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August 2, 2002 Noblesville, Indiana (Signed ticket stubs at bottom of page!)
I hadn't see the Goo Goo Dolls live in concert sense September 4, 2000! This was not even a show I had planned on going to either. On August 2, 2002 I went to the band's website to see if they had updated their "Tour Diary". It mentioned that if you brought five cans of food you could get a lawn seat for five dollars at the Noblesville show! Noblesville is only a little over a two and half hour drive from me. So my brother and I went. When we got there we were asked if we wanted to upgrade to a seat for another five dollars so we did.
Vanessa Carlton wasn't bad and Third Eye Blind was pretty good! I hadn't seen either in concert before. I knew Dani, her husband Rick and Sham were going to be at the show. I kept looking at the section I knew where they were sitting in to see if I could see them. But I couldn't find them. And I finally ran into them in the bathroom before the Goo Goo Dolls came on! They were nice enough to sneak my brother and I up front with them! Thanks again Dani, Rick and Sham! It was by far the best concert I had ever been to! The guys ROCKED and were so full of energy!! There was a lot of interaction with the audience. "Big Machine" ROCKS live! And I think they picked a great song to open with. "Sympathy" is my favorite song off the "Gutterflower" album. And I loved that they performed it. For one of the encore songs they performed "All Eyes On Me". I've always liked that song. And never ever thought I would hear it live. So that was a complete surprise! It was great to see Mike live and in action again! And he did his drum solo for "Naked." Mike's drum solo for "Naked" kicks ass! And is amazing to see! Another one of Mike's talents I noticed at the show. Some guy was with him during the show. It looked like he was taking care of Mike and doing things to his drum set. Anyway at one point Mike was talking to this guy while drumming and NEVER missed once during it! Here is the setlist not in order though. They did open with "Big Machine" though; Big Machine, Long Way Down, Slide, Naked, You Never Know, What Do You Need, Dizzy, Here Is Gone, January Friend, Smash, Black Balloon, Think About Me, Truth Is A Whisper, Name, Lucky Star, Tucked Away, Broadway, Sympathy, Iris, What A Scene,Encore: All Eyes On Me, American Girl. A lot of people left before the show was over! And no one stuck around either after the show. There was just my brother Mike, Dani, Rick, Sham and myself. And then Julie and her sister whom I hadn't seen sense the Canfield show. They did what my brother and I did after they read the "Tour Diary". Ohhhh!! And did I mention I finally met the "Amazing Goo Skinsman?!" The man of many talents! Totally unexpected! I guess I always thought it would happen when I least expected it. And well, that is exactly what happened! I had all these mixed emotions about it because I didn't think he would like me. Once he had met me. I already knew that he knew about me. So, I was really wondering what he already thought of me or expected me to look like? I looked horrible and probably didn't smell all that nice either. We had been in the heat for a long time that day and I swear it was 100 degrees at one point! Anyway, the six of us went backstage and all sat down. Not long after that I seen Mike standing in front of the glass doors. I think someone was pointing me out to him. And at one point I almost thought he wasn't going to come out. He finally comes out and I couldn't look up at him while he was there. I was just to nervous. Someone introduced me to him and he shook my hand. :-) Mike looked so much smaller in person. Even though he is almost a foot taller them me! And I never thought I would get to see the goatee up close. It was AWESOME though!:-) I asked him why he had so much gray hair sense he is only two years older then me? And he said that his whole family is like that. And that Robby and John would have it also. But they color their hair and you can't see it. And I said, oh, Mike likes to go natural. And I think I made him blush! I told him I was going to bring my copy of "Modern Drummer" for him to sign. Only I didn't expect to meet him. And he said that was a great article. And I said it was and that was why I typed it up and put it on my website. And he said "You did!" all excited! We talked a little about the website. He loves it which makes me happy and makes all the work worth it. We talked about the pictures I have of him when he was in college. And he wanted to know where I got them. And I told him someone sent them to me along time ago. And I couldn't remember who anymore. Now, I wish I had. Let's see what else? You always think of so much you wanted to say or do after the encounter has happened! He said it was to meet me. And then he went inside. It went so fast! I didn't really get to say or ask him anything I had always wanted to if I had ever met him.
I turned to my right and there was ROBBY!! I think he was talking to Julie and her sister. Thank God though. Because I just kind of stood there looking at him,LOL!! He was nearly my height and I'm around 5'2". He was so tiny it was cute! I felt so comfortable with him that I completely forgot it was Robby we were all talking to. He signed my ticketstub and I told him I was the "Mike freak"! He smiled and said that he knew who I was! Then he gave me the biggest hug anyone has ever given me! And a kiss on the cheek! While he was hugging me he said "God Bless You." And I said. "Thanks, you to Robby." Later on John came out. He looked so much smaller as well. He shook everyone's hand, signed some stuff and did pictures. In all it was a great experience. And one I WILL NEVER forget! A big thanks to everyone involved in this happening! :-)
Ticket stub signed by Mike
Ticket stub signed by John and Robby