Ashley's Encounter/Concert ExperienceCobalt Cafe, 3.26.02
Liquid Zu @ Cobalt Liquid Zu was so awesome last night! And I got to meet Alex! ::screams and dies:: The show started supposedly at 6 (even though Liuid Zu was on at 8), so we get there and it's closed so my mom knocks on the door. The owner of the place tells us that the doors open in half an hour, so we decide to just hang out in front until they open. I really wanted a Liquid Zu sign, so when the guy closed the door, me and Sarah stole the big Liquid Zu flyer in front of the Cobalt and throw it in my mom's car. (I'm gonna hang it up in my room now!) Finally, it's 6:30 and the doors open. We walk into the Cobalt ["We" being me, Sarah, Noah (not Mr. Bastian, now...), and Russell] and it's this small, little place with couches and it smells kinda like ciggarette smoke (even though smoking isn't allowed). The Cobalt is about the size of my Health class room, and there couldn't have been any more than 30 or 40-something people there. The stage is carpeted and not much more than about 6 inches off the ground. I sat right in front of the stage on the floor (versus chairs or couches), so I was like, right at the bands' feet. When Liquid Zu went on, I was sitting right in front of Alex. They performed awesomely. In the middle of the show, Alex did a solo song, and the rest of the band left the stage for the song. The lead guitarist, Andy, sat down on the floor right next to Noah and started joking with us, screaming "Alex! Alex!" He was pretty cool. After the song, Alex reported everybody in the band back on the stage and they played some more songs for us. They decided to do a cover song off the top of their heads, and everyone suggested GunsN'Roses. It was pretty cool. After they finished their last song, the band went off stage and almost everyone in the audience started leaving. Alex started going 'back stage', and I wanted to go meet him, but I was really nervous about it, so Sarah grabbed my arm and counted: "1...2...3.." and then we ran up to him (even though technically you are'nt supposed to be back there) and Sarah's calling out "Wait, wait, wait!" He finally turned around, and I gave him the stuffed doggy I bought for him about 5 minutes before we left to go to the show. He thanked me (he's so sweet!) and I asked him if I might be able to get a picture with him or have the band sign something, and he said yes, but he told us they had to clear off their stuff from the stage first (another band was going to be on later that night), and then he would do it. So me and Sarah go over to the couch where Noah and Russell are, and we're just hanging out, and waiting for Alex to come out. I bought their demo cd for their upcoming album "Liquor Store" for $6 while I was waiting. Then he comes out (with my doggy!) and he's unplugging this and that, putting it away and stuff. Some girls were around him talking to him and he was signing some cd's, so I just thought I'd wait for them until I went up to him again. When he was done, me and Sarah went up to him and he asked us if we wanted that picture, so Sarah took a picture of us '2gether', and he signed the back of my sweatshirt. After that, he and Sarah got into a conversation about the Granada Hills marching band. Before we left, he asked me if I was going to another show, and I said yeah {...duh...}, and I asked him when's the next show. He said he wasn't exactly sure, but I said that wherever it is, I've gottu be there! And then we had to leave :'0( Alex is such a sweet guy! I feel so lucky to have met him! I was tempted to ask him if I could have his Dr. Pepper can just for the heck of it (he was drinking it through the show), but I decided not to, cause that would be kinda... weird. Sarah told me I was blushing a lot. (well obviously). I hope I didnt look too obsessive. I was trying to keep my cool! lol. But really, you all have GOT to go to a Liquid Zu show. Even though they were performing it all live, they sounded so good, as if they were playing right off of a cd. No doubt about it... these guys rock! -Ashe