The Tale Of a VMA Concert Attendee

by Melissa in Concert Reviews

As with every year, the first moments are spent looking back at the success, defeats, and…er…peculiar moments of the past year. One this same note, I will use this time to look on a particular moment in 2009 that, for me was its highlight.

Our story begins the a few days before August 28, the date All Time Low, the White Tie Affair, and other persons would make a stop on their VMA tour.  My neighbor was attending and wanted me to come with her; I agreed since it would mark the first time I went to the Northern Star Arena of my own accord. Previously it was a choice between either going see Jo Dee Messina or helping Mom clean.

The first sign of a (mis)adventure was an observance of who was on the shuttle with us on the way to the show.  Girls our age, in short-shorts and slogans glitter-glued to t-shirts, like ”THIS BAND SUCKS – NOTHING PERSONAL”, or “MRS. BIEBER”.  Once inside, we had the sinking feeling that there would be issues if we went on a ride, so we went directly to the line.  Within a half-hour, said line extended from the Northern Star Arena entrance and crowded the whole of Frontier Adventures, and continued to grow for the next two hours.  Add in the pouring rain, the pitiful site of people completely unprepared for the pouring rain, and having to calm down those in front of us who panicked every time the Log Flume made an ominous noise, and that made the most regretted two hours of my life.

At Five P.M., the horde was let in and the party started.  As people were herded in, a MC was riling up the audience.  Jumping onto a loudspeaker, he perused the audience and shouted, “I’m getting a Woodstock vibe!”, which made the crowd go wild.  A contest was going on among some local groups and the prize was having their performance aired at the VMA’s.  I can’t really relate any further detail, though, because behind us was a friend of one of the bands drummers and repeated declarations of  ”Dude, we know them! Dude, I’ve touched that drum kit!”  and the subsequent protests when that band did not win.  Next was what I’d like to call an interesting Sociology experiment.  After the contest, a band that was not is the line-up came on and did two songs. Wild applause ensued, thinking they were done, only to collectively go “UGH!!!” when the the singer came up to the mic and said “Our next tune…”

Performances from Kristinia DeBarge, Justin Bieber, and Jessie James followed before the first headliners, the White Tie Affair, rushed onto the stage, obviously excited to play. They thanked us for staying out in the rain so long and proceeded into a setlist including the songs on their EP “Scene Change”, as well their hit “Candle (Sick and Tired)”. The highlight of their show was when lead singer Chris Wallace crouched the edge of the stage, and said “So we promised our friend Lady Gaga that when the tour stopped here, we would perform ‘Just Dance’. So we will!” Promptly they began a rousing rock version of the now-classic song, complete with a mosh pit choir.

When they were done, our MC came out acting sullen.  He then melodramatically said, “My good friends…I’m afraid that despite all this fun…I am at my all time low!”  The crowd exploded into screams and excitement, because at this time, the members of All Time Low took their places on the stage.  After introductions, they ripped into their song “Damned If I Do Ya(Damned If I Don’t)”.  Midway through their set, Alex Gaskarth hopped onto an amp. “We want to try something.” He told the crowd. ‘Think about your favorite swear word. Think hard…now say it!” Everyone screamed the same word at the same time, except for the guy near lead guitar who said Poodle.

By the time the concert was over, it was ten o’clock, about the time Great Adventure closes. Security attempted to usher people out and were succeeding until a mob started flooding the merchandise booth. Apparently, Chris Wallace forgot he was famous and thought he could sneak out to the merch booth. But soon girls crowded him seeking autographs, pictures, videos messages, and the chance to touch his hair. He eventually got moved to another area, but not without difficulty.

Despite rain, leg cramps, crowds and fangirls, it was a fun experience.