Any Shinedown fans?

[chell]

Are there any Shinedown fans here? Sorry this is so long but I wanted to tell you about my first concert experience. If you are a fan and aren't sure about seeing them live you really should go see them.

I've been a fan since the first time I heard them. Just because I like a band doesn't mean that I will go see them in concert. There are so many little things they can say or do live that will leave me not liking them. I know, I'm just too picky. Earlier this year Shinedown was on the Second Cup Cafe on the CBS Early Show. I don't know how I caught it because I'm not usually up early enough on the weekends to catch it. But I do like to see who is on there if I am up early enough. They were singing "Second Chance" since it was just then coming out as their new single. Let me tell you I was VERY impressed. Brent's is one awesome singer! That voice is amazing.

Over the summer I found out they were coming to Charlotte and I had to buy tickets as soon as they went on sell. We ended up with the 6th row which was directly behind the pit. This was to be the first row of seats. When we got there the seats were blocked off. When we got up to our seats they told us if there were any seats available they would give us our money back and those available seats or we could go up into the pit. Since there were 3 opening bands and we weren't interested in any of them we didn't arrive until the 3rd band was on stage. This means the pit was already full. This isn't good for a 5' 1" woman. Luckily some people felt sorry for me and let us move forward. And part of that was to avoid and obnoxious drunk guy.

On to the show. These guys are AWESOME!!! This has to be the best concert I've ever been to. There were some weird things here and there from the opening bands since it was the last night of the tour but I understand how that is. That didn't bother me and didn't upset me. They didn't get to play as long as they wanted because of a stupid curfew in Charlotte. That SUCKS! But they ROCKED!!!

Brent kept thanking the fans for coming. He didn't say it like he was just going through the motions. You could tell that he really meant what he was saying. That right there earned them all some major respect from me & my husband!

Even though I know nothing about music and what this or that is called I know what I like when I hear it. There are certain drum pieces of theirs that I just LOVE to listen to. Unfortunately the drum setup was more on the right side of the stage and we were to the left of the stage. But once we got in place I could stand on my tip toes for a while and watch Barry play. He is AWESOME and kicks butt on the drums. I could sit and watch him play for hours on end.

After the show we decided to go wait out by the bus since there were some other people out there. We didn't know if they would come out or not. If they did come out we didn't know what to expect. First Zach came out and then Eric. I was excited to meet both of them but as you can tell already my favorites are Brent & Barry.

Barry finally came out. He took a lot longer with each fan so we had to wait longer for him to work his way to us. As he was working his way through the line their drivers arrived and their security guy told them they needed to hurry up because they had to get going soon. Well no one got in a hurry at this point. I was glad. But I started to worry too. I was afraid they would tell them they HAD to go and I wouldn't get to talk to Barry.

Barry finally worked his way to us and I told him how awesome I thought he was and how I had to stand on my tip toes to watch him. He told me they are the shortest band in rock. I thought he was just trying to make me feel better for being so short. NO, he is serious. They really aren't that tall. I don't mind!!! They don't make me feel super short. Anyway, after I told him about how I like to hear certain pieces of him playing in the songs and complimented him he asked me if he could give me a hug. How freaking awesome is THAT??? I was on cloud 9 after that.

Since they were being pushed to go and Brent hadn't come out yet (and my bladder was about to pop since we had been out there for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours at this point) I told my husband we should just go ahead and go. He asked me if we could wait just 2 more minutes just in case. I told him Brent just wasn't going to come out. I figured since he was the singer he just wouldn't. You know how some singers are "'better than going out to meet the fans." By this point my husband was all excited and hyped up. Well all of a sudden here comes Brent. Oh my gosh!!! He is so FREAKING ADORABLE!!! On stage he is all dark but when he came out he wasn't. I told my husband that I just wanted to fold him up, put him in my pocket and bring him home with us. He's not very tall at all. He was adorkable!

We finally got to meet him. My husband was SO excited. He was thrilled. First of all I took a picture of the two of them together. They talked a little bit then it was my turn. Brent turned to me and went to shake my hand and was a perfect gentlemen. OMG! I didn't expect that at all. When I stepped beside him to get my picture made with him I sort of stepped in a little hole and it startled me. He apologized and thought it was his fault. Then he apologized to me for the weird stuff that happened during the show. I told him it was fine. I told him I thought it was great how much they respect their fans and how they let them know it.

They just released a few more US tour dates for December and we are thinking of doing a little road trip to see them. I'm so glad that my husband likes them just as much as I do and that he doesn't mind going to see them.

Thank you for reading all of this! If you have thought of going to see them please do. Brent really loves to keep the audience involved so plan on a very energetic show.

Another thing I want to add is that their ticket prices are very reasonable as are their merch prices! That isn't something you see every day!!! We bought these two tickets for the same prices we paid for one ticket to see an artist at the same venue about a month earlier. We didn't buy any merch for the other artist because it simply cost way too much. But we came home with two Shinedown shirts.

They've got me hooked for life!

[funkychunkymonkey]

heck ya!!! I was gonna bay 75 a ticket last year to go for my birthday but it didnt pan out (and it rained on the outdoor concert so mabey it was good?) definalty going soon. Thanks for sharing your experacne. Only concert I went to was Skillet/Papa roach.... (totally NOT my choice, but hey forever is a good song)

[astrocreep2000]

They are a really great group of people. My friend went to UCF with Barry the drummer so whenver they come to Orlando she gets backstage passes. Unfortunately i have not been able to make it backstage yet but she has everytime and its always a good time.

[chell]

Originally Posted by funkychunkymonkey

heck ya!!! I was gonna bay 75 a ticket last year to go for my birthday but it didnt pan out (and it rained on the outdoor concert so mabey it was good?) definalty going soon. Thanks for sharing your experacne. Only concert I went to was Skillet/Papa roach.... (totally NOT my choice, but hey forever is a good song)

We are driving to a show in Kentucky but is listed as Ohio on their website that is with Papa Roach. I'm not a fan of Papa Roach but I'm going just to see Shinedown again so soon. hehe This show is in December.

[chell]

Originally Posted by astrocreep2000

They are a really great group of people. My friend went to UCF with Barry the drummer so whenver they come to Orlando she gets backstage passes. Unfortunately i have not been able to make it backstage yet but she has everytime and its always a good time.

Backstage would be so freaking awesome. My dream is to one day get those passes for me & my husband. I say if you are going to dream you may as well dream big. **sigh**

Barry is a complete sweetheart. I only had a few minutes to talk to him but he acted like we were the only people in the world right then. Brent did the same. Barry really seemed touched by what I had to say about him. I really can't say enough great stuff about these guys. Not only do they make awesome music but they are really nice too! You just don't find that every day in the music business.

[pixiewings71]

Originally Posted by chell

We are driving to a show in Kentucky but is listed as Ohio on their website that is with Papa Roach. I'm not a fan of Papa Roach but I'm going just to see Shinedown again so soon. hehe This show is in December.

Papa Roach is from a town really close to me, we saw them in Sac when they opened for NickelBack (BEST rock band EVER) and they were OK. Not terrible but not the best either. I remember my DD21 wanting to go see them play at the community center in Vacaville....LOL But, back to the OP....
Shinedown, it's good to know they are so personable with the fans! I meet a lot of musicians (I work in the music industry) and most of them are amazing, some are stuck up but most are great to hang out with. I do like Shinedown but have yet to see them live, I'll have to go next time they are here. I'm glad you had fun at the show!

[chell]

Originally Posted by pixiewings71

Papa Roach is from a town really close to me, we saw them in Sac when they opened for NickelBack (BEST rock band EVER) and they were OK. Not terrible but not the best either. I remember my DD21 wanting to go see them play at the community center in Vacaville....LOL But, back to the OP....
Shinedown, it's good to know they are so personable with the fans! I meet a lot of musicians (I work in the music industry) and most of them are amazing, some are stuck up but most are great to hang out with. I do like Shinedown but have yet to see them live, I'll have to go next time they are here. I'm glad you had fun at the show!

I told my husband I hope Shinedown goes on first so we can go out to another area or something when Papa Roach comes on since it's a general admission show.

Their show is so full of energy. I thought I was going to be exhausted afterwards but I wasn't. They really keep you pumped up. It was the best concert I have ever been to. I don't go to tons of shows but I've been to a fair number of concerts. Hands down Shinedown is the absolute best concert I've ever seen.

[chell]

Shinedown is going to be on the VH1 Best Cruise Ever next year. I've decided that I'm going. My husband can't go because of his class schedule. He wasn't thrilled about me going by myself so I've talked a friend into going with me. I'm SO excited!!! This will be my first cruise too.

[SeaSpray]

DS18 is a big fan of Shinedown and saw them at the House of Blues in Boston last year. He said it was an excellent show. DS put some of their songs onto my iPod, I think they're pretty good. I love the song "Second Chance".

Have fun on that cruise!

[LuvOrlando]

We are huge fans here. I totally love their version of "Simple Man" and sing it to my DS all the time. What a voice, how was that song live?

[chell]

Originally Posted by SeaSpray

DS18 is a big fan of Shinedown and saw them at the House of Blues in Boston last year. He said it was an excellent show. DS put some of their songs onto my iPod, I think they're pretty good. I love the song "Second Chance".

Have fun on that cruise!

"Second Chance" really is a powerful song. I've read that it has touched a lot of people and helped to heal a lot of people too.

Thanks!

[chell]

Originally Posted by LuvOrlando

We are huge fans here. I totally love their version of "Simple Man" and sing it to my DS all the time. What a voice, how was that song live?

Sadly Charlotte has a curfew so they had to cut the set a few songs short. We didn't get to hear "Simple Man" and a few others.

But boy does Brent have a voice! He really can sing and he has no formal training. He listened to a wide variety of singers. You can tell he listened to lots of soul music. Not only does he have an amazing voice, he also has a very special gift with words and putting the songs together.

[SamRoc]

"Its 4:03 and i can't sleep without you next to me I toss and turn like the sea."
Thats probably one of the best lines in a song i ever heard! I love Shinedown!

[chell]

Originally Posted by SamRoc

"Its 4:03 and i can't sleep without you next to me I toss and turn like the sea."
Thats probably one of the best lines in a song i ever heard! I love Shinedown!

That is an awesome line! Have you heard why he wrote the song?

[SamRoc]

Originally Posted by chell

Shinedown is going to be on the VH1 Best Cruise Ever next year. I've decided that I'm going. My husband can't go because of his class schedule. He wasn't thrilled about me going by myself so I've talked a friend into going with me. I'm SO excited!!! This will be my first cruise too.

Can you give me more info about the cruise? thanks!