The madness started at about 4pm on the Monday. I met with my friend Kim and her workmate Klare, who I was going to the gig with. We met in McDonalds and me and Kim had some food, as we knew we wouldn't be able to eat for a while afterwards.

The bus that was taking us to Wolverhampton was due to leave the bus station at 5pm. Luckily, when we got there at 4.45pm (ish) the bus was already there, so we didn't have to stand out in the cold (which I'd already had to do when I was waiting to meet Kim). Given as I was wearing my red and black corset, black PVC trousers and a fairly light jacket, this was a good thing (I was going for Amy Lee's "Let's mix and match" look).

The bus actually left the station at about 5.10pm - stupid bus! - and we got to Wolverhampton at about 6.20pm. After a quick dash over to the nearest pub to use their "facilities", we went over to the Civic and spent the best part of the next 40 minutes waiting for the doors to open.

Our persistence paid off - we got in fairly quickly once the doors were open, and as we went into the hall, we managed to work our way to around the 2nd or 3rd row. I was quite anxious to get a decent view, because I was planning on doing the gig for Photojournalism. So, second row and I wasn't too bad, because the guy and girl in front of me, though taller than me, weren't tall enough that I couldn't see over them.

However, stupid guy next to me...I asked him if he minded moving over a little bit, so I could see through the "window" between the guy and girl in front of me. He said yeah, but then kept moving back so that he was almost stood on me...silly boy...

But anyway, there I was, ready for the gig and ready to check views. The first support act, Apartment 26, came on...and I soon realised that while my view was okay, it was by no means the best. Apartment 26, by the way, weren't all that great. The best bit for me was admiring how the drummer looked a bit like he should be related to Billy Boyd, the keyboardist looked like a cross between Orlando Bloom and Justin Timberlake, and the guitarist was scary...

Anyway, they finished and set-up for the next band began. Now, during Apartment 26 I had been thinking (I know, it did hurt) and I realised...there was a really tall guy in the front row, kinda in front of me. So I thought...I wonder if I could squeeze in either in front of or next to him. Figuring that the worst he could do was say no, I asked him...and hey presto, in I squeezed next to him, RIGHT IN THE FRONT ROW! Sometimes I love being tiny...

So on came Finger Eleven and guess what - I could see! Finger Eleven were okay, not particularly great or anything, but I was too busy revelling in the fact that I'd wangled my way to the front to actually care.

Finger Eleven finished - set-up time for the main act. And once again, silly boy who had been behind me decided to see if he could stand on me...well, maybe not quite that bad...Basically, he started pushing forward before Evanescence had even come on, and he was practically leaning on my back...screw that. He WAS leaning on my back. I heard him say to the people he was with, "I think I'm gonna be stuck here," so I turned around and said, "Well if you are stuck there, can you please not lean on me quite so much?!". Really, I don't know what came over me that night...I think I was just so excited for Evanescence and I wanted it to be the best night that it could be.

A little while later (I think they were running late) and Evanescence appear on stage. All I can say about that is OH! MY! GODS! I now honestly wish I'd taken 2 cameras with me, because the gig was absolutely fantastic! Amy Lee looked and sounded great, as usual, and the guitarist (whose name I don't know) really knew how to work the crowd. I actually have more pics of him than I do of the other guitarist, though I don't think that other guitarist was Ben...apparently he walked out on the tour on the 24th October...

Highlight of the gig? Hard to say, but I know I was in complete awe when I learnt that not only is Amy a great singer, she plays keyboard as well! The "new" arrangement of My Immortal is really cool, and I like it more after the gig ;)

Only really "bad" point was when they played Bring Me To Life and everyone started pushing forward. Luckily I had my bag in front of me, and my jacket draped over it, so it meant that I couldn't get crushed against the barrier, because I physically didn't go any further forward.

Anyway, the gig ended *sob* and we left the hall. Kim went to get drinks while Klair and I went to the merchandise stand - she got a long-sleeved black and red top, and I got a skinny-tee - black and blue, with the Evanescence logo on the back of the left sleeve. They were pretty expensive, but it was so worth it.

Woke up the next day tired and aching, but I didn't care - I'd do it all again tomorrow if I could. Got the pics developed that day - I actually paid to get them back sooner, I was that excited. And guess what - no heads! I was so proud...