I guess it all started last year when I decided to be a writer. Sometime between then and now, I became a big fan of a little hometown band called *Good Charlotte*. I downloaded their single, "Little Things" off Napster, and it became the gateway drug. Soon, I was surprised to hear a song on the radio about Waldorf, the town neighboring mine. It's beat was a stronger hit and I was yearning for more. Finally, "Motivation Proclamation," the third single off the album was released, and that was all it took. I was addicted. I bought the band's CD - from where else, but the Waldorf Circuit City.

This past May, Joel's (GC lead vocals) star tattoos inspired me to get one of my own. In an attempt to show him, I crowdsurfed my way to the front of the audience during the band's performance at the 2001 HFStival. I wasn't successful. Nor was I successful in being visible in their "Festival Song" video, which was shot on location at the festival. Still, I was determined.

So that's a little background story, intended to help you understand my perspective. As you all might know, the months that followed can be referred to as "the concert diaries." From May to July, I attended three *NSync shows, two days of the HFStival, the Area One tour, and a Blink 182 concert. And do you know what bothered me the most? Not being able to meet the bands, nor being able to take pictures.

Then after paying hundreds of dollars, it finally occurred to me that I could be going to all these events for free and at the same time, getting closer to the performers. (I am, after all, a music critic).

My first at bat came with the Warped Tour's stop at Nissan Pavilion (Bristow, VA) on July 31, 2001. Who would have imagined that a rookie like me could have hit that hard on the first try? If I hadn't been running late that morning, I would have missed one of the most important phone calls of my life. At 10:30 a.m., the press relations coordinator for Clearchannel Entertainment called to tell me that I was approved for press passes and that I had two tickets waiting for me at the Will-Call window. You should've seen how happy I was. But it didn't just stop there.

No. That was just a single. In the game I'm playing, I have since hit for the cycle.

JC and I arrived at Nissan Pavilion to learn that not only did I have photo passes and free tickets, but that I had a scheduled interview with *Good Charlotte*. To pass the time until GC's 4 p.m. performance, we walked around and collected free stuff - stickers, magnets, magazines, shirts, etc. Suffering from the heat, we took time out and sat behind the main stage, where all the tourbuses were parked. We struck up a conversation with a stranger, who we later found out was Sean, a member of the D.C. based ska group Pie Tasters. Within minutes, more Tasters came and invited us to sit with them on the backstage leather couches. We chatted and they invited us to their August 18 show at the 9:30 club.

After taking a few pictures, I then looked around to see ::gasp:: Benji and Joel with their dog, Cash. Without thinking, I approached the twins and introduced myself, informing them that I would be interviewing them after their set. "You don't understand. This is, like, my dream." (I'm such a dork!) They both shook my hand, invited me to watch them, and briefly walked away. That was the double. I was now two-for-two.

To kill more time, JC and I watched Alien Ant Farm, walked around and met members of the Atlanta group Rehab, and BMX pro Rick Thorne. They are all SO nice! SO NICE! Rick Thorne was giving me BMX advice, while Rehab invited us to visit their bus later in the day.

Anyway, the triple came when I had the chance to watch *GC* from the press area, and afterwards, interviewed Dusty, their new drummer. !Please read the review and details of the interview at AMZ! From a journalist's point of view, it was amazing because I gained experience and at the same time, found out breaking news (it had not yet been announced that Dusty would be a permanent replacement for previous drummer, Aaron). From a fan's point of view, it was unbelievable! All five guys signed my CD, we took pictures with Joel and Dusty, and we even held one of those "normal" conversations.

I guess, if you consider watching the band perform up close as rounding first base, and getting to know them as rounding second, then ending up on third would have to be being invited for the collective Warped Tour band barbeque that evening. Dusty told us about it, but my friend LJ was the one who formally invited us. The story behind LJ (who I met only that day) is a completely separate and complicated one, and can be discussed later.

So we attended the barbeque. In a nutshell, we watched fireworks, drank, chatted some more with Joel, Dusty, and Rick Thorne, and met the members of The Vandals:
Joe Escalante = bass guitar, owner of Kung Fu Records, manager of other bands such as The Ataris
Warren Fitzgerald = guitar, record producer
Dave Quackenbush = lead vocals
Josh Freese = drummer, also drummer for A Perfect Circle

We hung out in their bus and took pictures before leaving at 10:30 p.m. and calling it a night.

I know, I know. I said I hit for the cycle, so I guess you're wondering where the homerun is. Click here.

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