Are things still monumental when you’re expecting them to happen? For instance, back in 2002 when I was seeing My Chemical Romance at small clubs with like 10 people, I always knew they would eventually be playing Madison Square Garden. I really had no doubt in my mind about it. So when they played last night, headlining a sold out show at MSG, was I surprised? No. Was I proud? You bet.

I was also beaming with pride while watching my very dear friend Matt Rubano on stage playing bass in his band Taking Back Sunday. Like a series of synchronized explosives on stage, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them play a better sounding and more energetic show. You could tell, that with out a doubt, the band was proud to be there. Fuck, they’d be ridiculous not to be.

While this should probably be a review of the show and shit like that, I just think I’d come up with the typical: they were awesome! And a bagillion different smilies to describe the show as being amazing. You know they put on a great show. You know that Adam Lazarra was on fucking fire, you know that Gerard Way has IT, and will always have it. So instead, I’ll share some of the backstage/afterarty excitement.

The backstage area was fucking bumping. Tons of family and friends milling about, people that have been there every step of the way, people that put on shows, people that just love the people we were there for. There were rumors that Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins was gonna be there, but he wasn’t in sight… which is a shame because he would’ve heard Gerard Way’s story about how he and his brother Mikey went to see the Pumpkins as teens, and just like me, Mikey predicted that they would be on that stage some day. Mind you, that was before they were even in a band together.

KarenPlusOne, Brian Battjer, Meredith Silverman, and I smuggled our friend JennyPenny backstage as soon as Taking Back Sunday finished their set. She was a late comer to joining us for the show so she didnt have passes or anything. So she just stayed between us as we walked backstage or we did the sticky handoff. When we got into the hallway area by the backstage there was everyone, but then I found the VIP/Family lounge where EVERYONE else was hanging out. I walked in and spotted my buddy Matt Smith, who asked me to be his fake-girlfriend for the night. I whirled over to him and gave him a big peck on the mouth and spotted my friend Alicia, who is also Mikey’s wife, sitting with some friends. I walked further into the room and I guess the new member of TBS’s family was all there taking a giant and proud family portrait.

I turned around and saw Mikey and Gerards mom standing with Lindsay, Gerard’s wife. Without even thinking I said “Hi Mrs. Way!” Only to have both women say “Hi!” Haha.

We got beers and headed back up to watch the second half of the show, which My Chem were playing.

[click the image to enlarge. it looks really cool made big.]

[click to enlarge image]

At the moment that this photo was taken, I had taken off my glasses for whatever reason and was just taking random photos. A guy walked by was waving at us. All I saw were arms, and loud hellos. I snapped a picture figuring it was a friend. “Who was that? i couldnt even see, i dont have my glasses on!” I looked at the photos and saw it was our buddy Adam Lazarra from TBS! I guess he and his friend had come up to watch My Chem.

My Chem bringing it. PS, Mikey looked SO FUCKING COOL on stage. Like, no joke, he looked so awesome. He looked so confident and hot and stoked beyond belief to be up there. Mind you, when we were kids, this was a boy that used to be so shy he could hardly talk!

At one point, Gerard invited a boy on stage named Mika, and asked everyone to say hello to him.

Karen and a blurry Jenny, were happy to say hi.

After My Chem’s show, we went to the afterparty to celebrate. I ran into the Dibiac brothers. Mike Dibiac co-runs Eyeball Records (my chem’s first label).

I told Mikey that I wanted to take a photo of us together to celebrate his playing MSG. Here’s me looking stoked, and Mikey trying to look cool (and accomplishing it).

Jenny wanted to look smart with my glasses on.

Later we went to the Hanger Bar to throw an after after party. My friend Leigh from the MisShapes came and did an impromptu DJ set which included Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus’ “See You Again” played about three times.

I met wonderful IDJ/Stolen Transmission street teamers from Denver at the bar who were too fucking nice for words.

Almack photographer, Annie Lesser, decided to show off her tongue talents:

John Rivera fell asleep on JennyPenny’s shoulder, I guess:

Jenny and I… just before Jenny got fucking trashed and kept on taking off her dress to reveal all that God gave her.

Tags: alicia way, brian battjer, jennypenny, karenplusone, leigh lezark, matt rubano, matt smith, mikey way, misshapes, my chemical romance, taking back sunday

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 10th, 2008 at 2:42 pm and is filed under After Party, Hanger Bar, Madison Square Garden. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.