I finally got to go see theSTART play at the Fireside Bowl and it was seriously one kickass show! On the venue's website (can I even call that a venue? it was some ghetto, run-down bowling alley...) the band was listed first to play at 7, so I got there at about 6:30. Another band, 0-2-9, was doing there soundcheck when I got there and I immediately started to look for anyone from the band. First, I see Jeff, but I'm too shy to approach him at first. It's seriously weird to see a band that you're really into just walking around like normal people, without security guards right by their side or that sort of thing.

Next, in walks Aimee and she heads right to the bathroom. I don't go up to her until after she comes out to ask if she'd take a picture with me. She agrees, but asks if she can wake herself up in the tour van first. I nod and she walks off outside.

After about a half hour, she comes back in and begins to set up the merchandise. Natalie comes in a little later, with her friends so we hang out. We beginning looking at the stuff they have to offer and Aimee starts talking to us, telling us how most of the merchandise is already sold and they're just about halfway through the tour. She also tells me she's ready for the picture with me whenever I'm ready and we also talk about the fan tribute album that was being recorded at the time. Aimee has nothing but nice things to say about the people that contributed and that it's cute to here a boy singing "I spilled myself all over you, like syrup." Indeed!

After what seems like ages, the two sets ends and we rush to the speakers, right by the stage so we can be right up front. When the two other bands were playing, the crowd was standing about a mile away, so we 'broke the cycle,' I guess. Everyone followed us right behind, so it actually made the crowd seem a little bigger.

After Jeff, Jamie and Brian are done testing out their instruments, Aimee enters and introduces herself and all that crap. They played an absolutely MIND-BLOWING set. (When I say mind-blowing, I could be literally speaking because we were so close and the speakers were so loud that they did blow our mind. :D) The set was incredible. Aimee had an infectious amount of energy and she sings with so much emotion live. Jamie and Jeff have a ton of energy, jumping back and forth and knocking into each other while they play. The songs they played were:

The 1234
Los Angelos
Nemesis
Gorgeous
Hi Flyer
Death Via Satellite
Her Song
Shakedown!

Right after "Gorgeous" was played, Aimee asked if there were any songs that we wanted them to play. Someone said, "Play a cover!" and Aimee responded with "We don't know any." Someone then replied, "Breed?" which was a Nirvana song that the band used to play when they were opening for Incubus and stuff. I guess Brian didn't know the song because Aimee then said, "Well, I guess HE doesn't know any covers," and pointed in Brian's direction.

At this point, I scream "HANG ON ME!" which is one of my favorite songs, EVER. Jeff immediately jumps on it, chanting, "Yeah, let's do 'Hang On Me'!" Brian now says, "Which one is that?" which disappoints me, since I know he doesn't know the song by name. Someone else screams out "Hi Flyer," which the band does play since it's a new song that Brian knows. Oh well, maybe next time. I'm glad they did do "Hi Flyer" because it happened to be my favorite song of the night.

The concert was totally amazing and I'm so happy I went. You can say we saw you at theSTART and I'll definitely be back next time they roll into town.