It's ALL Shannon's fault

http://kspacemusic.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

It’s all Shannon’s Fault; Thirty Seconds To Mars
By Angel Karmazenuk

I’m not sure which came first; my fascination for Jared Leto or my fascination for 30 Seconds to Mars!?! I think it’s safe to say that my curiosity upon hearing that Leto had a band, lead to my falling madly and deeply in love with 30STM’s music and lyrics. But this was two years ago; way before “A beautiful lie” was released last summer - a sophomore offering that equals if not surpasses their 2002 self titled debut; and way before this obsession with the man himself began.

In any case, after months and months of religiously watching and listening to anything 30STM related and diligently keeping watch over the tour schedule, the band was finally going to play somewhere “somewhat close” to my home town of Montreal, Canada. It took a little convincing, but my friend agreed to take the 2 hour drive down to Burlington VT’s “Higher Ground” with me and yesterday, off we went.

There were moments of sheer excited anticipation so violent that my body shook and my heart was in my knees - but mostly the drive went smoothly and I managed to contain myself. We arrived at the venue at 5pm, cursing ourselves for the late hour and were greeted by a huge crowd of…nine! Nine people? Only 2 hours before the doors opened to a general admissions concert? Where were the screaming girls? Where was the mass of bodies pressed together, impatient for a chance to get inches closer to the door? Even at 7pm when the doors opened, people herded in calmly and politely. Strange place this Burlington, VT.

While in line we were told that if we purchased the CD, we would be given an opportunity to have the band sign it for us. It didn’t take long for my 10$ to come flying out of my wallet and into the hands of the first clerk I saw.

Once inside I was floored. THIS was where the concert was going to be held? I had seen living rooms bigger than this place. I was horrified. Years of big arena venues had corrupted me. But oh how wrong I was. The confined space allowed for the most intimate and raw concert experience of my life.

Jump Suit Apparatus were the first to perform followed by Keating and then Men, Women and Children. Despite the less than enthusiastic crowd, they held their own, Men women and Children doing a good job of getting audience participation. But the truth is nobody was there to see them and the anticipation was palpable. Finally at about 10:40 (2 hours and 40 minutes after the show began) 30 Seconds to Mars took to the stage and boy did the masses suddenly come alive. Well, for “polite” Burlington VT anyway.

From the first notes of “A beautiful lie” to the last bars of Attack I was mesmerized. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Leto. Jared Leto IS 30 seconds to Mars. Most there only had eyes for him and with reason. The purity of his voice despite being sick - his solo performance of “From Yesterday” (just him and his guitar) was breath taking, the interactions he had with the crowd as he covered the entire surface of the stage, the intensity with which he seemed to deliver ever lyric and the shamelessness he displayed while dispensing cuss-filled banter between songs… it was all perfect. Even being slammed into chest first as he came down into the crowd and the roughness with which he shoved me out of the way was exhilarating. And then it was over.

The lights were blindingly turned on; the lack of noise after having stood against the speakers for an hour was almost painful. The place seemed almost desolate after the boys left the stage. But soon, anticipation stirred again as the few who had bought CD’s were ushered into a make shift holding area while everybody else was made to leave. Soon a swell of high pitched whispers grew into muted squeals of jubilation as 30 seconds to mars came out and stood behind the “autograph table”. Slowly, one by one fans made their way past the guys, Shannon first, then Matt, Tomo and finally Jared. People were filing down quickly and despite obviously being tired, the band took the time to appose their “signature” to every CD. My turn was coming up rapidly. Suddenly, any nerves I had experienced on the way up and during the show were gone. It just felt right that I would finally get to look Jared Leto in the eyes and let him know how incredible I thought his music to be. And then I came face to face with Shannon Leto.

I can’t recal the last time I had found being given and head to toe “once over” so thrilling. I’ve rarely been so grateful to have boobs. My knees actually buckled when he smiled, cockiness seeping out of him. He got to me and he knew it - the bastard. From then on I was a goner. Matt and Tomo signed my CD but I barely got a chance to say hello as the girls behind me were pushing forward after having been made to wait a few seconds longer than normal, while Shannon got an eye full. Suddenly I was standing in front of Jared Leto; But my composure was lost somewhere between Shannon’s smile and his “dirty boy” stare. Jared, the one I had come to see, the person I had been waiting to talk to for months and months, was standing right there and all I could manage as he too took a minute to glance into my cleavage was “Can I have a hug?”.

He actually looked surprised, as though he, too was expecting me to say something remotely intelligent. After all it’s not like I’m a teenager. I’m a 28 year old grown woman. “I’m all sweaty” he said eyebrows raised to which I again replied stupidly “I really don’t care.” He is a sweetheart though. He stretched over the table and gave me a nice hug. And what am I thinking about? Shannon. I had Jared Leto’s arms around me and I was thinking of his brother. All too soon Jared pulled away, handed me my CD and sent me off with a pretty smile and to die for blue painted eyes.

After months of waiting, it was over in mere hours. We set out on the long two hour drive home and still all I couldn’t think about was the way Shannon had looked at me. In retrospect it was really nothing. Less than a few seconds of a cute guy starring at my boobs and liking what he saw but in the moment it was a flawless and primal feeling of being wanted. He ruined me for Jared. What can I do? All I can hope is that on June 26th when I take the 7 hour drive to Buffalo NY to see another show, I get the chance to redeem myself. This time, I’m going to stay far, far away from Shannon Leto.

30 Seconds To Mars: It's ALL Shannon's fault - 30 Seconds To Mars