Sleep goooood. Woke up to the nice smell of coffee + bagels in the hotel room. Olivia had woken up before us to nab the complimentary breakfast from the lobby downstairs. After everyone washed up + awoke to a semi-conscious level, we began to plan our day. Doors for the concert tonight didn't open until 6:30pm, but we needed to meet up with Bobby at 3pm for our passes + tickets. We decide to use the time in between for another round of sightseeing. And "seeing" is basically all we had time to do.
On our way into downtown NYC, we hit a 15-minute stop-n-go traffic jam right before the tollbooths, so that delayed us a bit. We learned that people in NY had no respect for boundaries when trying to merge into a siphon of about 8 lanes. Sometimes, we were about 3 inches away from another passing automobile. It was frightening. We began scoping for some places to park, so that we could get out, stretch our legs, + explore the city of New York. To no avail, we couldn't find parking for the life of us. Before a stop light, my sister broke to a really hard stop, causing the unopened 2-liter Coke at my feet to rush up to the back of the driver's seat + burst open on the floor, on the back of her pants, all over my socks + shoes. Stickiness ensued. I was in a bad attitude for the next half-hour because of that. When we finally found a parking space to clean off the cola + dump it out, we were in the middle of China Town. Running on time constraints that was spent wholly on finding a parking spot that didn't even exist, we only had enough time to go to a street corner vendor where we got 2 "New York-style" hot-dogs each. Pretty good stuff, but I think it was just the hunger talking.
Started up the Chevy + began driving around again. We finished our hot dogs in the car. Called Ted up, who was already at the venue. He gave me Bobby's # to call once we arrived at the arena. We wanted to take in the city for just a couple more minutes + make the most of it. So, we found our way past the Brooklyn Bridge, took photos of it driving by, and then actually drove over the Manhattan Bridge, which was absotively breathtaking. It was great finally seeing all this stuff that we Southerners [if you can even call us that] only get to witness via TV. The time was nearing 3:30pm, so we had to make our way towards East Rutherford.
We arrive at the arena + walked around to the loading dock where we met up with Bobby + Mike to get our 'Working' passes. Mike stays outside while Bobby leads us through the dock, passing a long row of kegs on the right side of the tunnel-like hallway, and finally to the backstage area where people are scattered working on various things. We walk through another hallway that has signs taped up beside doors saying, "Creed Dressing Room", "Days of The New Dressing Room", + finally "Virgos Dressing Room". Bobby opens the door + we are greeted by Ashley, JD, + Chris, who are sitting down relaxing on brown plush-looking couches.
"Hey hey hey."
The overhead fluorescent lights are turned off [that's the way to go, man] while a halogen floor lamp lights up the room. A Nagchampa incense stick is burning, creating a mellow atmosphere. To the right of the door is the snack table filled with an assortment of fruits, "Branola" bread, Mountain Dew, + Coronas. The table virtually looks untouched at that moment. We walk in + say our hellos. JD + Ash comment on my blood red "Hell's Kitchen Diner" t-shirt that's peeking out from my halfway-zipped up black hoodie. JD asks if I got the t-shirt in town to which I replied, "Uh, no. Got this back in Florida.. at Lerner NY." I am uncool, ha ha.
After we put our bags + coats down, we tell them about our trip so far mentioning our rocky landing flight into town. "Have you ever heard of Spirit Airlines before?" I asked them. And just from the mere mention of that specific airline, Ash suddenly bursts out in a loud laugh. She points to the coffee table in the center of the room to show us flight tickets that had the guys' names labeled on them. "I travel enough to KNOW not to take that airline," she confesses. By this time, Deacon comes out from the bathroom all showered up, prepping himself for their show. "Oh, you guys are flying Spirit Airlines, too?" I asked. Chris + JD reply that they were flying back home on Spirit Air.
What a coincidence. So were we.
Kris + Olivia take a closer look at the tickets to find out that the guys were taking the same flight that we were taking back to Orlando. The whole room busts out laughing, making jokes that we'll all go down together. All I could think of was that scene in Almost Famous when the band + crew were in a private jet being taken through a dangerous electrical storm. Thinking that that was their last moment alive together, everyone ends up spilling their deepest secrets as if it were their last confessions only to make it through the storm safely, but with an extreme uncomfortable feeling left in the air.
The time was about 4pm, so we still had two and a half more hours to kill. We spend most of our time just chatting with the fellas in the room, taking snapshots of each other, + listening to music along the likes of Beautiful Creatures, GunsNRoses, Van Halen [both Roth + Hagar eras], The Mayfield Four, Big Wreck, and random Virgos demos. Deacon mentions to me that The Mayfield Four + Virgos both thank Big Wreck and each other in their album liner notes + are friends as well as big fans of each other's music. Bobby comes in and out of the room periodically. You can tell the day is starting to get busier with him running around. He hands me two photo passes for Virgos' set. I give the other to my sister, so that she can get her share of shots in for the tour.
Later, clad from head-to-toe in Olympics paraphernalia, Brett finally makes his entrance into the room. We joke that he was going to wear his Olympic sweats on stage for their performance. The guys reacquaint themselves with their front man, and then he takes a seat between me + Ash on one of the couches. Chris goes into the bathroom to redo his spiny hair-do. The time was getting close for the show.
5 o' clock was their scheduled dinnertime [as it's shown on the itinerary taped up on the walls], so Deacon picks up to get his fill. Brett ends up leaving a bit after to take care of Creed business and/or get himself ready for their performance. Moments later, Deacon comes back with a full glass of milk and a wedge of chocolate cake that he only halfway finishes. Empty Mountain Dew cans are sprawled about the table.
At one moment, Chris, Deacon, + JD were standing next to the bathroom door talking, so we decide to take pre-show photos of the 3 together. Right in front of the bathroom door, I saw the word "Virgos" grafitti'ed on the floor with the marks of someone's black-soled shoes. "Very creative," I told them. I didn't think anyone else did that, too. It was either Chris or JD's creation--I failed to remember which one did it, but it was one of the two.
For those of you that care to know this bit of info at all, here is an esteemed fashion report of Virgos' onstage attire. JD was wearing a tan t-shirt + dirty-faded bleu jeans with brown strips that went down the sides of the pant legs. He is also sporting a black Screamline beanie + black boots. Deacon has his black CBGB's t-shirt underneath a dark bleu denim jacket at a 3/4 fold + medium bleu boot-cut jeans. His hair is partly spiked-up + on his feet he has black Pumas with silver streaks on the sides. Like Alexis's bio on Virgos.cc mentions, he is definitely "the eclectic one of the group", complete with accessories that include patches, buttons, chains, a skull ring, leather wrist cuffs, dark orange-red sunglasses, + a navy bleu bandanna in his left-back pocket that he later throws out to the crowd at the end of the show. Chris is dressed in a black sleeveless v-neck top that shows off the detailed tattoos on his shoulders + arms. To complete the outfit, he is wearing a pair of pale bleu flared jeans + black boots. He also has his signature spiny hair look. Brett will later be wearing a cut-off denim button-up shirt with black leather pants. He also has on black quasi-pointed boots + his notable medieval cross chain necklace.
The guys start readying themselves for their time on stage. JD has his drumsticks in hand + begins tapping on the couch. Chris stands up + begins doing his usual stretching + jumping around to get his adrenaline running. Deacon is still sitting on the couch chatting with us. Unaware of the time, I ask him when he had to be out there. He said they had to be out by 6pm. I looked at my watch + told him that it was already 6 o' clock. "Shit!", he said. Deacon jumps up from the couch + hurries out the door without looking back as Chris + JD follow after him. Guess it was about time to get to work, ha ha.
Thirty minutes till doors open, Kris, Olivia, + I decide we want to scope out the VIP GA area of the floor so that we'll know where each of us were going to be for the show. On the infamous catwalk, all 3 of the bands' drum kits were placed upon it. My sister + I decide to walk in the restricted photo pit to see how tight the area will be while trying to take photos for the show. We come up close to JD's drumhead on the right side of the catwalk where I finally get to see my Virgos logo up close. I was beaming. I wanted Olivia to take a photo of me cheezing it up next to the drumhead's logo. Unfortunately, we didn't bring out our photo equipment. JD later tells me that I can always take a photo with it after they bring it back home [to Florida]. Definitely an opportunity to be remembered for the next time around. I look to my right where Brett is checking his equipment on his area of the stage. I ask him if Virgos will be able to get in a sound check in time. He tells me he's not sure. Honestly, it didn't seem possible since it was already 15 minutes till doors.
We exit the photo pit to meet up with Kris + head back to the dressing room. By this time, Mercado joined the group + was already lounging on the couch. The guys come in for about 8 minutes before they head out to the stage. We wish the guys good luck, and then they leave the dressing room 5 minutes until the show starts. Everyone in the room soon follows them to stand at their choice spots in the crowd.
It is now 7pm.
Showtime.
The lights quickly dim + the crowd begins to roar. A rumble from the audio stacks shudders the walls of arena when "O Fortuna" commences. Halfway into the intro song, I see the Virgos guys come out. The crowd noise heightens. They stand at their designated places [JD sitting, of course], strap on their guitars, turn on their amps + wait for JD's four-count. "O Fortuna" is nearing to an end when JD begins his cue + the lights beam on + focus on the guys on stage.
Virgos opens their set with "Drown" while the spots light up each member. Brett is looking straight into the crowd, slyly grinning with a curl in the corner of his mouth + acknowledging people with the rock-n-roll 'devil horns' sign. He is ready + willing to show the Creed crowd what Virgos is all about. The set list is the same from the first set of shows I've seen from their month-long tour with Creed. Just for record's sake, the following set list in East Rutherford, NJ went like so:
» O Fortuna [intro]
» Drown
» No Soul To Sell
» Collapse
» Ammunition
» Back To You
» Silence
» Good Times
I wanted to sit back + enjoy the show, so I stayed on the right side of the VIP GA pit just beside the bouncers, while my sister took photos from the photo pit. Kris escaped with the rest of the crew into the audience near the soundboard. I sang every word to each song + was loving it. For sure, I was getting looks from Creedies like I was nuts. If anything, me singing aloud was hopefully letting them know that this band was too good for them to be staring at someone in the crowd when they should be looking at what's going on on-stage.
The difference from the first shows compared to tonight's performance definitely shown through. Like my friend Erin had noticed from her experience in Boston, the guys really made use of every inch of their own respected areas on the stage. They've adapted well, I must admit. They were more familiar + comfortable in their spaces + really livened up the arena. Chris flailed + moved about the place as always. You can always count on him to play with such spirit when he is on stage with his bass guitar. Deacon really liked coming up to the upper level closest to the right of the stage near the audience, pointing to the crowd on key moments, + even playing beside Brett at times. Confidence was renewed + amazingly present. The guys definitely proved that they owned the stage that night.
I'd say that Virgos was well-received by the New Jersey Creed audience, but I still think their Birmingham, AL crowd topped it all [from my experiences anyway]. I don't even think it was because B'ham was the guys' hometown + a majority of their families + friends were present. During the meet-n-greet after the B'ham show, a lot of the fans in the audience didn't even know too much about Virgos to begin with, but were more than pleased to find out that Virgos emerged early on from their very own town. As with most bands, Virgos feeds off the crowd during their performance + there was definitely a lot of energetic interaction going on in B'ham as with New Jersey tonight.
ViRGOS ROCK.
After their set, I waited for Kris + Olivia to gather to the stage-left entrance. We regrouped + headed backstage. The majority of the overhead lights were turned off + the atmosphere back there was ultimately different. We passed by one or two crew guys napping on gear rigs in the middle of the huge hallway. We spotted Ash + company hanging around + said our hellos again. The door leading to the smaller hallway of dressing rooms + interview rooms was closed, so we stood around to wait until the coast was clear. It was understood that the guys needed a few minutes to rest or clean up after their set, so we all respectfully waited.
Moments go by when Chris, JD, + Deacon come out from behind the closed door + head out into the audience for a round of meet-n-greet. Deacon exits out his side of the stage, while JD + Chris come out the opposite side. Olivia, Kris + I follow after the rhythm section to document + watch. [Well, Olivia took photos while Kris + I stayed back to watch.] She took some photos of Chris, who was handing out Virgos stickers + signing autographs at the front of the crowd. The guys have been really good about doing this for every show on the Creed tour.
Olivia then tracked down JD, who went as far as going to the back general admission pit [since there was a VIP GA section in the front of the stage]. There he signed autographs, talked to fans, + gave out stickers to the enthusiastic crowd. When he went to the bleacher area to the side of the stage, people rushed out of their seats to meet him + even managed to form a long line to get autographs and stickers. The moment was awesome just seeing the responses the guys receive from new listeners. I was a proud Virgos fan just witnessing the guys' display of attention to a huge arena audience, which I've never really seen in other big venue concerts.
After Olivia shot enough photos to document the meet-n-greet, we turn in + head back to the green room. We put our stuff away + decide to make our way upstairs to check out the merch booths. Even with a few run-ins + tangles with security, I'd have to say that those NJ security guards were some of the nicest guards I've met in this business. I'm not even going to get into what Kris + I went through at the Creed show in Atlanta earlier in January. A lot of the NJ guards were very easy-going, so it made our experience there much more pleasant. I'm sure Kris can vouch for that. Trust me, they can really put a cramp in your night if things don't go as expected.
Unbelievably so, the merch booths were a bit hard to find. The public hallways were very narrow with low ceilings + at the same time stuffed with concert-goers looking for beer + t-shirts. You really couldn't see ahead of you either. Finally, we reached one of the booths located in the middle of one hallway. We got there only to find that the Virgos shirts on display amidst the 10-20 different Creed t-shirts were in the far corner towards the bottom. It was almost hidden behind the damned wall behind the counter. Call me a prude, but I thought that was a little unfair regardless of what slot a band was playing for tonight's bill. How the hell is a band supposed to advertise their goods if you can't even see the damned merchandise? Grr.
Within the glass counter, ONE CD of Collapse : The EP was left. [At this time, their LP The Path of Least Resistance was not available yet.] Kris had a bit of a struggle while purchasing his merchandise. One of the dilemmas was about whether or not he should buy the last EP in the counter. It was good news because it meant that the other EPs that used to be on display in that counter were bought earlier that night. On the other hand, he was thinking that if he got the last EP for himself, then one Creed fan who knew nothing of Virgos would miss out. Ah, such a Virgos Samaritan.
A few minutes of thinking it over, we all just shrugged our shoulders + told him to buy it. While Kris went to go purchase the EP, I took out my Canon Elan II camera + shot some photos of the Virgos merch on the wall + beneath the counter. One Creed fan asked me how in the hell did I get that big ass camera past security. I didn't say a word + just showed her my all-access pass. She said, "Ohh," + abruptly snubbed me off even though I wasn't at all trying to be cocky to her or her friend. Hey, no skin off my back, hehe. We could hear Days of the New playing within the arena. They were performing one of the songs that I liked from their newer albums [sorry I can't think of the title, but I don't think it was one of their released singles either]. Soon as we finished our business there, we continued walking to the elevator towards the bottom floor to head back to the dressing room.
The elevator attendant was quite friendly. Yes, they actually had an elevator attendant. It was weird. Maybe it was a northern thing? [Ha ha, kidding.] I asked the nice old gentleman, 'What, they don't play music in here for you?" to which he replied, "No, it's okay. Although some Perry Cuomo would be nice. Now, that's some quality music." He took us to our floor + we wished him a goodnight.
We gathered ourselves back into the dressing room to find JD, Deacon, Chris + friends already chilling inside. It was the last show of the tour for Virgos, so we decided to stay in during DotN's and Creed's sets. [I've seen DoTN once before Tantric had formed during an outdoor fest back in lovely '99, so I figured I could miss them just this once. The party seemed to exist in other places anyway.] Seems we weren't the only ones with cameras that night. JD + Ash took a bunch of photos of everyone present. They were definitely having a good time.
Various faces filtered in + out of the room while we sat back for the rest of the night. Some of those faces included Brett Hestla, who got to hang out for a bit before his set with Creed, as well as JHMP's president Jeff Hanson. The most notable face of the night was FUEL's Brett Scallions, who I got to personally meet for the first time. He's a cool guy--very laid back aside from the stunning + very active presence he puts on stage, but I guess what I experienced was his "offstage" personality. He's a funny guy, too. He sat down with us to chat before Creed's set + harped Chris for not letting him know that they [Virgos] were in town. Brett acts out his guilt trip sob story aloud to us:
"I'm just sitting at home, moping in front of the TV saying to myself, 'Gee, I miss my Virgos guys.' *click [of the remote]* 'I wonder what they're up to?' *click*"
It was hilarious. Apparently he lives in NYC now, but then again, I never knew too much about the guy before tonight. I had him sign a random sheet of paper that I was doodling on earlier, which he nicely commented on. We also took a few photos with him and some of the Virgos guys. Nice guy, that Scallions.
After a few hours passed, with people cruising through, exiting, + coming back again, the night was finally coming to an end for us at the Continental Arena. Bobby packed up his laptop + the guys began putting their clothes + shite back in the wardrobe rig. At one point, they all left to take care of some business leaving Bobby, Kris, Olivia + I in the room to ourselves. Bobby was busy putting some things away while us three started talking about tonight's events + what we plan on doing next. We were all pooped. Bed sounded like a great idea, but my stomach was restless. I needed to find some grub before sleep.
The time was close to 1:30 or 2am in the morning. The guys all filed back into the room one by one. First, Deacon comes back. He's hungry again. Then, Mercado finds his way back into the room. My sister + I talk photo stuff with him, while the atmosphere of the room jumps from being a stirred frenzy to a quiet lull with people still entering + leaving the room at different times.
Finally, when everyone was ready to leave, we bundled up + readied ourselves for the northern chill outside. JD, Ash, Chris, + Ted were figuring out ways to get back to their hotel rather than waiting outside in the chill for a cab. I was too busy wrapping myself up in my scarf + beanie, so I didn't exactly hear the conversation take place. All of a sudden, I find out that they are riding with us back to their hotel. I think Kris offered to give them a lift in our Chevy Blazer + Olivia was like, 'Uhh, okay," which really wasn't a problem if they were okay with packing themselves in like sardines plus the three of us into that SUV. I trusted my sister's driving + navigational skills to get us back to their hotel in one piece, so I wasn't worried. I thought to myself, 'Now this story is definitely going in the books."
We all pass through the hallways, packed ourselves in that tiny elevator [the attendant retired for the evening by that time], and then headed towards the lonely SUV, the last automobile in the parking lot. Chris was skeptical that this was going to work, but I assured him, 'We'll all fit. Don't worry." JD + Ash were a bit tipsy + hyper at once, so they hopped in through the back door + made themselves comfortable. We all stuffed ourselves wherever we could sit + endured the cramped drive back. Kris, who took the 'Virgos" sign from their dressing room door, put it on the dashboard. The irony of it all made for good laughs. "Virgos on board." Silly insomniac-like jokes also continued about the town's name where their hotel was. "Secaucus." We were going to pick up some drinks before we got to the hotel, but most places were already closed. What a town, eh? I'd say the ride back was one of the most interesting highlights of the night.
We made it to the parking lot behind the hotel, same place we parked the night before. Everyone exited the vehicle + made their way towards the hotel like lemmings to the shore. We were planning to order out some food from the room, since the majority of us were starving. When we came in through the front doors, there were some kids sitting around the lobby, probably waiting for Creed to make an appearance. They were looking at us like, 'Hey, I *think* those are rock stars?" But, I don't think they recognized JD, Deacon, or Chris. Que triste, no? No matter. We were tired + hungry, so I'm sure they didn't mind being unrecognized for that moment.
When we got to their door, none of the guys' key cards worked. So, Deacon went back down to the front desk to fix the problem. While we waited for him, JD tells us a charming story about how Brett would sign the guys up under aliases at the hotels they've stayed at during past tours + shows. "You can count on Brett to come up with the cleverest names."
Five minutes later, Deacon comes back to join us with a key that worked. He opens the hotel door + we all file into the room. We start to plan our meal quest. Deacon calls the front desk to ask about any late-night places that we can order from. The guy tells him that there were a couple of menus at the front desk to browse through, so I volunteer to go downstairs + get them. We all choose one place to buy food from. Soon as we all decided on what we want + take our wallets out, everyone writes down their orders directly on the menu almost like you would at a Sushi bar. I somehow assume the role of tallying up the orders + decide to call the place while everyone puts their money down.
We all started to realize that as soon as the food got there, which didn't get there until 4am, we would have to get up within the next 3 to 4 hours for our flight back into Orlando. So, as soon as the food arrived we scarfed it down + got rid of all the evidence as fast as we could. Of course, after eating you must have a moment of rest until anything else happens. Some people were dozing off while some of us stayed awake watching some strange Native American-based movie on the tele. After resting for a few, Olivia, Kris, + I decide it's finally time to call it a night, so to speak, + said our goodbyes to our company.
"Yeah. Sleep well. We'll see ya tomorrow."
