had never posted in the board before that and I wrote in the boards that he was faking being Billy. He said, "I remember that!" I hope he really did remember it. It seemed like he did and that it was cool to put a name with face so far away from the computer.

I remember telling my boyfriend as we watched the fanfare, "this is so cool. I never thought we could actually bring the TV into life. This is reality TV at its finest!"

[thebeautiful]

I realized I hadn't given my pictures for the band to them and so I slid it across the table to billy. A gaurd popped out of no where and yelled at me, "DON't EVER do that again!" I smiled as billy opened the pics and nodded at them as if they were great and then he tucked them under his seat.

[thebeautiful]

Marty pics







Think I'm done guys!

[cfeelvr]

All I can say is WOW!! Fabulous job thebeautiful. Detroit didnt have a M&G, so I must live vicariously thru others

[angel]

thebeautiful--way to get your way girl!! those were great pictures, i got my pic, but was to chicken sh*t to talk!! or maybe it was just nerves, and i was by myself, and oh yeah, that dude yelling did not help, i was like okay okay, geez, lol!! great story and pictures!

[Vicki]

Oh My GOD!!
I don't know where to even start!!! No matter where I start or end my recap will not be nearly as descriptive as the beautiful was. She got it covered! (Girl, you crack me up reading your story ) And her description of "Metro-Ted" was spot on! Yes, he yelled at me too. I think he has tiny man syndrome. But he was just trying to do his job so we can't fault him too much for that right?

So, my friend Jyni and I arrived in ATL and met with a wonderful couple at the Hard Rock for dinner before the show. They have been fans for YEARS. I hope they don't mind me telling this but they actually know the band so I felt honored just being in their presence and they really had some great stories to tell.

After dinner we headed over to the show and did a bit of street teaming... passing out flayers and such. This is when I started meeting people from this board (Hi brennak, radioclash, thebeuatiful, Laura and Zelda!!!!! hope I am not leaving anyone out). I tell you, we have an amazing group of fans here. So, passing out fliersI was expecting to hear some negative comments because of warnings of street teamers from previous shows. I got NONE of that. I told everyone that they could have it signed after the show by the band Marty Casey and Lovehammers. Most people politely took the flayers and moved on. But a surprising amount of people got really excited over it and said "You mean Marty is here tonight too?" and "I Love Marty!" It was a great feeling to share the love with others.

Once inside the concert hall (which was beautiful) I could feel the excitement building. I was in the 5th row in the 3rd seat so we had a great view. The lights went out and the screams went up. Most of this is a blur because I was on such an adrenaline rush. I was on my feet right from the start. Screaming my ass off. I had nearly lost my voice by the end of the first song.

During the 2nd song which was Call of Distress a guy sitting behind me had the woman next to me hold his beer I think so he could rush the stage. Dude ran right past the security guard and jumped up there and started dancing around Marty. You could tell Marty was amused by this. But what made it so funny was it was at the part of the chorus that says "but there's no one here to break my fall" Marty grabs the guy by the back of the shirt "There's no one here to pick me up off the floor" and he shoved the guy off stage. Of course, the guy was then escorted out. The friend that he was with did not seem to phased by this as he continued to drink and rock out to the music

I think this is the song that he ran up the aisle in. I was only 2 people away from touching him but I knew that it would not happen so I was trying to fumble for one of my many cameras that I had smuggled in (security was all around at that moment because of the guy rushing the stage)but that boy is TOO QUICK and I missed getting the picture. Though I did get one of him climbing over the seats on the way back to the stage.

You have all read the comments Marty made about the energy in the room so I will not go into that but it was so freaking cool to hear him say it.

He said we were gonna do a little sing along and broke into Ring of Fire. I have to be honest, the video that was sent in here a while back of them doing this song, I was not impressed with and hoped that it would sound better live. Oh my GOD did it ever! Then he sang Trees GREAT! another sing along... even though I was singing along to all of them.

Sadly he said that they had one more to sing. WHAT?!?!?! It seemed like they had just gotten started!!!!

He took of his last layer of shirts leaving him only in his shiney pants and black converse, invited Jeremy on stage and they began to play This Town. I pulled out the camera and took another pic. I was feeling pretty confident and after a quick look around decided to snap another one and BAM! camera snatched out of my hand by security. He told me I could get it back after the concert... he would be on stage.

They guys left the stage and the lights went up. The ladies next to me had some family sitting a few rows back and they came over for a visit. They had heard me saying that I was leaving so they told them that they could probably have our seats and I said that would be fine... we could exchange tickets after Igot my camera back.

I approached the camera thief. I pointed at my shirt that plainly said "LOVEHAMMERS" and told him that I was leaving because I had seen who I had come to see and that if he saw me again in that room taking pictures he could throw me out of the building and asked for my camera back. He gave me a funny look and then smiled and handed it back to me. I went back to my seat and Jyni and I swapped out our tickets with the others and left the concert hall.

Jyni and I walked out and around the building just trying to see what we could see, where busses my be parked, that kind of thing. We went back in and talked with hammerheads from this site and the LH site. (What great people) found the M&G area and got in line. I could hear JD singing in there but could not tell you anything that he did or even what their stage set up looked like

We were about 10th in line for autographs. Time-bomb-Ted came by explaining the "rules" to us. basically he said "no life stories, no photos with the guys, keep it short and then out the door. Do NOTHING to hold up the line." Our new friends from dinner joined us in line.

After what seemed to be forever an enormous cheer went up from the crowd that had formed in the area and then I saw those beautiful men walking by. I was snap snap snap with the camera, as fast as they would take. The guys took their places at the tables and the line started moving. I was trying to take pictures from a distance of the guys but my friend Ted kept getting in the way. I did manage to get a few good ones.
Here is the BEST one...


I had them all sign my red tie that I was wearing from my back belt loops (in Marty fashion) and a post card (thanks for that radioclash). Marty commented on Jyni's and my shirts and asked where we got them. I showed him my purse that I had made and had beaded "Lovehammers" on. I tell you, that man got so excited over it he came up out of his seat and pushed Dino and said "Dude, look at her bag!!!! That is cool!!!"
Here is the purse...


I seemed to have skipped right over Dino (sorry Dino) as I remember saying nothing to him but did get his autograph. When I got to Bobby I shoved my camera in his face he said "Whoa!! OK" Like it scared him and smiled so I snapped the pic, all the while I was being screamed at by Ted. What a nice guy he is! Got Billy's autograph and thanked him and rushed out the door before Ted the Barbarian could get too frisky with me.
Really close up pic of cutie-pie Bobby...


We went and dropped our stuff off in the car and went around back to wait for the band. I saw JD about 50 feet away by the bus smoking. That was about it for him. One of the INXS guys came out to sign autographs. I really did not have much interest but thought "Maybe I could get them all to sign my ticket stub then sell it on e-bay" but that plan fell through because there was a Marty sighting. He was walking to his tour bus an the other side of the street.

We made our way to the bus hoping we could get another moment with him. He and Bobby had gone in there with some girls. We waited for what seemed an eternity but was probably only about 15 minutes. Then Dino comes out and is standing in the median heading toward the bus and he has stopped to talk to someone.
He asked if we want to come on the bus "Uh. Yeah!" I mustered out not believing he really just asked that. We walk back over to the bus and as soon as we get to the corner the bus starts to pull away. Dino said something like "oh, come on!" or "you've got to be kidding me" It was pretty funny!

What actually happened was INXS had pulled their busses out so the LH could get their bus in to load up their equipment. We followed Dino over to the bus like a pack of little lost puppies.

I could not believe it!!!! I WAS GETTING ON THE F-ING TOUR BUS!!!! I was soaking wet too... I don't know if it was from sweat or rain... but it was ridiculous and it was HOT as hell on that bus but I did not care because there sat Marty and that was all I was interested in.

Bobby kept walking up and down the aisle of the bus and bumping into me. He apologized for it one time but I told him that it was just fine.

I had a perfect view of Marty and he looked up at me once smiled a little and raised his beer to me. I got all goofy and gave him a big cheesy grin ;D and waved like some kind of freak.

He was sitting at the table and I was inching my way over there (have I mentioned there was probably 25 people on that bus if not more). I get to the corner of the table and he gets up and squeezes past me (YES!!! full on body contact) I must have zoned out because I did not hear him say anything as he left the bus but apparently he was going out to smoke and when i finally figured out what was going on I decided to go too.

I flung the bus door open and almost killed Marty with it. It did not actually touch him but if he had been standing any closer it would have hit him. I asked him to take a pic with me and Jyni stepped up and I said "and my Friend" he said sure and I got my pic!!
We all went back on the bus.
Me (in white) Marty (the tall guy in the middle ) and (Jyni in the black)...


Brennak wanted her pic with him so I asked him to take a pic with her and he said sure and flopped down on the couch and she went with him. I snapped the pic and they both continued to sit there. She was so cute looking like a kid in a candy store next to Marty.

Maybe he did not notice it when he autographed it but he said "I love the tie!" I said, "Thanks, you did not know you were gonna start a fashion trend did you?" He kinda laughed but got all serious and said "I hoped I would."
Here is the tie...



Then my friend Ted climbed his happy ass onto the bus and stood right in front of me and said "You guys are gonna love this one"....... "Get the f**k out!" in true Ted fashion. It was kinda funny, but I seriously wanted to kick him.

I got off the bus and there was Billy. FINALLY!!! I asked him for a pic but my camera died. Thankfully Brennak took it for me with hers. I told him that they were just awesome and some other stuff to that affect(I can't really remember now I was on such a natural high that it is a bit fuzzy)

Now that I have typed a book that is it, the end of the most wonderful night of my life!
Sad it is over but glad it happened. I have lots of pics to share but I can't figure out this new camera thingy that my hubby gave me. The pics will have to wait till later I guess.

modified to add pics

[rockfan]

Wow, Vicki, , great story. A party on the bus, that is so cool . Hurry up and figure out your camera thingy. We can't wait to see your pictures. ;D

[stephiehope2006]

Those pics are great radioclash. and i totally agree Rusalka, you can really see the interest in his eyes, i loved that about him because for those few seconds it was just you and him....

[brennak]

Hey Vicki!!! So glad I got to meet you and hang out with you on and off the bus I will PM you the pic of you guys with Billy today!

[stephiehope2006]

Oh man....to get to hang out with them on the bus....you just lived my dream. however, the friend that i came with, wasn't willing to hang out until after the M&G. I just knew that we were leaving way too soon....i believe that would have been worth getting fired from my job for!! Vicki i would love to see any pics that you got with them, that is sooo awesome and i am sooo excited for you, wish i could have been there too!!!

[Vicki]

sounds great brennak!