Where the Mind Wants to Go Tour
I the Mighty recently released their third full-length album from Equal Vision Records, Where the Mind Wants to Go/Where You Let It Go. It’s been about a full year since the last time I saw these guys play because they’ve been so busy in the studio since the last tour, and I’m having some serious withdrawals, of both the live music and my I the Mighty fam. Oh, this should be a good tour. It’s long overdue.
Album Release Party, Los Angeles—10/18/17
The album was set to release on October 20, the day before the first show of the tour in San Francisco. I, however, snagged a copy of the album early for review purposes, so when the band announced on super short notice that they’d be playing a free acoustic set at an album release party in LA, my first thought was that I’d already heard it about a million times, so I didn’t need to be there.
Who am I kidding? I need to be there.
I made an even shorter notice decision to get my ass to LA. At midnight the night before the party, I bought a bus ticket from SF to LA while in the Uber to the bus station. My tours lately have felt so planned, so I got this crazy rush of excitement making it all up as I went along. That’s what used to be so fun about touring for me. Having absolutely zero idea what I’m doing, just doing it anyway. It was good to be spontaneous again.
Midnight bus means I was in LA by 8am, so I walked to the venue, taking my sweet time to get there. It was probably around 1 or 2pm by the time I found the place, and my friend Veronica from Vegas was already camped out and waiting.
The venue did not look like a venue. I stumble upon “venues” like this every once in a while it seems, but it was just a door, not even facing the street. You had to walk around the building it was attached to to get there. Gotta love it.
The boys were playing the album front to back for us over the speakers that night, so I didn’t feel too bad giving Veronica a little taste of what was to come. We sat in her car charging our phones while waiting for the line to get a bit longer and I played her a few songs.
“Pet Names” was her favorite right off the bat.
They had been saying that only the first 50 people in line would be able to join the party, but it kept getting closer to time, and the line wasn’t growing nearly as fast as we expected it to. I would be way too afraid to cut it as close as some of these people were.
Speaking of cutting it close… Veronica drove from Vegas to LA. However, her boyfriend Devin had work that day. So he flew after work. Somehow he made it on time, but it seemed like a bit of a miracle.
The line was finally looking legit as the sun went down and doors were about to be opened. I guess Veronica and Devin left to go to the bathroom at the last minute, because Brent walked by the line and gave me a hug and commented on the fact that I was first. I’ll take second. It’s fine.
The party had cupcakes with the album art on it. That was worth coming to LA for honestly. Such a random cute thing, but I love it. Veronica was convinced the art was a sticker, but it was definitely edible.
The picture I took vs. the picture of me taking that picture.
We also got free posters. Score.
I had about zero shame for knowing the album ahead of time, so I sang along to every song over the speakers. I was asked on more than one occasion how I knew them all already. Whoops?
I kinda felt like no one else there really cared to hear the new album as it played, though. Everyone seemed to be talking over it, while I’m just here like, come on, guys, it’s so good. Just listen to it!
It was available for purchase, though, so they were all just gonna listen to it when they got home I’m sure. Might’ve been more enjoyable there if everyone was paying more attention at the time, though.
I know Devin wanted to hear it. He somehow avoided even listening to the singles as they were released. He wanted to hear the album the whole way through, the way it’s meant to be heard, rather than in pieces. That takes some serious dedication. Whereas I went slightly out of my way to get my hands on it early. I have no self-control.
They had a backdrop up to take pictures with the band. We got some pretty ridiculous ones. I love them.
The prom picture was Brent’s idea. I said I wanted to do something crazy but couldn’t think of what. This was a good pose.
And because of course, the meme version, courtesy of meme master Biz:
Oh, Ian…
And a selfie with Blakey:
I told Brent “Degenerates” is my favorite track and asked about the chord progression toward the end of the song. It sounds an awful lot like the one at the end of “No Faith in Fate,” off their second full-length Connector. He just said, “It’s similar,” so I took that to mean it probably wasn’t completely intentional.
In addition to playing the album over the speakers, the band also played a short acoustic set.
“Pet Names”
They had to play an older one that people would know, so they whipped out an ITM classic, “The Dreamer.”
And then as an even bigger surprise, they brought Tilian Pearson of Dance Gavin Dance onstage to sing “Silver Tongues.”
I’m not really into Dance Gavin Dance, but I had to snag a picture with him too. Might as well, right?
I hadn’t exactly gotten as far ahead as planning my transportation back home when I hopped on that bus to LA the night before. I asked Brent how/when they were going home, and he said they were heading back right after they were done. This party was thrown together last minute and in LA rather than their hometown of San Francisco because it was more of a press party than anything else, so they had nothing more to do but go home when it was over. Besides maybe scarf down some In-n-Out.
I asked if they had space for a stowaway, and ended up hitching a ride back home with them in their van. They started calling me their “Road Warrior” after that. Cute. I love it. I’ve officially survived being on the road with I the Mighty.
San Francisco—10/21/17
Opening the tour at Bottom of the Hill and I am EXCITED.
My little OG ITM fam babies are all growed up and flying across the country to surprise the boys. They’re pulling a Lindsay, expect people always expect that from me. It was actually a surprise from them.
We kept Corey and Marion mostly hidden before the VIP session, but they did see Ian (guitarist) outside the venue. They hugged him and he was surprised, but he promised to keep their attendance on the DL until they could surprise the rest of them too.
All the guys were so shocked and happy to see them. It was beautiful. It went SO WELL.
Devin and Veronica were there too. They’re doing all the West Coast dates AND New York. So good to have fam here on my turf for once.
I the Mighty brought us Chipotle and cookies to the VIP session which was pretty cool.
They played demos of all the songs on the new album and talked about the meaning and where they originated from. For instance, “111 Winchester“: Winchester Mystery House + 11 from Stranger Things + 111 from the address of house they were staying in while recording the album.
Brent explained how six songs on the album make up a love story, or more accurately, a story of a relationship falling apart.
- Symphony of Skin
- Where You Let It Go
- Where the Mind Wants to Go
- Sound of Breathing
- Sleepwalker
- Pet Names
Part of the VIP merch package was a blanket. Our session was outside in a park, and it was FREEZING. I was very unprepared. So I bundled myself up in the blanket during the entire thing.
Then for my picture, Brent asked me what ridiculous pose I wanted to do this time.
“It’s too cold for that right now!”
Soon enough, we’re all trekking back to the venue.
I asked their merch guy, Aaron, if he had any physical copies of their first [unofficial] album We Speak and he said the only one left was at his house. He told me to ask him again after the tour and he’d send it to me. That was the SWEETEST THING EVER and Aaron is absolutely the greatest merch guy ever. I’m beyond glad the I the Mighty boys found him.
Chris (bassist) told us he wanted us to go nuts during this show sooooo…. I did.
I pretty much spent the night bouncing all around the venue. I was in the front with Veronica/Devin/Corey/Marion one minute, then in the back of the pit where I hugged Emily and other friends from the Bay the next.
Hail the Sun opened. I was really confused for a while that Donovan Melero was being a full-on frontman rather than sing while playing drums like he did the last time I saw them live. Apparently they have another drummer for live shows sometimes now too.
They played a new song which was pretty awesome.
And the best part was Brent coming onstage to sing with them.
Degenerates
I am the loudest person in the venue screaming “I HEAR THE MATCHES PLAYING FROM THE OTHER ROOM.” I love the Matches. How can I NOT obnoxiously scream that at the top of my lungs?
Silver Tongues
Psychomachia
Remember when Chris told us to go nuts? Well Veronica and I got onstage during “Psychomachia.” It’s the song I did a handstand to in Denver a year and a half ago, so it’s still the song I like to do crazy things to.
Well apparently that’s not allowed at Bottom of the Hill. Like, REALLY not allowed.
Someone pushed me off the stage, which led to an AMAZING crowdsurf. I went pretty far back, almost fell but got hoisted back up, and then got sent back to the stage. Like, I ended up onstage again and took the stairs down this time.
Whereas Veronica got dropped pretty much immediately when she went into the crowd.
Security chased me down when I was back in the crowd and threatened to kick me out. Stagediving/crowdsurfing is NOT ALLOWED at Bottom of the Hill. Whoops?
“Chris…the bassist! He told us to! I’m just following directions.”
“Well… if the band invited you, that’s fine, but don’t do it again.”
Of course, then I saw a message on Facebook from Aaron telling me to do it again at the end of the show. Lol okay.
Lying Eyes of Miss Erray
Chaos in Motion
Pet Names
Four Letter Words
I had to go back to mosh to this.
Speak to Me
These Streets Are Alive
Brent talked a little about how the band started a fan group on Facebook and held a vote for a deep cut they’d play and this was the winner.
Here is a side story that happened mid-show as I’m standing behind my crew in the front (I might have misheard/misspelled their names, so this is a loose transcription, as always is with me):
Two girls I’ve never seen before in my life walk up to me.
Girl 1: “Lindsay! We’re trying to get to my brother.”
Me: “Uhhh I mean I’m with all these people in front of me… I’m sorry, what are your names?”
Girl 1: “Caradee.”
Girl 2: “Bethany.”
Me: “I’m Lindsay. But you already knew that. Are you guys in the group?”
Bethany: “What group?”
Me: “How did you know my name?”
Caradee: “You just told us like two seconds ago.”
Me: “But you walked up to me and called me Lindsay.”
Caradee: “You just look like a Lindsay.”
Bethany: -something I can’t hear-
Caradee (to Bethany): “Shut the fuck up.”
Caradee (to me): “We’re just trying to get to the front.”
THAT WAS SO WEIRD. WHO ARE YOU AND HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME AND WHY DON’T YOU WANT ME TO KNOW HOW YOU KNOW MY NAME.
Where the Mind Wants to Go
Where You Let It Go
Lady of Death
They took out that killer intro. Boooo. I love that part. It’s my favorite. Ugh.
The Dreamer
Veronica, Devin, Corey, and I all got onstage to sing despite security’s earlier protests. One guy came up there with a flashlight to kick us off, and I’m not sure what happened, but somehow we won this round and stayed.
Everyone else but me stagedove, and they all seemed to go amazingly. I remember being surprised that Corey actually jumped for some reason.
I, however, was a chicken shit because security already threatened to throw me out, so I’m not doing it again. I just got off the stage via the stairs (again). A Matches/ITM friend Loni posted about the stagediving and how I’m her hero, because she’s never seen that done at Bottom of the Hill before.
I do a lot of shit at shows that most people haven’t seen done.
After the show, I kept losing Corey and Marion. They were talking to Blake’s parents and it was super cute. Brent’s ex-girlfriend Sam, who the new album is largely about, gave me a hug and asked what I thought of the album. Awkward. Pretty sure I just said “It’s great!” and walked away.
When we were done being social, Corey, Marion, and I went out in search of late night milkshakes. I love my fam.
And here’s a weird thing: for the next few days while they were in town, we kept seeing the number 111 EVERYWHERE.
New York—11/3/17
New York I the Mighty shows are always the best. San Francisco is their hometown, but “the crew” is in New York. Gotta love my New York friends IN San Francisco explaining to people that I live here but I’m actually New York Crew.
But, ya know… Tours can be weird sometimes. You do it so often and with the same set of people, things happen, things change… That first Coheed tour I did changed everything for me, and I’m no longer friends with a decent amount of people I met on that tour. This is all irrelevant, but basically, the New York I the Mighty show was the start of a VERY STRANGE weekend for me and some of the fam.
I guess in order to explain Boston, I HAVE to explain New York and a little backstory. Or else my entire summary of Boston would be that I have zero recollections of the show because I was too busy crying in the pit all night. YA KNOW.
So I might have caught feels for Biz. Or like, one feel. He’s kind of been ever-present in my music life for the past few years (Coheed, Coheed, and more Coheed, I the Mighty, Rise Against, and he’s even let me drag him to Taking Back Sunday. He missed Green Day though, but I’m over it) despite living on the opposite coast. He’s just been a really great friend to me and it finally caught up with me I guess.
I had told him a few days before this show that I liked him. I got a “I might’ve liked you that way at one point, but I never wanted to mess up our friendship” in response. Okay, that’s fine. I can’t fault him for that. But he went from asking me how WE’RE getting to Boston one minute, to telling people that he’s driving back to Jersey after the NYC show and going to Boston by himself the next without talking to me first. That was my first indication that he was getting weird on me.
Then there was the fact that when he got to the venue, he hardly talked to me until the ITM boys came out.
Is this in my head? Maybe this is in my head. It’s fine. Whatever.
ANYWAY. Switching gears here. We’ll get back to that later.
Okay so. I did a REALLY DUMB THING by getting a tattoo the day before this show.
It’s small, it’s just linework, I figured I’d be fine. The top one is obviously I the Mighty’s Hearts&Spades, and I’ve had that for a little over a year now. The bottom one is new, and it’s a Matches reference to their song “Scratched Out.”
Going into a mosh pit with a fresh tattoo? BAD IDEA. The entire time, I would be the one to injure myself and just start screaming at myself for being so dumb and WHY DID I JUST SCRATCH MYSELF THAT HURT GODDAMMIT. Yeah, no. Never doing that again.
I decided literally an hour before the show that I wanted to get confetti. I knew Brent would appreciate it, and if it’s happening anywhere, it’ll be with my New York Crew. Brent’s always all about it when I bring confetti (or glitter…) to Matches’ shows, so I wanted to do it for his band for once.
I passed out the 18 confetti sticks I bought to my friends in line before we went in. This guy Zach accidentally set his off prematurely. WHY IS THAT ALWAYS A THING WITH DUDES. I didn’t want the band to see it, so I was a teeny bit upset about it, and also because I was literally explaining to every person just how easy it is to set them off.
I stuck my confetti stick down my shirt, as ya do, so I had to hug all the ITM boys with a stick in my chest. They didn’t seem to tell what it was, so it’s fine.
This venue (Market Hotel) was super weird. ITM’s manager Bear did not like it.
For one, there was no bar. Apparently they like JUST got their liquor license back. But there was a back room where you could go if you were over 21 (obviously) for unlimited beer “tastings” in these tiny little cups. It was weird af, but whatever.
Best part: The security guy guarding that door looked at my ID and tried to tell me I’m not 21.
Me: “Yeah, cuz I’m 25!”
Dude. DUDE.
I had VIP again this show, and it was basically the same as the last one. Anna and I got our pictures taken together, though, and they are cute as shit.
I just love her so much.
Biz got the band to hold him while he planked for his picture. Such a weirdo.
But then like the greatest thing ever…
Niki memed it. As someone who has fallen asleep playing with his hair… Accurate.
While I was buying confetti at Party City, Anna was buying a onesie. We put our VIP stuff in the bag and Brent let me stash it behind merch. Schweet.
She kept saying this was the most punk night of her life and it was adorable. Her friend (me) knows the band, so our stuff was behind merch, and cops came by the venue taking pictures of the capacity signs. I’m pretty sure she had other reasons for why this was the most punk night of her life, but that’s all I remember.
I missed the first two bands (Good Tiger and Hail the Sun) because alcohol. Fenn, Anna, and I were in the back room drinking. Anna mentioned she’d never heard Fenn’s infamous nipple story, so cue us chanting: “Nipple story! Nipple story! Nipple story!” It’s not a good trip without it.
This is a story you have to hear live if he lets you. Sorry, kiddos.
I did leave the back room to catch one Good Tiger song, though, because Anna said the singer was hot and I needed to see him.
I guess Biz left during Hail the Sun to find a real bar. He was supposedly texting everyone where he was, but neither Anna nor I nor any of the groupchats we’re in got that text. We saw Fenn leaving and went with him.
Does he not want me there? What is even going on with this kid?
So yeah, I thought he was being weird, but I went to the bar anyway and kept to myself/Anna.
Fenn left the bar before I did, and I was afraid of missing any of I the Mighty’s set, so I told him to text me when Hail the Sun was done so I could run back. Like Zach with the confetti, Fenn was a little premature in texting me. I didn’t have to scarf those french fries down as fast as I did, but whatever.
They didn’t change up the setlist at all. I was kinda hoping the San Francisco show was special, being the album release show and all, but it was exactly the same.
I love opening the show with “Degenerates.” I screamed that Matches lines SO LOUD from the back of the pit at this show that East Coast Devin texted me from where he was in the front row:
“I heard that.”
LOL WHOOPS SORRY NOT SORRY
I’m surrounded by my own Degenerates at this show. They’re literally my family and I love the shit out of all of them. So I hugged them during this song yelling “You guys are my Degenerates!”
I definitely bruised my jaw (like pretty badly…) hitting someone’s head in the pit. Naturally.
It wasn’t the best ITM pit I’ve ever been in, but it definitely was not the worst either. It was alright.
Biz climbed a pole in the middle of the venue during “These Streets Are Alive.” He said he was trying to be punny with the timing, but I don’t think I understood.
Fenn and Sean and probably someone else followed his lead.
“OF COURSE those dumbasses are my friends.”
“Four Letter Words” made me kinda sad at this show for… obvious reasons.
At the end of “Lady of Death,” Lexi wanted to crowdsurf, but she didn’t want to go alone. Biz attempted to launch both of us off his back, but he stood up too soon, so Jason ended up kinda throwing me. I wound up onstage. Of course. I was gonna jump back into the crowd, but then all of a sudden, another guy was onstage too, and I froze up not sure what to do.
Out of nowhere, there’s Bear, literally scooping me up and throwing me back into the crowd. Lol whoops?
This video was cut so nicely so you can’t see me being awkward af onstage. I look so much more graceful than I really am.
Then the last song, “The Dreamer.” The confetti went up a little bit earlier than planned, but everyone loved it, obviously including a surprised band. It was a success.
Bear told me afterward that they almost got in trouble with the venue for it. They were not responsible or even aware of the mess I was making. That’s on me.
Brent was sick, so he didn’t come out to socialize with us when the show was over. BUT OF COURSE everyone at this show also got sick. It’s Brent Walsh Disease.
Apparently Anna pulled Biz aside and told him he was acting weird, so he told me he’d stay in Brooklyn that night and drive me to Boston the next day. Maybe things are fine. Maybe all the weirdness was in my head.
SO MANY of my friends were at this show that it was a STRUGGLE trying to keep track of all of them. There’s too friggin many of them, but I love them all dearly.
Boston—11/4/17
So Biz drove me from Brooklyn to Boston. And it was not weird at all. It’s a four hour drive, and it was like the rest of the week hadn’t happened and he was just my best friend again. I started thinking all the weirdness was just in my head and we were totally fine. Good.
Well…
These two girls Heaven and Kaitlyn got an Airbnb for themselves, the band, and Biz. (It’s a little weird he’s the only other person they invited, yeah?) Of course, Biz invited me, Anna, Cram, and with Cram came Justin. I’d never met Heaven or Kaitlyn before, and neither had anyone else in our crew. But whatever. It’s fine.
Biz and I are the first ones besides them to show up at the Airbnb. I decide if anything’s gonna happen between him and I, I need to be shitfaced. I’m a piece of shit and wanted an excuse after the fact if it didn’t go well. I was already expecting it to not go well. Ya know.
So naturally, I’d already had wayyyyy too much to drink by the time we even got to the venue. I might’ve said a bit too much in front of Kaitlyn because HOLY SHIT HITTING THE FAN MY GOD.
I’m not sure how much detail I should go into. I’m not sure how much detail I WANT to go into. This is a music blog, after all, not a place you come to read about my pitiful nonexistent love life. Also despite everything, I don’t want to make Kaitlyn sound like the hateful psycho bitch she is. I’ve avoided shit talking other people who deserve it. Why start now?
Biz and I continued hanging out by ourselves despite being surrounded by so many other members of our ITM fam.
(Wait yeah, here are some pictures)
I missed the first two bands entirely because the two of us were too busy being cute.
Cue: Kaitlyn screaming in my face
Cue: Tears
Cue: I the Mighty with the PERFECT timing
So yes, I have zero real recollections of the show because I was the drunk crying girl. I made it to about the second or third row, surrounded by all of my favorite Degenerates, but I was crying too hard to acknowledge the show happening in front of me.
Biz was miserable too, mind you. He had nothing to do with Kaitlyn screaming in my face. I thought he did, but no, he was also missing the show by blowing entirely too much money at the bar getting intentionally blackout drunk.
We’re such fuckin trainwrecks.
The one memory I DO have (vaguely… I had to ask people the next day if it actually happened or I imagined it…): During “The Dreamer,” the crowd and Bear played catch with me. The crowd threw me toward the stage, Bear caught me and threw me back into the crowd, they threw me back to Bear, and repeat. I was probably in the air for a while.
I assumed I landed back in the crowd at the end of that, but I found this video on my phone, so I must have gotten sent down the stairs and found my way to the back of the venue for the end of the song.
I guess another vague memory I have is of Bear singing. Brent was sick, and it was Bear’s birthday, so he filled in for a few songs. I couldn’t tell ya which ones, though.
The night overall was pretty awful. Kaitlyn continued to shit talk me despite the fact that I had already been crying the whole show. Luckily the band had no idea what happened, so she at least didn’t shit talk me to them. Good. She knows better than that.
She should’ve known better than shit talking me to my friends though.
Reminder: My ITM fam is THE BEST and I absolutely love the shit out of them. They were all hugging and loving on me SO MUCH, it just made me cry harder, and I knew I didn’t deserve any of them. I felt like I’d ruined all their nights, but they didn’t care. They just loved me and tried to make ME feel better. Even Biz cared more than he should have. He was outside that venue hugging me while I continued crying, and yelling at him.
Despite Kaitlyn’s threats to kick me out of the Airbnb, I went back with them. But I didn’t hang much, and I left early the next morning without saying bye to anyone.
I deal with my problems by running. It’s just a thing.
So this show was a TOTAL BUST, but it was also 100% unnecessary, because Biz is STILL one of my best friends, and try as Kaitlyn might, that’s not changing anytime soon. I’m tellin ya, I don’t deserve my ITM fam.
Los Angeles, Night 1—11/18/17
Let’s start this show more or less where we left off: I felt hella bad for having two more I the Mighty shows after basically ruining Biz’s (and a bunch of other people’s) second and last show of the tour. I mean, obviously it’s good for me that that wasn’t my last show. But I had a hard time immediately being happy about it.
I met a guy in line outside with a Glassjaw tattoo. It’s a pretty recognizable tattoo, and I remembered him from the I the Mighty Facebook group. He remembered me too, because I’m the girl who used the “triggered” meme and explained why Coheed fans hate Glassjaw.
Aaron saw me in line and asked if I had VIP, to which I said no. I had VIP for San Francisco and New York, and that was it. He’s kinda the greatest merch guy of ALL TIME, so he told me he’d get me in early anyway. I didn’t even ask. He’s just honestly the best.
I refused to accept any of the VIP merch, though. But I did want the Polaroid.
Veronica had them pick her up for her picture, so I did the same. No shame. I’d been wanting to do it for a while, but I was afraid they wouldn’t be down for it. I weigh like ten pounds. They don’t mind.
I think it turned out super cute, but also I’m super ridiculous.
The VIP session was the same as it had been. They might as well be reading off a script, but it’s still cool to hear about the songwriting process.
The photographer from the LA CD release party was there filming a music video for “Degenerates” I believe (don’t quote me on that), but he continued filming the whole night. He told me he remembered me because I was the weirdo who knew the whole album already.
Good Tiger’s van broke down in Chicago and most of the guys decided to end their tour right there. All but the guitarist, Dez. I the Mighty picked him up and brought him with them to finish off the tour. It was just him, his guitar, and backing tracks.
I only caught one song, but he KILLED it. I was surprised how much I enjoyed a one man Good Tiger, partially because I didn’t even really watch them in either New York or Boston.
But naturally, I didn’t really watch him at this show, either. The way the Moroccan Lounge is set up is that there’s a bar/restaurant when you first walk in, and then behind a set of doors is the venue part. I spent most of Dez’s set and Hail the Sun at the bar. As ya do.
But I did catch a little Hail the Sun.
Then I went directly to the pit for I the Mighty.
I met this girl Amy in the pit by casually overhearing a conversation about getting laid. Making friends at shows is so easy sometimes. I told her I was gonna be opening mosh pits all night and I think her and her friends were all a little surprised to find out that I wasn’t lying. Hey, I warned them.
They were also impressed I came down from San Francisco for the show.
LOL I went to New York and Boston too.
I started going hard the minute “Degenerates” started, and the crowd was cooperative. Woo! Obviously I screamed my Matches line.
I was all about pushing through this crowd to get to different areas all night, and it was a REALLY GOOD crowd.
Naturally, I made it onstage for “Psychomachia,” my I-do-weird-shit-during-this-song song. I stagedove, crowdsurfed back a little bit, and then got sent back toward the stage. My shirt was totally coming up as I got surfed forward and I felt myself being dropped, but then my savior Bear is there reaching out to grab me. He sent me through the green room to come back into the venue through the bar.
When I opened the venue door, I ran smack into none other than Brandon, Brent’s best friend. He moved from the Bay Area down to LA close to two years ago now I think, so I knew he had to be there. We hugged and I spent the next few calm songs in the back of the venue with him.
Eventually the older/heavier songs came on, and I had to go back into the pit. Brandon went too. I don’t think he was following my lead, but we continued to find each other during the rest of the show and scream in each other’s faces.
Brent got in the crowd for “Speak to Me” while Donovan and Aric from Hail the Sun were onstage in his place. Poor guy was kinda getting pummeled. This crowd was ROUGH but in the best way. They all just wanted a piece of him. I, however, just wanted him and Brandon to have a moment, but there were too many people.
I basically just continued to go hard and open pits all night. Brandon was right there with me, but not going quite as hard as me. Yeah, I honestly don’t know where all my energy comes from either. Bear was throwing water bottles at the crowd and Brandon caught one. Of course he drank like 90% of it and I’m like wtf save me some! So I finished it off after gracefully spilling a bit on myself when “Lady of Death” started and the crowd went nuts.
I wanted people onstage for “The Dreamer,” but I’m not even off my hands and knees when Bear grabs me by a belt loop and pushes me back at the crowd. This was pitiful. Not even a stagedive. I just kinda fell in Brandon’s general vicinity knowing he’d catch me.
Honestly this was the best show of the tour.
Turns out Veronica got mad at Devin before the show started and missed the whole thing. I found her at the end of the night mad at herself for it, which sucks. But I’ve been there. Very recently I’ve been there. So I completely understood where she was coming from.
The band didn’t have to load out because they were playing here again the next night. Hallelujah! So after they were done socializing with fans, we all sat at the bar until they kicked us out. A little alcohol brightened Veronica’s spirits tenfold. Apparently alcohol is bad for my emotions and good for hers.
This was the first time I ever really spent any time with (guitarist) Ian and he was super sweet. I really love all the guys in this band.
I introduced Veronica to Brandon, and he did this whole “I’ve never seen this girl before in my life” thing AND SO DID BRENT when fans were around. No wonder they’re best friends.
Speaking of fans around… So I always feel just a teeny bit awkward after shows because as much as I want to socialize with the guys, I know talking to fans is a big part of the job. So I sometimes end up just standing there. I guess at one point I was lurking behind Brent and the girl he was talking to points me out to him. He just wraps an arm around my shoulders and goes, “We’re homies.”
Road Warrior, homie, I’ll take it.
At some point while we’re all chilling at the bar, Brandon just peaces out. All of a sudden Brent’s kissing me on the cheek and running out the door, freaking out that the person he’s crashing with has more or less left him there. It happens.
Bear moved in with Alex Estrada from Silver Snakes in LA months prior, but their schedules have never matched up. Now that the band’s staying in LA for at least one night, this was his first night in his own bed at home in months. He’s been on tour for like…ever…with a bunch of other bands. I can’t even imagine that, but it must’ve been nice to finally go home.
Brent with Brandon and Bear going home, Blake and Ian were the only ones staying in a hotel together. I’m not sure where Chris went honestly. Or maybe someone told me and I forgot. It doesn’t matter. But he wasn’t there. These two SoCal locals Evan and Kaylynn told us about a sausage place we had to go to post-show. Blake and Ian were planning on coming with us, but decided at the last minute that they wanted to check into their hotel before it got too too late.
What is wrong with me?
So Evan, Kaylynn, Devin, Veronica, and I headed over by ourselves.
The sausage place was strange. It looked like a tiny little take-out only hole-in-the-wall kinda place when you first walk in, but behind a little hallway it opened up HUGE. There were super long tables and a bar and everything. DUDE.
It was also delicious, so there’s that. But all food post-show is delicious.
Veronica accidentally stole Biz’s sharpie while in New York, and she brought it with her to every other show on the tour.
So that was the message that got left on the table of the sausage place.
Los Angeles, Night 2—11/19/17
Last show of the tour LET’S DO THIS.
Aaron let me in early with the VIPs again. I had to include Greatest Merch Guy Ever in my photo with the band this time, but because he was in the picture rather than taking the picture, it’s mostly all ceiling. Apparently Polaroids are not easy to take.
I was ending this tour right alongside the two I started it with, Devin and Veronica.
I was with them in the front for both openers this time. I was tired after the previous night and I hadn’t seen I the Mighty from the front row so far this tour so I decided to maybe just stay there.
So this was the first time I saw all the openers!
I mean, kinda. Dez was still solo-ing it up.
Honestly his guitar solo+backing tracks performance made me interested in checking out Good Tiger. He was just that awesome even by himself. I was blown away.
Whereas he’s onstage thanking I the Mighty for letting him make a fool of himself. Awww.
Apparently Chris had been requesting a certain song all tour, and now that Dez was the only one left to convince and it was the last show, he obliged and dedicated the song to him. Chris sat sidestage to watch, drumming along to parts. It was super cute.
He came out after that song to thank Dez and tell us to buy his merch to help him get home.
Hail the Sun was WILD. I think they always are, but this was the first time I really got into them.
Brent came out to kiss Donovan during “Relax/Divide.” Such a gay tour, oh my god. I love it. So many straight boys kissing onstage.
Apparently Hail the Sun and I the Mighty have done 5 tours together in 4 years. Is that right? Did I get that backwards? Maybe 4 tours in 5 years. EITHER WAY that’s a lot.
Then it was time for the I the Mighty boys. Woooo! Last one!
But before they even hit the stage, a guy behind us passed tf out. Like… he was standing there, looked like he was about to be sick, then his head rolled into his chest and he more or less collapsed. Two people next to him (who might not have even known him, mind you) grabbed his arms as he was falling and dragged him away. That was… weird. Scary. I’m not sure which.
The photographer was back filming again.
“If that camera is not in my face for the Matches line, I will not be happy.”
Tilian Pearson of Dance Gavin Dance came out to sing “Silver Tongues.” He was honestly kinda awful, but no one cared. He wasn’t prepared and that was fine. I just assumed that maybe he forgot the words. It’s not his song, why should anyone care? We’re here for I the Mighty, not him. It was cool that the band invited him to sing with them.
But then there was the aftermath… He pitched a huge fit on the internet blaming I the Mighty for his sub-par performance. They invited him to be nice. It was just for fun. And he went and acted like an asshole for it.
I have about zero interest in Dance Gavin Dance now. So that’s cool.
The crowd was weirdly REALLY CALM. I thought about jumping onstage during “Psychomachia” (as I do) but decided to stay put. I like being in the front row sometimes.
Brent: “Last night’s crowd was pushing the crap outta each other. Lovingly. The bar’s been set and you guys need to step it up.”
Me: “Dammit, my people need me.”
Brent: “But not this next song.”
That next song was “Chaos in Motion.” For a crowd this calm? Yeah, no, not even gonna try with this one. But as soon as they started “Four Letter Words,” I was outta there. I spent pretty much the rest of the night starting ALL of the pits. I might as well have been testing a theory of how much energy in the crowd comes from me. All of it. The answer was all of it.
There were two young girls in the pit with me (who I later found out were only 17… holy shit I’m old) who were keeping up and going hard with me. They thanked me after the show for “breaking the stigma against girls moshing” and I thanked them for indulging me.
Anyway.
I told them to go onstage with me during “The Dreamer” and they were so down. SWEET.
Bear wasn’t here to stop me this time. After he made it home the night before, I guess he decided to stay there. No one blamed him for that.
I grabbed Brent’s hand when walked out into the crowd for “Speak to Me” this time, and he was not being mauled by crazy people.
Right before breaking into “Lady of Death,” Chris told us he wanted to be able to tell his grandchildren about it.
“Okay bye, I’m diving.”
The dive went great, clearly. The above pics are from Loni Lonzo, and the below is Samantha Bass.
Hail the Sun had the same idea as me for “The Dreamer,” so there we all were, two bands, me, and the girls from the pit. Veronica joined too and stagedove, which went much better than her last attempt in San Francisco. It was a party onstage. Love it.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Brent and Donovan kissed onstage again. I love those guys.
After the show ended, unlike the night before, security tried to kick all of us out immediately. Veronica, Devin, Loni, and I all stood in the bar and told them that any member of the band would vouch for us to stay. Ian came out and told him:
“They’re all close friends of the band. They help us load out.”
Guess we’re loading out tonight! It was work. That shit was heavy.
There were a bunch of flags left over because apparently they weren’t selling super well (or as well as say… small size t-shirts, which were more or less all gone before LA. Whoops) so Aaron let us take some as thank yous.
And with that, the tour was over. I said bye to the boys and hopped on a bus back to San Francisco.
Well this was a bit of a weird tour. The Northeast is generally my favorite, and part of me honestly regretted even going to those shows. It’s all fine in the end of course, but LA was the best by far regardless. Maybe traveling across the country for the same show over and over is nuts. But I love my friends and they love me even when I don’t deserve it and WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS HAVE TO DO WITH I THE MIGHTY okay.
I’ll never stop traveling for I the Mighty. I guess that’s the point. I love them. They’re the first band I ever really followed on tour and I don’t foresee that ending any time soon.
Featured image credit: Kayla Surico
