my vantage point [not photo] from stage right
HOLY SHIT is all i can say!
billie joe armstrong's small, tucked away hometown was invaded by an army of whacked out green day fans friday, may 16.
it all went down at toot's tavern on 2nd ave. in crockett -- THE FOXBORO HOT TUBS!!! LIVE
the show was meant to be a party for the band's friends and family -- but, they allowed maybe 100 or so fans in...and there were plenty more who waited all day and didn't make the cut
by mid-day, 2nd ave. in crockett turned into a full-on street festival with larry the hot dog guy, garrett the spray gun guy, orange-doored port-a-potties, skateboarders, and all sorts of chemicals and liquids!
i used the port-a-potty and all i could think was 'god i hope there isn't an earthquake right now, that would suck'
details of the show are a bit hazy because I ALMOST PUKED TWICE during it while trying to stay alive in the midst of complete chaos -- fight or flight -- people were hanging from the walls and ceiling like fucking spiderman in an effort to avoid the outrageous crush and heat of the crowd in that small bar that had no air-conditioning and no ventilation...
every so often, some one in the position of "authority" would get on stage and plead with the crowd, "everybody you've got to relax or the cops are going to shut us down." (did billie go care? no...every time someone would calm the crowd down he wound them up all over again...beautiful!)
(shit, it's sunday afternoon and i still haven't showered--the show went until 1 a.m., i got to my hotel at 2 a.m. and i left for my flight home at 6 a.m. -- no time!
today i will shower i promise...first, lest you think i've completely lost it--i was already in long beach, california, when i found out about the foxboro shows up north--i just extended my stay thank you very much...)
here's a list of some of the night's highlights to tempt your curiousity:
1. toot's bar, it's employees, security and the people of crockett rule!
2. the opening acts: outstanding-- the cobras --http://www.clipser.com/watch_video/174708 were so sexy and loveable and mommies friend, with billie joe's older brother on drums, rocked hard and wet...http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=22366407
3. a woman in a wheelchair made it to the front of the pit with her mom -- when she had to get out, her mom backed her out as the whole crowd chanted: 'BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP...'
4. a cop got punched in the face (all of crockett's finest were out on their a.t.v.'s and tan uniforms--like 20 cops--(toot's made the right call on that one -- we are the waiting started unraveling around 5 p.m. and doors didn't open until 8)
5. a large woman ran panicking from the pit during the show, arms flailing screaming "GET OUT OF MY FUCKING WAY -- I GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE -- GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
6. leanne, a sweet girl from ireland, started fainting; eyes rolling in the back of her head...i threw her in front of the massive fan cooling the band and then got stuck behind it -- a great view, but i had to hold onto to the window on my right and behind me and the wall and the speaker on my left to keep from getting killed -- and when i did try to sit down, i ended up in a pool of water on top of the fan's electrical cord...zap!
BUT LET'S GET DOWN TO IT:
THE FOXBORO HOT TUBS ROCKED THEIR FUCKING SWEATY ASSES OFF UNTIL BILLIE JOE MADE A PERFECT BACKWARDS SWAN DIVE INTO THE CROWD;
(told you i had a good view)THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU GREEN DAY, I MEAN HOT TUBS~
niki lee
p.s. to number 1; melissa, and number 3; adam and cat and mary and those two wonderful irish girls, and larry (who found my car key!) and carrie and sharif and anyone i forgot--HI! and what about...TAMMY!! (the woman and the pen~)
