anthronewman
09-23-2004, 12:54 AM
I waited 6 years (like everyone else) for the Beasties to tour again. I was struggling with strep throat in an apartment complex across the street from Microsoft in a Seattle suburb when tickets went on sale for their Hello Nasty tour. But I was asleep. I woke up 30 minutes after tickets went on sale and proceeded to call Ticketmaster only to find out that the show was already sold out.
For 6 years I checked everywhere I could to find out when these guys would put out another album and go on tour again. All my friends made fun of me.... I was always the guy who had a few beers at the bar when Paul's Boutique came on the Jukebox and I was spitting out every lyric. I was that guy at a party who kept switching the CD to a Beastie Boys CD - even if the stereo wasn't mine.... Occasionaly J5 or P-Funk or Rage of The Beatles would beat them out for the "Current CD playing" but if I was in charge of music, they were on at least 50% of the time.
So tickets went on pre-sale for the Seattle show (for the To the 5 Boroughs tour) and I was online ordering tickets right when they went on pre-sale. My boss thought I was working - I told her that my computer had some maintenance needs (I'm the computer guy at work).. Anyways, I got the tickets and that six year wait went down to 2 months. Like I'm sure most of you were feeling, the anticipation was killing me.
I was kicking it in that same Seattle suburb (after I had moved away and moved back over the course of 6 years) eating some breakfast at a local pancake place.. It was less than 12 hours before I'd get over to Key Arena in Seattle to see the Beasties play. My friends and I had contemplated just going into Seattle to eat, but were so damn hungry that we stayed out in the 'burbs. Well, about 5 minutes after we got to the pancake joint, my friend called me from Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. He goes, "I'm at the 5-Spot right now and you'll never guess whose eating here." I was like, "Man, I know you're gonna tell me that it's the Beastie Boys." He said, "Yep..." Well, I envied him for a minute or so and then got off the phone to tell my buddies, who were with me, that we should have driven to Seattle to eat. Oh well...
So we finally made are way to Seattle, and went to a few records stores in the Ballard and Fremont areas.. I bought a CD of a good funk-hop band (The Justice System - if you haven't heard these guys, you should try and find their CD).. It was about 4:30 p.m. by this point and the Beasties concert was only 3 hours away..... So we made are way from Fremont, past Queen Anne Hill into Belltown/Seattle Center/Space Needle/Key Arena/Lower Queen Anne Hill to have some beers and food before the show.
I was looking around the bar we were at and noticed everyone around me was around my age (26) or older... Obviously, most of these people were headed to see The Beasties... Now, I know there are a lot of Beastie fans who are younger than me, but the fact that so many people my age and older went to go see a bunch of white-boys rap brought a smile to my face. After a couple of beers we headed to the Key to see the show. The Mongrols were a nice (and strange) surprise... Talib was awesome too.. He even stopped the show to chew out some guy for fighting.
But here's what gets me.. He said, "Hey you in the Camoflauge pants! Stop fighting!" Now, I ask myself a question, HOW DID HE SEE THE GUY WEARING CAMO PANTS?!?!?!" Sorry, had to add that tidbit - people who wear camo gear have been the running joke among my friends and I lately. Anyways, I thought it was pretty sweet that he told that guy off. I can't stand people whoh get into fights at shows..
Anyways, So Talib ended and they were between sets. The Beatles were playing to fill in the gaps... I could feel the anticipation in the arena... After about 30 minutes the lights went dim and MixMaster Mike appeared on the big screen on stage. He was at a concession stand inside Key Arena buying some food or drink. He started walking towards the stage and saying to the camera, "Seattle, are you ready for the Beastie Boys?!?!?" Then he held his hand up to his ear as if he wanted to hear us scream. I screamed and so did everyone else.. Then he asked us again... I started to scream, but some dude blew a pipe-hit into my face at that point so I had to cough for a second. Then MMM appeared on stage and performed like a badass as usual (I saw him a couple years back perform in Bellingham,WA at a Black Eyed Peas show - it was amazing). Let's just say that not much has changed with him - he is still the shit... Well, the Beasties popped on stage and for the first 30 minutes I felt like it wasn't happening... 6 god damn years I had been waiting for this show... Strep throat didn't win this time around. They came out and all I could do was laugh at them... Not in a bad way at all... Come on man, when Mike D is trying to look like a thug, you can't help but laugh...
They put on such an awesome show... They never left us hanging. The roll-out stage during their instrumental set was fucking awesome.... Jumping to the stage at the back of the Arena was a nice touch, and dedicating Sabotage to George Bush at the end was sweet (though my friend and I think they should have dedicated "Hey, Fuck You" to George W)..
In any case, I just want to thank the Beasties for their great music, their positive influence in my life, their outspoken message in politics, but most importantly - their fucked up, but awesome senses of humor... You guys fucking rule!! I think I speak for everyone when I say come back to (insert your city here) soon!! I think it's called gratitude..
For 6 years I checked everywhere I could to find out when these guys would put out another album and go on tour again. All my friends made fun of me.... I was always the guy who had a few beers at the bar when Paul's Boutique came on the Jukebox and I was spitting out every lyric. I was that guy at a party who kept switching the CD to a Beastie Boys CD - even if the stereo wasn't mine.... Occasionaly J5 or P-Funk or Rage of The Beatles would beat them out for the "Current CD playing" but if I was in charge of music, they were on at least 50% of the time.
So tickets went on pre-sale for the Seattle show (for the To the 5 Boroughs tour) and I was online ordering tickets right when they went on pre-sale. My boss thought I was working - I told her that my computer had some maintenance needs (I'm the computer guy at work).. Anyways, I got the tickets and that six year wait went down to 2 months. Like I'm sure most of you were feeling, the anticipation was killing me.
I was kicking it in that same Seattle suburb (after I had moved away and moved back over the course of 6 years) eating some breakfast at a local pancake place.. It was less than 12 hours before I'd get over to Key Arena in Seattle to see the Beasties play. My friends and I had contemplated just going into Seattle to eat, but were so damn hungry that we stayed out in the 'burbs. Well, about 5 minutes after we got to the pancake joint, my friend called me from Queen Anne Hill in Seattle. He goes, "I'm at the 5-Spot right now and you'll never guess whose eating here." I was like, "Man, I know you're gonna tell me that it's the Beastie Boys." He said, "Yep..." Well, I envied him for a minute or so and then got off the phone to tell my buddies, who were with me, that we should have driven to Seattle to eat. Oh well...
So we finally made are way to Seattle, and went to a few records stores in the Ballard and Fremont areas.. I bought a CD of a good funk-hop band (The Justice System - if you haven't heard these guys, you should try and find their CD).. It was about 4:30 p.m. by this point and the Beasties concert was only 3 hours away..... So we made are way from Fremont, past Queen Anne Hill into Belltown/Seattle Center/Space Needle/Key Arena/Lower Queen Anne Hill to have some beers and food before the show.
I was looking around the bar we were at and noticed everyone around me was around my age (26) or older... Obviously, most of these people were headed to see The Beasties... Now, I know there are a lot of Beastie fans who are younger than me, but the fact that so many people my age and older went to go see a bunch of white-boys rap brought a smile to my face. After a couple of beers we headed to the Key to see the show. The Mongrols were a nice (and strange) surprise... Talib was awesome too.. He even stopped the show to chew out some guy for fighting.
But here's what gets me.. He said, "Hey you in the Camoflauge pants! Stop fighting!" Now, I ask myself a question, HOW DID HE SEE THE GUY WEARING CAMO PANTS?!?!?!" Sorry, had to add that tidbit - people who wear camo gear have been the running joke among my friends and I lately. Anyways, I thought it was pretty sweet that he told that guy off. I can't stand people whoh get into fights at shows..
Anyways, So Talib ended and they were between sets. The Beatles were playing to fill in the gaps... I could feel the anticipation in the arena... After about 30 minutes the lights went dim and MixMaster Mike appeared on the big screen on stage. He was at a concession stand inside Key Arena buying some food or drink. He started walking towards the stage and saying to the camera, "Seattle, are you ready for the Beastie Boys?!?!?" Then he held his hand up to his ear as if he wanted to hear us scream. I screamed and so did everyone else.. Then he asked us again... I started to scream, but some dude blew a pipe-hit into my face at that point so I had to cough for a second. Then MMM appeared on stage and performed like a badass as usual (I saw him a couple years back perform in Bellingham,WA at a Black Eyed Peas show - it was amazing). Let's just say that not much has changed with him - he is still the shit... Well, the Beasties popped on stage and for the first 30 minutes I felt like it wasn't happening... 6 god damn years I had been waiting for this show... Strep throat didn't win this time around. They came out and all I could do was laugh at them... Not in a bad way at all... Come on man, when Mike D is trying to look like a thug, you can't help but laugh...
They put on such an awesome show... They never left us hanging. The roll-out stage during their instrumental set was fucking awesome.... Jumping to the stage at the back of the Arena was a nice touch, and dedicating Sabotage to George Bush at the end was sweet (though my friend and I think they should have dedicated "Hey, Fuck You" to George W)..
In any case, I just want to thank the Beasties for their great music, their positive influence in my life, their outspoken message in politics, but most importantly - their fucked up, but awesome senses of humor... You guys fucking rule!! I think I speak for everyone when I say come back to (insert your city here) soon!! I think it's called gratitude..