Charlotte Show - before, during, after...

[rachael]

Wow, that was fantastic Jodie! How incredible? OMG...That was incredible!

[jodieca]

(a little more before) &
DURING:

So we decided we better leave & get ready for the night, but we drove by Oven’s to scope out the parking. There was the bus! Our parking was going to be right next to it so we already had an idea of how the end of the night would work out.
We raced home to get ready, but I got sucked into the Asylum Rec Room (now I know why it’s so addicting to stay in there all the time! You guys are so much fun!) & next thing you knew it I think we had 10 or 20 minutes to get ready. Amy called & said Cindy was feeling sick so we had a little extra time.
We then went to the Mystic Pizza place (don’t remember the name lol) & met up with lots of hammerheads. Shuckra & her hubby, Sparkle & her hubby, Butterflyinclouds, Tignor & oh my gosh some other really nice people we met on the way out. It was so cute, Sparkle came running over to us & goes Rockfan!! Everyone was really nice…we checked out Shuckra’s pink banner – sooo cool! & exchanged funny stories & took pictures. DG called while we were there & when I said DG! She didn’t answer me. LOL

Soon after, we got to the auditorium & called DG, she & her sister were already inside. I had the camera strapped to my leg but it kept falling down so I was walking in like I was limping! (I left the famous rip in the purse lining purse at home) Well we walked in & I saw a girl looking at us & I ran over & said DG!! & met her & her sister. It was soooo cool to finally get to meet the one & only DG. Then Amy came up & there was Cindy behind her & we finally got to meet the .org Goddess herself – now we had met both of Goddesses & it was just so cool. They are really the reason all of this could happen – how else would we ‘know’ each other before meeting!
We all hung out for a bit because the doors weren’t opened yet. Once we were in we were IN, & the camera just went into my purse. RF was right, it was SOOO easy, ridiculously easy. I think I could’ve brought in a tripod & a Panavision camera & filmed the whole thing. Saw a few people passing out flyers & I went up to one of them to get one. I thanked her for doing the flyers, it wasn’t the warmest reception but still a great flyer & everything counts.
Everyone went to their seats while I went in line to get a drink. Met some INXS hubbies in line & of course had to give them each the RC postcard & Sandra’s bizcard. Showed them my still stored Metro pic of me & Marty & told them they would LOVE the show & to hurry up with their drink orders so they wouldn’t miss anything. I saw another couple of fans from Lovehammersfanclub & got their postcard. They were really nice.
Drinks in hand (what, ME? Double fisted?? Lol) I made my way in…stopped at our 6th row (great) seats & then asked the guard lady (that’s an overstatement) if I could go talk to friends in 2nd row (Cindy & Amy). She said of course you can! So I went around the front row – this theatre reminded me of just a very big movie theatre with a stage - & spied 2 empty CENTER seats. We were less than 5 minutes from showtime so I filed that thought away for later (that I was going to hijack the seats). Talked to C&A for a few minutes, showed them some of the ViperRoom pics I still had on my camera & she said she’d get them online after all the current ones were up. Lights started to go out, I ran back to RF & screamed GRAB YOUR PURSE, FOLLOW ME! & the place went black. I went back to the front row seats & couldn’t see RF. I was screaming her name over the crowd, finally our eyes adjusted & I grabbed her to the seats. I said we weren’t leaving til someone kicked us out! (yay!)
So drums start pounding to Ultrasound – I tell you the audio doesn’t do that justice! Bobby is soooo freaking hot on the drums & it’s just so kick-ass! -- & I grab RF & we run to the stage. We were front & center. We had our hands on the stage. This is Marty when he came out:

I think at some point I went back to the seat to grab my purse & glass of wine but most of that spilled out. So… front & center. We were screaming our heads off. DG joined us I think during Ultrasound. DG to my left, RF to my right. PERFECT! My stupid arm kept getting in the way of RF’s photo opp’s. What more can I say about the show…the songs were awesome, Marty did his ‘I’m going to connect with as many people as I can’ thing - & he did! & was just so amazing to watch that close. Even closer than Metro & even closer than Viper Room.

No pushy people either. Everyone was so great. Imagine the front area in a movie theatre in front of the front row. The ‘screen’ is the stage. That’s how close we were. Marty did grab my hand at one point, & he also got down right in front of me (us) & oh he is so intense. I got a bunch of pics & then a little bit of video of him taking a bow at the end of a song. Then came the big moment – he said “it’s not Marty & the Lovehammers or Marty Casey & anything, we’re the Lovehammers!” (got that on video, too!) & the crowd went wild. He was brought an acoustic guitar & said he was going to do a special song for us, that they don’t normally do songs from the show, but this night was special. I got the whole song on video & it came out GREAT!! Wait’ll you see it. It was so great to be at the stage cuz I could rest my arms so it wasn’t too shaky.
Marty went out in the audience & was awesome. He went right up the row where C&A were & was stopped right there for a few, & then went to the back & climbed the seats & sang on top of one. I have dark pics of that. DG said did you see what Bobby was doing!? Lol cuz she was watching the stage, too. Great moment for her to see Dino getting his hair mussed up.
The concert was of course much too short. They are just so incredible live. The best live show I’ve ever seen. & I’m not prejudiced, I’m not! Hee hee I got Ring of Fire, Rain on the Brain, Trees on Video. Rain on the Brain he stayed pretty much still but the other 2 I had to chase him around the stage with my camera to keep up. Crowd went crazy when the shirt came off. MMM MMM.

I got the very very end on video, too…will send them all to Cindy asap so you can all see, too!!
On to the M&G…

**come back later, will edit with more photos**

[Diva]

OMG...I am eating this up with a spoon. Keep going Jodie girl, and those pics are great. You just make magic happen around LH! This is the best thread..all the Charlotte stories are awesome

[tignor]

OMG, is that a mole right THERE?

OK, I'll be back later. Have to mop up the drool...

Great pictures Jodie!

[jodieca]

AFTER PT. I (M&G):

So the concert was over…too short but I think the whole place was PUMPED, LH & INXS fans alike! I think Marty’s performance, including the well known Ring of Fire, Trees, & going into the audience & connecting with so many people really gets LH new & forever fans!
We went upstairs where Marty said they’d be to meet everyone (he always says “& we want to meet each & every one of you so come check us out after the INXS show!”) & we got first in line (imagine that!). RF went back to check out some of INXS for a bit & I called the bf to do a little bragging. (he’s SUCH a good sport & an evolving hammerbf). Sparkle & her hubby came by & hung out for a bit & then went to go downstairs for a bit & I saved the spots. Not many people upstairs for the M&G yet…lots of people in line for the bar. Soon a theatre employee started moving tables around to the center & I said “just be sure wherever you put the line barricades up make sure the beginning of the line starts right here!” he laughed. Ted soon came out & started arranging everything perfectly (who wrote about his OCD, DG? That was sooo true) & then soon people started coming upstairs. We were actually sitting in chairs, waiting…it was too comfy! I swear this was just the best place for this!, everyone respectful, very cool. So DG sends me on a mission to get some INXS photos…of course I took her up on the challenge (challenging for soooo many reasons! Eh hmm!) I got inside & couldn’t even GET to our seats! I went down the aisle on one side & broke out the camera & I immediately got NO CAMERAS! It really seems to be a combo of the venue & the band’s request, FYI. So, I ran around to the other side to get some more, this time I got out of eyeshot of the staffpro guy & snapped away, but because I was about 15 rows back they are dark. I got a quick snipped of video, too. So…BEWARE of DG & don’t p*** her off! All said & done, JD is really the best fit for INXS & did a great job, sounded much better than Vegas & I wish nothing but the best for him.
Back to the line – it was forming by now & looping around the upstairs. The bar was cut-off already I think…so we waited. Ted came over to us right before & said “ok, I’ve got good news & I’ve got bad news” – good news is I’m here telling you this, bad news is no cameras – gotta keep the line moving. I asked him can we take pics if we are OUT of the line & others are going through? He said Ok, I don’t mind that. Then I asked Ted, well can I take a picture of YOU?? (hee hee) he really IS a looker…(& also the reason the tour bus had not yet taken off from KLOS when I won the tickets & then followed the bus, so I owe Ted!) he giggled & smiled & posed for about a milli-second…check him out:

When the boys walked in the crowd went crazy & it started happening fast. Hammered in MN was up first, I backed out to take pics (I have pics of Marty checking out your tattoo girl!) & then we tried to get the line to stall to get some other shots with fans in them but they didn’t quite come out like I had hoped. Anyway, went through the line myself as soon as RF got back, & went up to Marty & he said so glad you made it! I had already printed the pic of me & him so he signed it. Said something about wow you’re quick! (since it was just taken that day) & I shook his hand, said the concert was awesome, on to Dino. He is just so silly. He was making wisecracks the whole time. He signed my pic with him, too, but not sure he even realized it was us from earlier. Bobby signed the RC postcard & I told him he was hot, fantastic show, etc. Poor baby was illin’. Had his ski hat on & was really a good sport for hanging out for the M&G considering how he was feeling. Next is Billy. Billy is the BEST. I gave him a hug & handed him the postcard & he goes Hey! You made it out here, too?! We were just talking about you today! (OMG) I said well it better have been only good stuff! & he said of course! (liar!! Hee hee) he is just such a doll. Love Billy. Thanked him for the best show, etc…then was scooted away. Well I detoured & did exactly the opposite thing of what Ted told me to do & went directly in front of the tables to snap more pics. Imagine a velvet rope in front of the tables & then a theatre rounder for seating, right in the middle of the upstairs. I just stood there & took tons of pics. Lots of similar but great ones! Billy was ragging on me for my delayed red-eye camera, Dino kept making funny faces at me, flipped me off at one point & started belly laughing. I tried to get a pic but my camera took too long & then he was being a brat (an adorable one) & wouldn’t do it again. Billy told me to PM pics to him. Well DG came back & that’s when I devised the plan to have her stand in front of the rope with Bobby off to one side in the background. Took about 10 of these. They are hysterical. Check back for pics of that.
The line started dwindling down, Ted was saying OK!! FIVE MORE MINUTES!! Like recess was almost over…so I then said OK DG, we’re getting BACK in line! They won’t know! What’s the worst thing they can do if we’re last in line, say get out?? LOL!! I said I’d go after her, I would stall & hang out with Dino while she stood with Bobby & her sister could take a pic. (It didn’t work on my camera but she got the Bobby Love HUGS!!) So she got in line, I took more pics, & then when she got closer I jumped in. When I got to Marty again, he just started laughing. I said “hey, had to have you sign the only LH shirt I made!” (oh, I told him at the parking garage I was wearing a LH shirt & not a Marty shirt & he laughed & said good! The rest of the guys will appreciate that!) So, he signed my tank – I’ll get a pic up of that later, too - & reached up to give me a hug & a kiss on the cheek. Sigh…& then he said “LOVING the white jacket! You look hot!” (ok I’m really not bragging & saying I’m all that, I just couldn’t believe he said that & I had to share!) & I think I just turned bright tomato red & said thanks Marty, thanks again for everything today, you are the best. The rest of the boys signed my shirt, Dino of course had his signature wandering upwards…hee hee - & Billy thought it was awesome. Said don’t forget those pictures! & thanked ME for coming to HIS show. Crikee. A few others got in line behind us, & then it was over…as they were packing up I got a pic of Marty gathering his things & then YAY!! Dino holding A86’s SP pic! Dino’s arm is up in front of his face but the pic is so clear.
Sigh…see why I always take forever? The details are for me, too, to re-live the moments!!
Feet are killing me…but now we’re off to catch the bus….

Gotta re-load the M&G pics so check back later for some of those in here. The bulk of the pics will be sent to Cindy tho, it takes forever to put in photobucket…

[rachael]

jodie, i am hanging by a thread please continue......the pix are gorgeous...

[DG]

Jodie did a good job stalling for me, though Bobby will probably run away next time we meet. Poor Guy.

[rachael]

DG, you are so lucky to get to also have the reenactment memory too. Sure the camera didn't work...right...we believe you....

[jodieca]

AFTER PT II (At The Bus):

For the end of the night…we walked outside (I honestly barely remember that walk! Not from drinking but just the sensory overload of the night!) & got pics with DG & her sister in front of Oven’s…

then went around to the bus. Just a handful of people waiting, maybe 20 or so.

We hung out a while, chatted with Shuckra & her hubby (he is great!) & Butterflyinclouds and a few others (forgive me for not remembering everyone) & then Dino came up the stairs…got a cute pic of him walking by.

We didn’t stop him…he seemed to want to get to the bus. A little bit later Billy came up, he stopped & chatted & took pics! I REALLY REALLY like Billy & his personable attitude is just the best. He said the show was incredible, GREAT energy…RF asked about HOB again & he said maybe! Lots of offers for lots of places, they didn’t know yet…he checked out Shuckra’s banner again (the stick figures of the guys was just hilarious & sooo perfect!) & took some pics with the banner.



A little bit of time went by, some people left, & then Marty came out with Ted. (never saw Bobby at the end of the night, for all we knew he was wisked around the other side of bus in a car & we would never know cuz we were so zeroed in on the theatre door!) & Ted is so funny, he goes “OK, now play NICE” & put his hands palm down out in front of him (as if to say keep it mellow, I’m giving you guys a few minutes with Marty) & Marty stayed outside for awhile. SOOOO gracious, as always!! He did seem more energized after the show. He chatted for a few minutes with Shuckra’s hubby Mario (he loves talking to the guys & getting their honest POV) & then RF & I got some more pics with him, & some more hugs.



We watched a few ‘interesting’ conversations he was having with some others…and then RF tells me “I want a pic of the 3 of us!” & believe it or not, I was hesitant. I didn’t want to cross that line of being a pest – but then I remembered, hell! I already had! Hee hee (thanks RF for making this pic happen)

– we got the pic with Marty, got our last hugs, said our goodbyes to the other new friends we’d made & went home.
I couldn’t sleep, went to sleep around 4:30am I think…was SUCH a great time, RF thank you for being such a terrific hostess! I must say this trip/concert/m&g was just first class all the way.
Hope you enjoyed the story!

(more pics to follow, bf is here & I made him wait while I finished this part!)

[rachael]

Thanks Jodie! Awesome sharing of pic and experiences! Loved all of the details! Thanks again and look forward to seeing more of your pics!

[Sandra]

thank you so much for the story and pics

[Diva]

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, you girls rock, so what if ya were in line twice--Now do you see why they remember you Jodie?? It totally pays off-besides that your such a cutie patootie. GOOD JOB ladies.

[chitowngirl]

Great story! Wish I could have been there too.

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

Yes jodie I enjoyed the story very very much. ;D

What a trip, what a show, and oh yeah, what a guy!

I am so happy it all went so well for you guys. I'm thinkin lota Lovehammer love in the south. And they haven't even gotten to Texas yet.

much love to the hammerhead fan girls

Sharon

[chk]

How much do we love o-jodie?!!! Wow --fantastic story, beautiful pics, and that Mr. Brishtside video is amazing. THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone in Charlotte. o-Jodie, you rock!

[angel]

lioness said:

To all of the Hammerheads at the Charlotte gig--YOU FOLKS ARE F**KING AWESOME!

I'm so glad all of you had such a great time. It makes me so happy that people were standing up, screaming lyrics, and generally giving HAMMERHEAD LOVE to our guys.

You folks totally ROCK!

thanks so much, i know i was really rockin. i sang and jumped so much, my head felt like it was hit with a hammer, lol

[angel]

Jodie and Rockfan, I need to be with yall next time!!!! I was all alone, and I am so dang shy....When he comes back, we will get together! Maybe my husband can babysit for me. I don't know anyone else who would travel away from Charlotte or go with me, but yall have some really good pics. I still have not been able to get mine up, still waiting for the dang cable.

[thebeautiful]

Jodie, those pics ae incredible and I think you are so beautiful. Do not ever crop yourself, girl.

Keep it looking good!

Hey, were you in Atlanta last night?

[shuckra]

I LOVE seeing all these pictures and hearing other stories! I must live in the stone age still, because I had to send my pictures out to get developed - so keep posting pictures, I need a fix! ;D It was a great show wasn't it?

[chanvre]

Jodie. I. am. speechless.