The Rock for the Roses concert was probably one of the best concerts I've been to. I had an incredible day! First off
my friends and I got to the Austin Music Hall around 3:20
in the afternoon but no one was there standing in line yet
so we thought we would go get something to drink. We got
dropped off across the street from Ruta Maya's, a cafe
where they sell coffee and exotic teas. So we decided we
would get something to drink and kill some time. As soon as I walked in I looked around and looked right at Jakob Dylan who looked right at me! At that moment my mind went blank
but I managed to keep walking and found a table about 10
feet from them. Also sitting there was Mario, Rami and
Greg. I heard Mike was resting up from the Ride for the
Roses bike benefit so I didn't see him. My friends decided
to go get something to drink but I didn't cause I thought
if I stood up I would fall over. So I sat there and waited
for my friends to come back. When they finally came back we sat and talked and everything was going fine. Then I saw
Jakob get up to order a drink. He was wearing the green
army pants and the black hooded sweatshirt even though it
was very hot outside. So I watched him. He stood there
because no one was at the counter to help him but he waited and sometimes would peek over to see if anyone was there.
Finally a girl came to help him and he made his order. As
she made his drink he took out his wallet to get some money and waited and tapped his money on the counter. He paid for his drink and went back to sit down. A few minutes later he walked right pass my table and went into the restroom. My
friend Jessica also had to go so she went. A few seconds
later she came back laughing and told us it was a unisex
bathroom and she wasn't going in. Jakob came out and
instead of walking around a bunch of tables he stopped
looked at where we were sitting and took that way back to
get back to his seat. So he walked right pass me! I
actually felt the air go by! He got so close! So I proceded to sit there like an idiot and never got an autograph or
picture. I just felt that if I did I would be bothering him and besides I kinda lost my nerve. About 10 minutes later
we decided it was time to leave. I wanted to get good spots in line. So we got up and left and I didn't even look back
at them. I was so freaked out that they were there I didn't know what to do so I did nothing.
Part II: The Concert
My friends and I walked back to the venue and got in line. I had a disposible camera so I asked Jacob to hide it in
his backpack and he did and we all were able to get thru
the security. The 4 people ahead of us started to form a
line at a door so we thought that was where we were
suppossed to stand. So we waited there in line for about 20 mintues. Then someone informed us that we were standing at
the wrong entrance and as soon as we heard that the whole
line, myself included, jumped the brick walkway to a few
feet down to the right entrance. It was so funny because
everyone scrambled to get back in line. Even some grownups
jumped it. When everyone got situated I was still in the
front of the line. A man at the door said that we would be
able to go inside in about 45 mintues. Well one and a half
hours later, in hot Texas summer heat I might add, we were
finally allowed in. I ran to the stage w/ my friends and we were in the front row up aganist the barrier. After awhile
the first band started to set up. Then a little bit later
they began to play. It was The Cherry Poppin Daddies!! I
thought I wasn't going to like them but I loved them! They
were so much fun! Since I was standing in the front I could see the side of the stage and whoever stood there or passed by. While the CPD played I looked over and saw Greg
standing there watching them. In fact he stood there to
watch a lot of the bands. Next band was Whiskeytown. I
didn't really like them but Greg looked like he did. After
them was Semisonic who put on a very fun show. During the
middle of their set the people next to me told me to look
to the side of the stage. I noticed a door was open and I
saw a very cool hat someone was wearing. So I lifted myself up a little on the barrier to see who it was and it was
Rami! So I shouted his name and he looked up and over at me and smiled. I waved at him and he waved back. He's so cool! After Semisonic finished Tonic came out. I thought they
were okay but then the people next to me pointed over to the side stage again and then I noticed Jakob standing there watching Tonic play. Then a little bit later he left. One time I saw Mike standing with Lance Armstrong. Some of us tried calling out to him but he didn't hear us. Finally 7 hours later since I first arrived it was time for the
Wallflowers to perform. All the lights went out and the
whole audience started to scream. The first song they
played was a cover Tonight's the Night by Rod Stewart. I was standing right in front of Greg but I was close to Rami and Jakob too. After that they played Ashes to Ashes. I can't remember the whole set list just a few songs. During this time I was snapping some photos of the guys then hiding my camera so I wouldn't get caught. A girl who was right in front of Jakob was taking pictures of him and he would making funny faces for her. During the middle of the song Tracks of my Tears Jakob began to introduce the band and when he introduced them they all played a short solo. First was Mike then Rami and when he got to Greg he made a joke saying Greg finally got the training wheels off of his bike for the bike benefit that was held earlier. And the he began to introduce Mario:
Jakob: "I better plug my ears for this next one because
everytime I introduce him I hear loud shrieks and
screams."
(Now you start to hear girls shout Mario's name)
Jakob:"Mario Calire!"
Then the girls in the crowd start to really scream as Mario goes into a awesome drum solo. Then he asks Lance
Armstrong to come out and Lance thanks the bands for coming out for this benefit and he goes around hugging all the guys. Before he leaves the stage he gets Mikes microphone and tells the crowd what a great guy Mike is and what an awesome bike rider he is. Mike is laughing and starts to push Lance to the side of the stage. Then they finish Tracks of my Tears. Sometimes before starting a song Jakob would talk with the audience and they would put a spotlight on him. For some reason I thought that I wouldn't get caught if I took a picture of him in the spotlight. Well I was wrong! Right after I took it a security guard came up and took my camera. I was so upset! I was wondering how I was going to get it back. So I thought I would get the security guard to feel sorry for me. And it worked! He came up to me 15 minutes later and apologized for getting me upset and told me he would give the camera back to me after the concert. Here in Austin we have a street called 6th street where all the clubs and bars are. Jakob started to talk about it and we all new what song was coming up next, 6th Avenue Heartache! Almost at the end of their set Jakob introduced Joe Ely. He came out to play Brand New Cadillac with the band. He was really good too! Then the band was finished and left the stage. A few minutes later they came back out for an encore. And during one song Dan Wilson of Semisonic came out to sing a song with them. During the middle of it he forgot some of the words and Jakob told him to go play keyboards with Rami. After the encore they were done. Jakob bent over to the audience and gave a girl his guitar pick, while Mike threw his out during the whole concert, and Mario threw his drumsticks
to the crowd. One bounced off some peoples hands and fell behind the barrier and some girl almost broke her neck jumping over to get it. I was able to get my camera back and we left. The Rock for the Roses concert was one of the best concerts I've ever been to! It was a lot of fun and hopefully they will come back to do it again next year!
