Xxie's Blog

Why Not Socratic is a project my friend Nicole and I have started to help out the band and give them a gift at the start of their next tour.
We are really excited about it and we are trying to make it as big as possible! All the details can be found on the myspace page, myspace. com/whynotsocratic.
This project is a secret and we'd like to keep it a surprise for them so the myspace page is the ONLY place where all the details can be found. So please, add the page and check it out.


-Kristina and Nicole
www. myspace. com/whynotsocratic

DAY 1: January 16th, The Chance, Poughkeepsie, NY
I left Rochester around 7am, after picking up Katelyn and some of her friends in Highland Lake we all got to the Chance around 2pm. The wait outside leading up to the show was surprisingly uneventful. It was freezing, as expected. Not long after we got there Alex Suarez and some girls from line were going to get coffee, he invited us to go with but we diclined the offer, as well as his offer to bring us back something. Not much else happened until we went into the show. Katelyn and I got some videos of Mason, Blake and a couple others saying hello to Natalie, who is all the way over in London.
Once it was time for doors they split everyone into two lines, those with tickets and those with will-call. Basically Katelyn and I were fucked over. She and I had will call tickets and her two friends had their tickets already. People with will-call were let in after everyone else, which meant longer outside in the cold and shitty spots. Luckily, Jeanette was able to save spots for Kately and I, so we ended up second row to the left.
Doug was interesting. I did not care for him.
The Cab was Amazing! I heard so much about them, a lot of which was bad, but I was absolutely blown away. I enjoyed there set so much. They are a group of extremely talented musicians and their music is just truly amazing.
We The Kings were great. I really like them but I’ve never really gotten into them so much that I have to see them. Really I just wanted their set to be over so I could see Metro Station.
Metro Station. Was. So. Fucking. Amazing.
I was right in front near Trace for the whole set…the set was unbelievable. So good. Despite Trace being sick and in the ER that day he still sounded great and they all put on a great performance.
After Metro Station I left the crowd because I wanted to see Trace. I went back to the merch room and just kind of waited around. I finally got to meet Mason ( he didnt come out after the Buffalo show for the MCS tour so this was the first time I met him) and he was really nice, I got a picture with him. After that I just sat around waiting. I didn’t really watch Cobra’s set because I knew I’d be able to in Troy and Buffalo. Unfortunately, Trace never came out. I was really dispointed but I understood that he was sick and needed to rest.
After the show was over I met up with Katelyn again. We went outside and got pictures with everyone in Cobra (except the elusive Nate) and got a couple more videos for Natalie. After taking pictures we hightailed it back to the car because we were freezing and it was getting late.

DAY 2: January 17th, Revolution Hall, Troy, NY
I left Katelyn’s house in Highland Lake around 9am to drive to Oneonta to pick up Sam and Jon. After getting intensely lost I eventually got there and we left about an hour or so later. We got a little more lost on the way to Troy, by the time we made it there it was about 5 o’clock; the line was huge so we decided to spend the hour until doors at the restaurant next door. We got done eating and left the restaurant after the line was gone. When we got inside the place was packed. We should in the back for The Cab and We The Kings. Both played great sets. Seeing the Cab a second time I defintiely started to fall in love with them. After We The Kings we started to make our way into the crowd for Metro Station.
Metro Station played an amazing set, yet again. I stayed in the crowd for maybe a song and a half before I decided I’d had enough. I watched the rest of their set from the back. I had a decent view and was definitely able to take everything in a little better not having to worry about pushing and shoving. Sam emerged from the sea of people after Metro. We headed to the merch to see who was out there and try to find Trace since I didn’t get to see him the night before. I got pictures with Alex Marshall from the Cab, Mason, Anthonu and Blake.
As Cobra Starship set carried on I watched from the doorway between the main room and the front merch room, patiently waiting to see Trace. As the night was starting to come to an end I still hadn’t seen him and began to think I wouldn’t. But finally, he did come out, I let Sam now I was going over to talk to him and to pay attention so when I was ready she could come take a picture. I waited for what seemed like forever. He had so many little girls surrounding him, asking the most ridiculous questions and telling him the most inane stories. After waiting for what felt like forever and being pushed out of the way by silly fangirls, I got my chance to say hi and take a picture. I would have liked to talk to him more but the other girls there were so aggrivating and kept pushing me out of the way so they could drool all over him that I eventaully gave up and walked away.
Sam and I watched the rest of Cobra from the doorway. Once the show was over we found Jon and stuck around to meet everyone from Cobra. While we were waiting we saw Trace standing alone by the Metro merch, Sam and I went over and she got a second picture with him and I got another hug. I wanted to cry so many times throughout the night because I was just so excited to see him. But I held it together. Eventually we got pictures with everyone from Cobra Starship and we left.
The drive back to Oneonta sucked. We got lost multiple times and at one point we were on I-90 headed for NYC because we didn’t realize we’d missed our exit. Once we made it back to Oneonta we went to Denny’s for some food. Bad idea. We all stayed in Sam’s dorm and at some point I got up and threw up all my food (just like I did the two previous time I ate at Dennys). I left Oneonta around 8am in order to get back to Rochester by noon for work at Home Depot. I made it with 45 minutes to spare.

DAY 3: January 24th, Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY
Hands down best show of the tour.
I met up with Katelyn and Annie in Buffalo around 1:30 and got in line. Worst wait ever. It was freezing and everything was wet. We ended up taking turns waiting in line and going to Starbucks and Jims Steakout to warm up and escape from the cold. At one point when Annie and I were walking to my car we saw Vicky-T standing on the corner of Mohawk and Ellicot looking around and at a mapquest print out, I showed her how to get to Washington but I think she was still pretty confused. She worried me a little.
The wait in line was very uneventful. Rianna and Jensen met us there around 4:30/5 and doors opened a little late the end.
Doors opened and we headed inside. Annie and I were on willcall under my name and the club was checking ID’s (the first time I have ever experienced that); Annie didn’t have her ID on her and the guy wasn’t gonna let her in but I told him to ask Jeremy and Jeremy told him to just let us in. Love Jeremy. We got in and ran to the stage. We were all close, second row, and in this venue that’s definitely better than “baricade” because the stage is so low.
The Cab played a very interesting set. Alex D was sick and could barely sing, so they brought a couple fans onstage to help with the singing. They played a coupld of their own songs, they played a Goo Goo Dolls song, “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” by Panic at the Disco, the Aladdin Song, and a couple others. It was great! So much fun.
We The Kings was great, I really enjoyed their set.
METRO WAS AMAZING.
I was second row. Right near Trace. Great view. The sounded amazing.
The pushing at this point was starting to get out of control and the kids against the stage were freaking out and couldn’t handle it. They kept telling Mason to tell everyone to step back, which he did a few times even though we all know it never works, but eventually he just said that no one is gonna listen to him and besides we were all there for a show that’s what happens at a show. Amazing. I love him. Because even though, yes, it was painful against the stage (I ended up in the position about 3/4 of the way through Metro’s set after the girl in front of me was pulled out), it’s still how a show is and nothing can be done about it.
After Metro Station finished their last song I immediately decided I didn’t want to stay in for Cobra, I climbed up on stage and headed out.
I met up with Jensen and Rianna by the merch and we just all hung out for the rest of the show.
We were talking to Alex M and Alex D from the Cab and were telling them where we could get food when finally I was like WE’LL JUST TAKE YOU! So the five of us headed out to Jims. We walked. I felt so bad because they’re from Vegas and couldn’t handle the cold (plus Alex D was already sick). While in Jims a bum came in trying to sell a bag of sex toys that Alex Marshall was going to buy before the Jims employees kicked him out. Marshall was so excited and after we left Jims he was still looking for that bum who supposedly brought all those sex toys back from California. We found a cab at the corner of Chippewa and Franklin and we all piled in. Marshall in the front, Alex D Ri Jensen and Me in the back with Jensen on my lap. We got back to the club, Alex Marshall paid the cab driver and we headed back in.
I got a picture with Trace. And he completely made my life because he remembered me from the week before. I told Mason and Blake that Brendan Valencia said hello. Blake got really excited and was like “Do you talk to him frequently!?” Haha oh Blake. We ended up hanging out with Blake for half hour or so; he kept walking away and coming back to our corner. He’s so adorable and basically the most honest guy ever.
After the show we found Katelyn and Annie, we bought some merch, I got another picture with Trace and a million hugs. I seriously love those Metro Station boys so much. I think it is safe to say that they are up there with tonight the riot and valencia as far as my favorite people go.
After a little while Katelyn, Annie and I went outside to get pictures with Cobra. I told Nate and Gabe that Brendan says hi and they both seemed happy about that and told me to tell him they said hi back. All my pictures with them came out shitty but whatever.
After we left the club we went to Jims Steakout to get something to drink, after that we headed back home to Rochester. I got home around 2am and had just a few hours to sleep until work.

So where to start, so much happened. Ridiculous.

I got to RIT around 8 o'clock Thursday night, went to get food with Annie and then went back to her dorm to hang out and stay the night.

Friday morning I was out in line at 10 am and it was ridiculous how cold it was. Around 11 I decided to go get food cus no one was there yet and it was too cold. I got back around noon and three other girls got there around then too. An hour or so later two other girls got in line. No one else got there until maybe 4pm. Jensen and Rianna joined me in line around 4 just before everyone starting showing up. I basically just sat bundled in my blankets until doors. I left a couple times to go with Annie around campus and use the bathroom in her dorm. Oh yeah, and I won two free tickets through WBER, so I gave those to Jensen and Jenelle so they could go.

The show was unreal. Jensen, Jenelle, Rianna and I were on baricade. The crowd was out of control.

mewithoutyou were better than I remember from the last time I saw them. Oddly enough I know find Aaron somewhat attractive. And I found mewithoutyou to be entertaining and they seem like they'd be interesting people to talk to. I'd definitely go see them again.

Thrice was horrible. Boring and just horrible and the crowd got so much worse during their set. Jenelle ended up being pulled out of the crowd by security cus she got pushed off baricade and was getting squished. There was a group of guys behind us that we complete assholes and two of them each had a hand on the baricade on both sides of me and I couldn't move. Rianna and I grabbed the one guys hand and tried to pull it off. Then he flipped out and screamed at me and said he was going to punch me in my face. So I flipped a shit and yelled and the short little security asshole said if we keep it up we are both getting kicked out. And I'm just like oh thanks security for allowing this drunk asshole to threatened a girl. One of the friends of those assholes was this really skinny girl who was basically passed out because of the heat and how bad everyone was getting pushed. She couldn't even stand up, her friends were holding her up. Security kept coming over and trying to pull her out but she refused and said she was fine. Then as soon as security walked away her friends would tell her they dont think she is ok and ask her how she felt.

At one point during Brand New's set (which overall was amazing, but I'll get to that) a kid got really hurt and they had to stop the show to get him out. Everytihng stopped and one of the guys in Brand New called for the house lights to be turned on. Jesse and Aaron (mewithoutyou) were sitting on the left side of the stage watching and all the other bands came out and some of the crew. Jeremy was on the floor on the other side of the baricade in front of me and we just waved to each other, it was kinda cute cus he's kinda adorable. The kid was taken out on a stretcher and everyone started to leave the stage and Jesse went back to his mic. He asked if the kid was ok, and what his name was and where his friends were. He said we all are friends here and he hopes his friend Andrew is ok and we all shared something just then. Everyone around me was so rude though. A couple girls were saying how they hope the set was cut short because they had to stop. One girl yelled "play piano man" and Jesse said "i really don't care what you want to hear right now".

For the rest of the show everyone calmed down a bit because of what happened. I was able to get in a little more comfortable position and confirm that I still had my wallet, phone and camer and that they were all in one piece and functioning.

Brand New was amazing. I wish they had played "Soco Amaretto Lime" but they did play one song from Your Favorite Weapon and a few from Deja Entendu, as well as a cover. Everything else they played was from The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Despite what a lot of other people have said, I think the entire set was amazing. Even though the songs are depressing and not fun and danceable, they are still amazing songs and mean a lot more than just some fun song would mean. The Devil and God really shows how much Brand New has progressed as a band and how much talent they have.

Regrettably I did not get to meet anyone. I would have loved to meet Jesse Lacey. He is one of three musicians (the other two being Frank Iero from My Chemical Romance and Ace Enders) who really mean a lot to me and have really had an impact on me.

Katelyn and I got to the Town Ballroom in Buffalo somewhere around 2pm. The line wasn't long at all, there was maybe 8 or 9 people in front of us. After waiting about an hour Beth, MCS's merchie, asked if any of us would help her move boxes, and if we did we'd get a free t-shirt. So Katelyn, Christy, and a couple others went to help move boxes from one big truck to another. We had a line going and we'd just pass them along. The boxes were pretty heavy and full of merch. Katelyn and I had the hardest jobs because she was in the smaller truck stacking the boxes and I was first in the larger truck taking the boxes from Beth and walking to Amelia and handing them off. Also at one point I cut or scraped my hand and once I got off the truck I realized I was actively bleeding a litte; but it wasn't bad I wiped it off and forgot about it. Waiting in line all day definitely sucked. It was so cold and I was already exhausted from the shows to two previous nights, and working before leaving for Buffalo. But we managed to get through it and surprisingly it didn't seem so long.

Right before doors opened we were told camera's were not allowed. So we had to walk back two block to Ellicot St to put Katelyn's camera away. I decided fuck that I want pictures with Metro Station and snuck mine in anyway. By the time we got back they'd already started letting people in so we ran up to the front of the line and just went it and no one said anything. So then we got into the lobby and found the people we'd been talking to in line and stood with them at the door. Katelyn and I ended up on baricade and right after we got in Annie and Jenelle got there and pushed their way to the front.

Metro Station was so good. I wish they could've played longer though. No one else but me, Annie, Kiernan and a few others were singing along. And I'm pretty sure I was the only one on baricade singing and Trace definitely looked over at me a couple times, which I know I got a little fangirl over but I dont care, I controlled myself. Their set was amazing though, so much fun.

Anberlin played second and I switched spots with Jenelle and let her get on baricade because she loves Anberlin. Anberlin were ok, but I wasn't feeling them at all. After their set Annie and I decided we'd had enough and we left the crowd. After we left the crowd we went back to the lobby and say with Mamarazzi for a little while. She is crazy! But yeah we love her. Blake came by and made Annie's life. Mamarazzi talked to him for a little while and every so often Annie or I would say something, but yeah. He was really cool and Annie and I got a picture with him. Since we're weren't supposed to have cameras and I snuck mine in a security guard came over and yelled at me right after Blake walked away. I was just like whatever and I told him I just wanted pictures with people and I didn't take any of the show and he told me if he saw the camera again I had to leave.

Annie and I spent all of Mae's set in the lobby and watched them on the screen. Then when Motion City started we went back in and watched from one of the little balcony things. We actually had a really good view and they weren't that far away because the club is small. About halfway through the set we went back to the lobby to get water. It's a good thing we did because Trace was out there at the merch table. I'd been waiting for him all night and finally he was there and I pussied out and didn't go talk to him.

Finally after the show when he came back again I went and talked to him and it was fine, I functioned and talked and didn't make a complete fool of myself. I got a picture with him and told him how security had already yelled at me. He told me how he got yelled at for walking in the wrong door earlier..and we concluded that the security guard who yelled at him is the same security guard who yelled at me. Then he told me in January they are touring with Cobra Starship (which I think I knew but somehow forgot) cus I kind of freaked and was like uh okay that just made my life now I must go tell Annie. Then I said bye and gave him a hug and walked away to find Annie. After finding Katelyn and Jenelle we got pictures with Matt from MCS and we talked to Blake again and I told him he would definitely see me at multiple dates for the Cobra tour. Jenelle wanted a picture with Trace so we went back over to him which was great because more interaction with him is always a good thing. After getting pictures with everyone (I was kind of bummed I didn't get a picture with Mason but whatever) we went out to where the buses were parked to get pictures with Justin. But after we waiting a few minutes we decided just to leave and we walked back to the car and Annie's dad picked her and Jenelle up there.

So yeah I love Metro Station...and Trace more specifically. He's definitely one of my new favorite people. I can't wait until January when they tour with Cobra Starship. That tour will be amazing. I need to go work on getting a car now so I can attend as many dates

Was amazing.

Jensen and I got to Club Infinity around 10:30 am to wait in line, there were maybe four people in front of us. After waiting a little while we went to Bill Gray's to get food and then Walmart. Lenny, Annie, Sam, and Rianna got to the club a few hours later, around 1 maybe....I really don't remember. It was so cold out but we had a lot of fun being obnoxious and not waiting in line. Lenny, Jensen, Ri, Annie and I all went to Party City for awhile to buy some stuff, we were pretty loud and one of the cuties who worked there ended up escorting us up to the checkout. After we got back to the club we got some pizza and just waited until doors. We were right up front and bitches started scotting up trying to cut in line and we all went into defense mode, code word Ocelot.  Finally doors opened and I zoomed right in and ended up second in line when to give my ticket. After getting in I ran right up front to the baricade and kept getting glares from one other girl, I spread eagle as far as I could to save spots for everyone else. We were all right up front for the entire show and it was amazing.

Cobra Starship was first. Their set wasn't very long but it was fantastic. So much fun. We all did the dance for Guilty Pleasure. I wish their set could have been longer, but they said they'd be touring again in January.

Sherwood played next. I don't really know their music but they were good, very entertaining.

The Rocket Summer played third. Eh, they were good.

Armor for Sleep were really good. I got an amazing picture of Ben.
I'm really excited to be seeing them again in December with Valencia in Philly. I only knew a couple songs that they played, I wish I had known more. But oh well, next time.

The Academy Is was absolutely amazing. They played 16 songs then came back out for an encore of two songs. William and I definitely made eye contact a couple times and at one point he was over by us and I had my hand out and he grabbed it. The last song they played was Almost Here and towards the end of it William jumped off stage and came down to the baricade and when he came over to our side he was right in front of me and I was holding his hand and had my other arm around him while everyone else was grabbing for him. It was so amazing. Almost Here is probably my favorite song by TAI, that and Down and Out, so it was just so amazing.

By the end of the show I ended up with a Armor set list and pick, and a TAI pick. Fantastic. After the show ended we went up to the merch and got pictures with Ben and Bryce and Vicky-T and Ryland. We were looking for Gabe but we never found him. TAI were doing a meet and greet on the floor where the stage was and no one was allowed in unless they had a wrist band. So we just lurked around it and stared everyone down. Sisky ended up coming over to us and we called his name a few times. He told us about how Mike gave him his black eye and I got a picture with him. Then we went around to the other side to lurk William and eventually right before he had to leave he came over to us and we didn't get pictures but we got to talk to him for a minute. He was so nice and amazing and I love him and I totally forgive him for not coming back over to us at Warped Tour '06 like he promised. And he totally called out Lenny. After everyone left inside we went out to the car and Mike Carden was out there so we got pictures with him. He was quite obviously stoned and had a couple groupies waiting for him off to the side. But it was amusing. Right before getting into Jensen's car we saw Vicky-T so we went over and Lenny got a picture. She's so nice and adorable. And her puppy didn't like me when I tried to pet him before the show. 

At one point earlier, when we were talking to Sisky, we heard him say to someone that bus call was at 1am and then they were going to Walmart. So after we left the club at 12:30 we went to Walmart to try and casually run into them. We waited until 2am with no luck. We are kind of pathetic. And then we left for home. Jensen ended up getting on I-90 west instead of east so we had to get off and turn around. We ended up getting back to Rochester around 3:30 and after dropping Annie off at RIT and Rianna of in Greece I got home around 4am. But of course I didn't end up going to sleep until almost 5. Woo.

Fucking Amazing Night.

The Secret Handshake show at Funk N Waffles tonight was amazing. We had so much fun. All the bands were great (well, except for one mediocre Rochester local). All the people were great. And the waffles were great. I really enjoyed the venue. It was a small cafe with what can barely be considered a stage as it is only a couple inches higher than the rest of the floor. It is extrememly intimate and made the show very different than most played even in the smallest of clubs.

The local band was Urgency, from Rochester, who I have seen numerous times despite strongly disliking. Not much to say about them, they played and then we all started paying attention.

Farewell played second. They were great. I really like them a lot. They were very catchy and enerjetic.

Powerspace played next. I was expecting to completely dislike them, since the first time I saw them was in July with Envy on the Coast and at that time I did not like them at all. But much to my surprise I really enjoyed their set. It was extrememly fun and enerjetic. Alec, the lead singer, was very entertaining. At one point he left the stage and no one knew where he went, then after a couple minutes all of a sudden he was behind me dancing all up on me. I tapped Jensen's shoulder to get her attention and then Annie, Ri and Lenny quickly realized he was there. Alec moved in closer to everyone and danced with us for a good minute or so before getting back up on "stage".

Then, of course, The Secret Handshake played, and it was amazing. Luis' interaction with the crowd makes the show so much more enjoyable. He doesn't just talk at the crowd, but he talks to the crowd and individual members within it. The songs sounded great. Overall GREAT set. At one point he said he recognized some faces; he pointed to Lenny and said "Lenneth" and then pointed to Jensen and said he remembered her and that at the last show she was wearing a blue t-shirt. Only a little creepy.

After the show we hung out for about 45 minutes. We talked to Luis for a few minutes about song remixes and how he looks like Max Bemis and how his strange memory allows him to remember useless things such as what color shirt Jensen was wearing in March. We photosessioned with Marshall from Farewell. Lenny told him my name is Goat Cheese and about 20 minutes later when I said goodbye to him and that we would see him Tuesday and called me "goat cheese" and I pretended to be really upset and like I was about to cry; he said "aww she's so cute" and he blew me a kiss. Needless to say it was adorable. We also talked to TSH's drummer, Greg, and Buddy from Farewell. As well as a couple guys from Powerspace.

Thom, from Museums and They Sleep They Dream, was there and he saw that I was wearing a TSTD shirt and called me out. He made a big deal about it and asked if I was going to the show at Waterstreet on Tuesday. I told him no because since Valencia cancelled I decided to go to the show at the Icon instead since they are closing and whatnot. Then when I was getting ready to leave and I was saying goodbye to Marshall, Thom said something about how I was wearing his old band's shirt. It was pretty cool, he seems like a nice guy.

Basically, Jensen and I cannot wait to see everyone again on Tuesday. It is going to be amazing. JIMS STEAKOUT POST-SHOW PARTAY!

PS-Natalie was there and we had so much fun and I wish she was going on Tuesday. But I will see her October 6th and it will be great fun.

Some pictures from the show:

September 23rd-The Secret Handshake/Farewell/Powerspace @ funk n waffles in syracuse, ny
September 24th-Cartel/Holiday Parade @ waterstreet music hall
September 25th-The Secret Handshake/Cute Is What We Aim For @ the icon (final show at the icon!)
October 6th-Jacks Mannequin in Mansfield, PA
October 24th- Holiday Parade @ watesrstreet music hall
October 27th-The Misfits at Startland Ballroom in New Jersey ???
November 9th- Ace Enders @ waterstreet music hall
November 10th-The Academy Is/Armor For Sleep/Sherwood/The Rocket Summer/Cobra Starship @ evolution in buffalo
November 15th- Bright Eyes at The Main Street Armory
November 16th-Mayday Parade/Madina Lake/We The Kings/Powerspace/Mandy K @ xtreme wheelz in buffalo ny
November 17th-Motion City Soundtrack/Mae/Anberlin/Metro Station in buffalo ny
December 14th-BRAND NEW @ RIT
December 17th-Farewell @ The Club at Waterstreet
December 27th-Valencia/Armor For Sleep/Four Year Strong @ The Troc in Philadelphia, PA
December 28th- Cute Is What We Aim For holiday show

I am so fucking excited! Check out these dates

July 6th-Valencia/Self Against City in Cleveland, Ohio
July 7th-Valencia/SAC in Dayton, Ohio
July 8th-Valencia/SAC in Pittsburgh, PA
July 9th-Valencia/SAC in Hartford, CT
July 10th-Valencia/SAC in Allston, MA

I'm going with Lenny and a couple of his friends!
SO excited.