https://youtu.be/X0GXpCe4Pl0
The Maine has an innate quality of leaving you inspired and ready to take on whatever shit is thrown in your direction as you navigate this tricky world. Not just through John O’s philosophical quotables between songs, but through their energy. I mean honestly, they gave us a free tour. That speaks about their character more than any tweet [@ fans]
We took baths, and slept in, for the first time in days. I could have sworn I heard a choir of angels singing, that may have been the sketchy folks that were hanging in the hallways of our Red Roof Inn. While driving back down to Tustin we stopped for keychains and almond gems, and enjoyed some magical L.A. traffic.
The set up for the venue was completely disorganized. Mind you, the free shows were usually a gamble, but the folks at The District seemed completely unprepared. Some kids had been hanging near the stage since seven o’clock in the morning, which should have given the venue warning to prepare for a crowd of sorts.
Due to trailer trouble, the guys of The Maine were running late, as they arrived the venue decided that was the ideal time to move the barricades up four more feet with a lively crowd behind them. It looked like a stampede waiting to happen. Sound check seemed to go by in hyperspeed, with the brilliantly accidental backdrop of A Rocket To The Moon’s “Whole Lotta You” music video playing on the giant screen atop the AMC theatre while Beach Weather played. The sets moved quickly in an effort to allow both bands to play their full setlist in their shorter time slot. The crowd was quiet, but seemed to enjoy themselves, even the kid that John brought onstage to help sing “Right Girl”. Poor thing had never heard the song in his life.
After the show, Peter their merch expert, had a make-shift stand set up next to a pizza joint in the shopping mall. The usual crowds gathered in the parking lot to thank the bands and take a few quick pictures, but it felt far from being the last show. It seemed surreal to me that it was over; I was ready to head to the next city, which unfortunately was home. The Maine has an innate quality of leaving you inspired and ready to take on whatever shit is thrown in your direction as you navigate this tricky world. Not just through John O’s philosophical quotables between songs, but through their energy. I mean honestly, they gave us a free tour. That speaks about their character more than any tweet about how lucky a band is to have such dedicated fans. Actions speak louder than words, and The Maine continues to act like no one else could, after all these years.
