Up all night party Vegas 3/9

[cjspas]

Looks like I'm the first one back to post anything. I'm going to have to do it in segments. I moved my clients from Thursday afternoon and this morning to tonight so that I could make the trip to the Vegas show. So if I stop abruptly know that I will come back in about 50 minutes to post some more. I'm getting pressure to get something on the boards so here goes.

Pre-Concert
Wednesday at 1:30pm I pick up my cell phone messages after teaching a lunch stress management seminar and there was a message from our Jodie telling me that we had some tickets for the Vegas show and to call her ASAP to let her know whether I wanted a ticket or not. I panicked as the message had been left 2 hours before. I called her back to say definitely and got her voice mail. Left a message saying something like and then waited on pins and needles for her to call me back and say the ticket was still available for me. Fortunately she only let me suffer in total agony for about 40 minutes when she called me back to say I had a ticket. Okay now to rearranging life so that I can go. Whirlwind of phone calls. Everything set.

Thanks to Rockdivagirl & Kimberly87 for making it happen. I don't know the whole story but from what I understand it was a matter of persistent instant phone calls that the band needed some of their fans there.

(Clarification--There were not phone calls from the band or the management asking for lovehammer fans--Kimberly87 was making her pitch to Hard Rock to get us in--come on let some of the loverhammer fans in. I know that sentence cause a lot of people issues--I apologize! Thanks all for understanding that writing quick impressions on little sleep--can cause you to write things--that you know what you mean when you write it--but others obviously read it differently than i meant it--once again---sorry for the pain it caused all.)

Thanks to Jodie for calling me and Mrsbud for giving her my number--Klly for pming me to make sure I got Jodie's message. I'm eternally grateful to you all.

I leave for Vegas at 12:30pm on Thursday and it takes me 6.5 hours (normally about a 4 hour drive) due to absurd Caltrans construction where it took 2 hours to go twelve miles--fortunately I had L'strange and MCLH with me in the car to keep me company.

I check into my hotel (the Aladdin) everyone else is at Hard Rock but when I called to reserve--no more rooms so I'm just a short cab ride away. Change and meet up with mrsbud, tara jordan, treebee, stefanie, Kimberly87 jodieca, polarfan, rockdivagirl, cbdoc and her hubby (I'm leaving someone out--my brain is total lovehammer mush!) Everyone finishes getting ready. Many of us apply really cool LH tattoos that treebee brought. And finally head for the Hard Rock cafe. Talking about how thirsty we are. Las Vegas makes you dry.

We get there I think it was about 10pm and the concert is scheduled to start at 11pm. The room is pretty empty right now. Everyone gets a drink (to quench that Las Vegas thrist) and checks out the stage and stakes out positions. (Some more seriously than others.)

The non lovehammer people (meaning the people who are there for the private party) are generally around the bar and then there is a good sized open dance floor area and the band stage is on the far wall with about a two foot rise off the floor.

Okay gotta scoot and I really I know I didn't get to the good stuff yet--sorry but if I don't see my clients I don't have $$$ to spend on LH and other not so important stuff like rent. I will come back and post more in a bit.

[klly]

thud....you're stopping here. Damn jobs.

[DG]

klly said:

thud....you're stopping here. Damn jobs.

Ditto

[rachael]

WOW, CJ....that was good so far....

[cjspas]

Okay let's see where did I leave you hanging--oh right when the concert is about to start. Aren't I mean? It's not intentional. Ted and Dan and someone else were there setting up the stage. And then finally the announcer brings out the lovehammers and Dino and Bobby and Billy come out on stage.

Followed by Marty (okay for palari and anyone else who wants to know he was wearing the black lace up jeans a black tee, a red shirt and a black leather jacket and shades.)

The cool thing is how close we all were. There are 30-40 (okay maybe 50--I'm really bad with numbers) of us right up by the stage and then a few people hanging back a ways and then a bunch of the non-hammerhead people hanging out around the bar. My film is at the developer but there were lots of amazing pix being taken by all so I'm sure when everyone recovers and gets back home the pictures will flow.

Songs (in no order other than how I can recall them) And by no means complete. It's all a blur.

Straight as an arrow
Eyes
Riddle
This Town
Tunnel
Rain on Brain
Throw my head
Into the deep (Someone requested it--and Marty agreed--smiling saying you sure and made a comment about this being the first song they every wrote 11 years ago)
Paint it black
Trees
Ring of Fire
Mr Brightside (Marty with guitar by himself)

I think they played about and hour and a half with one break and I was in heaven and the logical part of the mind is still shut down. I know someone snagged a set list so there should be a more complete report on songs. I'm missing some.

Marty was in true Marty form singing with such intensity and with such a small group up front to connect with--we all had several moments of eye contact (at least I did!) Marty really tried to work those people in the back of the room. He ran out jumped on a table--jumped up on the bar and ran around it. They were slugs--not into it at all. He worked it and they sat--I didn't think it was possible if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. There was a point where I think Marty decided just to have fun and concentrated on the crowd in front of him. Then I felt I could relax for them. (I'm weird that way but I get anxious when an artist is so good and others aren't getting it--I start to feel bad for the artist and it pulls my attention.) So now I'm in the zone, bouncing, dancing throwing my head around (is that why my neck hurts today?) Singing or was it shouting the lyrics out (I'm a little raspy--not necessarily the best voice for a hypnotherapist but it will have to do tonight).

I love watch Dino play and the faces he makes and the way he makes eye contact with someone and then kind of gives this mocking smile--so cute.

Only caught glimpses of Bobby on stage because the stage was low and he was flat on the stage. Get that man a platform!

Billy was the guitar god he always is--he gets better every time I hear them.

I don't have words to say what it was like to be in that small group of people. It was so amazing being there. I'm not doing a very good job of capturing either a description of the concert or the feeling of it--but I think it has something to do with 11 hours in the car over the last two days, how many beers (I lost count) and 4 hours of sleep.

After the two sets, the event planner made an announcement to us that the band was done and would not be coming back out. But as faithful fans we weren't going anywhere. I was determined that I would not chicken out this time and get a picture with Marty. At the Viper Room I was clueless and missed my opportunity.

To be continued

[velvet]

cjspas said:

I don't know the whole story but from what I understand it was a matter of persistent instant phone calls that the band needed some of their fans there.

Damn!

knew I should've slipped one of the boys my number

Great info so far..keep it coming you lucky girl.

[radioclash]

Thanks cjspas for doing a write-up so soon and on so little sleep!

Bummed about the slugs in the back of the room, but I am happy that there was enough of you who could say 'yes' at such short notice and go rock out and be there for the band

Can't wait to hear the rest and see some pics!

[kimberly87]

VEGAS ROCKED!!! I must say I never thought anything could be better than Viper room, but it just goes to show you, you can always be wrong, and boy was I. I hope this post isn't too long but I know everyone has been dying for tour news forever so...........
I drove with a few other Hammerhead from LA to LV and the though we should have gotten in around 5:00, we actually didn't arrive till 8:30 (needless to say I did my make-up in a very dark, and VERY crowded slowly moving car) but it was well worth it. We get to The Hard Rock Hotel to try to freshen up as much as possible, then headed over to to the Cafe. The stage was very small. and we immediately headed towards the front of the stage. The only dissapointing thing about the entire night was that there weren't enough people who knew the LH to really get into it (they really should have given us 100 more tickets) but the guys were definately winning over most of the crowdand a lot of them started getting closer where we were. OK here are the SPECS. The guys came out and did about an hour and a half set. It seems as if they did every song they had ever written...They even sang "Into the Deep End" during the Encore. During the first 2 or 3 sings Marty wore his sunglasses...(so hot) then he tossed them and we were treated to his baby blues (even hotter).
Marty was in rare form he kept laughing and he and BIlly were sort of playing around on stage and laughing ...(love to see that smile) The area was so small that I just took the liberty to take a few steps back and had my own space to mosh out and sing along and had ful vie of the band, yet still close enough to feel the heat coming off of Marty and Reach out and grab hands. It was perfection. Marty said that since there was free booze being served that it seemed appropriate to play "Lets get wasted" that was a really fun song to sing along to. They must have played about 15 songs then went away and came back and did a 3 song encore. I cannot express to you all how AMAZING this show was...I think them being off for a few days mad them eager to back on the stage and boy did they.....After the show the guys went into the greenroom and we all just tried to come down from our high and chatted and enjoyed each others company. It was so Funny "treebee21" came up to me and said she saw me during the show and I was just "hynotized, or in the zone" and she was right. Everything around me could have crumbled beneath my feet and I would not have noticed. I was definately sucked in. Marty said after the show they would go over to "Center Bar" at Hard Rock Hotel" so we knew where we were going after.

This is getting long...so I will continue in a second...the best is yet to come.

[cjspas]

Flash forward a while (Time for bathroom breaks and us to sit around and talk about the concert a little --I remember all of us looking at each other with that dopey satisfied look look on our faces--saying things that were so profound--like--"wasn't that the best?" or "that was so amazing" and "Wow!") Someone says the band is coming out and we wander over to the curtained off area where the green room is (not sure if it is a green room or just a cubbyhole with a curtain).

Then I look and treebee and jodie are talking to Marty in one corner. Dino is toward one side talking to others. So I wander over to where the group of women beginning to surround Marty are and I am saying to myself things like--just do it--ask for the picture don't be lame. Seize the moment.

I saw this moment where everyone was getting their camera ready and I pushed my camera into someone's hands (Jodie?) and said Please. I walked up to Marty and I think--not sure I might have said all of 4 words--Like--Could I? He says sure. He puts his arm behind me I look at the camera--the flash goes--I say thanks and walk away??! Or maybe I didn't even talk--I don't know maybe I was like a deaf mute. I didn't even introduce myself. I talk to people for a living and I didn't say a word. ( I do redeem my self later in the evening) but at that moment I'm thinking did you say a word to him? This will be forever a mystery to me.

Okay so I don't know what my picture looks like with Marty because it was a film camera and I dropped the film off at a place and now I'm getting ready to see my last client of the evening and the film place will be closed when I'm done. Does anyone else have those moments where they go--I should have lost those 15 or more pounds last week before this all came up? I'm sure I'll be there when I see the photo. I'll have to wait till 10am tomorrow.

I started helping others take pictures--Took two of Mrsbud and Marty with her lens cap closed--she was so sweet when I told her--I don't think I got anything and I don't know why--duh the cap was still on--fortunately Jodie had taken one of mrsbud so we didn't have to ask Marty for do-overs.

Marty had announced from the stage that everyone should meet at the center bar after the concert. So Mrs bud and I went over to see if we could stake out some hammerhead territory within the bar. For those of you unfamiliar with the hard rock--the center bar is the bar in the center of the casino. We stake out some space and talk awhile and I look up and now Marty is walking right towards me--this time I did better.

To be continued

[cjspas]

Hey Kimberly87--

Glad to have someone else here to try to describe the night.

Cj

[mchell]

OMG if Marty was walking right towards me I think I'd have a heart attack.

[cjspas]

As Marty approached this time I felt like I was an adult. As he walked up I stuck my handout and said Marty I'm Carol. I told him that I was at the viper room and thought that the energy in that room that night was so amazing--his face changed as though he was remembering to--he smiled. Then I said--for our group up front and the band we had another special experience tonight. He said something to the effect that he was so happy we all had made the effort to be there. I told him about the obnoxious drive in and said they were more than worth being stranded in traffic for. We talk a few more minutes (I really don't remember about what but was soaking in the experience and then he said it's time for all of us to get drunk. I let him make his way to the bar. I just wish I thought to offer to buy that drink--oh well!

I also spent quite a bit of time talking to Marty's big brother John. Such a nice man. He told me that Marty said we saved them by making the effort to be there. We talked about the back of the room people and how depressing it would have been for the band if that was the crowd. We also talked a lot about the music business and timing. We talking about the band having a steady slow build. You could tell how thrilled and yet concerned he is for Marty. What a great family!

Okay now. my client is really late--did I get stood up? Better stop and make a phone call because if she isn't coming--I could go home!

To be continued.

[trevi]

How do I get to the next page? I am new to this board and I have been posting at the LH board so be patient with me please.. I have to say this sounds amazing and I wish I was there. I am in Orange County and thought about making the drive and trying to talk my way in or just waiting for the guys to finish the show and try to see them after but stupid me I was not spontanious enough.. I will be kicking myself for years.

[trevi]

Oh I just realized maybe there is only 1 page so far.. Girls I am dying here.. Spill, more please.

[trevi]

Kimberly, I love this quote : to inspire, to rejuvenate, to excite, to awaken in others what no one else can...this is a rockstar, describes Marty perfectly.. It sounds like you had an amazing time..I am a little green with envy here.

[rachael]

cj an kimberly, thanks so much for sharing the Vegas Party with us. I really appreciate it and am so looking forward to reading more. Can't wait to see any pics you might have....thank you, thank you..

[kimberly87]

OK, cont.....

So ater about 30 mins or so I saw Marty come out of the Greenroom, and though I want to give him his space (no stalking here) I have never gotten any pic with him and I had to have one (and I made him a card w/ stuff inside for them..so I wanted to give it to him)..anyway. We go over to him and after he is done speaking to Ted he hops down onto the floor and I see my opportunity, so I hand him the card I made which contained street teaming magnets I made as well as a poem) he loved the fact that he knew there are still people street teaming for them...his face completely lit up and he grabbed me and pulled me in for a little kiss and a big hug. (c'mon people..get out there and ST, these guys REALLY do appreciate it) so we spoke for a second then I got my picture (after he commented on the T-Shirt I made (which was very hot) and Marty dug it so...I was a happy girl. Well I had My time so I let him go and talk w/ others..then beautiful, sweaty bobby came down and I got a pic w/ him, my arm was immediately drenched as I wrapped my arm around his waist. This boy works his ass off, he was soaking wet. but I didn't mind so much...ha ha ha. So we all milled about a bit, people getting things signed / getting pics, etc. So after that we went back to the hotel ran up to the room and did a 5 minute freshen up and headed to Center Bar. Now there is absolutely NO WAY I could go into details about this whole evening, but this is a VERY shortened version. So we got here at about 1AM...keep this in mind it will be important at the end. So once we come down we see the guys are already there and we just blend just like if we had gone to a friend's party, we (about 18 of us alltogether) all sort of split up and just mingled about, got drinks etc. I saw Dino standing alone and went up to him and we had some funny banter...we are both very witty and a bit sarcastic so it is pretty funny when you get 2 of these people together. I had no idea he was this way so I was lovin it, cuz I really appreciate this type of humor. (Thanks Dino) He saw a friend so then we went to say hello to him. I moved on and chatted w/ some ladies then headed over to where "treebee21" was talking to Marty so I went over there to see what they were discussing and I stood next to marty after a few seconds I sensed marty was making some sort of motion to me w/ his hand, so I looked down and he had put his foot next to mine (we were both wearing our black converse) and he had his hand out for me to give him a low "high five". we laughed and then he looked up at me and said "whoa!...wow..your eyes...nice eyes" I said "thanks" but was thinking...yea yours too. So I told him my idea for the trees video and he seemed impressed. He said they may have found an idea, so we will just have to wait to see. I told him we are on pins and needles. Marty is so enthralling...We spoke for a VERY long time about some things that were very important to both of us..I won't go into them here, but I would just like to say how much I appreciated this conversation... This was a very intense conversation and we were really speaking directly to one another, not as a fan, not as a rockstar..but as 2 people who are going through or have gone through the same situation. I have to say I was so affected by his words, and cannot say how much I apprecaited his words of wisdome and support. It meant so much to me. Thank you so much Marty. So after our INTENSE conversation, treebee21 brought up another topic and it seemed as if we were all talking for like an hour. But it was enthralling. I finally saw Billy so I went over and got a pic w/ him and spoke with him for a bit. What a charasmatic guy he is. Then I went back to Dino and we just goofed around..I was loving me some Dino...like I said I had no idea he was so clever and funny and sarcastic so I couldn't get enough of ihim. GENIUS!!! Then he suggested I give him smokey eyes like a hard core rocker so I ran upstairs and grabbed some liner and came back down and proceeded to give Dino a very hard core rocker smokey eye (nothing subtle here) but he could pull it off and he looked so sexy. that was a blast, Thanks Dino. So the bar started to thin out a bit and we all just ended up at the counter of the bar. All but Billy..he was feeling a bit ill, so he retired. So we just all talked and joked around and had a great time...like you would if you wee with 10 or 15 friends at a bar. SO MUch fun. So anyway..too much stuff happened to mention it all or to even remember, but I think Marty retired around 5am, then the rest of us went over to another bar and just sat down and talked...Bobby retired about 6am or so, then it was just the 4 of us girls left w/ Dino. That boy can perform on stage for 2 hours and still party like a rockstar...ha ha ha. I think we finally decided to call it quits at 7:30 am. Yes...7:30 am. So Dino went to bed and I along w/ 2 of my roomies went to breakfast. Got to bed about 9:30am, then back up in 1 hour so we could get back on the road to LA. I still haven't slept. All we could do in the car was talk about all that happened, all the converstions we had, the the funny things that hapened. It was definately one for the ages. Having a night like this with LH just makes you want to go further, street team more, listed to them more...etc. What genuinely nice, and entertaining guys they are. A special thanks to Marty (for everything) and another to Dino for hanging w/ we 4 remaining true vegas partiers until the very end...ha ha ha. it was a blast. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed. I certainly did.

[kimberly87]

I will try to get some pics up asap!!!

[cjspas]

Okay to end my story. I wandered around talking to different people from this board--blending into conversations that other folks were having with the guys--in that not wanting to butt in sort of way.

As Kimberly says it was like being at a friend's party. I love the people from this board so much. Everytime I meet new people they feel like old friends! There is soemthing really special about lovehammers that they attract such good souls!

I hung out in the bar till about 3:30am--I was probably one of the first to call it a night. But knowing I had to work tonight with clients who pay me well for my undivided attention. I thought I must take care of myself enought to be present (sometimes being the responsible one is just not that much fun!)

I had an amazing night. As I took the cab back to my hotel--I was humming ot myself and thinking about how hard it was going to be to take my boots off! My feet felt like they had grown three sizes in my boots. But I was glad I made the effort to get there and I'd do it again in a heart beat

Pictures tomorrow if they turn out.

CJ

[madamerubi]

Thank you all for sharing your stories with us. I'm so glad you all got to go so they got some love at their show. We're all going to be suffering from major Hammer withdrawls her soon with no shows or reviews for however long. lol!