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Oh my god, people, this band! Don't get me wrong, I love Panic! and My Chem and all my other big bands, but there's something about the smaller venues and informal setting that you get with Empires (though I'd trade that for their mainstream success, really, because they deserve it SO MUCH).
I went to two shows--one in Toledo last week and one in Akron last night. The first was pretty cool. We were there at seven and most people came in much later, so for a while there were only about 12 people or so hanging out in the outer room. Tom was at the merch table, so I finally made myself go over and talk to him. I told him it was my first time seeing them b/c they hadn't come near enough that I could go since I'd heard them/come back to the country. He asked where I'd been and then we had a long conversation about Japan, because apparently he loves it. He was telling me how he'd gotten lost one time and used his cellphone as a high tech bread crumb, going back through the pics he'd been taking and finding those things irl to get back to where he'd started. Then Harrison was like "Do you know how many cities with a population of over a million there are in Japan?" to me and I was like "...a lot?" So he told us how many were in America and how many were in China and Tom's like "Dude, why are you asking her these questions???" Then some people they knew came up, so I made my purchases and got out of the way. I bought three of their shirts and their vinyl (they signed that and a poster for me).
Ryan came out and sat next to Harrison and their laptop started playing Lady Gaga, so I was teasing them and Ryan was pointing at Harrison behind his back and mouthing "not mine." I told him they should cover her, and he was like "Next tour, we can all dress as different versions of her." I went and changed into one of their shirts and coming out of the bathroom I passed Ryan who was like "Nice shirt." And I was like "Oh, it's this cool band I like..." and he high-fived me.
Right before they went on, Sean came out and talked to me for a bit. Honestly, I was struck by his hotness (which is silly, b/c I find Tom and Ryan hotter), so other than the fact that it went on for about 5 minutes, he asked my name, and learned it was my first show, I have NO IDEA what I said. Then the other band left the stage and he was like "oh, I think that's us!"
Then this happened:
IDEK that everyone who watches this now knows my real name. Because he sang. My favourite song. TO ME! Ryan broke one of his drumsticks during Runaway and after gave it to me (and signed it!) I also snagged a set list, just cause, then forgot to have it signed. Oh well, still cool. Pics below.
After we hung out a little more. Max was finally at the table and I was like "I was looking all over for you!" And he was like "I'm elusive," and I said, "yes, like a unicorn," and he laughed and then Ryan said that could be his version of Gaga. IDK what version that is, b/c I don't really know much about Gaga. I talked to Ryan again, but I seriously don't remember a single thing we said, other than he was complaining about the beer that they bar was giving them, but then he was like "but it's free." So I asked what they'd prefer if they had their choice and he and Harrison were like "Whiskey!"
So...last night. I baked them some Irish Car Bomb cupcakes--the cupcake is made with guinness, the ganache filling is made with whiskey, and the icing is made with Bailey's, and that shit is both delicious and strong. I brought ten, two each for them, and then I got them this gift set of different whiskeys.
The opening acts were mostly pretty good, so I waited til between sets and saw Sean, Ryan, and Tom over by the merch table, and took it to them. They were all so sweet and thanked me a lot, and Tom was like "what can we give you in return," and I was like "you gave us your music, and you give it to us for free." They all gave me hugs and then went to the backstage area. A few minutes later Ryan comes over to my table and highfives me and then leans in to show me the little pocket in his vest where he's got one of the whiskey bottles hidden. We talked about the other show I was at and he said this one was gonna be better because of the openers and the sound here, and then when the band finished their song, gave me a hug and ran off.
After they played, I went over to get another of their shirts (I had only enough money for three last time, but I loved all their shirts). Some of the opening bands were over there, and honestly, two, Apres Vous and Asleep were REALLY good so I wanted their music anyway. They were so kind, and the guy from Asleep, Todd, was almost out of shirts, and only had them in some sizes. I wanted larger than what he had, and he told me to try on a smaller one. The shirt I had on wasn't form fitting, but it was, and he just stared at me from different angles and was like "Um, you have huge breasts and your WAIST. You are taking that shirt." Then gave me it and their cd for, like, seven dollars (later I brought him a ten, because they were good, and I had the change left over, so they deserved it).
I went over to get my Empires shirt and Max was there, I tried to hand him the money but Tom came over and pushed it back at me and was like "She's the one with the cupcakes! You don't pay for our merch." I tried to tell him that I was more than happy to pay and they deserved it, but he was insistent that I would not pay for their merch ever again (I was tricky--I just gave my money to a girl who didn't have enough to buy their merch herself, so they got it in the end). Tom hugged me about six times and we talked forEVER. It was so cool, like just talking to a new friend. I mentioned that I wanted to try to make it to Chicago for their show at the end of July and he was like "oh, please do. The tour is just stripped down rock, what we can do on the road, but in Chicago we can do so much more with some of other songs, bring some friends on stage, and all our family is there." And I said that maybe I should just stay out of their way when I come and he was like "No! Please come hang out with us, just know all our family and friends will be there." And Nic, my friend, was like "so, are you saying she shouldn't bring cupcakes?" And Tom was like "ALWAYS BRING CUPCAKES." and hugged me again.
We talked a bit more before Todd called us over to ask something about venues in Columbus. Then when we went to leave, I waved at Tom and Max, and Tom comes running around the table, knocks over their tshirt box, and gives me two more hugs and kept thanking me. That boy hugs like NOTHING ELSE, man. So tight and sweet. I didn't even care that he was sweaty as shirt. It was adorable. He said "dude, I am going to be tweeting about those cupcakes all night." And I laughed and said I looked forward to it. Then he hugged me again, and we left. He didn't tweet about them, sadly, but there were a lot of people there, and he was probably tired and/or drunk, after.
So, now I have to find a way to get to Chicago in late July with a bunch of cupcakes, lol.
( Pics behind the cut! )
Okay, so now I maybe get some people who are weird about writing RPS once you've met people. I doubt it'll ever be a problem with the big bands, because the meet and greets are just too formal, but Tom talked to me for a long time, and treated me like a friend, and I said to Muse, when I got home, "good thing I already wrote the Frank!elf fic, b/c I don't think I can write about Tom any more..." Not that I ever wrote him as a main character, but still.
In conclusion: my baking rocks, and Tom's hugs = love
I went to two shows--one in Toledo last week and one in Akron last night. The first was pretty cool. We were there at seven and most people came in much later, so for a while there were only about 12 people or so hanging out in the outer room. Tom was at the merch table, so I finally made myself go over and talk to him. I told him it was my first time seeing them b/c they hadn't come near enough that I could go since I'd heard them/come back to the country. He asked where I'd been and then we had a long conversation about Japan, because apparently he loves it. He was telling me how he'd gotten lost one time and used his cellphone as a high tech bread crumb, going back through the pics he'd been taking and finding those things irl to get back to where he'd started. Then Harrison was like "Do you know how many cities with a population of over a million there are in Japan?" to me and I was like "...a lot?" So he told us how many were in America and how many were in China and Tom's like "Dude, why are you asking her these questions???" Then some people they knew came up, so I made my purchases and got out of the way. I bought three of their shirts and their vinyl (they signed that and a poster for me).
Ryan came out and sat next to Harrison and their laptop started playing Lady Gaga, so I was teasing them and Ryan was pointing at Harrison behind his back and mouthing "not mine." I told him they should cover her, and he was like "Next tour, we can all dress as different versions of her." I went and changed into one of their shirts and coming out of the bathroom I passed Ryan who was like "Nice shirt." And I was like "Oh, it's this cool band I like..." and he high-fived me.
Right before they went on, Sean came out and talked to me for a bit. Honestly, I was struck by his hotness (which is silly, b/c I find Tom and Ryan hotter), so other than the fact that it went on for about 5 minutes, he asked my name, and learned it was my first show, I have NO IDEA what I said. Then the other band left the stage and he was like "oh, I think that's us!"
Then this happened:
IDEK that everyone who watches this now knows my real name. Because he sang. My favourite song. TO ME! Ryan broke one of his drumsticks during Runaway and after gave it to me (and signed it!) I also snagged a set list, just cause, then forgot to have it signed. Oh well, still cool. Pics below.
After we hung out a little more. Max was finally at the table and I was like "I was looking all over for you!" And he was like "I'm elusive," and I said, "yes, like a unicorn," and he laughed and then Ryan said that could be his version of Gaga. IDK what version that is, b/c I don't really know much about Gaga. I talked to Ryan again, but I seriously don't remember a single thing we said, other than he was complaining about the beer that they bar was giving them, but then he was like "but it's free." So I asked what they'd prefer if they had their choice and he and Harrison were like "Whiskey!"
So...last night. I baked them some Irish Car Bomb cupcakes--the cupcake is made with guinness, the ganache filling is made with whiskey, and the icing is made with Bailey's, and that shit is both delicious and strong. I brought ten, two each for them, and then I got them this gift set of different whiskeys.
The opening acts were mostly pretty good, so I waited til between sets and saw Sean, Ryan, and Tom over by the merch table, and took it to them. They were all so sweet and thanked me a lot, and Tom was like "what can we give you in return," and I was like "you gave us your music, and you give it to us for free." They all gave me hugs and then went to the backstage area. A few minutes later Ryan comes over to my table and highfives me and then leans in to show me the little pocket in his vest where he's got one of the whiskey bottles hidden. We talked about the other show I was at and he said this one was gonna be better because of the openers and the sound here, and then when the band finished their song, gave me a hug and ran off.
After they played, I went over to get another of their shirts (I had only enough money for three last time, but I loved all their shirts). Some of the opening bands were over there, and honestly, two, Apres Vous and Asleep were REALLY good so I wanted their music anyway. They were so kind, and the guy from Asleep, Todd, was almost out of shirts, and only had them in some sizes. I wanted larger than what he had, and he told me to try on a smaller one. The shirt I had on wasn't form fitting, but it was, and he just stared at me from different angles and was like "Um, you have huge breasts and your WAIST. You are taking that shirt." Then gave me it and their cd for, like, seven dollars (later I brought him a ten, because they were good, and I had the change left over, so they deserved it).
I went over to get my Empires shirt and Max was there, I tried to hand him the money but Tom came over and pushed it back at me and was like "She's the one with the cupcakes! You don't pay for our merch." I tried to tell him that I was more than happy to pay and they deserved it, but he was insistent that I would not pay for their merch ever again (I was tricky--I just gave my money to a girl who didn't have enough to buy their merch herself, so they got it in the end). Tom hugged me about six times and we talked forEVER. It was so cool, like just talking to a new friend. I mentioned that I wanted to try to make it to Chicago for their show at the end of July and he was like "oh, please do. The tour is just stripped down rock, what we can do on the road, but in Chicago we can do so much more with some of other songs, bring some friends on stage, and all our family is there." And I said that maybe I should just stay out of their way when I come and he was like "No! Please come hang out with us, just know all our family and friends will be there." And Nic, my friend, was like "so, are you saying she shouldn't bring cupcakes?" And Tom was like "ALWAYS BRING CUPCAKES." and hugged me again.
We talked a bit more before Todd called us over to ask something about venues in Columbus. Then when we went to leave, I waved at Tom and Max, and Tom comes running around the table, knocks over their tshirt box, and gives me two more hugs and kept thanking me. That boy hugs like NOTHING ELSE, man. So tight and sweet. I didn't even care that he was sweaty as shirt. It was adorable. He said "dude, I am going to be tweeting about those cupcakes all night." And I laughed and said I looked forward to it. Then he hugged me again, and we left. He didn't tweet about them, sadly, but there were a lot of people there, and he was probably tired and/or drunk, after.
So, now I have to find a way to get to Chicago in late July with a bunch of cupcakes, lol.
( Pics behind the cut! )
Okay, so now I maybe get some people who are weird about writing RPS once you've met people. I doubt it'll ever be a problem with the big bands, because the meet and greets are just too formal, but Tom talked to me for a long time, and treated me like a friend, and I said to Muse, when I got home, "good thing I already wrote the Frank!elf fic, b/c I don't think I can write about Tom any more..." Not that I ever wrote him as a main character, but still.
In conclusion: my baking rocks, and Tom's hugs = love
