"I can't remember the last time you cared about anything, the last time you allowed yourself to be seen."

Damn awesome times were had by me. I woke, ate, played some Zero Hour, did Stuff on the Online. Time blurred a little, and then, the time had come. Josh arrived and off we went. To Memorial Hall.
Now, if you don't want to read my extensive concert antics, that is all that follows. But, if you like any of the bands that were involved, or are interest in my way of wording the experience, read on.
Waited through a line, and then were told that we'd have to go out and come in a different door to get our 'will call' tickets, and a mad(?)man was infront of Josh in line, trying to take his wallet with chain into the concert. There was a girl over at the ticket counter who was wearing an outfit like the female wrestlers from WWE. An ultra tight denim jacket thing, unbuttoned down to her belly, covering by its tightness. I hadn't seen anyone where anything like that in real life. The group she was with had their hair too nice for a rock show. Which brings me to the rock show.
The first act was Three Days Grace. They really translated well into the live scene. I didn't know enough lyrics, and most others knew less. They were really great though, it was feeling a little weak, and then they did a guitar solo, and worked the crowd a little, and they really impressed the hell out of me. After that they were on a different level. The bass player appeared as though he was not playing. He did strange things with the guitar, and had gloves on, the gloves made hand placement difficult. He was playing, it just didn't look like it, he seemed rather talented to do the things he was doing. Most of those around me were saying they would buy the album as soon as the could, and many did, they had gone off to the merch booth after their set. But the last song, their single, I Hate Everything About You, it was awesome. Screaming at the top of my lungs, we all knew that one. I am glad they got the applause they deserved, despite the audience not moving much during their set.
Then TRAPT. I must gather my thoughts on it. My expectations were so high. Their self titled album has proven itself amongst the most solid albums I have ever bought. Without thinking too much, I'd likely rank it in the top 25. I own 350[ish] albums, so that is saying something. So those expectations, they were met and exceeded. There set was Hollowman, Made of Glass, These Walls, Echo, the Game, Still Frame and Headstrong. Made of Glass is my favorite song off the album, and it was great. I knew all the lyrics of every song except for the game, but it is still a pretty great song. Still Frame was when the crowd response hit a fevered pitch. We all knew all of the lyrics. I was sweating my ass off, jumping around, and using every bit of energy to sing the lyrics I loved so dearly. I roared some of them at the top of my lungs. The song was pace slightly faster than normal, which was something of a thrill to me, I knew it so well, and singing it that fast was quite novel. Then Headstrong hit, and the crowd maintened the crazy madness, which I feard they'd not be able to do, as Still Frame has been growing on Headstrong as their most popular single. But the band made certain that we knew to give up our last ounces of energy. I somehow had enough voice to roar along with every line. The band had a great energy, and they owned the audience. They had us entirely. The song felt too quick. (In that I was not prepare for TRAPT to be gone). The song ended, my face was coated in sweat. The audience stayed standing, cheering, whistling, applauding and screaming. By the reaction they sure seemed like a headliner, I am certain that will happen soon.
Then it ocurred to me, I was worried for Nickelback. A couple reasons. Their newest album is very new, and I hadn't had much a chance to memorize it, and it strikes me that their songs are more difficult to sing a long with. Another concern was that TRAPT and Tree Days Grace were rock through and through, whereas Nickelback seems more Alternative. The final concern was that TRAPT had blown the roof off the place, it reminded me of when Staind played before Live so long ago, I felt sorry for Live back then.
Then Nickelback knocked away the doubt and replaced it with a few minutes of confusion. They came out, and played a hard rock song that didn't strike me as familiar. There was pyro and fire. A strange stage setup for them. The lights were going nuts. It appeared that Nickelback had every intention on not being upstaged. Seeing Chad Kroeger standing in front of flames. I thought only metal bands did that kind of thing. The second song was Breathe, and clarity came with it. Breathe was perhaps the heaviest track off of their second album (the State), and perhaps my favorite. The song was being played harder than the album version, and Nickelback began demonstrating their emmense guitar prowess, a theme for the night. I knew every word of that song, even though I hadn't heard it in some time. Then a song off Silver Side Up (album #3), then Someday (album #4, their current single). And so it went, harder versions of most all their singles they've ever used. They did a song in a 'metal' version, and requested the audience to jump. Josh and I were a in the seats, not the floor, but we jumped. We were the only ones in the seats that were jumping the whole song. My boots weren't made for it and I hurt, but it was cool. I felt that I could keep going as Josh did. They did a couple of acoustic songs, one was Hero (from Spider-Man) and another was from Long Road (album #4). They played around with the crowd much. They sprayed some water on the floor people. They pointed a camera at us, asking us for some memories for their about-to-start European tour, we went nuts. They threw beer to the audience. And the performed some incredible solos. Chad had ability beyond my expectations. His solos were rather remarkable, likely the best I've seen in all my concerts. During one 'let the crowd regain their voices' period, they showed that when they aren't on tour, when they jam together, they play Metallica style rifs, and shared them with us. Chad let out the Hetfield 'Yah!' a couple of times, and the set proceeded. They played Leader of Men (the other contender for favorite track off of the State) the audience sung much for Chad, then Too Bad (from album #3) which was great, the audience was crazy throughout this one. Then Never Again (album #3), they played it fast in hard, it was very well received, and then they said "Thank you so fucking much" and left the stage, but we knew they had one more song they had to play. The audience roared, whistled and made sound with whatever they had left. Nickelback came back for This is How You Remind Me. It was great. I used to sing that song to myself 2 or 3 times a day, for the first 2 weeks after Silver Side Up came out. I didn't listen to the radio too much, so I listened to it on my terms, and never grew tired of it. It had been the most played single of that year. It ended on such a high note.
Josh and I left fulfilled. Chatted a little. But we needed some time to let our chords heal. Plus, we had shared the experience, and we seemed in agreement for most any concert related topic. Then back home. Then to LJ.
Now we are all caught up.

-TRAPT, "Hollowman," TRAPT