Aww damn... We were up and down from our seats throughout the entire
concert.  We didn't bother to watch Econoline Crush, though... when they hit
the stage we wandered down to the Merch-booths and chatted with the guys
from American Pearl (WE GOT PICS!!!! YAY ME AND MY HUGE BOOTS!!  I won't be
able to walk properly for a week, because of the divots in my ankle that the
damn camera left... LOL).  I won't type the review for the show though...
I'll leave that part to Tara.  But to anyone who has no idea who American
Pearl is, or knows who they are, but hasn't had the opportunity to listen to
some of their music, let me know, and I'll set up a sample MP3 on the page
I'm building about them (we got all sorts of stuff signed by them now).
They are (as Tara said) just as good live as they are on CD... if not
better.  They're a kickass ban, with kickass music, and most definitely a
bunch of awesome kickass guys.
Rodney (the bassist) was right out there before the show started, just
wandering around meeting some of the fans, and right after they were done on
stage, he was right out there again.  Totally oblivious to their fame...
just chatting with people like he ran into them at the bar or something.
The next to come out after the show was Kevin Roentgen (the lead singer)...
I don't think he was quite ready for the rush of fans that milled around
him... but he took the time to sign anything that anyone wanted (a CD here,
a video there, the occasional arm or stomach).  What was great was him and
Rodney would take the time to actually talk to the people they were signing
stuff for (Hey... thanks for coming.. what's yer name?  Where ya from?).
Then Noah came out... briefly... he ran back to get a drumstick for someone
who asked for one.  Unfortunately, he had to search to find that, since the
crew had already packed most everything up, so Tara missed out on one.  But
he was actually sincere when he apologized to her for not having another one
available to give, which showed how much they care for their fans.
The last to come out was the new guitarist (Kevin Quinn left the band to
explore other opportunities, so said Rodney), so they brought in a permanent
replacement, Stevie <somethingerother>.  So sue me, I had never seen this
guy before today... so I don't know his full name yet.  He was the odd one
out at this show... everyone getting pics and CD's and stuff signed that
have Rodney Q. as the guitarist... but he was totally cool with it, saying
things like "well, I'll just sign over here overtop of Kevin (Roentgen)'s
crotch.
Then a bigtime photographer (I'm guessing the publicity guy for Freedom Hill
or WRIF) wanted to take a picture of the guys together.  After that was
taken, Kevin R. looks at me and says "hey... didn't you want a pic of you
with the band for the Street Team?" and calls us over.  So Tara and I got
our pics with the band, and our limited edition CD's signed, and their
video, so it was most definitely an awesome show.  Hopefully the pictures
turn out half-decent that I took during their time on stage too, so I can
say that I was the only person to get pics of AP playing at Freedom Hill.
Damn, I guess this did turn into a review.  Oh well, Tara can still tell her
side, and give a review of the shows themselves... I'm just still so psyched
from getting to have actual conversations with each member of the band...
heard some interesting thoughts from them all.  For sure one of the better
shows I got to go to, just because of them

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