Ad-Rock & Money Mark coming to the Luminato Festival in Toronto June 22nd & 23rd

[brooklyndust]

https://luminatofestival.com/festival/2015/contemp-color

Who wants to go?

[dirtydan11]

I'm in

[MIKEtotheD]

Would love to if I can get the time off of work

[ClarenceAlabama]

If anybody is going to this, can you please record it. Thanks! (y)

[dirtydan11]

I'm in

I'm out. In a cast up to my knee and I'm hurtin'! It would have been cool, though

[brooklyndust]

If anybody is going to this, can you please record it. Thanks! (y)

I'm going, I will see what I can do!

[brooklyndust]

Wen't, Met the
King!!!
Recorded the song on my iPhone memo. What is the best way to share it on here?

[Sir SkratchaLot]

Wen't, Met the
King!!!
Recorded the song on my iPhone memo. What is the best way to share it on here?

That's dope!

Youtube?

[Bernard Goetz]

Wen't, Met the
King!!!
Recorded the song on my iPhone memo. What is the best way to share it on here?

Nice! You can send the memo to yourself via email and throw that file up on Dropbox or a place like that.

[tt5brevisited]

Nice.

Just saw this... sorry if posted before...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0gNXvVshcc

[MrSmiley1]

I am really hoping that more than these six second clips surface.

http://www.stereogum.com/1811019/watch-david-byrne-st-vincent-dev-hynes-ad-rock-more-debut-original-color-guard-soundtracks-in-toronto/video/

[brooklyndust]

I got the whole song recorded and the quality is not bad.
I have pictures too and a prety cool story.

I will make a YouTube video of the song with pics. I'm going again tonight as a fan (last night was for work). So I'm going to try and record it again.

[dirtydan11]

I got the whole song recorded and the quality is not bad.
I have pictures too and a prety cool story.

I will make a YouTube video of the song with pics. I'm going again tonight as a fan (last night was for work). So I'm going to try and record it again.

In the meantime can you describe how it sounds at all? You my friend, have one of the only copies of the song in the world. Good job!!

[sharonm]

i know superbad quality but until brooklyndust posts a better copy.

https://youtu.be/aFF1EMZFNx0

[MrSmiley1]

i know superbad quality but until brooklyndust posts a better copy.

https://youtu.be/aFF1EMZFNx0

After reading your description, I thought it was going to be terrible. That wasn't that bad. Sounds had pretty descent quality.

[brooklyndust]

i know superbad quality but until brooklyndust posts a better copy.

https://youtu.be/aFF1EMZFNx0

I would say that the sound quality on that is as good as anything I have or even better. Plus you have the video to accompany it.

[tt5brevisited]

I would say that the sound quality on that is as good as anything I have or even better. Plus you have the video to accompany it.

But... you will still share your story, right?

[Michelle*s_Farm]

i know superbad quality but until brooklyndust posts a better copy.

https://youtu.be/aFF1EMZFNx0

Thanks for sharing that video, I really enjoyed that. Would like to hear more of their music together.

[brooklyndust]

Here is my recording from iMemo along with some photos I took of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejI3wTa0TC0

The past couple of days have been a bit tumultuous. I went from meeting a few of my idols to coming off as a creepy overzealous fan. Story to follow.

[dirtydan11]

That was really great!! Good job with the editing, too :) this is now of my summer jams, although it does take 4 minutes to uplift, unexpectedly!

[dirtydan11]

That was really great!! Good job with the editing, too :) this is now of my summer jams, although it does take 4 minutes to uplift, unexpectedly!

i meant "elevate, unexpectedly" :o it was an attempt at a joke
the song is called Unexpected Elevations. But it really does elevate unexpectedly if you've heard it. Very catchy last couple minutes!

[brooklyndust]

Sorry in advance for the novel.

It had aways been my dream to meet one of the Beastie Boys. Growing up I remember hearing about the guy dressing up in a UPS uniform to sneak into the Lollapalooza festival and thinking of what a great idea that was. I never really though that a stunt like that could come across as creepy or have any negative connotations.

I had tickets to the 2nd night of the Contemporary Color performance so was already planning on going. I have about 5 different jobs, one of them being a freelance photographer for a very small local publication here in the city. My philosophy in life is nothing beats a try. I was at my other job on Monday, which is right next to the Air Canada Centre. So during the day I took a chance and emailed the marketing and communications department of the Luminato festival and asked if I could attend the first night of the show as a freelancer. I received a response almost immediately saying that I was in. I live right downtown, so during lunch I raced home to get my freelancing pass and camera gear. For the rest of my whole shift I was excited and pumped up. I get to the arena around 6:30pm where there is a special entrance for the media. I give them my name and a contact. I’m in.

In the media area, I’m standing next to about 10 different freelancers from bigger publications who all have way more expensive cameras and lenses. I have okay equipment, but everyone else was in the big leagues. I thought for sure I was going to get kicked out by comparison. The special events coordinator comes up to me and our group and says “everyone follow me.” She leads us up to a private suite where we were going to watch the show and were permitted to take photos with a telephoto lens. When we were all getting settled, I asked the events coordinator if she has heard some of the songs during dress rehearsal / sound check and if there was a particular artist she was a big fan of. She said she did, and that she was a huge Beastie Boys fan. She stated that she remembers buying LTI on cassette and convincing her teachers to play it during gym class in grade 6. She returned the question to me and asked if I had a favourite artist in the line up. I said I was a huge Talking Heads fan but an even bigger Beastie Boys fan and although it would not be professional of me to ask, but it would be awesome if I could meet Ad-Rock and Money Mark, she said she didn’t really have any pull on that matter, but could maybe see. 
The events starts and I shoot away for almost 90 minutes straight. The whole time not really enjoying the show because I’m working and anticipating seeing Ad-Rock, Money Mark and David Byrne perform new material. 
After the show I ask the event coordinator again if there was any chance to maybe go backstage and meet Ad-Rock or Money Mark. She politely informs me that her hands are tied and it doesn’t look like it.
Dejected, I leave feeling that I have come so close yet am still so far.
I leave the arena on the Bay street side and cut over to Maple Leaf Square right near the back entrance of Union Station (locals will know what I’m talking about).
Right underneath the outdoor jumbotron (where they show games during the playoffs) there is a promo girl giving out free bottles of Vitamin water, I go over and grab one. As I am drinking my vitamin water I notice two guys around my age loitering about. I walk up to them and before I could say anything they say “are you waiting to meet Ad-Rock and David Byrne?,” I go “not really, but that would be awesome!” They tell me that they just talked to security near the back entrance and that’s where all the color guard teams were leaving but there was a chance that the big stars were just going to walk directly out of the main entrance. Here I went to all this effort pulling the freelance card and these guys are telling me that the performers are just going to walk out of the arena.
So we shoot the shit for 20 minutes and talk about the show and other music. We are about to leave when all of sudden one of the guys goes “Yo, I think that’s Ad-Rock!” I turn around and about 10 feet away from me is a fucking Beastie Boy! Me and the two other guys go right over. He’s talking to a few other people and we wait patiently by the side, he looked like he was in a huge rush and was just about to leave. I shout out to him, “yo Adam can we get a quick photo?” he goes “Sure, but it’s got to be quick I’m in a rush” At this point I thought I was going to freeze up and act like Ralphie when he met Santa in a Christmas story, but surprisingly I was able to keep my composure. I fucked up when I met Bret Hart a few years ago and I “shunt fuck it up again”. I tell Ad-Rock that I’m a huge fan and that I really appreciate him doing this. I ask if he would like the flash off, and he says “yeah, that would actually be great” We take two photos (that I will show later) and then I get him to sign the Simply Mortified CD (I figured he’s doing a solo project, why not have him sign a solo album?). I ask if Mark was around and he says “he should be around.” Adam is about to leave and the other two guys ask if they could get their photo taken. Adam says “sure, but it’s got to be quick, I got friends waiting for me at the bar.” One of my full time gigs during the summer is that I’m a walking tour guide of downtown Toronto. While I’m talking their picture I ask what Adam and his crew were doing tomorrow and if they would like me to show them the city. I tell him that I can show them the best coffee and record shops. Adam politely says “thanks, but were up here to work and wouldn’t have the time” I go “do you want to take my business card? You and Kathleen should come up, contact me and I will take care of you guys.” He takes my card and says thanks. I go “we also have really cool board game cafes. He goes “wait, what? board game cafes?” I go “yeah!” He does a little nod. “I go I’m brooklyndust on the message board!” He goes “brooklyndust, ok” and moves on to the bar across the street. I was totally cool up until the end and then spazed out.

Now, if you’re reading this and are thinking “whoa man, you kinda crossed the line with the whole walking tour stuff” I am well aware. In the moment I thought, how cool it would be to show the band around the city. That’s what I do professionally to people around the world anyways. I wasn’t thinking that it could come across as creepy and out of bounds. But, to be fair I knew the bar they were heading to for the after party and had a friend who works in management there that could have probably let me in, but I decided that wouldn't be a good idea and I should give them their space.
At this moment me and the two other fans were on a natural high. We tried to give each other high fives. All three times we tried, all three times we botched it. We couldn’t look like bigger dweebs. It was around 9:30pm, we said we will wait till about 10:00 pm to see if David Byrne would show. We kept shooting the shit and going on about how great it was to meet a Beastie Boy, when off in the distance I see the lead singer of the Talking Heads exiting the arena by himself. I go “yo! I think that’s David Byrne!” We rush over to him and I think catch him a little off guard. I think he was a little nervous that these three random dudes walked so quickly to him. We ask if we can get a picture and he says “sure”, he seemed a little bit more taken back and not as calm as Ad-Rock was, but still nice and accommodating none the less. The one guy tells David a spiel about how the Talking Heads is the greatest band and how their music shaped his life, blah, blah, blah and all that crap. David Byrne doesn't really know what to say to this and mumbles something like thanks. Before he leaves I pull out my business card and give him the same walking Tour Spiel I gave Ad-Rock, he takes the card, says thanks and goes to the after party across the street. 
We all high five again, this time connecting. I go grab my bike from underneath the skywalk off York street. I begin to ride home praying that I make it without dying so I could show all my friends the photo of this great moment. It begins to storm and I barley make it home before getting drenched.
I was on top of the world and nothing could break my spirits. If only I decided to leave it be with that moment. 

The second night I had tickets to the show. I go with my friend who has a hand in running Hip- Hop Karaoke here in Toronto. He is also a hardcore fan. The whole time we talk beastie boys nerd talk. (If people overheard us it would probably sound like Klingon to them). I tell my friend the story and how we should try to meet Ad-Rock after the show and maybe even invite him to do a guest spot at Hip-Hop karaoke. (In the past they have had stars like Phife Dawg and, Camp Lo) I also asked my friend to bring some special supplies just in case the King still likes his medicine ;). We grab some beers and watch the show. This time it was much more enjoyable but the performers fucked up a lot more. 
After the show we go straight to the jumbotron entrance like the night before. We score some free Vitamin water (pro tip, go for the pomegranate stuff, the orange stuff taste like shit). We look at our watches and it’s only 9:00pm. We needed to kill some time so we decided that we should maybe crack into the medicine we brought for Ad-Rock. Now normally I am a pretty neurotic dude who’s mind races a mile a minute, and have already had my experimentation with trees back in my mid-20’s, so smoking nowadays is maybe a once in every few months type of thing. But we needed to pass some time and this is Canada, so when in Rome.
This turned out to be a big mistake. 
For some people the side effects of organic cigarettes is increased paranoia and not being able to pick up on social cues. But that didn’t come into light until hindsight, because in the moment combined with the natural high from last night I felt unstoppable.
We chill around for about 15 minutes and then start to hear cheers coming from the other side of the entrance. We look through the glass door and see the 300+ color guard performers having a big catered party. We then see Nelly Furtado, St. Vincent and How To Dress well coming out and shaking everyones hands. I go to security who is guarding the door and tell her I‘m with the media. She goes “where’s your pass?” I go “I don’t have it” (that was the best I could come up with while under the influence, which brings up another side effect. Weed makes you fucking stupid). Sticking to dumb themes I ask her if $20 would get us through the door. She laughs and says “$1000 wouldn’t get us in.”
We walk away and hang around for a bit more and then realize that two girls are waiting by the other doors further down. They were hot so I approach them and ask them how they liked the show. We talk for a bit, then all of a sudden the door behind them opens, and their boyfriends (who were part of the event staff or something) invite the girls in. The door starts to close very slowly and I run over before it shuts completely. I signal to my friend. We are now in the building. Now the only thing separating us from the catered after-party is a thin black curtain and a burly security guard. I walk over with a confident stride and tell the security guard that “I’m with the media” He says “I don’t give a shit”, I say “can I get in?” (sticking to not picking up on social cues) he responds “not a chance in hell” and points to the entrance from where we snuck into. FUCK. My friends goes straight to the entrance and leaves while I scan the curtained partition for a part that is not guarded by some douchey security guy. I find a crack and sneak in. Two seconds later I’m standing next to David Byrne who is shaking peoples hands and signing autographs. I decide it is probably best not to introduce myself again and keep my distance. I hang around for a few minutes trying to blend in, when out of the corner of my eye I see Ad-Rock and Money Mark talking to some people in the corner. 
I hesitate for a minute, and then think to myself, “go for it man” You’re now the cunning guy in UPS suit from Lollapalooza”. As with David Byrne I decide not to re-introduce myself to Ad-Rock.
I instead introduce myself to Money Mark. I shake his hand and tell him that I’m a big fan. I tell him that I have all his albums and that I really liked the tribute song he did for Adam Yauch, while I’m talking two people come up and ask if they could get their photo with him and Adam. They need someone to take the photo, I say “I’ll do it. I’m a professional!” I take about 5 or 6 photos of the group in different combinations, then yell out “let’s get a group photo of all of us” and hand the camera to an older lady and begin to pose in a group shot with Adam, Mark and a few other random people. (somewhere out there is a photo of me in a group shot) After the lady takes our photo Money Mark says “hey that’s my camera, how am I going to share the photo with you guys?”
I said “I’m brooklyndust from the boards!” to which he responded “oh, you’re brooklyndust…..” 
It was at this moment I felt a little change in the energy and he seemed to get a little bit more stand offish (or I could just be imagining this, because it was also at this moment that the weed really started to kick in). He asked me who else I knew on the message board and I rattled off a few names, I think I said all the Toronto peeps I’ve met, so Dirtydan, soundscientist, MikeTotheD and I think sprinkled in CJ Hood’s name about 4 or 5 times in there as well. My mind was racing so I apologize for not giving others a shout out.
I then told him that the performance he did with David Byrne on Jimmy Fallon turned me on to William Onyeabor and asked him if he Ad-Rock still “smoked roaches in the vestibule” He said, he can’t right now. In hindsight I think he was politely trying to get rid of me, but at the time I was gone and not picking up on social cues. I asked him where the after-party was and if my friend and I could buy him and Adam a round of drinks. He said “i’m not sure, I have to get going” I said “before you go could I get a photo and could you sign my CD?” (the maybe I’m Dead promo single). He says sure. At this point two women who I think were from the tuneyards band came up and said “hey Mark, it was great working with you, we’re all heading to the ________ for some drinks after and you should come” I say “the ___________? sweet is that where the after party is?!” To which Mark turns to me and says “hey man, listen I don’t mean to be rude, but you weren’t supposed to hear that” I go “oh shit sorry,” he goes “yeah, I don’t want to be a dick, but you’re not really invited, its for the performers” I go “oh yeah, sorry, I respect that, really sorry”, he goes “like I don’t I really know you” I go “oh sorry man, I didn’t mean to freak you out, don’t worry I wont go to that bar” He walked away and I b-lined it straight to the exit passing by the female security guard who I tried to bribe 20 minutes earlier. 
I met my friend who was waiting by the Maple Leaf statue and told him the story. I felt embarrassed and like a creep show. My friend tried to reassure me that they probably got it all the time, but because I was under the influence I all I could think about was how I freaked out the band I looked up to for all these years.
I had a long walk home and beasties songs kept on coming up on my iPod. I couldn’t listen to them. I felt really stupid and like I overstepped my bounds. I thought everything I was doing was innocent and I was making a once in a lifetime moment happen. I thought I was being a bad ass like the UPS guy, but I was really just being creepy. There is being a fan and getting into crazy territory. There is a line and I definitely crossed it. I really got caught up in the moment. I didn’t separate the art from the reality. I’ve had a few days to chill out now, but have had time to re-evaluate what I did it and it was not cool. Overall I feel pretty embarrassed and hope I am not on some kind of list. 


If anyone is thinking about doing what I did (which I don’t think many of you are) a little piece of advice, the feeling of meeting one of your idols can be cancelled out by the feeling of freaking out one of your idols.



tl;dr Met Ad-rock and David Byrne one night. Snuck backstage into the stadium, invited myself to an after party and possibly freaked out Money Mark on the second. Don’t smoke cheeba, can’t stand crack.

ps. anyone ever visiting the big smoke contact me for a tour

[brooklyndust]

Photos to accompany the story:

Me and the King Ad-Rock:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18977623409/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18976200240/in/dateposted-public/

Me and David Byrne:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18543145153/in/dateposted-public/

Me and Money Mark
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/19167427311/in/dateposted-public/

[dirtydan11]

Awesome pictures! I don't think you freaked anyone out. He was straight with you and you respectively apologized. In my opinion you shouldn't regret that and by the sound of it you were very polite and I'm sure he knew you were a big fan.
You just have to come to terms with just not being cool enough to go to the after party haha. I mean come to terms with being a stranger. they deal with big fans like us wherever they go.
That was a great entertaining story (my personal second time hearing it lol) and I hope our fellow message boarders take the time to read it.

[tt5brevisited]

:) I wouldn't sweat it too much.
Thanks for sharing.

[Kid Presentable]

Amazing story. The love is real.

[fonky pizza]

i know superbad quality but until brooklyndust posts a better copy.

https://youtu.be/aFF1EMZFNx0

nice waltz!(y)

sounds like music for a score! who composed it? Mark, Ad Rock and Byrne?

or is it Enrico Morrione?:D

[fonky pizza]

Photos to accompany the story:

Me and the King Ad-Rock:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18977623409/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18976200240/in/dateposted-public/

Me and David Byrne:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18543145153/in/dateposted-public/

Me and Money Mark
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/19167427311/in/dateposted-public/

Thanks for sharing these and your story that I found amusing because you freaking out! it's just ok! You met these artists and they are really cool, you'll probably laugh about it very soon! Don't worry!
lol:D

[Sir SkratchaLot]

Ha! Awesome story. I bet Mark would probably laugh if he read this!

[beasties#1fan]

Here is my recording from iMemo along with some photos I took of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejI3wTa0TC0

The past couple of days have been a bit tumultuous. I went from meeting a few of my idols to coming off as a creepy overzealous fan. Story to follow.

(y) yo congrats man- your story is rad- thanks for sharin'

[the9thbeastie]

I'm going, I will see what I can do!

To record it - I'd recommend the inexpensive iPhone app called Retro Recorder - you don't even need a high end microphone - RetroRecorder on your iPhone using the built in mic will provide surprisingly good results and you won't get stopped by event security as everyone has a smart phone.

[xavito]

Check your pms.

[3stooges]

@brooklydust

Don't trip man. You just got excited and plus a few beers and some weed. You got hyped dude! It's cool. Nobody's trippin' on you. Believe me dude, rock stars got hangers-on and groupies and obsessed fans for days. You were one of the cool "big fans". It's all good.

Awesome story man. I like your writing, you're fuckin' hilarious!

[camo]

(y) yo congrats man- your story is rad- thanks for sharin'

One day (I hope) you will post a similar story to this. I cannot wait.

And cool story Dust (y)

[JoLovesMCA]

So glad you got to go and meet them! I watched the performance online. It was amazing! Good for you! And nope don't feel bad at all. Adrock has been in the business for a loooooong time so he probably wasn't too bothered. Plus I think if he wasn't in a rush your experience might have been a bit different! :cool:

[Micodin]

Canadians.

[Michelle*s_Farm]

Happy Canada Day to all of my Canadian friends. Long live the Dominion.

[dirtydan11]

Canadians.

?

[Micodin]

?

joke
jōk
noun
1.
a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, especially a story with a funny punchline.
"she was in a mood to tell jokes"
synonyms: funny story, jest, witticism, quip

Nothing serious. Keep it moving.

[dirtydan11]

Micodins.

[Micodin]

Yeah, I see what you did there.

I was making light of your situation by making a joke about Canadians. If you felt insulted or slighted by it, trust me it was not my intention. I was not personally attacking you. I'm a pretty nice guy.

Learn to relax. It's the internet.

[dirtydan11]

Apology accepted lol

[abbott]

Photos to accompany the story:

Me and the King Ad-Rock:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18977623409/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18976200240/in/dateposted-public/

Me and David Byrne:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/18543145153/in/dateposted-public/

Me and Money Mark
https://www.flickr.com/photos/129461319@N08/19167427311/in/dateposted-public/


I like your story, I am sure you'll never regret it. Thanks for the novel(y)

[Micodin]

Cool. Cool cool cool.

[camo]

I'll be in Toronto (first time ever) this November 10th - 19th. I can't wait!

[dirtydan11]

I'll be in Toronto (first time ever) this November 10th - 19th. I can't wait!

I think you will love it camo. The exchange rate is excellent for Americans right now so that's a plus. It's the most multi cultural city on the planet, and if you like big cities it's the 4th largest city in North America after NY, LA, and Mexico City. Best of all, there's a lot of Beastie Boys love here.
Brooklyndust does walking tours if you are interested.. Maybe I'll join you guys if that's something you want to do

[camo]

I think you will love it camo. The exchange rate is excellent for Americans right now so that's a plus. It's the most multi cultural city on the planet, and if you like big cities it's the 4th largest city in North America after NY, LA, and Mexico City. Best of all, there's a lot of Beastie Boys love here.
Brooklyndust does walking tours if you are interested.. Maybe I'll join you guys if that's something you want to do

I'm sure I'll love it - it looks like such an amazing city. My best friend moved there (three months ago) and his instagram is full of the cool shizzle that he's been up to. By the way, I'm from England not the U.S but the exchange rate is pretty solid for us at the moment too.

I might arrange a tour but I suppose I'd better check what my bro has in store for me first - I don't want to be stepping on his toes.