Bazooka Rocks 2013: The Fangirl Edition
I usually do realtime blogs but the thing
with this one is that there are just so much to share about the whole BRF
experience that I do not know how and where to start, what to include and
what's not. So I decided to put up three. This is the second of those three
with the first being, let's just say, the polished one; The brief (although
quite long) summary of events that has taken place on the day/night of the fest
itself. The third one to be solely dedicated to one of the bands that has
performed. You'll figure that one out later on.
In here, I'd tackle the side stories, the
fun banters..the crazy experiences on and before the show, the meet and greet
activities and stuff, and the aftermath in a sort of a Top 10 Bazooka Rocks
memories (this is quite hard to do, to be honest). May I also remind you that
this is a lonnnnnnnnng post (so welcome the blogger in me back).
On the week before the 25th:
I believe Maring (the storm) wanted to join
the ATL brassiere drop that she even called her monsoon buddies and caused
major damages here and there. It even came to a point that I'm almost thinking
BRF would be postponed given the bad weather condition and the flooding all
around the metro. But then God is greater than all of them and thankfully, the
weather is at its best come the Bazooka weekend. How awesome.
***
THE Top 10 Bazooka Rocks 2013 Memories
***
1 The "interview" at the meet and
greet session with Anberlin and RadioDriveBy.
Spot on! We were lucky to be able to go to
their signing held at the Lee Jeans boutique in Glorietta 2, Makati and luckily
get to "bond" with them for a few minutes. We grabbed the opportunity
since the security was not that strict (knowing how crazy it can get
sometimes), and the guys are really surprisingly cool about anything.
I never have imagined the day would
actually come. Anberlin was up first and they were all up for the photo opt and
signing of cds and different stuff from fans. One fan even got his Fender
guitar signed by every members of the band. How rad is that! They are so humble
and interacts with every fan that is out there.
RadioDriveBy came about right after and
since they were basically the younger guys, everyone in there went crazy,
squealing, about them. I asked them a lot of random questions and they answered
basically everything. It was funny how my friend Caren would already give
signals for me so she could take the photos but there I was still talking to
each and every members of the band. Dave, Austin and Adam gladly communicated
with each of us and also are very eager for tomorrow's (it is Saturday then)
show. Evan, the cool Asian guy, even asked for my name, which is very nice of
him. And Trent Clark, the vocalist. A man of words. The sweetest of them all.
***
"I couldn't wait to see you perform
tomorrow!"
"I'm very excited!"
"By the way, will you be singing
Desiree?"
"Oh..I don't know if we can."
"Please, it's my favourite.."
"Let's see what we can do about
it."
"Thanks!"
(About to leave when...)
"We'll try our best and if we ever
would, it'll be for you."
Uhm...
***
2 The epic entrance to SMX.
We have almost missed RadioDriveBy's set,
can you believe that? But every frustrations outside is erased from the moment
Trent, Evan, Dave, Austin and Adam came out of the stage as we entered the
venue barely missing it in five glorious seconds and showed their awesomeness
to all who's willing to listen (they are first foreign band to perform and it
is still too early, really, 12:45pm people are still having their lunch). Trent
has showed everyone his vocal prowess and has left me in awe. The band is even
better with their live performances. I haven't really heard most of their songs
before but it's catchy, mostly pop rock and upbeat and turned the crowd on,
shaking up their arses especially when a more familiar tune, Bruno Mars'
Treasure came on.
Fun moment: When the crowd chanted
"Take it off! Take it off!" to Trent and he laughingly obliged with
his coat, leaving his button up shirt. The crowd still chanted but then Trent
joked "I did because I was asked and it is pretty hot in here.. and here I
thought you guys were conservative." Or something like that. Well, as far
as I can remember, it is the only "Take it off" chant on the whole
BRF event so...Trent, man, you must be something. ;)
***
"Masaya ako kasi hindi s'ya
naghubad...pero mas magiging masaya ako kung naghubad s'ya."
***
3 The bash.
What's some show without any form of
bashing, yes? People have different preferences and it is okay to voice them
out for as long as there is respect.
What I like about us Filipinos is that we
are very appreciative of anything that is being given to us. We just need some
catchy beats and we'll dance along. We are naturally musically-inclined that
one would just give a tune and we can already sing along. We don't understand
and yet we show our support (even though it can get funny and sarcastic at
times). No wonder these performers love us that they keep on coming back for
us.
***
"Eh bakit kasi inuna pa nila yung
RadioDriveBy? Baka di natin abutan sila Trent. Huhuhu. Dapat talaga yung
Japanese nalang yung inuna e.. Oops."
***
4 Le concert buddies and great music.
Aside from meeting and seeing your
favourite bands performing in the flesh, one of my favourite things about going
to concerts is that we get to meet people of the same musical preferences. We
meet new friends. It always felt like you have known each other for years when
the truth is you have just met. And you'll forever be thankful to the band
because they brought the two (and loads) of you together.
 |
| With Diane and Caren. |
I have no words for Anberlin. They are just hands down amazing.
***
Girls/boys of the same genre, fangirl/boy
together."
***
5 Your Guardian Angel
I was overwhelmed by The Red Jumpsuit
Apparatus' set because it has brought a lot of memories back; my high school
years flashing before my eyes. I could not contain it any longer and the tears
just fell down when they sang this song. It was so beautifully done with the
crowd singing along from the first verse up to the last.
I was surprised to know that they are now
on the Christian rock genre, perhaps that is why the package has been toned
down? And it is a huge act to follow to be performing next to a very lively set
by the We Came As Romans guys so I understand why the crowd is sometimes
unresponsive. But it did not stop me from enjoying the set.
Fave part: "..and always remember,
Jesus loves you. God bless you all!" - Ronnie Winter as the band exited the
stage
6 MEGAPHONE!!!
Inasmuch as it should be all about the
music, we are still human being and we cannot help but feast with the beauty
that we see on the outside. Hence, the initial idea of a fangirl. (I may sound
too defensive but that is not what fangirling is all about...but we can never
deny that sometimes, it is a part.). Caren and I came up with the idea of a
"megaphone", something that you use to let your voices be heard, to
get noticed in a mass of people. You say megaphone when something beautiful
and/or hot gets your attention and you want to get the attention back; to let
them hear your admiration amidst all the people in the area, if you know what I
mean. Say for example, you see Andy Glass and Kyle Pavone of WCAR. (Gimme my
MEGAPHONE!!!!)
 |
| FUG. |
***
"E TAKEN na sya!!"
"Okay lang!! May TAKEN 2 na
kaya."
***
7 JALEX banters
Bromance, is it? Gaskarth and Barakat just
know how to play with the crowd. Jack with all his craziness and hotness and
Alex with all his wit; the perfect combination.
"Have you guys been fornicating?
There's a lot of you in here tonight."
"I love you all, m****rf**kers."
Not-so-good part: the swearing,
naughty/provocative gestures, words and song banters with underlying meanings.
I find it amusing but most of their fans that night are too young and it
bothered me a bit.
But then, the perfection of
"Therapy" as Alex hit those notes and the crowd going crazy and wild,
enjoying each of the moments. The one of a kind bra drop experience. The flying
wet skulls, one of which has hit me straight on the face. The balloons. All the
bravura on stage.
Thrilla in Manila has indeed been
redefined.
8 A Rocket to the Moon..and back.
JALEX what, HALNICK here y'all. It's just a
cute sight seeing them throwing funny banters at each other; Nick joking about
Halvo being wasted that he might puke onstage. The brotherhood that is very
evident that it breaks a lot of hearts at the thought of the band breaking up.
At one point the crowd started chanting "Don't break up! Don't break up!"
And Nick Santino was like "I don't know what to say" his face clearly
with the expression that "how am I going to tell them why".
 |
| "Can I have a selfie with you guys?" |
 |
| Hoy, Santino, 'wag ka ng mag-explain. |
Halvo said they're going to come back
because he is to marry his fiancee (the cute fan who has proposed the day
before at the meet and greet event) and even has acknowledged the presence of
the girl.
Nick singing his heart out, giving an all
out wild and free performances of their songs.
It hurts you and it makes you fall in love.
It makes you feel all the emotions in the world. It makes you adore them even
more.
My favourite part has to be the fake exit
before the encore and the band expressing how this is one of their best gigs to
date. It warms my heart when they admitted how they are not used to being the
last band to perform and it still amazes them how genuinely loved they were in
here that the support is even better than being back home (in the US). Those
talented chaps deserves all the love, and it doesn't matter how long..for us
who loves their craft, we will wait....until the rocket lands back to the moon.
9 WCAR mosh pit
Unbelievable. I never would have imagined
being in the mosh pit, let alone on a metal band performance's mosh pit. It was
not my first time but it was a first to mosh without my guy friends (who makes
me feel secured and takes care of me while we are out there) and it was fun!!!
Not everyone gets to experience such adrenalin rush and even though we were not
familiar with the songs, it was an all out rocking set. I still can't get over
their metal version of The Wanted's Glad You Came and how perfect the moment
was.
It also is a nice thing to know how they
traveled for 30 hours just to get to perform in Manila all for the love of the
fans and the music. If they are to come back, I will definitely go see them
again. Especially the tank top wearing, chess tatted bass player.
*laughs maniacally*
10 The sleepover at April's pad.
I was overwhelmed when April (an online
buddy for years) has offered me a place to stay for the night even weeks before
BRF. We have not even met prior to this, mind you, and it excited me to be
actually spending the day/night with them. I was.. not able to bond with them,
her and Eunice (because we ended up on different sides of the stage during the
performances) but we made it up overnight and the following day where we just
bummed in bed for half a day, reliving all the memories of our latest concert
experience. We even watched this Linkin Park concert on TV/DVD and it was way
too good.
***
Before the ARTTM set.. Justin came out and
went to the left side of the stage.
Eunice: "Nooo Justin, nooooo."
Halvo (her favourite band member) came out
next, on the right side, where I was at.
Me: "YES!!!!!!"
***
We were able to talk not just only about
the previous event but of our lives as a whole and it is nice to get to know
what each of us are up to. Eunice still complains about her hearing (staying
near the blaring speakers is really a no-no even I have some hearing difficulty
after the show. Good thing it wasn't that serious) when we all parted ways
because of certain commitments. I'm thankful to have met these two and I can't
wait to have fun hangs with them again some time.
HAHAHAHAAHHAHA BENTA YUNG MAY MGA NAKA-ITALIC SA IBABA=)))))))the MEGAPHONE! LOL. everyone's had same minds during RDB's set shouted TAKE IT OFF to Trent :)))) I LOVE THAT PART! though we don't have an actual megaphone, at least the crowd heard us. LOL. - Caren Adams (lol).
ReplyDelete*Caren Simons pala shet Adam pala first name nya HAHAHAHA!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHAHA benta 'tong mga surname mo ah! Iba-iba! Aling naka-italic?
ReplyDelete