These pictures require some explanation so I decided to make a whole new page for them! August 30, 2005 was not only my birthday but the day I got to see two of my favorite bands together, Cheap Trick and Alice Cooper. It was a ton of fun, but for one not-so-small detail: throughout the outdoor show we were hammered by the remnants of Hurricane Katrina as she poured down onto upstate NY. The storm became progressively worse, so that by the time Alice was in full-swing, everyone on the floor was thoroughly soakng wet. We had front row tickets, and the show was unstoppable and fantastic. One of, if not THE best Alice show I've seen so far! I was NOT about to leave my front-row spot in front of Ryan Roxie - even if I looked like a drowned rat!
We had aftershow passes, and I figured that since we had been seen drenched throughout the show already, what did it matter if they saw us soaking wet up close? I was just being brave.
We were lucky enough to meet Ryan Roxie again, and he was as gracious as ever - thanking us for standing in the rain for them. My picture with Roxie was taken very shortly after we reached the aftershow tent and I was still monumentally soaking wet, so this is not my favorite picture of myself. It appears that Brian and Roxie threw me in a pool or something. Of course, it is wonderful of Roxie!
I have yet to get the perfect picture with that man, but I will keep trying!
We met Damon Johnson a short time later. By then my hair was starting to dry and I looked more human (though if you look at my jeans you can tell how soaked my clothes were still!). This picture is tons better!
Damon was very sweet and I love his southern accent! He's a great guitarist and puts on a good stage show. He's a fantastic new addition to the band.
So, there you have it - Katrina even tried to ruin my birthday (but she didn't -HA!). My thoughts and prayers will always go out to the people down south who were more greatly effected by Katrina than I could ever have been up here. Bless their hearts.
