Itemized List of Concerts/Shows I've Been To

When We Were Young Tour '22

   This show was something. It was my first show since COVID and it was a doozy. We bought the tickets in January, and I still don't know how much they cost. This, along with the fact I live in North Carolina, made this show really expensive. It was me, my sister, and my mom. We thought I would be able to manage the issues with my heart condition by the time the show came, but I wasn't. We attempted to sell the tickets, but in the end decided to go. I skipped school that Friday and flew to Vegas, but the fun didn't end there.

   The airline we flew with lost my heart medication, so we spent our first day calling my doctors in NC to get a prescription sent to Vegas. Then came the actual show. It was probably my favorite experience so far. Let me walk you through the day...

   We travel to the show an hour late, missing The Ready Set who I wanted to see. The lines were super long, but because I'm disabled we went through the handi-cap accessible line. Now this line... no security on it. They didn't check our bags, didn't ask for proof of disability, not even a metal detector. We got in within 10 minutes, went to the ADA tent and set off for the stages.

   Then we saw the first band Meet Me at the Altar. My sister wanted to see them, so we did. I liked their music, despite not hearing them previously. After that we left to see Mayday Parade (mostly to avoid lil' huddy) and I have a love for Mayday Parade that has only grown since the concert. After that was We The Kings, who were actually the first band I went to the pit for. The other two I had stayed in ADA seating. It was the test really, to see if I could survive the pit with my condition, and I did! They were great with crowd interaction, having us get down and jump up, and they even played Mr. Brightside which was awesome. Nothing gets a bunch of white emos crunk like Mr. Brightside. After that We went to wait in the Black Stage pit for Pierce the Veil. We saw some tiktok emo boy named Jxden who was throwing a tantrum on stage, and Dashboard Confessional who were pretty fucking awesome.

   Then the time came. Pierce the Veil. Thank god I took my medication right before the show started, because the pit was terrible. As soon as they came on stage the entire crowd surged forward, I had to hold onto my mom and sister to keep my balance. A part of it was fun, but it also felt really fucking dangerous. I mean, borderline crowd crush. This was different than any other put I had been in at this festival, even the pits where people were moshing. I still had fun though, and nothing bad happened. There was a point where I had to choose between singing, jumping, and breathing though. My heart suffered severely during PTV's set, and I fear my cardiologist will want to talk about it in June.

   The next band I really wanted to see was Black Veil Brides, but there was a long time before their set. I ended up seeing Boys Like Girls who told us to put our phones away, Silverstein who my sister loved, and Knocked Loose. I actually really liked Knocked loose. During BLG and Silverstein, we sat in ADA seats, mostly to recover from the PTV set. But Knocked Loose was the set before BVB so we moved into the pit. I was right in the middle when this (very attractive) guy asked me if I knew the band. I said "No I'm waiting for BVB" and then he went "Get against the barricade, you're right where the mosh pit is gonna form." He was so chill, and helped get me against the barricade.

   I honestly think he was flirting with me (which sounds narcissistic because I'm sixteen, but I had been mistaken for a 20yo by a dude I've been getting coffee from since 8th grade so it fits). He called my freckles cute, but did a complete 180 when my mom mentioned I was in high school, which made him more attractive tbh. He ended up having my mom hold his beer as he went into the mosh pit, some dude broke his nose and the guy gave him his bandana for the blood. There was a wig being thrown around the moshpit. It was a very fun experience, and a lot more chill than PTV's pit despite the moshpit. I ended up loving their song Deadringer and added it to my playlist.

   Black Veil Brides was next. As mentioned, I tried to see them at Warp Tour and got sick. Now was my chance, and I got 5 people from the front of the barricade. I knew every lyric to every song, even if I hadn't heard it in awhile, Andy looked beautiful, C.C. was *chefs kiss*, Jake and Jinx gave me headache from their headbanging. They sang some of my favorite songs, and it was everything I had hoped for since I was 9. I would definitely buy tickets to see them again.

   After that, I had a hard decision to make. See Palaye Royale; Alkaline Trio; and Sleeping with Sirens- or get a good spot in the pit for My Chemical Romance. It's obvious which one I chose.

   I'll admit, I pulled an asshole move to get into the pit. The line was extremely long during A Day To Remember's set, so we slid in near the front when it began to move. We pissed some girls off, but the others didn't seem to mind. We watched A Day To Remember from the line (I somehow knew a lot of their songs despite not being a huge listener) and when we got in the pit it was time for Death Cab for Cutie. We slowly drifted closer to the stage as people left, but we didn't push. We were guarding our positions obviously, but didn't want to try to take other's. During DCFC we met some nice woman, and I was once again mistaken for an old person. They wanted to know what year I graduated, and were shocked when I told them I was born the year they graduated. During Bright Eyes set, I met this cute couple who were super chill. We ended up getting bumped into each other a lot. There was also this dad who was next to us who was super chill. Bright Eyes itself was memorable because the singer was going through it. He was super self-deprecating and definitely on drugs. He fell off stage, bitched about us not wanting to see him, and kissed the cameras. He was a trip, but he was definitely memorable. I loved his energy, don't get me wrong, but boy he needs therapy or something.

   I got lucky enough to get closer to the stage for Bring Me the Horizon even if I was still super far. The crowd sucked for them though. People were sitting down in the pit and it was fucking annoying. Their graphics were strange, but totally fit the vibe and I loved every moment of it. Then Paramore came on. I love Paramore <3 Hayley Williams looked so good and her voice. They played Misery Business too, which was perfect. I also met the love of my life in the pit. He fell on me during their set, and was wearing a red slipknot jacket. Did I talk to him? No. Let me he delusional in peace. Finally...

   I saw My Chemical Romance and it was fucking awesome. Like 500% awesome. Gerard was wearing a red suit and sunglasses and had this whole dictator vibe. The crowd was subdued because it was 10pm, but you could feel the excitement and exhilaration. Me and my pit crush cried during cancer, but then he crowd-surfed away. I sang every song, jumped up and down, and ughhh I wish I could go back. I did end up feeling extremely sick halfway through their set, and nearly vomited. I didn't though, I made it through. I would have died before leaving MCR's set early.

   After My Chem we left, stumbling our way back to the hotel. I remember Brie on the tram who wanted carbs and cheese, but thats it. This was the only concert I didn't get post-concert depression, probably because I was too exhausted. It was a nice re-do to redeem myself from warp tour, because I drank a ton of water and didn't get heat stroke and have to leave early!

  It was a fun experience, but would I do it again? No. Mostly because it's a struggle to fly to Vegas.

So Much For (Tour) Dust 7/21/23