Fellow Shinervillians, I feel, as a SD Mafioso, my duty to inform you that I4C, Un4givN1, RJ, and Linda have crossed over, left this world, died and gone to Heaven (and to think, me a nonbeliever.)! Below, find the tale of their demise. The four of us were standing side stage in the middle of the road, downtown Mobile, AL, under a big oak tree trying to catch some shade close to, but on the other side of the fence from the bus when we saw Jasin. He saw us back and waved us over to the gate between our worlds. He opened the gate and bid us enter. We got hugs and junk, but he had to go. I asked if we could stay, he fished out his backstage wrist band from his pocket and gave it to me--well, truth, he threw it up in the air and made us fight for it, I won. He found Brent’s in the bus and gave it to Un4givN1. RJ got his from Barry earlier. That left Linda, so we decided to hide her. J told us to stay as long as we like and do what we like. Transformed now from plebeians (commoner) to the undead by the fiddler deity’s compassion, we encounter our first NDE (Near Death Experience). Entrenched now, stage left, we set up chairs directly in front of SD’s bus and in perfect line with the big monitor thingy. Shinedown and crew come and go past our post; Barry dubs it, Camp Shinedown. Couple most excellent local bands take the stage, then Evans Blue, which I totally missed ‘cause I was Street Teaming. I got da boys to sign 8 or 10 left over posters I had and handed ‘em out to the youngest fans I could find. Sweet of me, no? Well, if I’m going to heaven, I’ll need at least one good deed to rocket me there. I think Hinder was next, dunno fer sure. Damn, y’all, we was backstage, surrounded by rock gods, I had a really hard time paying attention to what was going on out front. Besides, we had to watch everything from the screen; we couldn’t see the guys on stage. The stinking stage was giamonsterous and 20 feet in the air. We could see underneath it--oh boy. It was during Hinder that we realized that we were not gonna be able to see Shinedown, and that I left my camera in the party barge (not my fault, somebody gave me one pill that made me small and one pill that made me tall, then I couldn’t remember anything at all). We sent a scouting party out and were told by security that we couldn’t enter the VIP section next to the stage; we HAD to stay backstage. (Side note: Can you dig that? Forced to stay backstage with the rock stars, darn, life just sucks, right?) Feeling fucked, we watch 10 Years run up the ramp and hit the stage then disappear from our view. See ya, bummer, dude, wish I could watch yer show. The lead singer was wearing some really funky silver mukluks. Jasin loved ‘em. We watch on the monitor from Camp Shinedown, disappointed that we can’t find a way on stage, but not giving up. Shinedown’s turn. The guys go up the ramp that leads to the stage, Brent goes last. RJ and I decide to walk up to the back of the stage. If we tilt our heads back really far (that’ll leave a kink), we can just see Barry’s kit; better than nuthin’, we figure. So, we’re standing there when we see Brent onstage motioning to Guy (SD’s tour manager). The rock god commands him, pointing to RJ then me, 'I want him and her on stage!' I feel the breath leave my body, the second NDE occurs at this time, weakening our bodies, strengthening our hearts. Unforgiven and Linda see us running up the ramp full tilt boogie (you don’t think we’d keep them waiting, do you?) and join us. We are on the muther-fucking stage, y’all! In front of the fucking VIP-ers, hahahahaha, take that, and that. We are touching distance to Brad and close enough to Barry to see his baby blues, oh, yeah and his green gum, lol. Slipping further with each breath now, each system shock--NDE three hits here treating us to Ambrosia so sweet. Shinedown rips into it; I feel the stage start to vibrate, I see the dreads take wing, the guitar soldiers beat to life; realities now altered, time stopped. I wish I could tell ya the songs in order, but I was so lost in heavenly bliss--ok, the pills helped--that I just can’t remember order and shit. I know they did 45, duh, and Shave Me, and Heroes and I Dare You and Simple Man. The Preacher preached at us and had us sing the One, Two Fuck You song. Jesus, it looked awesome from the stage. All those arms in the air, every voice screaming top lung. Strykyr soars about stage like a wizard with wings and chunks his top hat into the audience. I feel Heaven closing in. Suddenly a burly fella tries to herd us off the stage. Our new friend, Guy comes to the man and says, ‘Not these four, they stay.” Whoa, Nelly, NDE four, Heaven just a nana-second away. After the show, we hang around some more. Brent stays with us for a long time, even though he hasn’t slept for 2 days--he feels the love and it sustains him--signing autographs and chatting with folks. I bring him my nephew to meet and the Preacher says to him how lucky my nephew is to be able to hang around with such a beautiful young lady. I look behind me, but I’m the only one standing there, so I reckon he means me--pluph, go figure that out. When that reckoning hits me is when the angel wings sprout outta my back and I find myself soaring through the atmosphere, heaven bound. So, the next time y’all see me, I swear I’ll try really hard to keep my wings hidden so y’all won’t feel urges to steal them and see heaven for yourself. )O(-Donna
we can't even get close to the buses here anymore cause they have been playing the BIG venue here that is fenced in and we never see anybody even though we hang by the fence for hours after the shows we were lucky to meet them in Jan. when they played the small venue here!
Posts: 619 | Location: Texas | Registered: 27 January 2006
Out of the couple of times I met the guys, I can't say that has ever happened to me to where I get that kind of view to watch. Lucky bitches!
"...but what if the sky fell and time slipped away, if these are my last words then here's what I'll say....I can't erase it because it's with me everyday, the strangest feeling that never goes away..." - Break, Shinedown
Posts: 6151 | Location: West Palm Beach, FL | Registered: 19 October 2005
Every word my friend said was true. And I4C I wanna thank you for truely the best bday I have had in years... the only thing that coulda made it better was.... well, hell you already have enough blackmail info on me lol (especially after this past weekend!)
Posts: 785 | Location: Burried inderneath all these text books | Registered: 31 January 2006
the only thing that could have made it better un4gvn is liz..who woulda fuckin been there had brent told her the deal about transport before hand...but he didn't....also donna you left out the part where brnet calls liz, and lisa and donna make fun of liz saying she's crying or wetting the bed..which b4 NC needs to get straightened out real quick...b/c i can't have my future bff thinking i'm a bed wetter an all that but yea folks everyword the lady spoke is true..yer some lucky bitches you too..but i luvs ya!
Oh shut it Liz, LOL Even without cell service up there you got your call didnt you??? How many 2am wake up calls from Brent does this make now (thanks to your Big sis)?
Posts: 785 | Location: Burried inderneath all these text books | Registered: 31 January 2006
Damn skippy we had a blast!!! im not sure if Ill eber for get that, Brent up there telling me to get my a$s up that ramp lol. Later after the show when we were standing around talking, he told me " I thought yall were comeing rite behind us anyway, when i turned around and you wasnt there,I thought-where did they go?? Thats when i told Guy to get yall up here" That was such a freaking blast, standing like 8FT from Barry the whole set. So if any1 was in the crowd and saw ppl at the back side of the stage- that was us \m/X\m/
Posts: 135 | Location: Pensacola,FL | Registered: 11 October 2005
to many to count l0l..and i am greatful for everyone l0l..and it seems that everytime you get him to call i get somehting out of it...how crazy is that lmao
Looking forward to reading the concert reviews again on the guys especially since this is the on the spot review.lots of action reported from the fans. Love them!
Damn after all this time & reading that & looking back I now realized that Jasin keep saying "Look at his boots" as he walked by when 10 Years was on. I thought he kept saying "look at his boobs" cuz the dude had something written on his chest.
We will chalk that one up to my liquid breakfast and dessert that I had
Posts: 785 | Location: Burried inderneath all these text books | Registered: 31 January 2006
Originally posted by Un4givN1: Damn after all this time & reading that & looking back I now realized that Jasin keep saying "Look at his boots" as he walked by when 10 Years was on. I thought he kept saying "look at his boobs" cuz the dude had something written on his chest.
We will chalk that one up to my liquid breakfast and dessert that I had
No more brownies and beer for you, doodle-bug! )O(-D.
