1. Linkin Park – “Papercut”
2. Disturbed – “Awaken”

I’ve been meaning to make a great gym mix ever since I realized that Three Days Grace’s “Animal I Have Become” would be a great jogging song. “Riot” is also a great 3DG song for the gym, as are “There’s Going To Be A War!” and “Bullet With A Name” by Nonpoint.

Sadly though, American Hi Fi is bad for the treadmill – I start to run too fast to try to keep up with the beat!

• Flaw – My Letter
• Dream Theater – Anna Lee
• Butch Walker – Joan
• Life of Agony – Lost At 22
• Tool – No Quarter (Led Zeppelin cover)
• Breaking Benjamin – Next To Nothing
• Candlebox – Change
• Keith Caputo – Selfish
• Dream Theater – You Not Me
• Duncan Sheik – Reasons For Living
• Edwin McCain – Romeo And Juliet
• Full Devil Jacket – Where Did You Go
• Jesse Malin – Silver Manhattan
• Life of Agony – Words And Music
• Nixons – Sister
• Oleander – How Could I?
• Seven Mary Three – Lucky
• Shinedown – Shed Some Light
• Sugarcult – Pretty Girl (The Way)
• Trapt – Lost In A Portrait
• Velvet Revolver – Loving The Alien
• Waltham – Cheryl
• Alice In Chains – Brother
• American Hi-Fi – The Geeks Get The Girls

Some of these songs, I’m sure, you’ve heard of. Hopefully you’ll check out some of the ones that you haven’t heard of, and find a new band that you enjoy.

Is this a complete list? Obviously not. This is just what songs I felt were great that were on my two MP3 players (iPod and doPi). I’m sure there’s a zillion other songs out there that could make it onto this list, but those are my top 24. What’re yours?

If anyone needs a copy of the new record, I still have some promos to give out.

Anyway…a band called Hit The Lights opened the show. They were pretty good too. Cartel followed and was awesome. I’ve been looking forward to seeing them for awhile now. Trish was 100% right a year ago when she said she found a band I’d love. I only wish I had taken her advice and checked out their CD a year ago rather than four months ago. They played their cover of Oasis’ “Wonderwall” and tracks from their CD. “Minstrel’s Prayer” was awesome. They brought out Sirus from NFG and some other guy (who I assume was from Early November) to play drums in addition to their drummer. Super-loud and super-awesome.

After Cartel we headed to the merch table where there was a sign that said “Meet the Artist” and it had the Cartel CD and the Hit the Lights CD on it. It was misleading, however, because only Hit The Lights was there. You could buy the autographed Cartel CD though…like that’s the important part of meeting a band, the signature. It’s not the thrill of meeting one of your favorite musicians or anything. Stupid people. We took awkward pictures* of Trish with the guys from Hit The Lights.

The Early November was the next band up. I only remember knowing one of their songs, so Trish and I hung out in the bathroom. No lie. If you’ve ever seen the bathroom at Avalon, you know why. If not…it’s more of a lounge with stalls than a typical bathroom. Couches, funky lighting, a bar (complete with gay male bartender) and the best part: air conditioning. All those sweaty moshers were making the entire club humid, and the bathroom was the only place to escape the heat.

As soon as the Early November finished, we headed back towards the stage. Found a place we thought was good. That turned out to be a terrible mistake as soon as NFG started, as it was the passageway most crowsurfers took to dive into the crowd. We relocated and enjoyed the rest of the show. I forgot how much I loved New Found Glory. They were one of my favorite bands throughout high school and freshmen year of college. Then they just dropped off my radar until we bought tickets and I picked up their latest cd (which is AWESOME, by the way).

They played a mix of old stuff and new stuff that was perfectly balanced. Most of my favorites were in there: “Boy Crazy”, “Coming Home” (the title track of their new album), and the cover of the song from the Karate Kid movies. Overall, as great a show as I remember them putting on 6 years ago. Even better: it was being filmed for another DVD. I have their first one – quality stuff.

They said they’ll be back in January at Avalon with “another popular band”. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for tickets.

* Trish’s awkward pictures are notorious…pictures of her with musicians, comedians, etc. making the sign for “awkward” in American Sign Language

Needless to say, I added all those to my mp3 player this morning and immediately listened to the new Evanescence. I like it…how can you not with that voice?! Some songs I barely paid attention to, but I’m sure it will grow on me. I listened to “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” at least four times. Not the whole album…just that song. That’s how I am. I’m going to listen to it until I’m sick of it.

Though the ride there took 2 hours, in traffic down 128 South, it was worth it. 

The show started with a band called “Isis” (yes, as in the Greek Goddess of Fertility), which were less than desirable.  The band was decent, but the vocals were strange, and few.  Each song had two maybe three lines of lyrics, and that was it.  Music was decent though.  Not a bad band, definitely better than opening acts for Tool in the past.

After a short half an hour stage change, Tool came out onto their amazing stage set up, which was covered all in white reflective material.  The usual stage set up, a little mini-stage on the stage next to the drum riser, for Maynard (I’m convinced it’s because he’s self conscience about his shortness).

They went right into it, rocking song after song after song for a full two hours.  They continued into the second hour, with an amazing laser show, out over the crowd, full of smoke and lazers, and amazingness.  Every song more amazing than the last.

I couldn’t believe the amazingness of Tool.  Not only are they amazing on CD, but their live show is something you should definitely not miss if you’re a fan of great music.

 After the show, leaving the parking lot was a nightmare.  We got in the car at 11:06PM.  It took 2 hours and 18 minutes to get the 1/4 mile out of the parking lot.  We spent an entire hour (while Christine slept) without moving a single inch.  We finally got out of the parking lot at 1:24AM and drove in the drones of cars down to the highway, where we got on 140 to 128 North.

The ride up 128 took about an hour and a half.  We got into the house at 2:55AM.  A long, long day. But absolutely worth it.  Another year in the books, another excellent birthday. 

After a long day today, at a family reunion type deal, I’m absolutely ready for a nap.  Good thing SVU is on, to keep me awake.