Monday, April 30, 2007

TRAVIS @ HENRY FONDA - APRIL 29, 2007

TRAVIS! So cute and nice and funny!!! XD Oh! Can't forget about their lovely ACCENTS! X) They're the reason why I LOVE Scottish guys! :P I think it's only been a little bit over a year since I started listening to them, but they have easily become one of my favorite bands after Keane. :)

Wow, they haven't been here since 2004! Besides the Coachella festival and a secret gig they did about two weeks ago, this was the first real concert since 2004! I was so bummed about missing them at Coachella, but when I found out about this gig, I was so happy! Travis was all I wanted to see anyway, not too many other bands that were there.. It seems I'm into all these artists that happen to be touring this year! Everyone has made a new album in the past year.. :P Keane, Josh Groban, Mika, Rufus Wainwright (but I don't know if I can see him this year :/), and of course Travis!


I was standing for about 7 to 8 hours this time. I waited in line and waited for the band to come out after their sound check (Fran told us they'll come back after they finish before the sound check). :) They are SO incredibly nice! It was so exciting to meet Fran, Dougie, Neil and Andy!! :D I gave the drawing I drew while I stood in line to Dougie since he was the first to see me. He was so adorably kind and gracious about it, and he showed it to Neil too. XD Fran came out last and he was sooo nice. :D He took a picture for us of him, my mom, and me. ^.^

Even though I was near the front of the line, the front row was already filled. I stood behind these "VIP" people. X( How did they get in so early?! Grr, there was a tall guy in front too, so I couldn't see very well. I could only see in the middle between their heads but not to the left and right of my vision... Good thing the opening band was first so I could judge if my view was okay. It wasn't, so I asked the tall guy if we could switch places, but he wouldn't.. :/ Thankfully my mom was in the front all the way to the left of the stage when she was looking for a better spot, so I just went over there. I had a much clearer view without anyone blocking me.

At first I was afraid to take out my camera, but after awhile, everyone was taking pictures and video. The security didn't say anything, so I just took a lot of pictures and video. :D Too bad one of them had to stand in front of the stage right in the MIDDLE! So his head is in a lot of my pictures and videos.. @_@ Travis rocked the house! They were all so cute when they interacted with each other and everything. Fran did a solo acoustic performance of "Flowers In The Window" ♥ When Dougie looked at me, I smiled to him and he smiled back!!! SQUEE! XD Andy apparently did some crazy crowd surfing or something on the other side.. I couldn't see! :( I couldn't see Neil that well either because he's so far back and Dougie was blocking him most of the time. Other than that, it was all good! Fran was so cute when he forced us to "pogo" jump during "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" XD AWESOME show! :D

Here are just a few pictures and tons of videos I already found on YouTube! O_O


The marquee sign! This was after it was fixed.. It said "NKCRW PRESNETS TRAVIS" before.. :P








Fran singing! There's the security guy's head! x_x









Cool shot I got! There's that guy again...






Selfish Jean

My Eyes

Good Feeling

All I Want To Do Is Rock

Turn


Sing

Flowers In The Window

Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

Thanks so much to the people who uploaded these great videos of the wonderful show! :)

Hope you enjoyed reading and watching!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

JOSH GROBAN @ STAPLES CENTER - 3/31/07 + @ MGM GRAND ARENA - 4/7/07

Josh Groban! I love this guy!!! I have been listening to him since 2004, and I even put him as one of my role models (along with my brother) on one of my college applications! XD

I bought my tickets to see him at the STAPLES Center ages ago (last November!), but I bought my tickets to see him at MGM at the last minute (the Thursday before the show). ^^; My seats were far up from the stage at the STAPLES Center, but at least I wasn't all the way on the other side of the stadium. I was in the second tiered level on the side at MGM, so I was a lot closer. Both views were pretty good, and I wasn't at the back either of the time. The expensive tickets to see Josh are so worth it! He is amazing!

My heart was beating so rapidly when it started at the STAPLES Center. I had no idea what to expect, and it was so exciting to hear "You Are Loved" first. The beginning got everyone pumped up, and it was just awesome!

For nearly two hours, Josh sang every single song with the strongest voice! WOW, you have to see him live to appreciate how GOOD he is! I loved the parts in between the songs when he's being funny and joking around. It was so exciting to see him walk through the audience during "In Her Eyes" too (even though I was far away both times XP)! I was just in awe... Josh's voice is able to captivate a whole stadium arena and make everyone erupt with cheers. I truly admire this guy...

Josh's violinist, Lucia Micarelli, was great too! Her interlude of "Kashmir" was really cool! She shredded up her bow, and it amazed everyone. The passion and how she gets so into it is awesome. Josh is so lucky to have so many talented musicians working and performing with him. *g*

The quality of my pictures aren't as nice as the pictures from other gigs I've been to since I was so far away, but here are a few of my better shots. :)

STAPLES Center:

Angelique Kidjo was Josh's opening performer, and I enjoyed her fun intro as she got the crowd going with her great African beats. :D









Here is a shot I got from the screen. YAY, I was able to get a clear picture of his face! XD








A pretty shot I got during "So She Dances" ^_^







The security at MGM sucked! They were camera vultures, so I couldn't take as many nice pictures or video when I had the better view! X( So here's just one of the best pictures I was able to get during the opening "You Are Loved" :)

After the show at the STAPLES Center, I waited for Josh for about two hours. A car pulled up and he came out to sign autographs for everyone! He is so nice and lovely! Unfortunately, my camera died, so I couldn't get any pictures at the time, but it was exciting when I stuck out my hand as he was leaving and he grabbed it!!! :D His hand was so warm, but mine was freezing from standing out in the cold for so long.. ^^; After the show at MGM, I also waited for him and was able to give him something this time. He said "Thank you!" too. ^_^ So, despite the brief encounters with Josh, he is still so kind. You can't blame him for being so famous that he can't stick around and get bombarded by crazy fans! :P

Now, here are some videos I found on YouTube of both performances. Of course, none of these are mine again!

STAPLES Center:

You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)


Lucia's Kashmir


In Her Eyes


Josh's amazing drum solo during "Canto Alla Vita"


You Raise Me Up


MGM Grand Arena:

Funny dance lesson with Angelique


Not While I'm Around


Sigh, I got some funny videos too, but of course my internet sucks and I can't share them.. :/ I hope you enjoyed these ones, though! :D

I would love to see Josh again, even though I already saw him twice in one week... He's phenomenal! He's coming back in the summer.. I hope I can go to that show too, and hopefully get a better seat as well! ^^