First concert?
New Kids on the Block, Magic Summer Tour, September 14, 1990 at Dodger Stadium. 60,000 sold out. 2nd row seats. INSANE.

Who did you go with?
Two middle/high schools friends Erin and Claudia. Erin’s parents drove us.

Last concert?
Phantom Planet’s final show at The Troubadour on December 12. *sniff*

Who did you go with?
I went alone.

Was it your idea to go or were you invited?
I got my ticket the day they went on sale. Everyone else lost out.

How many concerts have you been to?
If I include TV show tapings, then close to 300.

Best band to see live?
Duran Duran. Blur. Phantom Planet. James. The Hives. Ash.

Worst band to see live?
Run Run Run. The disLike.

Life-changing concert?
April 1, 1999, Blur at The Mayan. I realized I never had to settle in regards to boys I dated. 7 days later I met Remi.

Best friend to go to a concert with?
Eddie, my partner in crime.

Worst Friend to go to a concert with?
Anyone who brings the drama!

Best thing to bring to a concert?
Tickets, digital camera, ear plugs, and comfy shoes.

Worst thing to bring to a concert?
Anything that will hold up the line to get in.

Best season to go to concerts?
All seasons.

Favorite concert location?
For nostalgia purposes, probably The Troubadour or The Roxy.

Best concert memory?
- The opening notes of “Serious” at the Voodoo Music Festival and JT noticing Eddie soon after, New Orleans, October 29, 2006.
- Getting invited to hear the soundcheck before Blur’s show in Vancouver and being treated to Damon singing a song he’d made up on the spot, Vogue Theatre, June 21, 2003.
- Ash roadtrip… getting into two shows free because Chaz put us on the guestlist, November 2-5, 2002.
- Crowd taking over the stage during Hot Hot Heat’s last song, Troubadour, January 30, 2003.
- Phantom Planet members only show, Club Vinyl, January 2, 2002.
- Somehow zipping straight through the crowd when Damon came onto the barricade and holding his hand for half a song, House of Blues Vegas, June 12, 2003.
- My moment with Chris when Coldplay played an amazing show at the El Rey, August 20, 2002.
- Nick handing me a rose and Roger shaking only me and Eddie’s hands when Duran finished their encore at the Roxy reunion show, July 15, 2003.
- Being front row for New Order’s set at Coachella and then having the security guards lift me (and other NO fans) out of the pit to escape the NIN crowd, May 1, 2005.
- James at Spaceland, June 6, 2008.
And SO MANY MORE!

Funnest thing ever done at a concert?
So many… most listed above and then some.

Worst thing ever done at a concert?
- John Taylor announcing at a Durannie convention that he was leaving Duran, then playing “Lonely in Your Nightmare.” BASTARD!
- Getting so drunk at Duran’s last HOB show during their stint (6 shows in a row in 2000) that I don’t remember most of the concert.
- The Linebacker. A Duranie who as soon as she got into the Joint in Vegas literally ran into those who were already at the front of the stage like a linebacker to shove them out of the way. One of the most insane things I’ve ever witnessed.
…And I’m sure there’s way more…

Longest concert ever attended?
Inland Invasion… or 3 day Coachella… or any Cure concert.

What’s the most you have paid for tickets?
All Madonna tickets. I think one was $250+. Ridiculous.

Upcoming concerts wishing to attend?
Not that I can do it, but Blur in London. OK Go when they announce more dates. And Duran. Always.

Age people should start going to concerts?
Whatever age they can appreciate the music.

Age people should stop going to concerts?
Day they die?

Stupidest thing to get at a concert?
Anything that is hard to keep nice if you buy it before the show starts.

Coolest thing to get at a concert?
T-shirt. Buttons. SET LISTS!

Most annoying thing at a concert?
POT SMOKERS. Jerks who push for no reason. And people who think they can just get around you to get a better spot when they haven’t been waiting as long as you have and then try to pick fights when you won’t budge. UGH.

Outdoor concerts or indoor concerts?
Depends on situation. Either is fine by me.

Clubs or larger venues?
Clubs.

Least favorite venue?
Viper Room for their lame camera policy. Greek Theatre for the awful parking.

Name three bands that you would love to see tour together:
Duran Duran, Blur… the Hives. Almost happened once when I saw the Hives followed by Blur at Coachella in 2003.

One band that you would love to see reunite for a tour:
It’s happening. Blur.

Do you prefer seats or the pit?
Pit.

Do you usually buy food/drinks at a concert?
Depends on if I was able to eat before hand or if I’m feeling like I need a drink that night.

Hardest concert you’ve had to get tickets for?
Probably Duran Duran at the Roxy for the reunion in 2003 or Weezer’s secret show at the Viper Room in 2001 or well, any “secret show”.

Best music to see live?
Whatever is your favorite.

Nudity at a concert:
Prince’s assless pants at the MTV Video Music Awards, September 5, 1991. I guess that’d be the first.

Drinking at a concert:
Sure.

Best way to end a concert:
With my ears buzzing, a smile on my face, camera full of great photos/footage, and stories to tell!

From the opening seconds, I got hooked for some unexplainable reason. The show wasn’t any better than previous years and the winners were mostly generic and lame. And don’t get me started on U2 winning as many awards as they did. Makes my blood boil.

But what I did enjoy was seeing Fiona Apple looking gorgeous and how amazing Christina did. She looked great and sounded fabulous. And getting see Damon on US television. Ok, so they only showed him for a brief second when Gorillaz were up for an award, but still. And his voice opened the show!

I had been so looking forward to the opening performance. And the portion with Gorillaz did not disappoint. It was hilarious and cheeky and I couldn’t believe they got away with it. Loved every second. I was however, disappointed that Madonna didn’t interact more with Gorillaz. She was hot but it would have been more interesting if she had done something different than yet another performance of Hung Up – that’s she done before almost the exact same way. Oh well.

Coldplay were just ho-hum for me too. I did like that Chris tried to give Jonny the spotlight when he went out into the audience. But it was ruined when the stupid people doing the lights didn’t even put a light on Jonny when he went into his solo.

Other random musings: Teri Hatcher would be gorgeous if she only gained 10 pounds. Kayne West is the new Michael Jackson. He’s a FREAK. Joss Stone is Joss Lame. Kelly Clarkson’s speeches were terribly cute. The show was too freaking LONG. I can’t believe I watched the whole thing. Next year, I’m only downloading the performances I want to check out. I vow not to get sucked in again. Yep.

Instead of whining, I’ll put the shine on OK Go, a kick ass band from Chicago with amazing hooks, clever lyrics, and a good dose of humor and style. I love this band. I can’t get enough. Every time I see them live I fall in love all over. This time, their gig at the Roxy, the place I first witnessed their act opening for the Vines, was their best yet. They sounded fabulous, the new and old songs mixing brilliantly, and most importantly, not only were they having fun, but the entire audience was in on the boundless energy of these 4 guys.

When they finally ended the show with an encore of their dance routine to new single A Million Ways, the entire place was full of laughing, smiles, and happy hearts.

“I don’t really have to promise myself anything. That’s all part of the wonderfulness that is me. Like they say in America, ‘If it ain’t broken, then don’t fix it.’” – Pelle Almqvist, when asked what his new year’s resolution was, from Rolling Stone.

The rest of the little interview is full of more brilliance from Pelle. God I love that boy.

The Mellowdrone website has finally been redesigned. It’s smashing… lots of new pretty things, er, well, photos, to look at. And new tour next year with Johnny Mar. Oh yeah!

The line-up for KROQ‘s Almost Acoustic Xmas is so disappointing. Aside from Coldplay and The Vines, nobody really interests me for the second night. The first night? Forget it! I mean… POD. Sum-41. New Found Glory. Snore. But I expected that. The next night doesn’t really get that much better. Beck is alright I guess and would be cool to see again. But CREED? What the freaking hell is up with that?!?! KROQ doesn’t even play Creed. Nor do they play Jack Johnson who I have nothing against but he’s more like an easy listening Dave Matthews kind of guy. I had high hopes for this year’s concert. They were dashed today. So sad. It could have been so much better. But either people turned KROQ down or they just didn’t ask the right people! Now… I might go. I might. If I can get a ticket. Maybe. I don’t know if it’s worth suffering through Creed and Dashboard Confessional for The Vines and Coldplay, who I have already seen numerous times this year. Sigh.

Dude. Laura gets almost the same average amount of daily hits as Ewanspotting. She is such an internet rock star.

I want. I want. I want.