Aaron Lewis and Staind

Heavy metal is great, but I cannot deny hard rock

Everyone knows me as the girl who loves heavy metal. Usually my motto is ‘the heavier the better.” Well the music I love does vary and most people don’t know this. I absolutely love heavy metal; however, I love hard rock and alternative rock just as equally.

Staind could be classified as hard rock and they are my favorite band of all time. The few times I have met Aaron Lewis, front man, he was extremely kind and genuine. He is of the most genuine people in this world – everyone who meets him says the exact same thing.

There are a few main reasons why I am in love with Aaron Lewis… Not only does he have an amazing voice and do I find him incredibly sexy, but he is also genuine. With all of that said, I still have not touched upon the number one reason why I love Aaron Lewis and Staind.

Lyrics

The number one reason Staind is my favorite band is because of their lyrics. Aaron’s solo albums and Staind’s albums have gotten me through really hard times in my life. Their lyrics are beautiful, relatable, and creative.

Believe

I went through an extremely hard time in my life. It’s too personal to discuss online; however, one day during this time I turned on the radio and Staind’s song “Believe” was playing. I knew right then and there that someone up in heaven was sending me a message that I was going to be okay. I got the word “believe” tattooed on me and I look at it every single day. This song is a reminder to me of how far I have come and how far I will continue to go. Here are the lyrics:

“Believe”

I sit alone and watch the clock
Trying to collect my thoughts
All I think about is you
And so I cry myself to sleep
And hope the devil I don't meet
In the dreams that I live through

Believe in me
I know you've waited for so long
Believe in me
Sometimes the weak become the strong
Believe in me
This life is not always what it seems
Believe in me
Cause I was made for chasing dreams

All the smiles you had to fake
And all the shit you had to take
Just to lead us here again
I never have the things to say
To make it all just go away
To make it all just disappear

Believe in me
I know you've waited for so long
Believe in me
Sometimes the weak become the strong
Believe in me
This life is not always what it seems
Believe in me
Cause I was made for chasing dreams

It’s my life
It’s my choice
Hear my words
Hear my voice
And just believe

I sit alone and watch the clock
Trying to collect my thoughts
And all I think about is you

If you believe in me
Life is not always what it seems
Believe in me
Cause I was made for chasing dreams

Believe in me
I know you've waited for so long
Believe in me
Sometimes the weak become the strong
Believe in me
This life is not always what it seems
Believe in me
Cause I was made for chasing dreams

Now, to all of my die-hard heavy metal listeners, can you honestly say you blame me for having a soft spot for slow rock songs after reading those lyrics?

Killswitch Engage

Love or Hate?

Killswitch Engage is a band I have been meaning to get into for years now. I only know a few of their songs – “My Curse” and “Holy Diver” are the only ones I can name right off the top of my head.

Wracking my brain

I was sitting here for at least 25 minutes trying to figure out where I saw the band and when…I knew I had seen them before. Then after looking through pictures I finally remembered! They were at the Trespass America Festival in August with a bunch of really awesome bands. I don’t remember much from the show except for Five Finger Death Punchs’ show (they were the band I was there to see). Yet, I do remember when Killswitch Engage played “My Curse” and I was so excited that I knew one song!

Upcoming show

A guy that I have been talking to has an extra ticket to a Killswitch Engage show in a few weeks – and OF COURSE I said I would go. I just downloaded one of their albums – somehow I have all of their albums on my Itunes but don’t know any of their music…

Time to learn some lyrics

I am really good with knowing bands but not knowing more than one song. So what I tend to do, is if I know I am going to a show and I don’t know that many songs, I will get the most recent set list from the internet and learn all of those songs so I am prepared for the show. No one wants to go to a concert and not know any of the songs! I’ve been there and done that with many bands – one that sticks out is All That Remains. I saw them twice, and the second time I made the mistake of not learning their new album. I only knew their old stuff and they basically only played songs from their new album. Tisk Tisk right?

My issue with the band

I don’t have a specific issue with the band or their music, it just annoys me because my ex-boyfriend was obsessed with this band (I think that’s how all of the music wound up on my laptop). Anyway, it’s not that it reminds me of him, but it’s the fact that this is his favorite band that it just gets on my nerves. That is probably why I have stayed clear for so long. Well, it’s time to get over that. No one “owns” a band, and I’m ready to give them a fair chance!

I am really excited to go to this show. First, because I have been meaning to really get into this band and learn their music for years now. But second, and I think more importantly, because the guy I am going with is super cute! The show is a few days after Christmas and now it is going to feel like forever until the day of the show! I hope I learn enough songs in time…

Asking Alexandria Concert Review

From excitement to disappointment

I went and saw Asking Alexandria with As I Lay Dying this past Friday night. I was excited for this show for months and was literally counting down the days until Friday finally arrived.

Preparation

I woke up pretty early on Friday because I had an appointment to get my hair dyed. I have been so excited to dye my hair back to dark colors for a while now – I have been blonde since the beginning of the summer and absolutely hated it. I made my hair appointment for the day of the concert so it would look awesome for the show…if this doesn’t show my excitement, I don’t know what will!

Getting Ready

I went and picked up my friend Dena around 3:30 in the afternoon and we started getting ready. We put together crazy outfits, had a few beers and got extremely pumped up for the show. My friend Alex came over around 5 and we left around 5:30. Here is a picture of us all ready: 

The Venue

When we got to the venue the line was wrapped around the building and they were just beginning to open the doors. It was cold outside and my friends didn’t want to wait in the ridiculous line. Even though I was dying to go in, we got a few drinks at a bar next-door and waited for the line to die down. A few of my other friends met up with us as well and we all headed in together.

Showtime

The opening bands did not impress me and in my opinion, there were WAY too many. We were bouncing around from the bar back into the crowd for a while. As I Lay Dying came on and played a great show as usual – they are fantastic performers.

Asking Alexandria

My band FINALLY came on and I would not contain myself. The place went wild – the there was so much screaming it was insane. The band came on stage and they played their first song. Everyone seemed a little confused because the person singing was not their lead singer. After the first song, they made an announcement that the lead singer blew out his vocal cord and would not be able to perform – other people would fill in for the night.

Overall

Some of the songs were terrible (especially when the sound-check guy sang), but others were pretty good… (depending on who was singing).

Despite everything, I had a fantastic time at the show because I was surrounded with great friends and great music; however, I just wish I could have heard Asking Alexandria in their prime. 

Tattoos

Judge me on my character, not my ink

Something that really bothers me in this society is the disgust and disproval for tattoos. I’ll never forget when I came home with my first tattoo and my one aunt asked what I was going to do at my wedding – as if it is something hideous that I need to hide by letting my hair down.

I got my first tattoo only weeks after I turned 18. I got it for my aunt who passed away and it is extremely personal. It’s a gorgeous tattoo and both of my parents supported me and loved what I did for my aunt. The rest of the family wasn’t so supportive. However, many, many tattoos and crazy hair colors later, my family has learned to either keep their mouths shut or smile and pretend to like whatever it is I do.

I have 6 small tattoos, and my side and my leg done. I absolutely love tattoos and the meaning behind every single one of mine. I feel it is a beautiful way to showcase your beliefs and what you love. Tattoos are body art that will forever be with you. I don’t understand people’s hatred for tattoos. If you don’t like them, keep your opinions to yourself. Oh, and don’t trash other people’s passions!

One thing that really bothers me is the fact that tattoos are starting to affect whether or not people get jobs. Hair color, tattoos, and piercings all make a difference when you apply and interview for a job. In my opinion, none of these things should matter. How should my appearance affect someone’s decision to hire me for a position? My tattoos or hair color have nothing to do with my 3.84 GPA. It makes me sick to think that overqualified and extremely intelligent people aren’t given jobs simply because they do not “look” the part.

How are we supposed to look? Are we all supposed to wear skirts and Hollister shirts, have blonde hair, and be perfect little princesses? It is a load of crap. People need to stop judging people based off of what they look like and start judging them on their character. People are so harsh in judging others – I see people every day being judged for being overweight, unattractive, a different race, etc.

Just because someone has a lot of tattoos does not mean they are a serial killer. One of my tattoos is for my aunt, one is a mother daughter tattoo, and the rest are either song lyrics or have symbolic meanings. People who look at me don’t assume I am a very intelligent college student. If I am on the beach, the only thing people see are my tattoos exposed and assume I am bad news.

I hope I am still alive to see the day when it doesn’t matter how many tattoos people have, what hair color or how many piercings people have while working. Things are getting better now in 2012 – more people are open to tattoos and such, but we still have a long way to go.

Three Days Grace

Album Review - Transit of Venus

Three Days Grace are not necessarily a heavy metal band, they are more on the alternative rock/hard rock spectrum; However, I have been listening to them since I was young. I grew up listening to their self titled album, Three Days Grace, and their other early album One-X. They released another album back in 2009 called Life Starts Now. When I heard they would be releasing a new album this year I was ecstatic.

The day it came out

Transit of Venus came out on October 2, 2012, and I know this still because I went to best buy that day after class to purchase the album. Excitement surged through my body as I couldn’t wait to break open the package and listen to the album. After my first listen through the album I was extremely disappointed; I only liked two of the songs.

I threw the album aside disappointed in how boring it seemed. I was frustrated that the album lacked heavy songs. I miss songs like “Riot” and “Animal I Have Become” from One-X, “I Hate Everything about You” from their self-titled album, and “Break” from Life Starts Now. Those songs are among their most popular and probably their “heaviest” songs.

After a second and third listen at the album, I started to appreciate the music and lyrics. Listen after listen I have fallen in love with the album. Even though the album is not very heavy at all, the lyrics are beautiful and have really connected me to the lyrics.

My three favorite songs

1) “Chalk Outline” – This has to be my favorite song on the new album. These lyrics really hit me hard when I went through a bad break up a few months ago. Here are some lyrics:

“You left me here like a chalk outline. On the sidewalk waiting for the rain to wash away. You keep coming back to the scene of the crime. But the dead can't speak and there's nothing left to say anyway. All you left behind. Is a chalk outline….I've been cold in the crypt. But not as the cold as the words across your lips. You'll be sorry baby. Some day. When you reach across the bed where my body used to lay.”

This song reminds me of a breakup and then the line “you’ll be sorry one day” really picks me up every time I listen to it.


2) “Expectations” – I really love the message behind this song. Basically it says to throw away and get rid of expectations because they don’t mean anything. The refrain states: “expectations, go to hell!”


3) “Misery Loves my Company” – When I was going through my break up I really got attached to this song, especially this refrain:

“I am not alone, not beaten down just yet. I am not afraid of the voices in my head. And down the darkest road something follows me. I am not alone This misery loves my company.”

I became obsessed with this song and listened to it over and over again until I memorized every line.

Overall, I have learned from this that first impressions aren’t always accurate. We should all learn to give people, things, and even albums, second chances. I never used to give anyone second chances; I am a very cut and dry person. But over the last few years, I have changed my mind about second chances and I have been very surprised at what has come of these second chances.

Meet & Greets

Great experiences that are worth the price

Even though certain VIP packages may be more expensive than others depending on the band, most music lovers can agree no price is too steep when it comes to purchasing a meet and greet ticket. Meet and Greets are such great experiences. You are able to meet your idols and depending on the VIP package, sometimes there are other surprises that come along with that shiny lanyard. Here are some of my favorite Meet and Greet experiences I have had over the years...

Shinedown

As I mentioned in a previous post, back in July 2008 I went to Asbury Park to see Staind and Shinedown. I waited in line 8-10 hours and it paid off because I met Aaron Lewis when he was strolling down the board walk (I posted a picture in a previous post).

Not only was I able to meet my all-time idol, but we met some really great people in line and became good friends; what else is there to do with 8-10 hours? As it turns out, these two women behind us who we spend the whole day getting to know, had two extra VIP tickets to meet Shinedown. Because we were so friendly, saved their spot in line when they went to get food or use the bathroom, they gave my ex-boyfriend and I their extra tickets. It was a kind and amazing gesture. I was able to meet the band, get autographs, and a picture. Here is a picture from that day:

 

Aaron Lewis from Staind

Aaron Lewis has been my idol for as long as I can remember. His lyrics speak to me and have gotten me through really hard times. I have lyrics of his tattooed on my body; I have seen Staind a few times and I have also met Aaron twice. The most amazing thing about Aaron is that not only is he amazingly talented, but he is a down-to-earth, genuine man.

Back in February 2010 I went to see Aaron Lewis play an acoustic show and I bought the VIP package. We were allowed in to meet Aaron, to take pictures and to get autographs. Then we were able to listen to Aaron perform his sound check before the show. The small group of VIP ticket holders had our own private little concert. It was the most amazing day of my life. Here is a picture from that day:

As I Lay Dying VIP

Last summer my ex got us free VIP tickets to meet As I Lay Dying and free tickets to see the concert, which included Asking Alexandria, As I Lay Dying, and Slipknot. My ex-boyfriend use to work at a radio station and he could basically call up his old boss anytime and get free tickets to anything he wanted. It was pretty awesome when he surprised me the day before with the tickets. I was more excited to see Slipknot for the first time than for the As I Lay Dying meet and greet; however, it was an amazing experience.

It was a small group of VIP ticket holders. We were brought to a private area with picnic benches and we were given free dinner, t-shirts, and other small collectables. After we all ate, the band entered and spent their time walking around talking to everyone. I had not really listened to much of their music previously to this meet and greet, so I felt pretty stupid when I didn’t know any of their names. This meet and greet was amazing – a band that I barely knew or listened to, were the nicest people I have ever met. They were all so friendly and really down to earth. I was able to get pictures and everything with the band. This experience made me decide I need to get into their music. They are extremely talented and insanely kind, which is something really important to me. Here is a picture of me with the band: 

 

If you have a little extra cash in your pocket when you are searching for a concert to go to, pay the extra money and meet your favorite band. Chances are, it will be the experience of a lifetime, and something you will never forget. You can’t take money with you when you die, so you minds well spend it in the best way possible – and in my opinion, that would be to meet my favorite artists!

Asking Alexandria

My New Discovery and New Obsession

Back in November 2010 I went to see All That Remains and one of their opening bands was Asking Alexandria. I had never heard of them before and had no clue who they were. I honestly don’t think I really paid attention to the band much and never really thought much about it. However, just over the last six months, I have gotten really into the band.

Free Tickets

Over the summer my ex was able to get us free VIP meet and greet passes to meet As I Lay Dying. Also at the show Asking Alexandria was playing as well as Slipknot. I met As I Lay Dying and they were all fantastic guys. I don’t really know much of their music but this day made me want to learn more of their songs.

As I Lay Dying played on stage first followed by Asking Alexandria. I had only just started listening to their music and I only knew one of their songs; however, they sounded fantastic live. After their performance I knew I had just discovered a new favorite band. After Asking Alexandria played, Slipknot came on and played the show of a lifetime.

Over the last couple months I have really been listening to Asking Alexandria and have fallen in love with the band and their music. What amazes me most is the talent in the lead singers singing voice, and also how he can then create those high pitch screams, and extremely low screams. The talent he has is unbelievable.

Upcoming Concert

I am going to see Asking Alexandria a week from tomorrow and I am really excited. They are playing with As I Lay Dying and it is expected to be a great show. I am extremely excited to finally see these bands again now that I know their music.

I will post pictures and rate the concert after I attend.

To my readers:

·         Do any of you listen to Asking Alexandria?

·         Do you prefer their first or second album?

·         What songs are your favorites?

"What is that Noise?"

Let’s discuss why heavy metal is more than just “screaming”

The one thing that really gets to me is when people make fun of heavy metal music and say it is “just screaming,” “loud noise” and that “you can’t understand what they are saying.” Well, there is a reason heavy metal is loud, and there’s a reason for those screams. The genre is a lot more than non-listeners believe.

People I hear crap from

My mom hates my music and whenever I have something to say about popular bands like Maroon 5 (gag), she always says that at least you can understand what those bands are saying. She then imitates someone screaming and making no sense as a way to bash my music. I usually roll my eyes and my dad will look over and say “she doesn’t appreciate music.” I used to hear a lot of crap from friends and many people online. My friends over the years have stopped giving me so much crap and they either respect the music I like, or it just doesn’t get brought up.

Crushing those critiques

First, heavy metal is NOT just screaming. The artists are screaming to get their point across. Their screams allow you to feel their pain, their emotion and their beliefs. The screams bring you right into the music and you become that person. Also, most of the artists that scream also have fantastic voices (like Corey Taylor from Slipknot – he has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard). It takes real talent to be able to scream in the way these artists do; there is some kind of special technique they need to use their throat for in order to create those sounds – not anyone can be a heavy metal singer.

Second, it is not just “loud noise.” Each song is a creatively thought out song with meaningful lyrics. Just because the genre is loud and involves screaming, doesn’t mean people shouldn’t give the music a chance.

Third, you definitely can understand the lyrics. So many people have asked me how I understand what the artists are saying. The way to learn a heavy metal song is to first read the lyrics. You should then read the lyrics while you let the song play. After doing this a few times, the lyrics will stick in your brain and you will remember the song. It is easy to identify lyrics the more you listen to the genre; you start to just have an ear for what the artists are saying. Even sometimes I still have difficulty hearing the lyrics with new songs – which is when I pull up the lyrics and familiarize myself with the song that way.

Give metal a chance

If you’re a hater, that’s fine. But don’t hate on the genre without understanding that there is more to metal than screaming and loud noise. There is a difference between being ignorant and being rude. If you didn’t know these things about heavy metal, well now you know. However, if you did know these things and still choose to hate on the genre, then you’re just rude.

My Readers:

·         Have any of you experienced negative feedback or critiques about the genre of music you like?

·         What is the most common thing you hear people say and how do you respond?

My Worst Concert Experience

One show I will always remember…but not for good reasons

My ex-boyfriend and I would always fight before shows. He never wanted to wait in line ahead of time and I am the type of person that likes to give myself plenty of time to insure I get a good spot.

The beginning

We had a long drive down to Atlantic City to see Papa Roach (not a heavy metal band, but a band I am very fond of). They are more of a hard rock band. After arguing on the way there, we waited in line for at least four hours. After such a long wait, my adrenaline was going crazy because I was so excited to finally see this band. There were a few opening bands, which took another few hours to get through.

One opening band was Skillet, I band I had never heard of before. I turned out to think they were completely awesome – minus the fact that the fat girls to our side and in front of us went absolutely crazy for them, screamed their lyrics louder than they sang them, and the one girl flipped her hair into my face the entire time. I even got an arm in my face at one point. My temper was raging and I had had enough at this point.

Papa Roach enters the stage

Finally after a two hour drive, lots of arguing, a four hour wait, three opening bands, and being surrounded by annoying fans, Papa Roach had FINALLY come on stage. I was so excited I couldn’t contain myself. Everyone started jumping and the first song was absolutely amazing. In the third song, Jacoby jumped into the audience and I got to touch him. Life seemed perfect and that everything I dealt with earlier in the day was worth it...

Well, I think it was the third or fourth song in, someone pushed me really hard into the guard rail and my boyfriend at the time turned around to see who pushed me and he got punched in the face. A brawl started between my ex and some random guys. It all happened so fast – the bouncers jumped on top of them and dragged them out of the crowd.

I was left alone. I was a complete wreck. My boyfriend had my phone in his pocket so I had no way to get in touch with him to find out where they took him. I was crying by this point because I had no clue how I was going to find him. I got myself out of the crowd and went around asking people if they saw anything.

Ill never forget this young boy – he had to be 13 years old. He saw me crying and I asked him if I could use his cell phone. He was the sweetest little kid. Him and his dad let me use their phone. Of course my boyfriend didn’t pick up, so I was still not sure what to do. Thankfully the little boy saw where they went and pointed me in the right direction.

I exited the venue

I finally found my boyfriend and the cops were there dealing with everything. It was obvious that the other two guys started the fight for no reason, and my boyfriend didn’t even throw a punch – he was too busy shielding his face and holding his glasses. The bouncers were going to let us back into the show because they knew my boyfriend hadn't done anything wrong; however, the girl who was with the two guys decided to say “no, but he hit me in the face.” You can only imagine the anger boiling inside of me...

So basically we were kicked out of the venue, for something we didn’t even do, and I waited hours and hours and dealt with so much crap, for absolutely nothing. It was definitely the worst concert experience of my life.

Waiting in Line for Concerts

What is the longest time you have waited?

Typically, I will wait in line for a show for 1-2 hours. One to two hours to me is nothing and it is the perfect amount of time to get a decent spot for a show.

What can make a difference?

1)    Seats vs. Pit:

If you have seats for a show, it doesn’t matter what time you get there. You can arrive at the show 5 minutes before it starts or an hour before – it won’t make any difference.

2)    Venue:

I’ve been to so many concerts over the years and so many venues. Depending on which venue I am going to, I can determine how long I should wait in line. If I have pit tickets at the Susquehanna Bank Center in Camden, I usually do not show up early. Last time I went there for the Manson & Zombie show, I actually arrived late. The opening band was almost over when I arrived, and I still managed to get a great spot only a few rows back. Some venues the pit doesn’t fill up and you don’t have to worry about standing in long lines to get a good spot.

However, if I am going to the House of Blues in Atlantic City, I will wait in line for at least an hour. This venue always has VIP lines and they are always allowed in first. I usually buy VIP tickets when I attend shows at this venue so I am allowed early entry. However, if I have regular entry, I will usually wait in line for 2 hours so make sure I will be in the first few rows when I enter the venue.

3)   Whoever is attending the show with you:

My ex-boyfriend would always fight with me before shows about the amount of time we should wait in line. I always wanted to wait in line for at least an hour or two and he would argue that this was a waste of time. I don’t remember a show when we didn’t fight about when we should arrive.

When I go to shows with friends, everything is more laid back. My friends don’t really care if we wait or if we arrive on time, or even late. However, if you want to be able to get a good spot and wait in line for a few hours, make sure you don’t invite someone to go with you who is working that day and will not get out of work until an hour before the show. Be smart about planning who you want to go to the show with.

My wait record

The longest I’ve waited in line for a show was about 8-10 hours. This was back in 2008 when I went to Asbury Park, NJ to see my favorite band Staind. They are not heavy metal, but they are my all-time favorite band. I believe the show started around 8 or 9 and I arrived at the boardwalk sometime around 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. I was second in line and I waited in the hot sun for hours and hours that day in July and watched the waves crash on the beach.

Most people told me I was crazy for waiting that long, but it turned out to be the best day of my life. Aaron Lewis, singer from Staind, just happened to be walking the boardwalk during the day with his daughter eating an ice-cream cone and I was able to meet him and get pictures and autographs. The wait did not bother me and in the end it turned out to pay off greatly when I was able to meet my idol. Here is a picture from that day:

Some questions for my readers

·         What is the longest amount of time you have waited in line for a concert?

·         What do you consider to be the perfect amount of time to wait in line?

·         Do you wait in line or show up right on time?

Good vs. Bad Concert Crowds

Where to stand, what to watch out for and what not to do

Concerts have been a huge part of my life for a long time now. I have been to tons of concerts of all genres and I have seen many different crowds. Sometimes the crowds are rougher than others and sometimes they are more fun than others. There are some things you should be aware of when it comes to crowds and concerts.

Where to stand

I always want to be in the front of the crowd – yes, I am that girl who will stand in line for hours to get front row. But there is a method to my madness. If you are in the front row, you have a guard rail or something to lean on or hold onto. Not only are you the closest to the band, but if you start to feel sick or the crowd gets really rough, you have something sturdy to brace yourself against. There have been times when I felt sick and I used the guard as a method to keep myself standing. I also remember times when the crowds were so rough that I couldn’t even use the guard rail to brace myself and I jumped over the rail and took myself out of the front.

Being in the front row is not only awesome, but it is probably one of the safer places to be. Some other good places to stand are off to the sides, or in the very back. When I am not able to be first or second row, I tend to find somewhere either off to the right or left to stand. The moshing usually occurs directly in the center of the crowd, and if you don’t want to be thrown around and get hurt, the best option for you is to avoid the mosh pits at all costs. If you are front row, or off to the sides, you most likely will not have to worry about mosh pits. Also, if you don’t care about being close, standing towards the back is always the safest bet (but, how much will you enjoy a show from the very back?).

What to watch out for

First, be aware of crowd surfing and moshing. I have gotten kicked in the head, kicked in the face, thrown around, pushed, and the whole nine yards. Concerts are great but they can also be dangerous – especially for people who are small (like me). If someone is crowd surfing and you are aware of this, duck! (At least, that’s what I do). I’ve gotten kicked in the head too many times to not duck at a show when I know someone is about to come flying over my head.

Second, be aware of the people directly around you. Try to make friends with the people you are standing with. Each show I attend, I always connect with the people I meet in line or am standing near in the crowd. It’s only natural to become friendly with the people you wait hours in line with or are rubbing up against during the show.

Also, it’s good to make friends because that means the fewer enemies you will make. If you are “that annoying girl” or that “obnoxious fan”, most likely you will either be a) knocked out b) picked up and thrown or c) the target for violence. I remember one show I was at, this one girl would not stop jumping and forcing her way to the front, even though we had all been standing in the same spot for hours. The guys around me picked her up and threw her towards the front and over the rail. She lost her spot, and who knows where she went after she made her way back into the crowd.

It is also important to make friends at shows because you never know what could happen. I got pushed by a guy one time, and someone I became friends with defended me and watched out for my safety. The people around you become your support system during the show and usually, at least in my case, become your friends or Facebook friends even after the show. I even dated someone I met at a concert for a few months. You never know who you will meet!

What not to do

1)    Don’t try to fight anyone – you will either get kicked out, or knocked out. I have tried to act tough and it’s never a good idea to try to start drama with people who are hyped up, drinking, and twice your size.

2)    Don’t start drama – make friends and keep to yourself; you will have a better experience this way.

3)    Don’t be obnoxious – everyone knows what it is like to love a band, but there is a difference between rocking out and being obnoxious. Don’t flip your hair around and purposely bump into people.

Most importantly, remember to HAVE FUN! You paid money for this show. Just be aware of the type of crowd you are in and try to stay as safe as possible. Make friends, be aware of your surroundings and everything will be fine. Don’t forget to rock out!

Benefits of Listening to Heavy Metal

Why to tune in and not tune out

People have questioned me over the years and asked why it is that I love heavy metal so much. My mom asked me the other day “why do you enjoy listening to screaming, wouldn’t you like to be able to understand what they are singing?” Truth be told, if you are a metal fan, you DO know the lyrics and CAN understand what the band is singing. Us metal fans already know the lyrics so we find it easy to understand. Learning a new song can be tricky though; you should definitely look up the lyrics to get familiar with the song. Trying to learn new songs without the lyrics in front of you can be equally as challenging for a non-metal listener and metal listener.

I believe there are three obvious benefits of listening to heavy metal:

1)   It helps you get your anger out

Over the years, and still today, when I am really angry or frustrated I put my IPod on full blast and within 20 minutes or so I feel instantly better. Whenever I am at the point where I feel like I am going to punch a wall, I always put my music on. Sometimes it will take 10-20 minutes and sometimes it takes an hour; but one thing is for sure: it ALWAYS calms me down and helps me forget why I was even angry in the first place.

2)   It’s great workout music

I struggle with finding motivation to get myself to the gym to workout. A few months ago, when I was dedicated and went to the gym a few times a week, metal really helped me work out. The loud screaming and fast beats pump me up and get my legs moving faster than if I was listening to something mellow.

3)   It is easy to connect to

The biggest criticism about heavy metal is that it is just screaming. But have you actually sat down and wondered why it is that person is screaming? They have experienced pain, heartbreak, and terrible situations in their lives that mostly everyone can relate to. Listening to these artists scream their hearts out really connects you to the lyrics and allows you to understand why it is the artist is screaming.

One unfortunate disadvantage

Unfortunately metal does come with a price – hearing loss. Ever since I was young, I always listened to my IPod as high as it would go. Over the years, I have noticed my hearing deteriorate. My friends joke around with me and call me deaf, because a lot of the times I have to say “what?” three times to hear what one of them is saying. My best friend jokes around the holidays that she is going to buy me a hearing aid.

When I watch television at home, I have the volume turned up to 25-30 (my sister or mom can clearly hear it on 10-15). I do struggle hearing at times, but it is nothing extremely serious that a doctor has noted. My mom always says, “No wonder your deaf, I can hear your music from over here,” when I walk in the house with my IPod blasting. She always tells me to turn down my music because she is my mom and worries about my health.

I will continue to listen to the music I love, at the volume I love, and I am perfectly fine with any consequences I will have to deal with in the future. Hearing loss is one price I am willing to pay as a metal fan.

Concert Necessities

What not to leave home without

When going to a concert, there are certain items you SHOULD NOT leave home without. Let us go through a simple ten-item list and examine why each item is important to have with you during a show. I always have all ten of these items with me when I go to a concert.

1)   A camera

I have never gone to a concert without a camera. I always take tons of pictures and sometimes videos. After the concert, it is really fun to re-live the experience by looking at pictures and videos days, weeks, or years later. A camera will help you capture the great memories of the day. Another helpful hint – don’t only take videos! I made the mistake one time of only taking videos. This was back when I had a crappy camera and not one of the videos came out well. To make a long story short, I had no pictures from the show, and no videos of good quality.

2)   Extra batteries

The worst thing that can happen is for your camera to die when you are front row and about to capture that perfect moment. Make sure you put new batteries in your camera before you leave for the show, and always bring back up batteries in case you go through the ones in the camera.

3)   Cell phone

In case something goes wrong, it is extremely important to have your cell phone on you. Also, make sure you keep your cell phone on YOUR PERSON and don’t let someone else hold onto it. At a previous concert, I had my ex-boyfriend put my phone in his pocket for safety. Then during the show, a fight broke out and he got kicked out. I was unable to find him or find security to determine where they took him. I had no cell phone to call anyone and was left to beg someone to use their cell phone – only to realize I was in too much of a panic to remember my ex’s phone number.

4)   Money

Always have cash! If you want a beer, a snack, or maybe shirts or CDs from the merchandise stand, you will definitely want to have cash on you.

5)   Your I.D.

Some venues are 21 and older and you need your license to get a wrist band that allows you to drink, or go into sections where you can purchase alcohol. Also, some venues are 18 and older and you need to verify your name matches the name on your ticket.

6)   Your ticket

You cannot get into your show without your ticket! One time I was 45 minutes away from my house before I realized I left my tickets at home and I had to go all the way back home…let’s not discuss how that night went.

7)   A purse, small bag, or backpack

It’s hard to keep track of items during a show because of all the pushing, shoving and craziness. I usually put everything in my camera bag. A small backpack or small purse works well too. Make sure you have something secure to keep your items in, but nothing too big that is going to be a burden to you during the show.

8)   A poncho

If your concert is outside and there is no cover, ALWAYS bring a poncho and put it in your purse. I have had the terrible experience of getting caught in torrential downpour at a show and it was absolutely miserable. Plus, you don’t want your electronics to get destroyed if it does start to rain.

9)   An unopened bottle of water

Most venues allow you to bring in water if it is unopened. Believe me, you will do basically anything for water as the night gets later and later. After screaming, singing, jumping and rocking out, you are going to be thirsty. If you leave your spot to buy a drink, you probably wont get that spot back. So bring water with you!

10) Chap stick

My mouth is always dry from singing and screaming at shows. My lips also tend to get chapped because of this, so I find it really essential to have chapstick with me.

Your thoughts

·         What are some items you don’t leave home without before going to shows?

·         Do you agree with my list above?

·         Have I forgotten anything?

Most important necessity

This is not necessarily an item, but I NEVER go to a concert alone. I always make sure I am with a friend; usually a guy – especially since heavy metal shows have a lot of big strong guys in the audience pushing and shoving. I am a tiny girl with no muscle whatsoever, and I like to feel like I have someone to protect me in case something were to happen. Safety comes first!