2011-12-04 - Ikeda Theater - Mesa, AZ

[Tripp]

Is your brother going to be attending?

[Zook]

Yep.

[chknptpie]

Zook did I miss you when doing a head count?

Chkn - 4
Tripp - 5
jingle.boy - 1
BFRedRocks - 4
02T - 1
Zook - 2

[Zook]

Yeah but I just barely got tickets a week ago so it's ok. We'll be at the meet up.

[chknptpie]

Great! Glad you get to join us.

[BFRedrocks]

I'm a big fan of pizza.... 

https://www.queenspizzeria.com/

It is 0.2 miles from the Mesa Arts Center according to google maps walking directions

Sweet...thanks for setting this up in my forum "absence."  Me and my friends will see you all around 5 pm at Queen's Pizzeria.     

[jingle.boy]

Oh Hell YEAH!!!!

Box office just opened up a few tickets.  I just nabbed FRONT-FUCKING-ROW!!!

There's still 3 tickets available (2 together, 1 single) in the 5th row.

[Zook]

Good for you, poopnose.

[Ezio]

So today I won a meet and greet. So excited.

[02T]

I'm going to show up at 5, but I'm supposed to be at the venue at 5:30 for the meet and greet package.  At least I'll get to say hello.

[jingle.boy]

So today I won a meet and greet. So excited.

wow... and I thought my front row score was a good deal.  Very nice win!!!

[DreamerTV]

Oh Hell YEAH!!!!

Box office just opened up a few tickets.  I just nabbed FRONT-FUCKING-ROW!!!

There's still 3 tickets available (2 together, 1 single) in the 5th row.

So is the venue almost sold out?.

[BFRedrocks]

Oh Hell YEAH!!!!

Box office just opened up a few tickets.  I just nabbed FRONT-FUCKING-ROW!!!

There's still 3 tickets available (2 together, 1 single) in the 5th row.

So is the venue almost sold out?.

Looked like a few seats in the lower section and a bunch in the last few rows of the balcony were left as of yesterday.  I'd say it's probably 75-80% sold out.

I should be at the meetup with my friends around 5 or 5:15...guess the concert got moved back to 8 pm according to the venue website.

[Ezio]

So today I won a meet and greet. So excited.

wow... and I thought my front row score was a good deal.  Very nice win!!!

Yeah, thanks. I won them in this facebook competition that the promoter of the concert made. Can't wait to meet the bear.

[cygnusaz]

Hello boys, getting excited?

Where is the pre-show meet up? Was that finally decided?

I'll be in Row AA PIT Baby!!!

Not sure if I will wear my The Cure t-shirt, although I do love the reaction from people at hard rock/metal shows as I walk by with Robert Smith's face on my shirt... 

[chknptpie]

Meet up tomorrow is at Queens Pizzeria:

https://www.queenspizzeria.com/

125 WEST MAIN ST.
MESA AZ 85201


I am going to call later today and find out about a reservation. Not sure if they even do them. So far I have 17 people. Am I missing anyone from the list?

Chkn - 4
Tripp - 5
jingle.boy - 1
BFRedRocks - 4
02T - 1
Zook - 2

[lonestar]

Looks like a kick ass meet up, you guys have a great time!!!

[jingle.boy]

Hello boys, getting excited?

I'll be in Row AA PIT Baby!!!

Don't forget the ladies!

I'm in AA as well!

[chknptpie]

ALRIGHTY! I called and gave them a heads up about us coming tomorrow at 5pm. They don't do reservations but say they will have lots of slices ready for us. I told her that we will all just do separate slices, that way we can all pay for our own food and not have to worry about cash. That just seems the easiest to me - I hate having to split bills up in large groups!

I also said that if anyone calls for information or directions, that our party is under the name "Chicken". (480) 964-1609 if anyone wants to call them for directs or any other info.

I'm excited to see everyone and we will have to take some epic pics for the board to see muahahaha

[cygnusaz]

Hello boys, getting excited?

I'll be in Row AA PIT Baby!!!

Don't forget the ladies!

I'm in AA as well!

Sorry, of course ladies as well! 

[cygnusaz]

Meet up tomorrow is at Queens Pizzeria:

https://www.queenspizzeria.com/

125 WEST MAIN ST.
MESA AZ 85201


I am going to call later today and find out about a reservation. Not sure if they even do them. So far I have 17 people. Am I missing anyone from the list?

Chkn - 4
Tripp - 5
jingle.boy - 1
BFRedRocks - 4
02T - 1
Zook - 2

I will try to stop by as well. Looks like its right around the corner from the venue

[Ezio]

From : Mike Mangini Media & Info
Hi All, I seriously played my two best shows/solos while being the sickest I've been in 20-30 years. But not enough to jeopardize me too much or affect the show negatively. I don't know how that happens. My apologies for not being able to speak much, or for coughing at the paid pre show pic taking. Now you know why. I didn't and couldn't call friends, my family, my wife, nobody...it was weird to try so hard to speak. All of you that play must've experienced this before. How can we be so sick, then play like not too much is wrong? I must be a love of overcoming challenges and helping the team. I guess that's how athletes do it. I honestly curled up in a ball after the show and didn't think I'd make it out of there. I'm happy to say that I'm feeling better and better and that I'm about to sleep on and off for 14 hours pumping the herbs and meds and water. I think I will have the best show of my whole life in Mesa tomorrow because of all the practicing I did on the break. I love this !!!! Can't wait till tmw !! DID I MENTION HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO BE 1 FOR 1 WITH DREAM THEATER FOR A GRAMMY NOMINATION !!!! 2 for 2 with VAI, 1 FOR 1 WITH DT... OH YEAH !!!!!!! THAT'LL FIX MY FLU !!!!

That bit in bold just got me even MORE excited.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Mangini seems to be ready to rip at this show, since he just announced he was sick the last two, not that he played any less amazing under the weather.

[chknptpie]

Awwwwwesome

[02T]

I got here early since I drove from Sierra Vista.  And I have to leave early. So if anyone wants to hang out earlier.  If not, I brought a book.

[chknptpie]

I'm here with 02T and my boyfriend. Look for short red head. Although this place is pretty empty.

[02T]

Andy McKee. Unreal

[chknptpie]

He was very cool. Did make me a bit sleepy

[Jaffa]

Great musician, but he kind of pissed me off by getting my hopes up with his ACOS teaser. 

[BFRedrocks]

WOW!  Incredible show by DT...you really can't appreciate what Mangini brings to the band until you see him play live.   

Thanks to chknptpie for helping plan the meetup...it was cool hanging with chknptpie, jingle.boy, and the other DTF'ers before the show.  And yes jingle.boy, we all saw you in the front row with a big grin on your face.  Awesome job snagging those. 

[jingle.boy]

WOW!  Incredible show by DT...you really can't appreciate what Mangini brings to the band until you see him play live.   

Thanks to chknptpie for helping plan the meetup...it was cool hanging with chknptpie, jingle.boy, and the other DTF'ers before the show.  And yes jingle.boy, we all saw you in the front row with a big grin on your face.  Awesome job snagging those. 

Yeah AMAZING show. Will post pics later. I asked JP if he was still benching 325, but he sheepishly said he wasn't.    Shook hands with the Ninja, the Wizard, and the God. Even got a fist pump from JP during BAI. I was so close, i had to lean back to get their bow!

Best concert evar!!

[Zook]

Yeah the show was amazing... Except for the row in front of me which just so happened to have a bunch of tall guys blocking and/obscuring me view. I swear, I could attend a concert at the Shire and Gandalf would stand in front of me.

[jingle.boy]

Still too pumped to go to sleep (and, had to wait for my luggage to be delivered... side note, it finally got here).

Anyway.... pics.  Unfortunately, just from the crappy camera on my iPhone 3GS

Intermission... where this guy is, my seat is the one directly to his left





Endless Sacrifice instrumental section... literally, Jordan is right in front of me.  I could've touched his keys.





This was during the intro of BAI.  Cool effect of the red lights behind JP.



The bow... couldn't get them all - they were too close!

[Jaffa]

you really can't appreciate what Mangini brings to the band until you see him play live.   

Seriously.  The man is literally the most infectiously happy human being I have ever seen.  Every time he smiled, I couldn't help but smile too.  And he's always smiling.

Also, funny story.  Smallfonting it because most people won't care about this. 

There was a point during the concert where James Labrie stuck his hand up in the air and held up one finger.  I know, I know; he did that like a billion times.  But at one time in particular, I had been holding up my closed fist already, and when he held up his one finger, I held up mine to match him.  And at the moment I swore me pointed at me. 

Now, at the time I was thinking, y'know, 'Don't be an idiot, Jaffa.  He points into the audience like that in every direction intentionally, so that everyone thinks they're getting his personal attention.'  I knew it was my imagination, that he was just pointing in my general area. 

Then, after the show, my brother said, "Dude, the singer pointed right at you."  And the guy sitting on the other side of me said he thought so too.  Neither of them thought he was pointing at them. On both sides of me they thought he'd pointed directly at me.  So, even though I feel like it's kind of ridiculous to think this, I kinda think JLB saw me lift up one finger in direct response to him and pointed at me in recognition.  And call me a fanboy, but dammit, I felt fucking cool.  =D

[Tripp]

The show was amazing, one of the best performances I've ever seen. Thankfully I got lucky, and didn't really have anyone/anything obstructing my view.

The meetup beforehand was cool as well, seeing everyone was pretty awesome.

Also, manly tears were shed during Beneath The Surface.