Gunpowder: The Stay Weird Ballet 08’

Day 1:

We embarked on our trip early in the morning. The
weather was said to be sour for the day, and the clouds were already
rolling in. It hadn’t really hit us what was about to happen, but the
smiles were again starting to leak out onto our faces. The awkwardness
of the anticipation was building inside my small hatchback Integra.
Texts were being pasted, each one growing with excitement as we drew
closer to each other. Thoughts racing of conversations to be had,
moments shared, and friends to be made.  I turned on ‘Panasonic Youth’
by the Dillinger Escape Plan to get things pumped and that it did. The
road was as slick, and congested, as the riffs of the song transcended
each other throughout the course of ‘Miss Murder.’ Several other albums
were played, but none of them could even being to match the
entertainments of the live music we were about to witness that night.

Getting off the interstate all we saw was the tons
and tons of UF memorabilia which seemed to flood into the streets just
as the rain did. Ripping up and down the hills of Gainesville brought
back memories of the past Fear Before road trip to Georgia. Winding
down the roads, each uncertain, cautious turn bringing us just that
much closer to the Big show. As we made the last of our turn down
University Ave, A familiar object of a touring van could be seen in the
distance, and its here that it hit me. We we’re about to embark on 3
days with 3 of our favorite bands. The feeling of being star struck was
buried all too quickly by the overbearing feeling of bliss. Then as the
van became more visible, so did tiny resemblances of people. The
revelations of my tires began to slow in number as the people’s faces
became clearer. When they stopped turning, the first hand began to wave.

Walking over to what have now been my friends of
mine for sometime, I was holding the foundation to our friendship. For
when I was in my youthful stage I would bake cookies for bands, just a
thoughtful gesture to give them back some love that I felt from their
music. Fear Before is the only band that I still do it for these days.
 We went over and were all huddling in front of the venue under a tiny
inlet just next to the front door; all of us just trying to escape the
slow drizzle of rain. It was raining just enough to pose a nuisance and
just enough to over several hours completely soak my jacket. After our
greetings were exchanged and our bellies full of the fun-fettie
goodness, we decided to venture across the street to a gas station that
was oddly named ‘Lil’ Champs.’ To our disdain they did not have any
freshly boiled peanuts. But they did have another odd commodity; Binks
found this children’s drink that was called ‘Roo Juice’ and kindly
bought it for a member in Heavy heavy Low low’s whose nick name is Roo.
After we all aimlessly searched around the store for a bit, looking for
anything that might catch our eye, my friend Tyler became restless and
then decided for us to go to a taco bell that was next door. Goose then
stopped us for a second and handed us some ‘5 Taco bucks’ coupons.
Trading articles seems to be the cement in our relationships. We
darting yet again across the street, hoping the Gainesville traffic
would notice us in their headlights. Inside, the taco bell had an eerie
stillness to it, I was also being haunted by the story’s I just heard
about ‘the worst taco bell they had in their lives’ from fear before
about the night before. We daringly ordered anyways, and then the
ruckus began. Our youthful hearts were fluttering with the wild sense
of doing something special. We chowed down our food then hurried back
to the venue.

Among the time spent between then and the doors
actual opening was filled with countless cigarettes smoked, the first
of the Sailor Jerry sipped down, and conversations with a very small
percentage of the large amount of bum’s that seem to pollute the
streets of downtown Gainesville. They loomed around the venue, snaking
their way in to try and receive any sort of something for free. One
oddly resembled the creepy thin man (Chrispen Glover) from Charlie’s
Angels. He kept telling us how much he like pot, but he had the shyest
voice that canceled out any kind of attention I would be giving him.
Night finally fell on us, and with that so did my friend Matt. It was
really nice to finally meet him in person. His friends Clay and Peter
were really great people as well. To have a friendly connection in
Gainesville would later on be the biggest advantage of the night. As
the bands started loading in we couldn’t help but notice Danny sitting
on a couch inside the venue playing Mario cart on N64. Tyler was to
giddy to not sit down and challenge him in a battle, Chris and I joined
in as well. Slowly you could resemble random band members stop over and
watch the excitement that was being pumped out of the tiny television.
After many defeats, I gave up my controller to Erals. Everyone slowly
dispersed to either find themselves playing another one of the 5 video
games set up around the bar, or off to chill around the merch area. As
the first band started to play Chris and I began to ‘dance’ in the
‘pit’ this was then followed by Dr. Manhattan and others to actually
start dancing. The hilarious adventure that was taking part on the
dance floor was the best first impersonation of Dr. Manhattan ever. The
first band is called CITIES and they are a typical ‘hardcore’ band that
would appeal to fans of underoath. Their dancing was something that was
to be seen at an old folk’s home if you were to spike the punch with
red bull on polka night. This was also to continue throughout the
evening.

The first band ended, the second band played,
couldn’t really tell the difference between the two anyways. Afterwords
I was greeted by my buddy Matt who invited me out back for a little
burnage. I was really apprehensive about it, seeing it had been nearly
6 months, but I’m glad I did. Out back huddled around another 12 or so
people, having strange conversations. It was pretty cold outside, and
once I got what I needed I dipped back in; everyone seemed to follow as
well. Here at this moment I felt on top of the world. The feeling of
being high I’ve never really enjoyed, but I always find a way to have
the most random fun moments. I invited Chris and Tyler back to my car
to listen to the band that was about to come on called ‘Giuseppe.’
After listening to 2 songs, boredom set in. I whipped out my iPod and
found that the most appropriate music for that moment was to be Duran
Duran’s ‘Hungry like a Wolf.’ The catchy beat got the muscles in our
faces moving, and the words started stumbling out of our mouths. I had
permagrin really badly, but even in the darkness I could sense it on my
friend’s faces as well. High pitched giggles were being exchanged as
the melody of the song carried on. After 2 Duran Duran songs, Tyler
found it appropriate to put on ‘Stan’. The notes that I never though a
man could belt out was soon obliterated by my two wing men. Once the
moment reached the brim of being as ridiculous as it possible could, we
all went back inside to listen to the band play. The band had the
‘Gainesville’ sound and reminded me of Bear vs. Shark (rip.) The tunes
were very trancing at this state I was at. About half way through their
set though I felt as if I couldn’t take the feeling any more; the
usually feeling of paranoia was taking its toll on me hard. I dipped
back out to my car and choked down a cigarette and guzzled down a
cherry cola that was laced with some liquid confidence. The feeling
started to depart. Once reunited with my friends everything started to
get better, but mostly because Dr. Manhattan was about to come one.

DMan have crept up out of now where and became one
of my favorite bands over the past couple of months. I find them to be
one of the greatest unknown bands of the time. I was more then stoked
to see them finally play live. Danny had written in his blog a couple
days prior and described them as ‘A Party on Stage.’ This fit so
perfectly. I was stuffed on stage left, and had the speakers rushing
the loud sounds of different musical instruments playing together to
make music pumped into my ears. I was recording most of the night as
well. One moment I will never forget was when they began to play
‘Claims Should Echo’ and Matt turns and looks at me. He then double
takes and a large smile paint his face. For I seemed to be the only
person in the entire venue who knew their lyrics. The energy then
seemed to be raised to the roof as their set continued. Slowly the rest
of the band members shared the same shocked expression which was soon
then filled with joy. Dr. Manhattan is now one of my favorite live
bands as well, and I will continue to drive long distances to see.
After their set Andrew said to me “So I saw your mouth moving and it
didn’t look like you were saying fuck you…” that quote made the show
for me.

After DMan, things seemed to calm down a bit. More
conversations were had, drinks consumed, Jokes made on Tyler for all
the video games he was playing. Then Heavy heavy Low low played. I have
seen these guys play probably more times then I have fingers, but at
least they are consistent. The crowd acted as if they were a drunken
fraternity. Everyone rushing the stage, then the front kids pushing
everyone back; the never ending wave, that no one really has fun in. I
was proud of my self for during ‘The Toxic Shock Mountain Blues’ I
totally started the pit off. I soon bounced out of it to avoid getting
trampled from some bro who were ‘moshing.’ Kids along these tours
cannot dance for the life of them. It’s pathetic actually, seeing them
flail around, or worse just running and jumping into whoever happened
to be at the edge of the ‘pit.’ I personally love hhll to death, but
their shows are starting to get weak. This makes me really sad. But on
the sunny side of things this kid that follows my tumblr made a good
point and said ‘they lost all of their scene kid following…’ I respect
this as well. I know some kids who I given the new cd to and they love
it. The complexity followed by every trip & turn in the cd just
leaves your mind fucked. It is amazing, and I’ve been lucky enough to
see a good majority of it live. Like usual ‘Shannon’ was the peak of
their set, everyone who has ever been to a show and is in the ages of
16-22 has to know the infamous 3 words that sprung them to stardom, ‘OH
SHIT FUCK.’ The song is a lot of fun, but I feel bad for them to have
to play that song every night. Gushing out those open chords as Robbie
is nearly swallowed by the crowd. This night he got his nose bashed in
by the microphone on account of his misjudgments of the ‘fans’ power. A
slow stream of blood creped down his face as he finished the song, but
this night was oddly their best set in Florida.

Now, it was time for the 45 minutes we drove
nearly 3 hours to come see. It was time for Fear Before to play.
Throughout the night I had been talking with many of the other kids
there, and for the most part they knew what was up. I was again smashed
against the speaker on stage left. I kept getting bumped into this girl
Lilly, who at the show we were cool, but she later turned and now is my
foe. Oh the distain I hold for her, but that’s a later story. The live
show that Fear Before puts on always gets to me. I’ve been lucky enough
to of, now, seen my favorite band play live 12 times. Every time gets
me that much closer to enlightenment. During their set They played The
State of Texas and Shallows off of Art Damage, Dog sized Bird, High as
a Horse, Ten Seconds, and Lycanthropy off of Mouth, and then I’m fine
Today and Fear before doesn’t Listen off of their NEW self titled cd.
There was one kid, I believe his name was grant, and he kept screaming
the lyrics out so passionately. I love being a part of something, and
in Gainesville I felt as if I was a cell in an organism; everyone
having their own part, but all working as one. The joy that was shining
out of everyone lit up the room. The heat from the mass collection of
bodies made the stage feel like it was a summer day. After their set
people lingered around the venue, still trying to bask in the moment
that just occurred. But we didn’t linger for much longer, for now was
when the real fun started.

What some would call ‘chaos’ took place after the
show. That girl Lilly said before the show that everyone could crash at
her house, but now was going back on her word; for she never consulted
her mother. Frantically, everyone was calling everyone they knew in
Gainesville that owned a house. Numerous names were thrown out with an
ok, but soon after called back with an “I’m sorry.” Then a savior came
through, and his name was Orlando. We all giddily got into our vehicles
and awaited the departure from the venue to his lovely house. Mike from
Fear Before described the drive to Orlando’s as “massive caravan as
long as a funeral procession.”  And that it was, Snaking through the
streets of downtown Gainesville, 3 tour vans and about 5 compact cars
all trying to keep the tail lights of the one they were following in
their view. We were the caboose of this train, and when we pulled into
Orlando’s house I saw everyone driving through some bushes to park, I
nearly scratched my car to hell in the process. One of Orlando’s
roommates came out, and couldn’t stop laughing at the pickle I got my
car into. But this was the least of my worries for it was the time to
Drink!

Walking unsurely into the house I carried my video
camera and one of the three handles of Liquor I got for the evenings
festivities. Setting all my articles down on the counter, I then poured
the first of the nights rounds of shots. My grin must have been from
ear to ear at this moment. Everyone raised their glasses and I made the
first toast to ‘Finally partying with them.’ I found it to be a very
fitting. As the evening carried on, and our bellies grew warmer many
things occurred. Mike from fear before went out and got about 5 pizzas
for the house, a T-BELL chant occurred, Super Smash Brothers was
immediately turned on and battles went on throughout the night, Danny
vs. Matt in a Pudding off, Nature walk where Mike fell into a river,
Drunken conversations about movies, music, life and death all took
place. Friends bloomed, mistakes were made, but overall everyone had a
great time. The night is foggy for me, but the stories I’ve heard make
up for it. This was honestly one of the best nights of my life. I
somehow slept in my car for about an hour, but a cold front was blowing
through Florida and it made me rush myself inside. I couldn’t tell you
what time it was, but everyone was asleep in sleeping bags throughout
the house, it reminded me of a Girl Scout sleepover. Everyone looked
peaceful and happy, and I’m glad I could bring them that.