Ever since Saturday morning, from the instant I opened my eyes, there wasn't a second that passed where I didn't think about what was to come on Monday night. So naturally, the weekend crawled by at the pace of an ant traveling from New York to California.

Then, about 10 lifetimes later, Monday morning finally comes. In 1st period, right after we played a song, Casandra yells, "KATIEEEEE!!!" across the classroom and we didn't stop spazzing out about it for the rest of the day. All of our friends were like, "Okay, I know the concert is gonna be fun, but not THAT fun." They just don�t know what it's like to have G.A. tickets to their favorite band's concert now do they?

Walking home added on about another lifetime. I had to stop at Food-4-Less to pick up a disposable camera, and that took FOREVER. I couldn�t listen to music either, because my discman would skip since I was walking too fast. But still I continued on my trek towards the Linkin Park concert.

So I finally get home, take as fast of a shower as I ever have and start getting ready to rock my brains out. Sacrifice it all. I got ready a lot sooner than I expected to so I decided to see if Todd was online or not. He was. I try and get him to leave to come get me but he says Tyler isn�t ready yet. So I get off. More waiting. I HATE waiting.

We didn�t get there until around 7:15 or 7:20. The concert was scheduled to start at 7:30. When we were parking we were playing d�OpticonE?-Orgy full blast with the windows down. It was hilarious, we got some interesting stares.

We get in line, which was relatively short, and the security is patting people down. I�m like, d�Oh no...My camera!E?. So plop, it went in the garbage. Inside, it was so awesome, there was this corner with huge beanbags, and there was a balcony. It was awesome, a really good feeling. And it wasn�t huge, which is good in a lot of ways. Easier to get to the stage.

We saw an empty place in the balcony, so we try and get up there, but it was cut off.

So we go back down and stand by the stairs and talk for a good 5 minutes or so. I realize the concert could start any minute and suggest we get closer. We cut in by the merchandise stand and get in probably the 7th row maybe. We stand there and talk about the more less clothed girls and the lights go down and the background music stops.

Everyone started screaming and light start scanning Taproot�s banner. Everyone starts screaming and doing bull horns. They start, they were SO loud, and I realize I am surrounded by a bunch of huge high school guys. Mosh pit maybe? I think so! So I fought as hard as I could and ended up in the 4th row. No more jumping for me. SMUUUUUUUSH. I was center, but a little to the right. The bass player was right in front of me.

It was crazy. At the end of almost every song people would start chanting d�TAPROOT! TAPROOT! TAPROOT!E? Everyone went into hysterics when they started playing d�Again and AgainE? that song is really awesome live. My favorite would have to be d�IE? though. It was so awesome. At the end of every song, the singer would be like d�You guys are the best f***in crowd we�ve had all tour! You guys are great! Is everyone having safe fun?E? They interacted really well. Towards the end of their set, I decided it would be fun to flip the singer off and see what he did. It took a while for him to notice, but he flipped me off back. Everyone started screaming. I felt pretty damn special.

During intermission the bass player came around and was singing people�s tickets stubs and the like. I got mine signed and I shook his hand. He was cool. We were begging the roadies to turn a fan on us, and they did for about 5 minutes. But at least it was something.

Suddenly the lights go down again, it erupted even worse than Taproot. The whole place must have been screaming. It went crazy. So I make the guy let me in, and I�m in second row! BOO-YAH! They started out with d�With YouE?. I sung along to every lyric. My mouth was so dry. A couple songs into it, the 2 guys in front of me decided they were getting too smushed and couldn�t take it anymore, so they got out. FRONT ROW! Hell yeah! Mike and Chester were always in front of me, if not one, than the other. I felt so damn lucky. You could barely even hear Chester singing at this point, all I could basically hear was everyone around me singing along. You look around, you see EVERY SINGLE person�s mouth moving along with the lyrics. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. During a song, I can�t remember which, (I should�ve gotten the set list from the roadies) Mike and Chester both came down in front of the gate. I held my hand out and Chester grabbed onto it and held on for what seemed like a long time. He has a very nice, firm grip. Mike was on the left side letting people sing into his microphone. It was so sweet.

During d�A Place for My HeadE? the singer for Taproot came out and was singing along in the chorus. Everyone went crazy. It was sweet too because d�A Place for My HeadE? is my favorite song off of Hybrid Theory.

They played every song off of the CD except d�Cure for the ItchE? and Joe did a different little thing anyway. They also played d�High VoltageE? and d�Step UpE?. The bald guy was so into their show, Chester kept interacting with him on stage. It was awesome.

Everyone went psycho when they played d�One Step CloserE? I thought I was gonna break all my ribs from getting pushed against the gate so hard. Tyler said the mosh pit was really into it too. The security guard person in front of me, his name was Harley, he was freaking out too. He was singing and dancing and stuff. He was really cool. He wasn�t wearing earplugs either which surprised me, since most do.

Then finally, out of nowhere, it was over. People started chanting d�LINKIN PARK! LINKIN PARK! LINKIN PARK!E? I look around, and see Rob handing out drum stick to people in the front. I reach out my hand and he gives me one. It was so awesome. And then Brad suddenly appears and starts signing people ticket stubs, shoes, hats, shirts, body parts, drum sticks, etc. Brad tried to sign my drumstick twice. Hehe silly boy. Then I see Pheonix and Rob again. I get all 3 to sign both my ticket and my drumstick.

Then I don�t see anyone for a while and I look up and Chester is like right next to me! I screamed something like d�CHESTER! OH MY GOD!E? and he turned and laughed at me. I probably sounded like the biggest teenybopper. So he signs my drumstick and ticket, and I shake his hand once more. He was talking to the bald guy for a long time, thanking him for being so into their show and stuff. He had a different talking voice than I expected. His glasses are hella cool though, so are his flame tattoos. I also like his spike choker. It was sweet!

I didn�t think it could get any sweeter and then I see Joe. Joe is my freaking favourite!! He started on the left side and took what seemed like another 10 lifetimes to get to me. He signs my drumstick and ticket, and I hold out my hand hoping he would shake it and it seemed like he got this look on his face like d�Why does this person want to shake my hand?E? Confused and surprised at the same time. So he shook it. Oh it was so great. Mike came around eventually and signed my drumstick and ticket too. If I would�ve still had my camera (damn security) I would�ve had the BEST pictures. They were less than a foot away from me! I would shout the guys names and no one really knew who anyone was but me and would say, d�Who is that blonde guy? What was that blue-haired guys name again?E? It was cool, I felt important.

I also got a lot of the people behind me�s stuff signed for them. All the guys around me would check up on me from time to time and ask me if I was all right. They were incredibly sweet.

I stand there for another 5 minutes or so and realize no one else is gonna come around so I peel out. I go buy my hoodie for $40 and start looking for Todd, Tyler, and Steve. I see Tyler but then I lose him, so I go outside and wait by the doors.

I realize that they might be in the car and they would probably leave me if I didn�t turn up soon, so I start heading down there. All these people were yelling, d�HEY! I�ll give you $20 for that drumstick!E? My response was, d�Hell no! Are you on crack?!E? Todd catches up with me and I learn that they signed his shoe. We were talking about how we wanted to frame our now valuables and hang them up on our walls. Haha.

We run to the car through the mud and head out. We listened to Linkin Park full blast with the windows down all the way home. The ride seems a lot shorter than it did getting there and we are suddenly at my house. Todd, Tyler, and Steve shake my hand and I get out of the car, go inside, and start bragging about my drumstick to anyone that would listen.

And now....it�s over. Just a memory. Although a very important one that I wouldn�t trade for ANYTHING! Linkin Park and Taproot are both very awesome live and I suggest to anyone and everyone to see them on their tour. It was the best concert I have been to so far in my short life. I will never ever forget it.
-Katie (Kiwibox.com Reporter)

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