matchbox twenty Meet & Greet - Amherst, Mass. 9/22/00

(Click on the photos for a closer look.)

There were about 30 of us in the meet and greet that were brought upstairs into a large room.  We were asked to spilt in half and sit on the chairs along the wall on either side.  Jason came in and told us to remain seated when the band came in.  They would come to us and sign our stuff. 

I could see into the hall outside and caught a glimpse of Paul and Brian. As the guys came into the room, Jason announced them.  Rob brought up the rear and pushed Paul from behind and they both stumbled a little.  That set the tone of lighthearted fun for the event.

Anthony and I were in the middle of our row.  Adam and Brian started working the other side of the room.  Paul and Rob started down our row from the left.  Kyle decided to start on our row from the right - he looked me in the eye and pointed to his head and nodded.  It was charming.

Kyle approached us first and we all introduced ourselves.  We asked about the tour and he told us it was going well.  I told him I had done a crazy fan thing to meet them and revealed my Mad Season quilt.  He told me it wasn't crazy at all. In the meantime, Paul and Rob were talking to the people next to us. Rob looked over Paul's shoulder and saw the quilt.  He tapped Paul's shoulder to get his attention and Paul looked over and his eyes popped. While he was still signing the other couple's things, he told me he had seen my letter.  (I should have asked him which one, since there were two, but I didn't. 

Now we broke the rules, because we stood up and to a table so Kyle and Rob could sign my quilt on a hard surface (no one said anything).  I took the opportunity to ask if "Bunnyman" had a name.  Rob said "No."  I asked if they could name him for me since I felt rather close to him after all the time I'd spent recreating him.  They looked at one another and Rob said to Kyle, "I'm thinking 'Herb,' how about you?"  Kyle replies, "Herb is good."  Rob turns to me and says, "His name is 'matchbox Herb.'  He's an unofficial member of the band."  

Paul got to us next and I told him that I might try quilting their first record.  He said "That weird looking guy?" I said yes, it seemed like and interesting challenge.

Brian came to us next and we didn't really have much of a conversation that I can recall (I shouldn't have waited six months to write it all down!).  

Adam stopped by last .  This concert occurred during the week when Adam's guitar had been stolen and was still missing.  We asked if he had gotten it back and he said no, but that he had put a "hex" on the person that stole it.  He really liked my project (he signed it "Judy - design our wardrobe!") and decideed that everyone in the room should see.  He went to the head (foot?) of the room and called for everyone's attention and held it up. ( I was a little embarrassed so I sat down.)

By now things were starting to wrap up. The band was called together for group photos, and we all waited our turn.  Luckily Anthony and I were our own "group" so we didn't have a bunch of strangers in our picture. ( I liked the photo so much that we used it as our Christmas card - that got some interesting reactions!)

I have only one final tidbit to share with you.  Just after our photo was taken I decided to hit the ladies room.  As I approached the sinks to wash up, I noticed a woman combing her hair and wearing some laminated stuff around her neck (I didn't think anything of it since many of the people in the area wore credentials). She was standing back from the two sinks, and I noticed the water running at one of them.  And I noticed that the fixtures at each sink were different (Why?).  So I asked her if this was one of those restrooms with the "magic sinks" that turn on and off by themselves.  She said she didn't know but couldn't get the one to stop.  We launched into a silly discussion about the one handed washing techniques, etc. that you need to go through in public restrooms.  I left the bathroom and returned to the meet 'n greet.  

Anthony asked me to ask Rob about something and as I turned in that direction I saw him put his arm around the woman from the bathroom and kiss her cheek.  (The light bulb goes off here as I realize I had a stupid conversation with Marisol!)  Now I had to approach them, which I did.  I asked Rob if she was his wife and he said "Yes, this is Marisol." She looked at me and said "We met in the bathroom."  (Okay, I felt really stupid, but I got over it.)  I showed her my quilt and made a dumb comment about "creative license" to the effect that Bunnyman wasn't wearing any underwear.  Rob and Marisol laughed.  I'm really glad I hadn't read until later that Rob doesn't wear any either!

Any comments you'd like to make?