Thumbing MY Way....
drop-the-leash
Posts: 190
Sorry for the ramblings, but I feel I have to tell this story as well. I'm feeling so much love for PJ right now!
Late 2002 my Grandmother passed away. She was 96, she she'd had one hell of a ride. Nan was my rock though. While my Mum tried to bring up three sons by herself (which wasn't hard enough for her so she had a fight with Breast Cancer as well), I spent a lot of time living with Nan.
As I do, and I'm sure as everyone does, I found my dedication to her in Thumbing My Way.
All the rusted sign we ignore throughout our lives
Choosing the shiny ones instead
Nan, the rusted sign, worth more, and more significant than all the shiny ones from here to eternity. Taken for granted, cuz she was always there.
When I moved out of home I was young and dumb. Now I'm just dumb. But back in those days, Nan soon moved into a nursing home not far from where I lived. 15 minute drive. I'd grown up more than 2000km away, so it was really special she was so close. What wasn't special was what I did....
I turned my back,... now there's no turning back
Will never understand why, nor forgive myself, but I rarely went to visit Nan. Not nearly as much as I should have. Young and dumb.
So to the relevance of this story. Feb 9th, 2003 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Only my 3rd PJ show (after BEC Mar 14, '98, and Feb 8, '03). I'm sitting in the 7th row. Amazing gig - state the obvious! Halfway through the 1st set and the boys are rocking along to "Not For You" off the back of the hard hitting "Lukin"....little was I to know they were about to slide into the first performance of "Thumbing My Way" outside of Seattle, and only the 4th time they'd played it live.
Naturally I just lost it.....I do tend to get a little emotional, hmmmm. Still, it was amazing, and that song alone made the wait for PJ unbelievably worth it, and agonisingly long as I started the long journey til I would see them again.
Fast forward to 2006. I'd scheduled to go to 6 shows - made it to 5. Last night in Melbourne, Nov 14, 2006. I'm sitting in the 7th row, and I'm trying to get my breath and composure back after tearing the house down to "Porch". Encore 1, what shall we open that with? Hmmm, accoustic set, nice one Ed. HOLY SHIT, "Thumbing My Way"!! I couldn't believe it. So many parallels. My last show of the tour, sitting in the 7th row (two parallels is convincing enough for me). Particularly being the 43rd, and 2nd last time it has been performed in concert, I was truly amazed.
After they closed out with "Indifference", the lights came up and everyone started shuffling out. Something told me to go that way, no over there, then over there. I must've looked like a total retard climbing over chairs and wandering here and there. Suddenly something made me stop, and I looked down. Sweet! There's a pick on the floor - wedged next to a seat with some big dude still sitting on it!
Well I stomped on that pick, and whipped it into my pocket and bolted out of there! I assumed that it was one of Mike's many picks, as he threw a tonne out after the gig. Wasn't til I got outside that I realised that it was from Eddie's own hand, and had gotten a fair work out too! (It is sitting next to me as I write this).
My mates were stoked! As naturally you would be. We assumed our positions - as the committed groupies we were. We'd had no luck getting a word with any of the boys all tour, and we'd hung out for hours before and after every show.
Things were going right tonight though, and with the Kiwi lads and their Johnny Ramone T-shirt (listen to the start of Indifference on the bootleg, he thanks the boys "...in the back....New Zealand") and the dude with the giant bed sheet of STICKMAN with "Drop the Leash" (which I'm sure inspired them to bring it out for the only showing in Australia) we were well armed to meet the boys.
After about an hour and a half through single digit temps and a smattering of rain; Tyson, eagle-eyed Tyson, who has penned one of the most awesome sketches of Eddie you will see, spotted Ed's guitar being whisked away to one of the transporters. Like a hurricane the boy came charging down the ramp, "EDDIE'S COMING, EDDIE'S COMING!!!" Talk about simultaneous shitting-ourselves.
The exit gate from the arena was narrow. We contemplated the human barricade - but that was dismissed quicker than it was suggested. Always respect for Eddie, and what will be, will be.
The van moved out the gate and slowly up the road, we were crestfallen. Then it stopped! UBER SHITTING-OURSELVES!!
Tiny (if you have seen this man, you know where he got his name) comes out and says "Alright guys, Eddie's gonna come out and say hi. No autographs and no photos".
Eddie literally shuffles across the road like an 80 year old man, and comes up to our small band of faithful servants. I was 2nd in line as he individually shook each of our hands and thanked us for coming. All I can remember is "Wow, Eddie is so much shorter than I thought....but WOW his hands are ENORMOUS!!" Seriously, he's got the biggest, warmed hand I've ever shook.
Soon as he saw the Kiwis, and Tyson's sketch, he grabbed the nearest marker and started signing left right and centre. It was totally surreal. I'm a bit of a wannabe journo (really? Never would've guessed with all the shit I'm spewing eh?) so I start to ask him what made them decide to play TMY....as soon as the words came out, they were forgotten - it didn't really matter anyway.
Thanks Nan for the most amazing night of my life. I know you've got my back!
"She's a tear that hangs inside my soul forever", Jeff Buckley
Late 2002 my Grandmother passed away. She was 96, she she'd had one hell of a ride. Nan was my rock though. While my Mum tried to bring up three sons by herself (which wasn't hard enough for her so she had a fight with Breast Cancer as well), I spent a lot of time living with Nan.
As I do, and I'm sure as everyone does, I found my dedication to her in Thumbing My Way.
All the rusted sign we ignore throughout our lives
Choosing the shiny ones instead
Nan, the rusted sign, worth more, and more significant than all the shiny ones from here to eternity. Taken for granted, cuz she was always there.
When I moved out of home I was young and dumb. Now I'm just dumb. But back in those days, Nan soon moved into a nursing home not far from where I lived. 15 minute drive. I'd grown up more than 2000km away, so it was really special she was so close. What wasn't special was what I did....
I turned my back,... now there's no turning back
Will never understand why, nor forgive myself, but I rarely went to visit Nan. Not nearly as much as I should have. Young and dumb.
So to the relevance of this story. Feb 9th, 2003 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Only my 3rd PJ show (after BEC Mar 14, '98, and Feb 8, '03). I'm sitting in the 7th row. Amazing gig - state the obvious! Halfway through the 1st set and the boys are rocking along to "Not For You" off the back of the hard hitting "Lukin"....little was I to know they were about to slide into the first performance of "Thumbing My Way" outside of Seattle, and only the 4th time they'd played it live.
Naturally I just lost it.....I do tend to get a little emotional, hmmmm. Still, it was amazing, and that song alone made the wait for PJ unbelievably worth it, and agonisingly long as I started the long journey til I would see them again.
Fast forward to 2006. I'd scheduled to go to 6 shows - made it to 5. Last night in Melbourne, Nov 14, 2006. I'm sitting in the 7th row, and I'm trying to get my breath and composure back after tearing the house down to "Porch". Encore 1, what shall we open that with? Hmmm, accoustic set, nice one Ed. HOLY SHIT, "Thumbing My Way"!! I couldn't believe it. So many parallels. My last show of the tour, sitting in the 7th row (two parallels is convincing enough for me). Particularly being the 43rd, and 2nd last time it has been performed in concert, I was truly amazed.
After they closed out with "Indifference", the lights came up and everyone started shuffling out. Something told me to go that way, no over there, then over there. I must've looked like a total retard climbing over chairs and wandering here and there. Suddenly something made me stop, and I looked down. Sweet! There's a pick on the floor - wedged next to a seat with some big dude still sitting on it!
Well I stomped on that pick, and whipped it into my pocket and bolted out of there! I assumed that it was one of Mike's many picks, as he threw a tonne out after the gig. Wasn't til I got outside that I realised that it was from Eddie's own hand, and had gotten a fair work out too! (It is sitting next to me as I write this).
My mates were stoked! As naturally you would be. We assumed our positions - as the committed groupies we were. We'd had no luck getting a word with any of the boys all tour, and we'd hung out for hours before and after every show.
Things were going right tonight though, and with the Kiwi lads and their Johnny Ramone T-shirt (listen to the start of Indifference on the bootleg, he thanks the boys "...in the back....New Zealand") and the dude with the giant bed sheet of STICKMAN with "Drop the Leash" (which I'm sure inspired them to bring it out for the only showing in Australia) we were well armed to meet the boys.
After about an hour and a half through single digit temps and a smattering of rain; Tyson, eagle-eyed Tyson, who has penned one of the most awesome sketches of Eddie you will see, spotted Ed's guitar being whisked away to one of the transporters. Like a hurricane the boy came charging down the ramp, "EDDIE'S COMING, EDDIE'S COMING!!!" Talk about simultaneous shitting-ourselves.
The exit gate from the arena was narrow. We contemplated the human barricade - but that was dismissed quicker than it was suggested. Always respect for Eddie, and what will be, will be.
The van moved out the gate and slowly up the road, we were crestfallen. Then it stopped! UBER SHITTING-OURSELVES!!
Tiny (if you have seen this man, you know where he got his name) comes out and says "Alright guys, Eddie's gonna come out and say hi. No autographs and no photos".
Eddie literally shuffles across the road like an 80 year old man, and comes up to our small band of faithful servants. I was 2nd in line as he individually shook each of our hands and thanked us for coming. All I can remember is "Wow, Eddie is so much shorter than I thought....but WOW his hands are ENORMOUS!!" Seriously, he's got the biggest, warmed hand I've ever shook.
Soon as he saw the Kiwis, and Tyson's sketch, he grabbed the nearest marker and started signing left right and centre. It was totally surreal. I'm a bit of a wannabe journo (really? Never would've guessed with all the shit I'm spewing eh?) so I start to ask him what made them decide to play TMY....as soon as the words came out, they were forgotten - it didn't really matter anyway.
Thanks Nan for the most amazing night of my life. I know you've got my back!
"She's a tear that hangs inside my soul forever", Jeff Buckley
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"..That's One Happy Fuckin Ghost.."
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The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
1996 Merriweather, MD; 1998 Camden, NJ; 2000 Camden, NJ; 2003 Camden, NJ; 2005 Philly, PA; 2006 Camden, NJ(nights 1 & 2); 2006 Arnhem, NED; 2008 Camden, NJ(nights 1 & 2), Washington DC, MSG(night 2) 2009 Philly Spectrum Shows(nights 1,2,3,4) 2010 Hartford,CT and MSG(night 2)
ED Solo - 2008 Washington DC, 2009 Philly, PA(nights 1&2)*Met Eddie