My Chemical Freak: My Chemical Romance All The Time

TUB RING/LEATHERMOUTH/MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE RUNDOWN – DEC. 6, 2008Myself, my two friends, and the one mom all got there at 9 AM with the show opening at 7 PM. That gave us 10 hours to hang out. We met a lot of pretty rad kids there for Leathermouth and for MSI. I didn’t meet any Tub Ring fans personally, but I’m sure they were there representing. The morning was full of eating, sleeping, music, frisbee, hopping on an abandoned mattress in the back, breaking bottles, kicking debris in the parking lot, running to the Dunkin Donuts down the street, and walking in the nearby forest. The main thing that happened before the show was that we come back from Dunkin Donuts because we hear some lady and her friends cut us in line. We were pissed. And so we get back, and she did cut us. Then, girls come by saying they met Frank. I was very pissed because he’s my all time hero – he makes me want to make music and just succeed. So I huffed and puffed and chilled some more and waited by the stage door until Tub Ring came by with their fan.

We talked with them and the guitarist from Creature Feature – a really cool dude. Eventually, he asks if anyone has 10 bucks. I go I’d give you 20 if you bring out Leathermouth. We discuss this and I even offer blowjobs (jokingly). We talk some more and then he goes inside. Then, two guys, both in hoodies, come out to smoke. I didn’t know who they were, but the one guy who was there for the show goes Hey Frank! Come over here. I nearly SHAT myself. I was within five feet of my hero. I was speechless. And since I couldn’t talk my friend goes Hey did you wanna see my friends shirt? I made a shirt with the Leathermouth symbol on front, LeATHERMOUTH LIVES! on the top back and then BODYSNATCHERS4EVER across the bottom. And I ask if he could sign it. He did! And then I got a picture with him. I was so excited that I couldn’t even talk with him but just watched him talk with other fans. And then I left as I know he doesn’t want to be bothered that much. It made my year to just meet him and he was such a nice guy. Anyways, now to the actual show.

We get into Starland and it’s actually pretty nice, but it’s pretty small for a venue. Anyways, we run up to the barricade and wait there for a good 30 minutes. Then, Tub Ring starts. Now, not having listened to them before I was a bit curious. They ended up being a sort of metal/punk general rock group. They were very good. Very. Good. The singer was charismatic and the guitarist of Creature Feature and the bassist of TR kissed and also… the guitarist swiped his hand across the bassists groin while they were both playing.

DAMN. Haha.
We all exchanged looks and it was crazy. The entire set of theirs I was holding onto the barricades for dear life. But it was an awesome set and I’m getting their CD once I get some Christmas cash (and I also got to talk to the singer while he hung out in the crowd). More waiting and then I see them… Leathermouth. They’re getting ready and they start up. They show their flags on their amps and they’re all in their black Leathermouth outfits. Now, I don’t remember what song they opened with, but from what I remember they played 9/10 songs that are going to be on “XO”. I was right in front of the main guitarist and the bassist and got an awesome view being up front. The energy that they had was crazy! They flailed all over the stage and Frank commanded the audience with his singing. The drummer was on key all of the time and the guitarists knew what they were doing. Now with this hardcore punk band on, I CLUNG to the barricade. At one point, I even kicked the girl behind me because she tried to get in between me and some girl up at the barricade. THAT WASN’T HAPPENING. Sunsets Are For Muggers and Bodysnatchers 4Ever kicked ass and I screamed every word. At one point, Frank walked into the audience and screamed his heart out. The band as a whole was excited to be there and the fans were awesome.

Once Leathermouth ended I knew where I was going. I was leaving the general front area. I know a few MSI fans and I’m not going in front of that. Plus I was pretty parched so I went to get some water and then merch. I got a water, which took a bit of time and signaling, and then went to the merch table. I had 20 bucks and got the I CAME TO GET DOWN tee. The guys who ran the booth were awesome and I talked to them a bit about Skeleton Crew and if the hoodie would be online since I didn’t have enough right then. They said it would be and I was pretty chill with that. So I went back to the bathroom where my friends were since they had to use it. As I’m waiting by the side I look to my left at a guy who’s chillin in the backroom guarded by security. It’s none other than MIKEY FUCKING WAY. I knew he didn’t want attention and he’s a shy guy so I tried not to stare at him. He looked my way and I waved, but he looked away and back to the conversation he was having with someone. Then after a few minutes, he walked away from the area. As my friends decided to chill by the bar, I said I’d hang out with the mom by the back of the venue to keep her company.

First off, there were some crazy dressed people there. People wearing full out dresses covered every part, people not wearing that much. That being said I got a dance from a hooker – at least I’m sure she was a hooker. I got her butt and her front side rubbed against the back of my head because I was sitting on the floor. WOW. And you had these ravers and potheads that were fun to laugh at. Anyways, MSI starts and the crowd doesn’t scream. They growl. And oh yeah they growled. The MSI set was awesome and fun. I didn’t think that Jimmy Urine was that great of a singer, he messed up a bit but he also was drunk (so was Tub Ring now that I remember). But overall, their performance was entertaining and fun. And the crowd – I saw at least 10 people leave because they got injured – made me glad that I was sitting down and away from the pits. A few awesome jokes were also made my Jimmy Urine:

“I went to see Twilight the other day and I was one of two guys that were there. And the other guy was gay.”

It was pretty sweet and so I watched the rest of their act and then the showed ended and we left. The show was the BEST show I’ve been ever. Mainly because I met Frank (which was one of my life goals, cause like compared to Frank, he’s my Billie Joe Armstrong or Greg Ginn), but the music was amazing. We got home at 2 in the morning and then for three – four days after the show I couldn’t believe what happened. I’m never going to forget this night or how we bitched out the lady that tried cutting. And how she said Leathermouth fans suck. She was also from Massachusetts and telling off Leathermouth fans in Jersey. Do I need to point out that Leathermouth is from Jersey and she’s in Jersey and I’m from Jersey as well as 25 other LM fans? Haha. She learned not to mess with us. But no matter what drama went down, the show was awesome and I can’t wait for the CD and more Leathermouth shows.

P.S. I work at Hot Topic and I’m not sure if we’ll be getting the Leathermouth CD, but my hopes are up on it. Epitaph is a pretty popular record label and with the rising fame of Leathermouth, I’m about 70% percent it could happen. Plus AP mentioned them, so it should happen. Word.

-Mr. Timmerz – www.myspace.com/drjekyllandmrjackass

Thanks Tim!