So i went over there, not really knowing what i was going to say. But i had brought their cd, White Knuckled Substance, to sign, so i figured, that would be a good opener. I went up to Zach who was sitting on this couch behind the merch both and i asked him if he could sign the cd for me. He was so shocked that i even had that album and said it was so awesome that i had it. I later found out from Erik (guitar player) that the cd is out of print. I didn't know that. Anyways, I told Zach that they were so awesome, and I thanked him for playing Shatterday because that's my favorite song that they do. I told him that i had seen them twice before with the used and andrew wk, and he just got the BIGGEST smile on his face. I even had the set list from the Columbia show we went to with me, so i showed it to him. So started our like 30 minute conversation. He was so happy that i came out to see them, and stuff that he wanted to give me something. So he told the merch guy to give me two buttons. Hehe. So the merch guy did. I showed Zach the other buttons on my bag, and he really liked the Dashboard Confessional one. He said that Chris Carrabba is a fan of their music, and that he wanted to take them out on tour with Dashboard, but they couldn't go because they were recording their album. I was so surprised that he liked Dashbaord but he says he just thinks their amazing. Mostly we talked about bands and he'd be like "Dude do you like...." Once he busted out with "Dude, have you ever heard of One Line Drawing." and i was like, "Get out! You like OLD? I <3 Jonah." We talked about Finch, Fairweather, Sparta and so many other bands. I couldn't believe that I was talking to him so easily. That man is cool as shit, and has AWESOME taste in music. I found out that he's 25, has a sister, and that his favorite band is U2, which i was surprised about. He asked me who my favorite band was so I told him the Cure. I asked him if he liked Glassjaw and he said that he had only heard one song by them, Cosmopolitan Bloodloss, so i told him that he had to check out some other stuff. I think it was around this time that he actually got around to signing the cd for me, and he was like, "how do u spell your name?" So i spelled if for him and he wrote "Shaliza is our friend 4 life. <3 Zach."
He said that when they played CMJ last week Tori Amos actually came to see them, and they all met her after the show, and got pictures with her. And i was like "wow you like Tori Amos?" Zach is just so fucking cool! I asked when the album was coming out and he said not until March. I said "MARCH?!" and he said, "yeah i know it's so far away. it sucks." I asked him if Gloria was going to be on the new cd, and he said that it would be on the cd coming out after the one that's coming out in march.
I was telling him that I play songs from White Knuckled Substance on the radio, and he was so thankful and grateful. He said that if he had known that there was someone there who actually liked them, he would've asked me what i wanted them to play. But i didn't even see any of them until they got up on stage. But he said that he liked shows like that, where there aren't a lot of people cause they can just do whatever and not care.
Zach asked me if i had the new EP and i told him no, and that i'd get it if I had any money. Then this sweet boy says to me, "Do you want vinyl or cd?" and i was like "he's gonna give me one?" So i say "cd" and he gets his merch dude to get a cd for me. I LOVE ZACH!!! I couldn't believe how ultra nice he was being. It was wonderful. We just had the coolest conversation. This was just the second night of the tour, and tomorrow their going to alabama, and then new orleans, and then they're playing a bunch of shows in Texas. I told him that i hoped to see them when they open for Brand New at the Cotton Club. He asked me who i thought would be headlining that tour, and i said that i didn't know, but now that i think about it, probably the movie life. Man and we talked about how we dont like football, and i told him about stupid rednecks, and it was like talking to an old friend. Then he asked me If i liked Jawbreaker, and i said that i hadn't heard anything by them. He said that in 1994 he was into them big time. He said that i should check out 24 Hour Revenge Therapy . So then he said, "dude, i'll have to email you and tell you about all of these great bands." I <3 Zach. hehe
Then the next band, The Forty Fives, started playing, so we couldn't talk as much, but we did, a little here and there. Finally he went on to the floor to watch the Forty Fives. They were alright. I went to sit on a couch and stayed there until the next band, Mooney Suzuki. They were entertaining for sure. A lot of kids there liked them a lot though. As they were finishing up, Zach passed by me, and asked me how i liked the show. I told him that I had a good time, and he thanked me again for coming out. Then VR's tour manager or something came over and gave Zach a set list, and Zach was like "here do you want this?" So i took it. Hehe.
Then it was time to go home. So i was walking around the back of the 40 watt, when i saw Erik and Justin (other guitar player) from Vendetta Red in their van. So i just ran over really quick. Justin went away for something, but Erik was in the fan waiting for everyone else i guess. I asked him if he could sign my cd and he looked so surprised and excited that someone actually knew who they were and liked their cd. Then he saw what cd it was and he said, "Wow, how did you get this? It's out of print now and no one can find it." I said, "really?" Because all i had to do was order it through Wuxtry. I told him that they were awesome and that i had seen them before and he just like Zach was so grateful that i came to see them. It must be cool to come to some random town in georgia like athens and have someone know your band. Erik said that he actually liked Athens, that the rain reminded him of home (they're from Seattle). Then Justin came back, so i got his autograph too. I told them goodbye and to have a good night. And Erik said something like "good night dear" hehe. The Vendetta Red boys are AMAZING and don't let anyone tell you differently.