Current mood:	grateful
Current music:	Fan blades whooshing...

Kelly's Excellent Adventure
Alrighty folks, here's the scoop on my Tears For Fears experience in Phoenix.

My mom and I flew out of Sacramento International Airport at around 10:25am, and touched down in Phoenix, Arizona at around 1pm, if I'm not mistaken. (Now I don't know how many of you folks are from Arizona or have ever visited it, but I swear Phoenix must be an old Indian name for "Hotter than the devil's arse". (Because lord almighty it sure was!) After we gathered up our belongings, we went down to the ground level of the airport to catch a taxi to my grandmother's house. About 10 minutes later, we moseyed on into grandma's abode where we were greeted by the blessed air conditioner. Hooboy!

I then walked to my room where I'd be spending the night, threw down my bags, turned on a fan, and settled on the bed in order to take a nap. Before I did so however, I turned on my cell phone to check for messages. Sure enough, I had a voice message from my friend Afton, who arrived in Arizona about the same time I took off from the airport. I returned her call since we had planned to meet up at the concert that night, and ended up spending about an hour or so on the phone with her, talking about 'Blazing Saddles', bongs, and pizza. Hah!

Fast forward about 4 hours, and I've already taken a nap, showered, called for a cab, and changed into my concert wardrobe. The taxi gave me a call around 7:10pm to let me know he was waiting out front, so onward I went into my awaiting chariot and inward to the Celebrity Theater.





Note: I apologize ahead of time for the blurriness of some of these photos. Flash photography was not allowed at the venue!


My ticket stub.

I walked into the Celebrity Theater and met up with Afton and her sister, Breanna. Immediately we just started to talk about anything and everything, totally having a good time even though the concert hadn't started yet. After a while, Afton and I eventually wandered off to find our seats while her sister went off to get some, ahem, "adult beverages". ;) Finding out seats, we sat and exchanged small gifts and went over our ridiculous plans about being "participatory audience members." Being a P.A.M. includes, of course, standing during the whole concert, singing along to every song, and cheering loudly at any given opportunity. Moahahaha!


This was the view from my seat next to Afton and her sister. We were behind the orchestra pit and no less than 5 feet away from the stage (which rotates, incidentally!).


Here's the majority of the orchestra pit. In the middle next to the bright blue light is Gruno, TFF's drum tech.


TFF's guitars and basses.

By that time, the theater was filling up quickly and we briefly spoke with other TFF fans that were sitting around us. Keep in mind now, that Afton is 20, her sister is 26, and I am 22. We were some of the youngest fans there, so the folks immediately surrounding us were on average a little less than twice our age. I was too shy to try and strike up any significant conversation with them since I didn't feel we had anything in common save musical tastes, but Afton is the kind of girl who's really gorgeous, charming, and totally willing to make conversation with ANYBODY. Seriously, that girl can talk and work a room like no other! Anyway, meeting other TFF fans was a bit awkward for me since I felt out of place, but whaddayagunnado? Eventually everyone said their hellos and got seated, and the opening act took the stage.


The Jimmy Chamberlain Complex takes the stage.

The act opening for TFF is called the Jimmy Chamberlain Complex. Jimmy Chamberlain was the drummer for Smashing Pumpkins originally, but since their breakup he moved on and (obviously!) started his own band. They were very entertaining - their music was like a mixture of rock, pop, and progressive rock. The band leaned more toward belting out impressive instrumentals rather than relying on vocal work. All in all, I enjoyed listening to them perform!

Also, during the Jimmy Chamberlain Complex's set, Nick D'Virigillio (TFF's drummer) came to sit in the orchestra pit to watch them play. Afton and I waved to him as he sat down, and he gave us a confused look and lopsided smile back and then took a seat. Hahaha! ;)


JCC has an impressively large sound for a trio!


Nick D'Virgillio, Spock's Beard frontman and touring TFF drummer extraordinaire, sat in the orchestra pit to watch the JCC.


Another stage shot of JCC.

After the Jimmy Chamberlain Complex finished their set, the roadies tore down part of the stage and then set it up again for Tears For Fears. Meanwhile, I continued to be a huge nerd with Afton and made an effort to make small chitchat with the older fans around us again. Half an hour later, Tears For Fears took the stage and began their set with Secret World, one of my favorite tracks off of their new album.


Roland Orzabal (one of TFF's lead singers) is the blurry chap in the middle of the photo. On the left, you can make out TFF's keyboardist, Doug Petty.

After Secret World, the band went into God's Mistake off of the album 'Raoul and the Kings of Spain'. Following that, they belted out my favorite, Head Over Heels (it seemed like Roland was having trouble with his headpiece during this song, and Curt with his mic!) and followed with Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, What Are We Fighting For? (one of Curt Smith's [second lead sinegr for TFF] solo works), Sowing The Seeds Of Love (that one got the audience on their feet!), Pale Shelter, and then Floating Down The River.


TFF from the back. If you look at the center of the photo under the white spotlight, you'll see Charlton Pettus, TFF's lead guitarist. Throughout the concert when the stage would rotate toward my section, I'd be singing along to the current song and Charlton would look at me and grin. I think he found my impressive knowledge of the lyrics funny. Or incredibly nerdy. Same difference! ;)

Now I have to stop here and mention Floating Down The River is a new song they haven't recorded in the studio yet, but it is fucking AWESOME. It has a fun, driving drum/bass line that makes you want to dance and a rather enjoyable nonsensical chorus. It honestly sounded nothing like TFF's previous works. I was reminded of Franz Ferdinand and Modest Mouse in parts of the song. Bravo, chaps! I can't wait to get the cut on CD. ;) Anyhoo...

After River, they broke into Mother's Talk, I Believe, Mad World, Quiet Ones, Break It Down Again (always a crowd favorite!), Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and then Man On The Moon.

Yes, I said Man On The Moon. They covered an REM song! It was fantastic because they nailed the mood and flavor of the song spot on. Additonally, Roland, Curt, and Nick respectively took turns singing the verses. It was much too cute. ;)


Roland and his trusty red semi-hollow electric! Dig Curt in the background relaxing. ;)

When they finished Man On The Moon, Roland turned to the audience and declared that they wouldn't be running off the stage, and then back on again for the encore as usual. He told everyone to pretend that they had run off, and just ran back on. Taking their que, the crowd applauded and cheered loudly as Roland threw his arms and head back in a triumphant pose. The band then went into Woman In Chains, and wrapped up the concert with Shout. A fine ending to a fine concert, indeed!


Colplay moment! "It was all yellow..."

After the concert was over, Afton and I said our goodbyes to the fans around us and hung around to wait and talk to Gruno, who we had gotten to know through the radio show he hosts. After most of the audience had cleared out, Gruno came bounding up and handed me a couple of VIP passes! I looked at him oddly because I wondered why I'd need two. He then asked me where my mom was (hahaha!), and I told him she only flew with me to Phoenix, but she didn't want to go to the concert. ;) I gave him the second pass back, and he told Afton, Brenna, and myself to wait a while and then he'd take us backstage. So, the three of us wandered back into the theater's lounge so that Afton and Brenna could wait in line to use the restroom. While I was there waiting for Afton and Brenna, I made small talk with another older fan named Lisa, and just observed the people around me being douche bags.



After about 10 minutes, Afton and Brenna come back out and we head back into the stage area to find Gruno. However, Gruno was busy when we wandered back in and the three of us ended up being escorted downstairs by another stagehand. I honestly felt like I was wandering through a labyrinth on the way down - the way to the dressing rooms wound every which way and went right down a looong hallway. 50 years later, we find ourselves face-to-face with TFF's 7-foot tall Scottish road manager, Gungi. Gungi however, was terribly kind to us and showed us to TFF's dressing room doorway. Afton stopped in her tracks and told me to go first as she pushed me, but I didn't move my feet since I wasn't brave enough to be the forerunner. A second later, however, Afton walks in and Brenna and I follow.

Now, I often hear that meeting your favorite band face-to-face is hardly like you'd ever imagine it'd be like. Let me tell you my friends, it's the truth. It is utterly SURREAL to walk into your favorite band's dressing room and just find them standing around hanging out.

When the three of us first walked in, we didn't say anything for a few seconds and just looked around the tiny, TERRIBLY WARM room taking it all in. Immediately in front of us however, was Roland Orzabal. As in, Roland Orzabal, my absolute favorite musician of all time in the history of EVER. Politely, he makes introductions with Afton and Brenna. I honestly don't remember if I introduced myself or told him my name but I know I was terribly clever and said, "Hi Roland." He said "Hello." Then I said, "Can I have a hug?" (Hahaha!) Of course he said yes, and gave me a nice big one. Heehee!

Like I mentioned earlier, Afton's an attractive blond who makes conversation easily with anybody - especially manfolk (99% of which are probably thinking of hooking up with her at any given time, heehee!). So Afton was busy working the room and chatting it up with Curt and Roland and Nick and Chartlon and Doug and Amy and I know I shouldn't be using all those "ands" but I don't care. ;) I sort of just hung back and watched everyone make conversation and be goofy.

The first band member I made conversation with was Nick D'Virgilio, who I talked to once before back in April after a Spock's Beard concert. Now, I don't know exactly what fun drinks Nick had fallen into, but he was a bit shnockered, to put it nicely. ;) He wasn't drunk, but he was on the higher side of being buzzed. Hahaha! Anyway, I asked him to do me a special favor while I was talking to him, which he nicely agreed to. I can't go into specifics here on what KIND of special favor it was, but for the sake of putting everyone's mind at ease, it wasn't an explicit one. Heehee!


About 10 minutes after hanging out in the dressing room, Gruno handed Afton and I setlists from the stage as souvenirs! Wow! (Click on the pic if you want to see it at full size.)

After I talked to Nick, I joined in on small talk Afton was making with Curt, Roland, and Gruno every now and then. Curt being the proud father he is, showed us pictures of his daughter on something that was bigger than a cellphone and looked like it had a typing pad on it. (A Sidekick, maybe?) Of course his girls are adorable, and you can tell where Curt's heart is when he talks about his family. ;) Very cute.


Here's Curt and I. Like I said, it was sooo hot in their tiny dressing room (in FARKING PHOENIX, [HOTASALLHELL] ARIZONA) that we were all shiny and flushed. Also, my hair looks ridiculous. DAMN!!!

What's funny is that several times while we were hanging out in the dressing room, Nick kept wandering up to me and looking at me. I'd smile at him because, uhmmmm... What else are you supposed to do? And he'd smile back and wander away again, or say something random. Once, he asked me where I was from. Sacramento I answered. And then he asked why I wasn't going to any of the winery shows in Napa Valley, which were closer to me than Phoenix and (next week) Oregon. I told him the seats sucked. He said oh. A different time, he asked me AGAIN if I was going to any other shows. I reminded him again - Oregon. Then he said oh yeah, wasn't I from Sacramento? Yessss, I said. He then got all excited and said, the bassist from Spock's Beard lives there! And I said yeah, Dave! And then he told me Dave lived in Fair Oaks, and if I knew where that was. I said yeah, I live right around the corner from that area! Does he give bass lessons, because I need a bass teacher soon. Nick paused for a second and said, YEAH!, e-mail him at dave@spockssmumblemumblepfft...! Tell him Nick told you to e-mail him about bass lessons! I smiled and said okay!

ANYWAY...

Afton, Breanna, Roland and I eventually ended up standing around in a small group together just talking about random, small things. Of course Afton was doing most of the talking while I hung back and listened and politely laughed here and there. ;) At some point during the conversation, he asked us when our birthdays were. When I said mine was August 8th, Roland lifted an eyebrow and Afton said "Oooh, a fellow Leo!" (Roland's a Leo himself.) Afton then said to me "You're quiet for a Leo, but you definitely have the hair!" (Roland's hair is wavy and a bit wild too.) I thought the comment was a bit goofy, so I replied "Yeah, us Leos have the nappy hair and all, yanno!" I'm not sure Roland was too happy I used the term "nappy", but I'm sure he'll get over it. ;) So a bit after that, I turned to Afton and said "Picture time?" And she said "Yeah!"


Here's the first shot of Roland and I. NAPPY HEAD POWER!

That was when we took pictures with Roland. Afton was first, and took one shot with him. He then declared it was time for a "kissing shot!" (Hey, you can't blame him - Afton's dang cute!) So he took Afton and gave her a smooch while the shot was taken. Very cute, indeed. ;) Next it was my turn to take a picture with Roland. Initially when I went to pose with him, he wrapped his arms around me really tightly and my hair got stuck between us. Of course I went to fix it, and when I'm done he asks "Is your hair okay?" I laugh and say, "Yeah, it's good!" So then we take the picture. That was when he declared, "Now for a kissing picture!"

I think I almost fell over when he said that. Because I wasn't expecting the same offer he extended to Afton at all! Without warning, he puckers up and leans in and I see his lips coming at me and I bust out laughing. I mean, COME ON, Roland Orzabal's about to give me a smack on the chops and I have THE WHOLE ROOM watching us take the picture. And I do mean THE WHOLE ROOM - Curt, Afton, Breanna, Gruno, the 4 other backstage guests, and Nick (who was holding the camera) were staring and I couldn't help myself. So I guess Roland mistook my laughing as me being uncomfortable, but not one to miss a golden opportunity, I gather my senses and said, "No, no I'm okay! I'm ready!" So finally Roland leans in and plants one on my lips, but I see no flash go off. I realize I made the mistake of handing my camera to Nick "I like Scotch, ScotchScotchScotch!" D'Virgilio! So while we're holding this kissing position for about 10 seconds, Nick's trying to find the camera's button, Gruno's yelling "Slip her some tongue!" and other techs are yelling "Take the fucking picture" I start laughing again. Fortunately however, Nick snapped the shot a split second before I turned away and let it all out.


Nick's drunken photography skills are shit. But I promise you, that's me being snogged by Mr. Orzabal. ;)

After that, Breanna took some photos with Roland. When hey were done, Roland wandered to another part of the room and I went up to Brenna and admitted that Roland was my first kiss. (I'm alo admitting it all to all of you in LJ land now... Shut up!) Breanna smiled at me and told me I should tell him that! I didn't want to though because I am a nerd and think things like that are embarrassing to reveal and only serve to make me turn red (heehee!). Incidentally, I also told my best friend about the first kiss when I got home and she agreed - I should've told Roland. She also pointed out how lucky I am, because really, how many girls can say their first smooch was from their favorite musician?

Back to the backstage soap opera!

From there on out, the rest of the hour was spent making more chitchat, laughing, and drinking. I didn't have a beer or alcoholic drink with the lads, but I did take a water bottle. I call it my backstage water. ;) And as all good things must come to an end, it was time for the band to go home and for us lucky backstage kids to evacuate the theater. I hugged both Curt and Roland goodbye and told them it was a good show, and thank you. I also took one last picture with Nick and then gave him and hug and European kiss (you know, where you both lean in and kiss each other on the cheek?). Off Roland and Curt went to their Batmobile, escorted by Gruno. Gruno then came back and took the rest of us back upstairs and out of the theater and made sure we all had ways to get home. We all said our various goodbyes and hugged and whatnot. I called for a cab, and then turned around only to be confronted with drunken Nick again who reminded me to "Remember, call Dave! Tell him I told you about bass lessons!!!" Then he ran off and got on the tour bus. Whatta nerd.


Here is Nick being ridiculous. My eyes were also ridiculous in the photo so I've hidden them so I don't scare anyone. I looked like I just got through smoking a joint. HAH!

After that, I gave Afton a birthday present I drew for her, and gave Gruno his gift. I said goodbye to Gruno, and had him give me his cell number so I could call him in Oregon and see him about a horse. Gruno got on the bus, and Afton, Breanna and I wandered over to the front of the theater where Afton hitched a ride back to the hotel for her sister and herself using her feminine wiles on one of the local roadies ;) while I took a cab back to my grandma's abode. I think it was past 1am by the time I got home, and I was exhausted from the whole experience, but...

Man, what a ride. I'll never forget it.





P.S. - I know a few of you who read my journal visit the same TFF haunts I do. So, I ask that you do not re-post any pictures or information you read here - it is friends locked for a reason. Thank you.