Altar Bar: Stain Glass and Rock n' Roll in Pittsburgh

It is official.
Imagine Dragons is #2 on Billboard charts for best selling albums.
Night Visions is the biggest Rock debut album in 6 years selling 83,000 copies in the first week.
"It's Time" is being sung on GLEE.
We need to celebrate tonight.


So many incredible things are happening and none of them seem to be sinking in to anyone. How can you really comprehend this sort of thing? I haven't figured it out yet but I know I am grateful to be here at this very pivotal moment in their careers. My favorite thing Daniel said today was "If you are wondering how to stay humble, just load your own gear every night ," which they do night after night.

The day started with a trip to the children's hospital for a fundraiser and acoustic performance. In an emotional moment, the band was able to talk to some of the sweet kids they were helping raise money for. After the performance, we were able to meet Matchbox 20 (currently #1 on Billboard) before their set. They were very complimentary of the band and their music. The lead singer, Rob Thomas said he was a fan of the band and continues to use Imagine Dragons as his answer to the question "what bands are you listening to?" in interviews.

Dan has the cold/flu of the century and D. Wayne has a relentless cough, so we had some Pho for lunch with the hope that it would relieve some of their symptoms before the show. Not sure it helped but it was mighty tasty.

All day we planned on watching GLEE and celebrating but when it finally came time, we realized that the episode would play at the exact time of the band's set. I saw that as ironic; they work so hard so that they can achieve this sort of success and when it actually happens, they are working through it.

The Altar Bar is an old church that has been converted into concert venue; crosses, stain glass windows and all. The venue wasn't very large but it was beyond packed. I forced my way up the stairs to then turn around to see the path way had closed up behind me like quicksand, I was stuck. I made my way around the upper-level to get as close to the stage as possible but if you weren't leaning against the railing, you weren't going to see the performance.

The energy in the room was out of control. At one point, the guy in front of me left to get a drink; finally, I could see the performance, at least Dan's fist in the air every once in a while. Five minutes later, the bald beefy specimen returned and tried to physically shove me out of the way, I fought him back, not caring that he was twice my weight and told him he gave up his spot when he left. This argument and pushing match continued half way through "Radioactive" until he called me a b****. On that note, I was out. I admit I was pushing his buttons but I never raised my voice and my actions hardly classified me as a b*****.  After the show, the entire band volunteered to go in and intimidate the baldy, though I appreciated their offer, but it was over. Part of me wishes I hit him myself.

On a positive note, I met some great fans down in the Lobby after Imagine Dragons played. It turns out that they had met my in-laws, Jeff and Debbie at Firefly and so they wanted a picture with me to document that they had met the whole family. They had been waiting in line since 4 that afternoon and scored a spot right up front for the concert. It was fun to hear about how much they love the band and their fun experience at the concert.

Our act of "celebration," was going to get late night sandwiches, popping a bottle of cheap sparkling wine on the side walk and a Passion Pit dance party on the bus. I think some more partying went on after the sickies and myself went to sleep in the hotel but only the walls of the bus could tell those stories. And now back to work.

Rochester, New York: Water Front Music Hall

Two words for you: Dinosaur Bar-b-que. Who would have thought that Rochester, New York would have the most delicious Texas-style barbecue I've ever had. I could smell the food two blocks away and getting stronger as we approached. Out front of the restaurant, four large smokers pushed the deliciously sweet and smokey flavors out into the air and what a joyous smell it was. Daniel and I split the "Extreme Sampler," a great choice, but I knew after my first bite of the mouth-watering pork ribs, that I should have gotten that and only that. Don't get me wrong, the brisket, chicken and mashed potatoes were phenomenal but the ribs were life changing.

After our stomachs were full of meat, we waddled the ten blocks back to the venue so the band could play an acoustic show for a local radio station and a meet and greet with fans.

As the band sound checked, I walked over to the Eastman School of Music, thinking it would be a good way to see something new. Behind the counter of the school's coffee shop, was a kind-eyed petite girl, pierced and tattooed from head to toe. I noticed the shape of an Audrey Hepburn "Breakfast at Tiffany's" tattoo the length of her entire lower leg. I told her it was my favorite movie, she informed me it was her third favorite  and quickly suggested two other Audrey films that I should watch immediately. We talked about movies, ourselves and Rochester for a long while and I decided if I ever were to move here, that this kindred spirit would be my dear friend.

I like to get the best feel I can for each town we visit, taking in as much as the city can offer me in a couple hours I have to explore. Most the knowledge I gain is superficial but I at least try to take in the pace and energy of the city around me. In Rochester, I decided to go for a walk along the water to really take in the cityscape from the outside. It has a larger downtown than I expected and the architecture is eclectic in time period and color scheme. Coming from Hartford, the city felt slightly dirty and unsafe but I may be paranoid.

The audience at the Waterfront Music Hall was loud and I mean blow your eardrums loud.  I stood near the bathroom, watching intoxicated twenty-somethings' stumble in and out. The crowd danced, partied and socialized like they were all close friends. Before the band played "It's Time," Dan spoke to the audience saying, "Help me out with this one." A kid behind me shouted back, "I won't be able to," then telling his friend he doesn't know any of their songs. As the mandolin began to play, the same kid shouted back, "Wait, I love this song!"

Connecticut: A Walk in the Park

My experience in Hartford has been less large estates and wealthy ladies in pearls and more beautiful parks and a happening financial district. I admit that my narrow-minded ideas of what to expect had come from too many episodes of Gilmore Girls in my college days but I could tell right away that the downtown area where the venue was located was more like other urban cities we have visited and not the land of country clubs I pictured in my mind (not to say that that land doesn't exist on the other side of town). The street where the bus is parked feels intimate, almost like the foe New York streets where episodes of Seinfeld were filmed. A feeling of property ownership surged over me as I walked down the center of the "private" road, until the honk of a car brought me back to reality. 

Hartford is clean as a whistle and although there are still a wide range of characters on the streets, most seem to be business people walking with purpose down the city blocks. I picture myself back a couple years, in my intern days with a company in Santa Monica, walking intentionally down the promenade during my lunch break planning how I could better attack my spreadsheets that awaited me upstairs. I wonder when I will use that part of my brain again, I have never thought of myself as business minded or one who would enjoy a "9 to 5" but maybe there will be a day when I crave that kind of stability in a career like the people who strutted past me. I don't see it happening but stranger things have happened. 

We decide on Trumbull Kitchen for lunch, a "hip" downtown restaurant (according to Zagat) that has very eclectic menu with everything from sushi to mac and cheese. My Ahi Tuna salad with baby bok choy, yuzu, edemame and seaweed hit the spot. We have all been trying to eat healthy on this tour but I could tell right then that  I had been missing vegetables in my diet and should get them in my body immediately. D. Wayne must have felt the same way because he ordered a mountain of spinach on the side of his dish.

After load in to the venue, Daniel Wayne and I went on a long stroll through the park. He didn't want me to go alone because of my experiences the day before and I was more than happy to go out and see the new area together. With freshly cut grass, enormous trees and dozens of squirrels, I am surprised to see there are not more people around enjoying the beautiful landscape. The people that would be enjoying this park on the weekend are probably the same people I saw crunching numbers a few blocks away. The playground for the kids has a stream that runs through the sand and the picnic table benches are actually concrete stacks of classic books (that seems "east coast" to me.) Though I am having so much fun with everyone, it is so nice spend time just the two of us. We relax on a bench until he is called in for soundcheck. As we pass a restaurant, Daniel is recognized by a couple sitting in a outdoor cafe, they are big fans and excited to see the show. Still so strange to me. 

I can barely see the performance from where I am standing in the Union Train Station. I love the idea of using the station as a venue; however, I don't love that they are probably past capacity and I am being elbowed in the face as people make their way to and from the bathroom. I decide to flash my handy dandy all-access pass and stand slightly backstage so I can at least watch the band, even if it is from behind. While I am taking a picture, I am stopped by a women asking if I was a journalist. I reply no but explained how I studied it in college, probably too much information for a stranger but  I liked that I was putting off journalistic vibes. 

The concert was amazing (ending guitar solo especially). There were some slight technical difficulties with sound resulting in some distortion to the vocals but the band pushed through the handicap and it appeared the audience appreciated the performance all the more. "Never let 'em see you sweat" seems to be a mantra of Imagine Dragons. No matter what odds they are up against, the audience will never get a performance with less than 110%. They don't want anyone to get a performance less than there best. After-show discussions exemplify the  level of perfection they demand from themselves, never wanting to settle for anything less. 

The night ended with hotdogs from a vendor just 5 feet from the Dragon Wagon. The location was ideal because most band members made multiple trips, being stopped by fans each time to sign autographs and pose for pictures even hours after the show. 

D. Wayne is the Main Mane in Maine

Driving through blankets of trees, we made our way from Philadelphia to Portland. The toll booths seem to come along every hour, spread like bread crumbs left to guide tourists out of the forest. The view from the bus is much different than the wide open spans of desert and desolation in the west that I am used to and I am enjoying the new surroundings.

The city of Portland is beautiful, old and filled with characters. The local shops add charm while the breezy weather reminds me that we are close to water relieving my minor claustrophobia in the unfamiliar land. 

It is strange because I have walked around New York and Philadelphia this week by myself and felt completely safe but from the second I began my investigation of the city I knew something was off. First, I was followed by three men in their 20s for a block calling out to me asking me who I was, where I was from and why I was running away before I ducked into a Starbucks. I was in a very public place so I don't think I was in any real danger but the experience had me think twice about my plan to walk down to the water by myself. 

 My second experience with a Portlandian "character" was in a local market. Standing in line at checkout with my People Magazine in tow, Snooki plastered on the cover (in my defense there was a review of Night Visions that I wanted to save), I received an unusual amount of attention from the businessman in front of me. He complimented me on my hair and then my curves (he used other words) and then began to lick his lips and make kissy sounds. On that note, my solo mission was complete and I returned to base camp for backup. 

 After load-in, the band, Joy the bus driver and myself walked down to the harbor to eat at Dimitri's, a local seafood restaurant located on the water. With sound check and a local acoustic show scheduled simultaneously in 25mins, the ordering, eating and paying process felt a competitive race. We quickly enjoyed our meal outside on the chilly deck with docks of beautiful boats to my back. Daniel Wayne got the lobster roll and I had the best clam chowder I've ever tasted, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised being where we were. We took a taxi back to the venue and the band immediately went to work. 

 After a brief and stressful 10 minute sound check we took a cab to a local music store, for an in-store Q & A and performance. The band was asked to play 3-4 songs but ended up playing 5 to makeup for their tardiness.   The foursome then signed albums and answered questions like "where is your favorite place to play?," "who are your biggest influences?," and "where do you get your songwriting inspiration?"

 On our return to the venue, Zeale (the openers) had already started performing and it was time for the band to prepare for stage starting with a quick line-check before the set. The State Theater was packed but from what I could tell the majority were there for AWOLNATION. I was proven wrong as the band began to play, and my little corner spot on stage left began to become a hot bed for violent thrashing while singing along to "Rocks." I figured there were more than a few fans out there and I should possibly make my way up to the balcony. 

The view from up top was an eye-opening experience. Whenever Dan turned his microphone to the audience, they were there to fill in the lyrics to any given song. The hit of the night seemed to be "Radioactive" the applause felt like it lasted several minutes including a standing ovation from the entire balcony. "It's Time" and "Nothing Left to Say" finished of the set like icing on the cake, followed by a second deafening standing ovation. 

After the set, I went to meet up with Daniel Wayne's Boston friend Danielle and her two roommates. As I waited in the lobby, I felt an unusual amount of attention from the "eligible" bachelors of Maine. What's up with this city! They must really dig scraggly Kurt Cobain hair and a makeup-less face. But after a few awkward flashes of the wedding ring, the trio of lovely ladies rescued me from my unfortunate situation. 

Danielle had made a sign that she held up during the show, pissing off every too-cool-for-school hipster in site. It read, "D. Wayne is the Main Mane in Maine." Pure brilliance. I could see people trying to sneakily snag pictures of the band and the clever sign as we met up post post-performance interviews. The night ended with a catchup session between D. Wayne and Danielle in the bus. I love meeting Daniel's friends and more importantly hearing stories of the hubs before I knew him. 

I am grateful that the roller coaster of a day ended on a high note, great music, making new friends and a pillow to rest my head. Now on to Connecticut.

Philly: It's Not Always Sunny in Philadelphia

As a kid I loved the movie "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" for one reason, they traveled by way of a bed. I must have been a lazy child because that sounded like an ideal situation. I remembered that childhood aspiration as I went to sleep for the first time on the Dragon Wagon while we made our way from New York to Philadelphia. 

I am the last to wake as we arrive at the venue in Philly. I wanted to get up sooner but my sense of time was lost in the dark enclosed bunk, the result: 10 hours of rest. I walk to the front of the bus to see that it is 1 p.m. and everyone is ready to unload the equipment. We are also informed that there is an 85% chance of rain and thunderstorms at set time. Interesting start.

During this time, I take it upon myself to explore the neighborhood. The area is referred to as Northern Liberties and from what I can see, it is a fifty-fifty mix between old red brick structures and sleek modern, echo-friendly architecture. There are quaint coffee shops under newer condos with herb gardens growing on roofs and balconies. There are advertisemnets for Art Walks and I begin to think that I could live in this neighborhood. The cold industrial design of the area is just my aesthetic and all the people I have come across have been ready to point me in the direction of the best cafe. I follow the melodies of the Bee Gees and '70s disco hits to a local park where a community cook off is being held and I continue to take in this beautiful place until I am called back to the green room.

The green room is actually a large conference room in a sparse brick building with "Mad Menesque" light fixtures and intern assignments on large white boards. The boys keep busy practicing putting on a mini golf green and warming up vocals while waiting for food and direction. While the band writes the set list and does an interview, I keep entertained by listening to a colorful security guard tell me how "Fifty Shades of Grey" has changed her life post divorce (she is reading it for the third time).

The concert took place in an enormous courtyard of a historic-looking Schmidt's Beer and Ale and a few newer large apartment buildings. I watch from the sound tent located behind a fourth of the audience. The plan was to play until it rains, stop when (and if) it does and start back up once the storm blew through. 

Imagine Dragons began to play for their 6,000+ audience and the clouds slowly got closer and closer. During "Radioactice," a swift breeze rattles through the courtyard in an irrily strange homage to the lyrics. The dark clouds roll in and I am sure the set will be cut short, I look to my left and right and see the faces of the crowd turned up to the inevitably stormy sky. The moisture held off while the crowd cheered to see the sky clearing during the up-beat, "On Top of the World." 

The crowd has been crazy the entire set, with at least five people crowd-surfing at any given time, including Dan. On the last song, "Nothing Left to Say" it begins to drizzle as Dan throws himself to the wolves for one last swim through the crowd. He returns with a torn shirt and the crowd goes wild with excitement in the damage they have done. As the band loads off, the rain really begins to fall to the point where AWOLNATION must wait a while before loading on stage. The merch sales in Philly have been the best to date and the crowds' response to the performance has yet to be matched. 

The night closed perfectly with a stormy late night walk under the Ben Franklin Bridge with my favorite person in the world. Thank you Philly.