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Early Tuesday, April 2, 2002 1:53am
Damn…. where did the time go? It’s already April!!!
Last time I wrote was Halloween!!!
I need to really get myself to do these things
more often. I
actually like writing these diaries a lot, but just kind
of haven’t really sat down to write any for a while.
Anyway, I felt I should write tonight cuz tonight
was a huge night that I will always remember. I gave our Drowning Fish CD to Tom from Blink 182!
Tom has a side project band called
“Boxcar Racer,” and they were playing a really tiny
club down in San Diego.
It was the band’s first show ever, and the show
was in their hometown, so I knew it would be a pretty
special event. Tom
and Travis are in the band, and they are currently
looking for a bass player… kind of like us.
Surprisingly enough, the fill-in bass player they
have now (his name is “T,” short for… I forgot
what) is a guy that recorded at the same studio with us
last summer. At
the studio, T and I talked for about 5 minutes while we
were waiting for “Audio Karate” to finish up their
session so we could have access to the room they were
in. I gave
him our rough mix CD to keep and listen to.
There were only a few songs on it, and they
weren’t final versions or anything, but it was all we
had at the time. Later,
T came into the room and asked Mario for a guitar
string, because he just broke one.
I guess he was playing guitar or something at
that time… or maybe both guitar and bass, I don’t
know. Anyway,
little did I know, the next time I would see T would be
on stage with Tom and Travis, playing bass for their new
band “Boxcar Racer.”
Isn’t life just so unexpected sometimes?!
We got to the show about an hour
early, but there was already a long line.
When we got in, there was already a lot of people
up at the stage, so I was kind of bumbed cuz I wanted to
just be able to hand Tom our CD.
The first band played (they were called
“Twig”), and then the second (“The Movielife”),
and then finally “Boxcar Racer.” It was hard to hear the songs really, but The Movielife
sounded really good, and so did “Boxcar Racer.”
Boxcar had a song about God or something, and
that had such an awesome chorus.
It was so freaking emotional, you just couldn’t
help feeling it.
When the first band played, I was
pretty far from the stage.
I wanted to stay with my group of friends, so it
was hard to get closer cuz it was so crowded.
But then I thought, “Screw my friends—I’m
heading for the stage!”
After all, I had a very important mission to
execute! So
I left them and slowly made my way towards the stage,
one person at a time.
I’m too nice a guy to push my way up like those
really big tall guys do.
But whenever the crowd pushed really hard from
behind, I took advantage and tried to squeeze forward.
I was never so freaking sweaty and
hot and dehydrated and exhausted in my life!
I think I almost even died a few times!
It was worth it though.
By the time Boxcar Racer came out, there were
only like 4 or 5 people in front of me.
I couldn’t believe I made it that far!
Tom would play a song, and then
stop and talk for a little bit, and then play another
song. Every
time the lights looked low, and he would look in my
direction, I held the CD up in the air and kind of
motioned for his attention. I tried to only do this when he was done playing cuz I
didn’t want to be pushy or rude or anything… like
the kid who insists on raising his hand to be called on
while the teacher is in the middle of saying something.
I kept doing that for 15 or 20 minutes, and Tom
didn’t say anything.
But then finally, he did.
Tom DeLonge points at the CD I had in my hand and
asks, “What’s that?”
And then he goes, “Throw it up here.”
I was so excited! Tom was going to finally get my CD!
Scared I might hit him if I threw
too hard, I kind of just lightly tossed the CD towards
him. The
whole room watched as my dreams and efforts
unenthusiastically flopped down at the edge of the stage
somewhere. Joking,
Tom asked, “What was that?” cuz I threw really weak.
I then pulled out the 2 last CDs I had in my
pocket, and my friend took the CD I gave him earlier,
and we tossed all three on stage… with a little more
determination this time. Tom was a little surprised by the sudden bombardment, and
yelled, “What are these, self-help tapes?!”
He then picked one up and said, “Drowning
Fish.” I
yelled to him that it was my band.
Then the guitar guy picked the rest of the CDs
off the floor so no one would slip on them and break
their neck (although I think the real reason he picked
the CDs up was because he was worried they would get
scratched or damaged in the event someone did slip and
break their neck on them), and the show went on.
I was so excited about this whole thing.
It’s so crazy!
Anyway, I’ll finish my story tomorrow.
I feel so gross from everyone’s sweat that was
rubbing off on me, so I’m going to go take a shower
right now. Bye!
2:31am
Sunday, April 7, 2002
8:15pm
Hey, what’s going on???
I’m listening to my Mariah right now.
We get music on our TV cuz we have digital cable,
and she’s on now.
I was in love with her for years, but now I’m
really really into Britney Spears… and after seeing a
diary on Mandy Moore, I’m into her too.
She’s really cute, and seems nice and
everything. I
don’t put up with mean girls.
That’s why me and Christina Aguilera don’t
really get along. Okay,
now I’m on the 80’s station, and some soft rock
80’s song is on.
It’s by a guy named “Toto.”
Don’t ask.
I never heard of the guy, but that’s what the
screen is telling me.
I’ve heard the song before though.
Anyway, I’m in my parent’s room
on their computer finishing this up cuz Mario is working
on the album art on our computer.
MP3.com just made it so you can design the whole
inlay and CD tray, not just 3 pages of it like before.
Well, before I go on about nothing, where was
I… Tears For Fears is on!
I like this song… “Head Over Heels.”
I used to watch the video for this song when I
was just a little insignificant kid.
It’s crazy how long ago that was.
I hate time! Anyway, where was I… Oh!!!
I love this song!!!
Bon Jovi, “I’ll Be There For You.”
That was the summer of ’89.
Ahh, the memories. I used to listen to Pirate Radio, sing along, record myself
acting like a DJ taping these songs and interviewing my
brother, sister, cousins…. that was a good time.
If you haven’t done so yet, read the lyrics for
our song “Summer of ’89.”
It’s all about that summer, and 100% true.
Well our house next door just got
sold. The
real-estate lady came over the other day asking if we
had a key to the house next door cuz she locked herself
out. That’s
when she mentioned it was sold.
I hope so much that I’m going to get good
friends moving in next door.
That’s what summer is all about—family,
friends, and the memories that are made.
There is nothing like having a good friend next
door. Since
I moved here 12 years ago, I haven’t had that.
But hopefully soon that will change.
I hope anyway.
Well, Bon Jovi’s song is coming
to a close, so I guess I’ll get on with what I’m
really here to write about. Mario likes when I keep these things short cuz he thinks no
one will read them when they’re too long.
I’m sure he’s right, but when I’m on a
roll, I can’t help myself!!!
Anyway, let’s try this again….
The show went on, and I thought I
was going to die for many different reasons: heat,
dehydration, affixiation, being trampled, being crushed,
having someone jump off the ceiling beams and land right
on my head when I wasn’t ready for them (one guy
missed me by an inch), etc.
But I managed to last the entire show and receive
nothing more than minor bruises and a slight concussion,
so it wasn’t too bad.
Anyway, after the show, I ran outside to the back
cuz I wanted to catch the band before they ran to their
cars trying to escape the crowd.
When I got back there, I saw two guys hanging out
behind a fence. I
thought they were from one of the opening bands, but
they might have been roadies.
Anyway, I asked the two guys if Tom or Travis
were going to be coming back through there, and they
said they weren’t sure. I also asked them what the bass player’s name was, cuz I
couldn’t remember and wanted to know incase I bumped
into him. The guy said his name was “T,” short for… I forgot what
the guy said it was short for.
Back when I met “T” at the recording studio,
he was in a band called “Goes To 11,” (or something
like that) and Travis was supposed to be coming into the
studio to lay down the drum tracks.
I’m actually really bad at remembering faces,
names, and everything else, but I recognized this guy
right when I saw him on stage.
Anyway, back to my story about the show.
The guys at the back of the club
told me to get my CD, so I ran to the car and got a huge
box. I
handed him and his friend one, and handed him a few more
to give to Boxcar Racer.
Travis was hanging out right by the door, but he
was talking to some people, so I didn’t want to bother
him. Then I
went inside and handed a few CDs to a guy who worked
there, asking if he could make sure Boxcar Racer got
them. I’m
very trusting, but not stupid.
I’m not going to just rely on one person to
make sure they get a CD, cuz this opportunity doesn’t
come around everyday.
The guy was cool and said he’d make sure they
got the CD. Then,
let’s see… the security guards tried throwing us
out, but I ignored them and stayed.
Oh yah, I saw T and walked up to him.
T was signing autographs and
talking to some girls who were all, “Like, umm, you
were great! Like,
umm, I think you’re so cute!
Like, umm… I’m a groupie, so you wanna
like… umm?!!” I’m
kidding, they weren’t that obvious.
Maybe they just wanted to talk, who knows. Anyway, I was like, "Hey T!” And he looked at me like, “And, uhh, I know you?”
I was like, “It’s Marc… Drowning Fish…. I
met you at Love Juice and gave you our CD…. your
string broke… you asked us…
ummm… I threw a bunch of CDs on stage…”
And then he went, “Yah, right… hey!”
I was feeling a little stupid, but carried on.
“Wow, so you’re in Boxcar Racer, that’s
crazy! Are
you going to be recording… oh wait, you guys have a CD
out pretty soon, right?”
“Yah, it’s coming out May 14th.”
(That’s the inside scoop.
Last time I checked, the internet just says they
have a CD coming out sometime towards summer.) “So T, I’m in a band and stuff, and I want to give you
some of our CDs so you can hear what we sound like and
stuff.” “Yah,
that would be cool.”
“Umm, can I borrow that pen so I can write my
number down?” “No
problem… here.”
He handed me his sharpie autograph pen, and I
then wrote my name and number down (I rushed because I
kept having to hand the pen back so he could sign
autographs) on about 3 CDs, and handed everything to
him. I told
him it was good talking to him, and he said, “It was
good talking to you too Marc.”
He was really cool, but I wonder if he’ll
really listen to our stuff.
I hope so. By
the way, I was paraphrasing.
Anyway, I have to eat dinner now,
and I’m making this thing too long, so when I come
back, I’ll try to sum it up. Alright, I’ll talk to you later!!! 9:27 pm
Monday, April 8, 2002
5:32 PM
I’m back… one day later.
Alright, I’m going to wrap this thing up right
now. After
I gave T our CDs, I waited around for Travis, cuz I saw
him coming out towards where I was. When he got up to me, I was all, “Hey Travis, I want to
give you this…” “What
is that?” “My
band Drowning Fish.”
“I already have three of them.”
He kept walking. I wasn’t sure if he was annoyed or what, but it’s not
like I expected every person who was supposed to give
our CD to the band to actually do it!
Apparently however, they did.
I wanted to at least make some sort
of personal connection with Travis and tell Travis that
I would really appreciate it if he would listen to the
CD, but he didn’t stop or anything. Beforehand, he was talking to a lot of different people,
signing autographs, posing for pictures, etc.
So when it was my turn and he saw that it was the
stalker with the CDs, he probably got pretty fed up.
But what kind of got me was like 2 seconds after
he just walked off, he stopped to talk to this one guy
who was trying to hand him his band’s CD.
Travis seemed genuinely interested and everything
too! They
shook hands, Travis was looking at the CD, and they
talked for at least a couple minutes.
Then just before Travis finally left, he told the
guy that he’d definitely check out the CD.
The whole time, I was standing to
Travis’s side cuz I wanted to ask if he would listen
to my CD, and I wanted to see if I could get a picture.
It was totally obvious that I was waiting to talk
to him, but he didn’t look at all and just walked
away. I
didn’t want to be annoying and call out his name.
I guess he was tired and just wanted to head to
the back room, so that’s where he went.
I’m disappointed about not being
able to really talk to Travis, but I also try to be
understanding about the whole thing.
Travis seemed really friendly to everyone else,
and was cool enough to hang out for like 45 minutes
after the show and talk to people.
I really look up to the guy, and care enough to
want him to hear our stuff. However, I guess it all came across wrong.
I’m going to their show on the 21st
in Irvine and have Orchestra seats, so I’m going to
try to get up there again and get them to listen to our
stuff. Maybe
I’ll attach a note or something this time.
Anyway, that’s what happened at
Boxcar Racer’s very first show.
Oh, by the way,
Cheetah (their friend/webmaster) videotaped the
whole show, and he got that part where I threw the CD up
on stage. So
that’s cool, cuz when they watch it, it will probably
remind them, “Oh yah, maybe we should listen to his
stuff.”
Anyway, enough!
I’m wrapping this puppy up.
I went on way way waaaaaayyyyy too long.
I’ll try to keep them short from now on.
Thanks for reading it all!!!
Bye
Marc
5:53pm
PS--
Damn, it’s still daytime outside!
The days are getting longer—summer is on its
way!
UPDATE:
I don’t usually do this, but I have a couple
updates for this diary.
I’ll make them
short and to the point:
1)
Boxcar Racer was looking for a permanent bass
player, so I thought T was
just a fill-in.
But I guess he was the guy they picked for the
band. And
as for what the
letter “T” stands for… it’s short for Anthony.
2)
That song I mentioned that I liked so much… the
one I said was about God…
well I guess that’s Boxcar Racer’s latest
single. It’s
called “If Only.”
I guess it’s
not about God, but about talking to Him.
I know Tom mentioned
something like that at the show anyway.
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