Of Friendship and the Pop Punk Life
Making friends at concert shows is easy. It feels like you can already tick one off the non-existent what-do-i-look-for-in-a-friend checklist: sharing a common passion towards something. But keeping them is challenging especially when some of the connections have started in the most unconventional way possible (but also the most typical way these days): the internet. You do not get to see them as much as you would want to. You get preoccupied with different things. You pursue different goals. And yet like most relationships, you got to make it work.
I want to focus on the music festival alone given that it's been fun and all but there's just so much that has happened during the BRF weekend that I cannot help but share them (rant about them at some point). I am pretty sure I have re-written this entry a lot as I cannot quite get to the feel of it and reading the final outcome, it is not as detailed as I have initially thought I'd write. Maybe it is better that way. Anyway, here you go. Here, after a couple of months, is what went down at the BAZOOKA ROCKS V!
Some says the lineup is underwhelming comparing to the previous four years but I could not care less because:
(1) the festival is back after taking a break last year and it has returned as a two-day affair yet again
(2) The Maine is going to be in it for Day 1
(3) I may not be all that familiar with the bands from Day 2 but Nia and I will get to attend on the same event together for the first time after like having known each other for years.
Should be exciting, right? And yes, the hype.
(1) the festival is back after taking a break last year and it has returned as a two-day affair yet again
(2) The Maine is going to be in it for Day 1
(3) I may not be all that familiar with the bands from Day 2 but Nia and I will get to attend on the same event together for the first time after like having known each other for years.
Should be exciting, right? And yes, the hype.
To be totally honest, though, I have heard of State Champs before but I only have downloaded their songs after the announcement as a sort of preparation for the event. I have listened to a few With Confidence songs and I am clueless as to who Cambridge was. I do not know what to expect except that I know I am up for some good time care of my titos from Arizona and I am already okay with it.
State Champs' music, however, is easy on the ears. I love how slick their music was that I can only compare them to Urbandub which is a major compliment as Urbandub is the best band ever (at least for me). They are loud but they are not loud, if you know what I mean (does that even make sense). They make performing and playing instruments beautifully seemed easy. I didn't dare Google live performances, not even watch the music video prior to seeing them so there will be an element of surprise. It feels like you've been handed a menu and yet your mind is like, "Surprise me." Nia has kind of warned me about Ryan Scott Graham who is her favourite band dude, though. And all I know is that he is the bassist.
Oh. This is Ryan, if you don't know him. ;)
Day 1 is up (recap is here) and it is all that I ever wanted for a perfect The Maine set (except for the fact that they didn't get to sing Taxi but it's alright). We were still on a high from the meet & greet when something bad happened. Somebody stole Nia's phone and it was just there at the exit. Right there, merely seconds after exiting that we have not yet fully grasp what was happening. The nerve and professionalism, per se of these people, really. A quick moment of weakness and it's cost Nia her phone and all the moments captured in it in the form of photos/video of her students and the likes. What a way to kill the buzz and we have not even fully properly PCD-ed yet. I am proud of Nia during those times, recounting the events at the security division's office that I have experienced firsthand, too. She's held it in though internally we were both a mess.
Sometimes we think we are strong enough to deal with life's mishaps but not until we get exposed to the dark side of life that we would realise that you can never be truly emotionally prepared or physically ready. But you always have the choice on how you will face these demons; if you prefer to let it get into you and deal it with confrontations or if you will keep your cool and stay logical.
I do not know how I'd comfort her in action and in words as I have never been in this kind of situation before, and so I just stayed her side until her mum came to fetch her up. We get a night of rest mentally preparing for another rocking day and how we wished it ended at that.
Here comes Day 2 in which we've witnessed/saw people encountering the same situation as us the previous night.
It was so fucked up: knowing who did the thing and not being able to confront them and the security is staying mum even when they themselves know who's committed the crime. If the ones who are supposed to take actions and the authorities who are supposed to protect people won't even bat an eye when we have reported the incident, who will? (Reminds me of the whole war against drugs shenanigans, but that is another story to tell.) That feeling of helplessness is something I would avoid if I can help it. That unfortunate incident and a couple of calls and online emotional torture by the culprits on the day that followed, Nia and I are just thankful for it to be over.
It was so fucked up: knowing who did the thing and not being able to confront them and the security is staying mum even when they themselves know who's committed the crime. If the ones who are supposed to take actions and the authorities who are supposed to protect people won't even bat an eye when we have reported the incident, who will? (Reminds me of the whole war against drugs shenanigans, but that is another story to tell.) That feeling of helplessness is something I would avoid if I can help it. That unfortunate incident and a couple of calls and online emotional torture by the culprits on the day that followed, Nia and I are just thankful for it to be over.
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| Got each other's back! At the queue for Day 1 (top left) and Day 2 (top right), during the meet and greet (lower left) and after the sick show. |
We have just attended a two-day event and it felt like we have connected more than ever, more than the years that we've known each other. It's like a huge test in our friendship and on our characters.
During the first few days one would think we're back to normal but that is not the case. I didn't know how it has affected me until I became fidgety bordering on paranoid on most days and it's even worse with Nia (although it's manageable for me and I had shaken the paranoia off after a while). I am just glad that we have each other to talk it out sometimes and somehow relieve the anxiety that is creeping on the inside. And it's safe to say that we have overcome it albeit on a different rate, little by little.
It took us the release of the meet and greet photos and the mini-movie for the PCD to sink in. And looking back, even though it has been quite traumatic, it has been one of the most memorable, also, the best nights. We have remembered the moments that we had pure fun and that we chose happiness despite everything.
It took us the release of the meet and greet photos and the mini-movie for the PCD to sink in. And looking back, even though it has been quite traumatic, it has been one of the most memorable, also, the best nights. We have remembered the moments that we had pure fun and that we chose happiness despite everything.
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| Cambridge. |
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| I am a Dobby next to With Confidence's vocalist, Jayden. Hearing them perform Voldemort is such a treat. |
Lastly, STATE CHAMPS.
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| A Ryan Scott Graham sandwich was served. |
The night #AprilxNiaLiveInManila2017 came to life.
On Day 2, we were able to just focus on the music and the bands because there is no phone to capture it personally (for Nia). We danced and sang along. We had fun.
Cambridge is a riot, embodying the definition of fun on stage. With Confidence served us with some great performances as well. I tried to be the best wingwoman and captured some moments with Ryan Scott Graham using my phone especially during State Champs' set as they were Nia's favourite. Derek DiScanio's vocals are on-point. We have lost ourselves in the music right there in the front row barricade and it was really a night to remember.
It was not the perfect night, yes. But it should not stop us from experiencing life. We've learned and we'll come back stronger and we're more vigilant than ever, that's for sure.
We didn't let hate and fear win. We lived in the moment. Yay @BazookaRocksPH upload niyo na M&G pics, pls haha jk @Vernon_Go pic.twitter.com/OImDDEJL7D— April Ann (@AprilDeGuzman) June 29, 2017
See you soon (again) and on a better circumstance, STATE CHAMPS.
We're ready for you.
And cheers to more fun hangs with friends! We've got each other's back.
I am ending this long overdue concert recap with a long but awesome BRF V mini-movie from Pulp Live World. Thank you for being champs every single time!
x
We're ready for you.
And cheers to more fun hangs with friends! We've got each other's back.
I am ending this long overdue concert recap with a long but awesome BRF V mini-movie from Pulp Live World. Thank you for being champs every single time!
x
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