linda
18 and over
Posts: 440
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Post by linda on Mar 1, 2006 2:08:57 GMT -5
Lovehammers were FABULOUS at Family Arena tonight! My pictures did not turn out AT ALL well, so I don't think I'll have any I can share (but I'll keep going through them to make sure), but I will give you my best recollection of the concert, and I'm sure there are others who can do the same and also fill in any blanks, as there were other mc.org-ers there as well.
I went with my sister Sue, who is an INXS/JD fan. She's the one who got me hooked on the whole RS:INXS show, so I really owe her big time. We each have our own taste and I don't think we changed each other's minds much tonight--I think she respects Marty for what he does and I feel the same way about about INXS, but that's about as far as it goes. I left about 3/4 of the way through INXS' concert in order to get in line for the m&g for LH and it didn't bother me at all--I was ready to go.
I was pretty impressed that the arena was pretty full by the time LH started. Our seats were great--3rd row, dead center. I talked to the people in back of us, who were there for INXS, but who already had heard of LH and had their CD--fave was Casualty. From the looks of it--t-shirts, etc.--most people in our section were there for INXS, however from the very beginning people were on their feet and stayed on their feet the entire time. I did hear from one of the other mc.org-ers that the upper sections of the arena remained seated, but from where I was you sure couldn't tell! It looked to me like everybody was on their feet! Seemed like the reception was awesome!! At one point, Marty talked to the young people in the audience. Since we were at the "Family Arena" he said he didn't need to swear. He asked how many young people were in a band, how many were singers, etc. Said "It's worked out well for me.........."
At one point he made a circuit of the arena. Left by the right side of the stage, went all the way to the back of the arena, circle around and came up on the left side of the stage and back up. Oh, and this was hilarious...... As he was singing Trees, it looked like several people in the audience called people on their cell phones and were holding their phones in the air, obviously doing a "cellcert". As one man in the front row was doing this, Marty came up and took the phone from him and sang directly into it for a verse or two!! I didn't notice, but my sister said that right after that, security came up to the guy and told him if he sees it again, he's taking the phone! (I also got warned during the INXS part of the concert and had to put my camera away!--not that it made a difference--my pictures are shit!!)
During the last song, which was This Town, Marty kind of sang into it that he wished he could figure out how to keep his pants up!! (he must have been having particular trouble tonight!) It was cute!
Set list was the same as has been reported in other concerts. About 45 minutes. They were unbelieveable. Everybody was great, great, great!!!!! They did a meet and greet after INXS set. No pictures--one or two things to sign, keep the line moving please. Ted was very nice, asked for our cooperation, etc.
That's about it. Great night! Thanks to Suzy for coordinating dinner for us and getting us to the arena (even if it DID seem like MR. Toad's Wild Ride for awhile)! I was prepared to REALLY like INXS, but was honestly fairly lukewarm about them. Really wish my pictures had turned out better, but guess you can't have everything--it was a GREAT night!!!!
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Post by forestanswers on Mar 1, 2006 5:02:05 GMT -5
HELL YAAAAAA!!!! I just got home from my 3 hour drive after the show. I'm still fired up. Ears still ringing. My body has already started aching but my mind won't stop. I also have lost my voice from my crazy screaming. The show....FLAWLESS. Marty had on his little fringe black pants & a red shirt..YUM. The look on his face when he was singing into the guy's phone was great. He is just so completely riveting. He is MAGIC. He really can "hypnotiiiiize" you. I could only take my eyes off of him a couple times to check Bobby & Dino out & to get my camera out of my purse. It was over in a flash. reddgt & I lucked out....we got to warm up some late people's seats in the 3rd row for about half the LH set. Then we moved a couple seats over to the left for a little while, then ended up about 5th row on the aisle. Unfortunately, we both got busted with the cameras right as he took his shirt off, so no topless pics for us.  I made a great big fool of myself & loved every second of it. Thanks again reddgt for tolerating my Marty "AYE AYE AYE AYE AYE" screams! Marty never did give his "we are a unit, not MC & LH, just LH" schpiel. He commented on the cotton candy vendor that came around the seats like it was a baseball game. I can't recall what he said exactly, but it was cute. I think Marty really tries his best to make significant eye contact with as many audience members as possible. I was suprised by how abruptly they leave the stage. They didn't even take time to take a bow or introduce Bobby, Dino & Billy. Marty just said something like "check ya later" or something & POOF they were gone. I had no interest in being present for INXS, I'm sorry but JD ruined INXS for me, even though he can impersonate Michael Hutchence's voice pretty well. Immediately after LH was done we headed for the m & g location. We hit the merchandise table & there was a sign telling us the autograph deal would be in a different specified location. So we hauled it over there & we were 3rd & 4th in that line...wooohoooo. Met another mc.org'er & her beautiful Avril Levigne look-alike daughter, very nice ladies, enjoyed meeting you. THE TED eventually came out, he wasn't so bad. (I will try to briefly explain the significance Marty had for me during the RS show. My grandma is in late stages of Alzheimers. She walks around all day confused, hallucinating, trying to remember where the bathroom is & what to do when she finds it. She has been miserable & stuck in her confusion & memory loss & hallucinations for a few years since the damn disease took her real self away. I had not seen her smile in years. Then one night I was tuning in for my Marty on RS, the one bit of a break I got from Alzheimers world. I figured Grandma would go in the other room for a while when I had the tv up full blast for Marty, but she sat with me & watched. After Marty's first performance of "Trees" Grandma was smiling, her old REAL smile, bouncing up & down in her seat & waving her arms in the air cheering him on. I will never forget that. For a few minutes I had my dear Grandma back. I haven't seen that smile again since. Ever since that night I have wanted so badly to tell Marty about this.) So tonight I brought along a photo that Grandma & I had made of us together this past Christmas. I finally got to tell him. I had my dvd cover & the pic of me & Grandma. Ted had told us we could have only 1 or 2 things signed. Now I'm glad I took that pic, cuz Marty wouldn't have said a word to me if I hadn't. Ted took the items from my hand & set them down for Marty. He said as if I were nuts "you want me to SIGN this?". So there was my opportunity to lean in & tell him the 3 second version, but he got it. He looked up at me & said "oh my gosh, really? You'll have to tell her I said hello". At that moment I was being moved along by Ted, so I think I just said "thank you" as I moved on to Dino. None of the guys looked up or said one word to me. I just said "thank you" as each one signed my dvd cover. I think the guys are WORN OUT. They did not seem happy one little bit to be coming to do the m & g. I just had a disposable zoom camera, so I won't know for a few days probably if my pics came out worth a hoot. Off to bed. Great meeting all of you, sorry I can't remember all your names to save my life. |
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suzy
18 and over
Posts: 3,625
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Post by suzy on Mar 1, 2006 10:54:04 GMT -5
Hi everyone! Well....I'm still kind of speechless about the whole night. My girls climbed in to bed to with me this morning (too early I might add) to find out about the show, my two little hammerheads..so sweet. When I tried to answer them nothing came out, I have no voice today...I'm not the least bit surprised! I met up with some wonderful people from mc.org and lovehammers.com.... just a bunch of fun people, I loved seeing the faces behind the words! I met Linda and her sister Sue, forestanswers, Reddgt, NDavis (who gives great hugs by the way), her wonderful children... Poet, Earthmother and Tamtam from lh.com and many many others!! I talked to Rebeccawayne on the phone as I was pulling into the arena....Becky, I hope I didn't hurt your ears when I screamed into the phone "OH MY GOD THERE'S THE BUS!!!!!!!!!!"....p.s. I hope you made it in time and I'm sorry I didn't bump into you at the show. You know, I had very high expectations for the lh performance, based on everything I've heard here. I have to say that not only did Marty  and the Lovehammers exceed my expectations, they completely blew them away...to smithereens. There are no words to describe it....they are absolutely incredible, mind blowing, beautiful...TALENTED!! To see Marty standing there when the lights went on the stage was well...shocking....just shocking. His presence there stunned me beyond belief. He is absolutely beautiful, I still can't believe it. I could barely take my eyes off of him to look at the other gorgeous guys in the band. We were up nice and close....he really does look right at you when he sings, right in your eyes....I just melted away. I could see him so well 'cause I'm six feet tall, my height came in handy last night! Marty was a mad mad MAD conductor and it totally freaked me out! I screamed the whole time and danced and blew kisses and just went completely out of my mind. It was better than I dreamed it would be....I simply can not wait to see them again! This is getting too long so have to post a part two.... And I thought I said that I was speechless...  |
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ndavis021410
18 and over
Dino's Defender
My Intrepid Friend
Posts: 28,254
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Post by ndavis021410 on Mar 1, 2006 11:07:40 GMT -5
I can't sleep!....So, I'm going to describe St. Charles from the beginning, middle, and that's it!....The end has to wait for my Asylum 'family' to be in to hear that part!
Intro:
By now, with over 3000 post, everyone should know that my name is Nancy. My getting to this concert must be explained, because it is a huge part of the night!
Last year, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had surgery, and am still battling this "war" everyday. The surgery unfortunately didn't get it all, and I'm not getting into any more details on that, just to say that is for me and my 'family' to worry about and to know all the details. I'm in and out of the hospital quite frequently here lately due to several factors, and my 'family' is what keeps me going by sending treasured presents to me, and warm loving support daily!
When Mr. Fortune got ill in the beginning of the month, and this concert, the one and only I could of ever got to go to was cancelled, I cried for hours. I truly didn't have enough hope to be able to make it to the end of the month, nor be physically able to attend this concert.
Uh Oh, I skipped some parts I'm going to have to go back to: The Day I found out I have cancer, before I told my kids, my 'family', or anyone else, I found myself wandering aimlessly on this site, which I call Home Sweet Home, and at the LH.com site where I check in from time to time at. Looking at all the "normal" people just chatting away, checking in with my Asylum "family" on all the goings on that happen DAILY, just lurking around with this thousand pound news flash hitting me extremely hard, not knowing which way to turn, or what to say to all these people, nor my 'family', was really tearing me up inside! Not having that 'special' someone to go to was really hitting hard on that day. I find myself posting and doing my 'thing' as my kids like to tell me, when Mr. Dino Kourelis popped onto the LH site, and he was on for awhile. I'll never know for the life of me, why I PM'd him with all this news, it just happened, and was apparently the right thing for me to do that day. You see, I had already been heavily involved into Street Teaming efforts in Southern Illinois, with Radioclash sending me the postcards already, and all this excitement about the "tour" had this big Lovehammers fan ready to go, until my "war" started that is! I just start in and let it all go in that first PM to Dino, about everything I wanted to do for the Lovehammers, the cards, the flyers, the radio stations, etc...and I told him that I didn't know if I could attend my planned concert, and on and on I went, I would hate, just hate to read that first PM, because as everyone can tell, I'm a talker, and I can babble for hours!....OH MY.......Anyway, he PM's me back immediately with some very tender words, and Dino support for my up and coming war, and says to not worry about making it to this particular concert, the Lovehammers will be around again in my area for sure! Then all of a sudden a week later, with no PM to him, He PM's me to say no matter what, no matter how sick I get or am, He wants to meet me and He wants me to fight to be able to go to this concert in St. Charles! He said he didn't care about the hair being gone anyhow, it's get's in the way of good Hugs! So, here I am with this huge and first time real goal to fight and to win something that meant the world to me! He writes a couple times past that just to check in and make sure everything is going good! I really felt an inner peace with those simple little PM's he sent me! You see, he has allot of close and personal friends out there and family that is dying of cancer also, so he feels this 'war' on a personal level as well, and it made me feel more than special, it made me want to fight!
So, when I finally do tell my 'family' and you all know who I'm talking about! It was easier and more steadily willing to go through the many stages that I'm going through, with them as well. Daily we would talk about the tour reviews, the concerts, the looks, the squee fests, the upcoming encounter I would be having with MY Dino and having all these people truly care and support and laugh with and cry with and grow with and change with made this concert more and more of a reality to be able to go to, made me strong! Made me fight inside and out for everything and everyone that I love!
Ok, where was I at, oh the concert being cancelled and Mr. Fortune being sick, and he thinks he was sick...oh my.....Well, all this building up of movitation, energy, fun, hard work on my part getting out of those damn hospitals, eating right and on and on, got blown away from a weapon of mass destruction- a rescheduled concert! Right at the time more chemotherapy was being scheduled for and a long and daily war of staying alive and healthy! But damn the Asylum, they wouldn't let me give up or talk about not going to the next one, even though it was only a month away, was a life time to me! But with more love, encouragments daily, and a growing change that was happening inside of me, I saw this date getting closer and closer and closer! I dreamt about getting that HUG from Dino, meeting him face to face, talking with him, seeing all the boyz was truly happening! I was winning something, and when you feel like I do, winning is damn good! The week before the rescheduled concert my chemotherapy overlapped the concert date, and I just went on and on and on to my doctor until he finally gave in. He called a Hospital in St. Louis and scheduled me, little ole me, a time for treatments to be done there instead of in Carbondale, so I could attend the concert that night! He thought I was a nut for pinning up Dino pictures evertime I go in for treatments, and listening to my Lovehammers during chemo, and he really thinks I'm a nut now, because even my chemo had to be scheduled around my Lovehammers Time! One of a kind doctor he is- oh and by the way, He bought a CD of the Lovehammers just for me to stop asking him if he had bought one yet, and he makes sure he is wearing his headphones and jamming to "The Clinic" everytime I walk in to see him! He's a doll!
Ok, the BIG day had finally, finally arrived with much sweat, tears, frustrations, love, and hope accompanying it! My daughter Natasha drives me to St. Louis, with son Daniel, he's 13, in tow and jamming to the Lovehammers the whole way. What a long drive that was! I get to Washington Clinic in St. Louis early in the morning and get my treatment. Which by the way, the last 2 treatments I had got ended my butt into the hospital for 2 or 3 days sicker than a dog, well, I guess a dog never really has got that sick, but oh well, you all get the meaning. Boy this is getting long, but is worth it! They had strict rules there and no pictures could be tacked to 'their' walls, so the kids go out and get all my Dino pictures that I would have for my treatments, and tape them to their little bodies, and they just are standing there with these most precious wide smiles that I ever saw! I love my kids more and more every day that's for sure! The nurse's really thought the Lovehammers had some really crazy nutty fans after that encounter! So, that's all I'm going to say about that time, you all really don't want me to go into detail about that do ya?....lmao....
We get out of the Clinic around 1:00, and we are just looking at each other thinking ok, what's next! I yell- The bus- We must see the bus! We find the Family Arena fairly well, and it was ok in size, I've seen larger, but it was large enough. The kids was impressed with the size, but this was their very FIRST concert after all! All along I was thinking----If Jodie can do it, I can too! This was my day- or my Walt Disney World Trip as I was calling it- and I was going to the Green Bus. We are pulling up and my heart literally stops, ok, not literally, but you get the meaning, and there it sat, in all its Green Glory, The Bus......Oh The Bus.....Natasha starts squeeing and I had to make the first of my many pits stops, that I won't get into here, cause that would just be gross to mention, anyhow we pull up in there. The bus is parked in this gated hugely protected fenced in area behind the arena. I'm thinking fences, what, are they scared of fans now? We sit there and couldn't stand it anymore, so we left!.....As we were pulling away, I say what are we doing! We go get sodas from the gas station right down the road, and yes, return to where the famous Green Bus was nicely protected with 10 foot high fencing! Natasha is just looking at me, for I guess instuctions as to what to do next, and I had no idea what to say, so we all just sat there, parked, and looked at each other for the longest of times! Was funny, but scary if ya didn't know us! And then out comes Bobby of all people! Decked out in sweat pants, white t-shirt and really messed up hair, talking on his cell phone. And then, Dino walks out of the bus and goes into the arena, my first Dino sighting! And I froze, not even a YO Dino, it's me....or a Oh My God, the Lovehammers Rock.....nope....froze we did.....All three of us just sat there mouths wide open and stared! Stared while Bobby was having a very entertaining conversation with someone, by the way, if anyone ever gets to see Bobby talk on the phone, can be really funny! Arms are going everywhere, pacing back and forth, laughing, head bopping up and down, and the arms again, the man talks with his hands that's for sure for sure! My son, the would be hero of the fangirls wants to take the camera and go up to the fence to ask for a picture, and we yelled NOOOO.....Don't know why, but I could actually be seeing Daniel climb that fence and being arrested and missing this concert, and other not so pleasant scenerios was racing through our heads, so we said no, and just sat there! After all the excitement, we just sat there! Bobby returned to the inside of his little safe haven of protected 10 foot high fencing Big Green Bus, and we drive off still in shock with not seeing the Bus, but by freezing and not being able to say a word. Than like all rational humans, we go to the nearest Denny's, the kids order their plates, and I get my coffee, which was really good by the way, and debate our actions into being ones of curtious, mature, and concerned people. We didn't want to disturb the boyz and all, this was there time!....Inside we were all thinking oh hell yeah, we blew it! Daniel starts joking with me and Natasha and yells there's the bus everytime another bus would pass by the road, a school bus, or a moving van, or anything large to that type, and here we would be turning around as quick as we could, surprised we didn't give each other whip lash from Daniel joking with us! Then I call a friend- Ayesa- so she could talk sense into me and whip me out of my freezing mode, and I think it worked!
Suzie from this board calls me up at around 4 and gives us directions to the BaHa lounge where everyone was meeting before the show, and things were going back to normal a bit. We decide to drive on in to St. Louis, which by the way, has absolutely no bathrooms in the downtown area!---and after a chemotherapy session, a bathroom is something that becomes a "must have", so we drive all the way to St. Louis to just say, damn, no bathrooms! lol....So, back to St. Charles we go! We finally find the BaHa lounge and it is settled into this magestic area of Downtown St. Charles and I was really really impressed with the decor, and the total environment!
We get the wheelchair out and plopp my butt in it, can't walk very far without getting too sick or too tired, and there was going to be no passing out last night! We go in and meet Poet, from the LH board, a friend of her's oh please don't be mad at me for forgetting you all's name, but damn, I've forgotten! Really nice people's though, and had a blast chatting with them. Met two other girls, that became jewels, One girl comes here sometimes, and yes I forgot her name too, but I will never forget what they did and how much fun we all had together that night! Her friend had MS, and a whole host of other ailments, so she chatted me up on vitamins and other things. Ok, time for concert was here at last, and sorry Cindy and Amy if I'm taking up too much room! And let me tell ya all, there wasn't enough bathrooms available from there to the arena, and why I was concerned about hunting down every available bathroom spot, I'll never know!...Nerves was really hitting me hard, plus the chemo, but the nerves was the doozy!
We pull up, go in, and find our spots and it was like I was in a daze or something! Really numb to find the proper word here! Then these two nutty friends that I met at the bar find me!----They have drinks in hand, and starts singing at the top of their lungs Lovehammers songs, and where was I to go?----I was stuck!---But laughing my head off- they knew I was nervious, and Bless Their Little Drunk Hearts, they did a great job at rockin and cheering all of us up! Then I did a very smart thing, and called Doc and I tried to tell her everything that was going on, but I don't think I made much sense, cause the only thing I could hear her doing was laughing over the phone! Oh My.....
Ok, The Lights are going down, and so is my whole mind! I know that the best time of my life is getting ready to happen any moment!- and Breathing became something I had forgotten to do!....Oh My.....I was getting ready to hear the Lovehammers play live and I was just trying to soak in every moment. I know the stories all seem to run together with the same set lists, the same things here and there, but this was MY time, and MY moment that I had worked soooo hard for, and dreamt about for soooo long. And then Bobby comes out and makes my breathing come back much better. The sounds of him playing the opening of Ultrasound was like the beating of my heart and it was entering me with so much excitement, anticipation, each second was like each beat your heart takes, and it was LOUD, perfect, jammin, and hypnotic, and here's Doc over the phone telling me to breathe, I'm like why? what? Oh My God it's The Lovehammers.......And your telling me to breathe?....Oh My...
Then Dino comes out and oh hell, I'm gone by then. 45 seconds into the concert, I couldn't of passed out at that moment and been happy with my time! Oh and Dino didn't just come out, he pops out and has this Dino energy about him, well ya got to see him to know what I'm talking about. Then Billy appears out of no where, cause of course, I can't take my eyes off of Dino, even Bobby's heart beats couldn't distract that moment, it was all BASS! Ok, then Marty slivers out, and I'm like cool, don't get in front of Dino, damn Marty! Marty was full force, and the most amazing performance I have ever seen! And I've seen allot, and he's the best performer I think there ever will be! And he even stayed out of Dino's way most of the show, like he knew what I was willing him to not do! Did all the classic Marty moves, and sang his little heart out. Combined with every sound there, it was Heaven on Earth for sure! Was magic! I stood up out of my wheelchair for as long as I could, yelled, screamed, danced, felt the moments, every moments!, and loved every second of every sound that came from the boyz that night! Billy's riff was better than great, he's got a gift that man does. And when Dino started blowing smoke or was it a drink out on the stage, my heart stopped and only the sound of Bobby's drums brought me back from dying on the spot!
Ok, was over way too soon, I could of listened to that all night, and was over way way way too fast, but that's been said before. And it's the Truth.....I was lucky to have a bathroom, funny on the bathroom stories, sorry, right next to where my seats where, so after the concert, we went on the hunt for the boyz. No boyz. Jeremy said they can't come out no more and they will be doing the Meet and Greet after INXS.....I'm thinking I have to have more than the Meet and Greet....I just have to....I have presents I wanted to give to Dino, Natasha had presents for Bobby, and Daniel had stuff too, and the M & G's weren't long enough!.......So, disappointment sets in on top of the all so natural high that we were on, the music is still ringing in my ears! My goal was to meet Dino and get that damn HUG!!!!! And it was looking like that wasn't going to happen.......Until I met Ted!......And that's were this story is going to end for now.....The rest I'll tell in the Asylum later on this afternoon! Sorry this took so long, but was the best time of life guys, and I wanted to share it with the world if I could!........Love Nancy.....
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. Aren't they wonderful live ;D.
