HIM

After seeing HIM twice before, the first one being amazing, the second one being ok, I can say that this one ranks much closer to the first than the second. First off, both opening bands didn’t suck this time. I don’t know what it is, but HIM seems to have a knack for shitty openers. Finch, who played right before HIM, did kinda suck. They had energy, but the crowd wasn’t really into it. I felt kinda bad for the them, but it’s really not their ‘scene’. Skindred, the first band to play, was pretty good though. They had the energy, knew how to work the crowd, etc. The last HIM show had Arf Der Mur, which consisted of a female singer who was dumb as shit, and the music wasn’t very good either, and Monster Magnet- and the lead singer was a tool. So we are off to a good start. At around 9:30, HIM came on and opened with Wings of a Butterfly. Which was awesome. The show went well- they had a good amount of energy. They didn’t really talk to the crowd much, but didn’t need to. Then there was the encore. They came out, played a couple of songs, the last being Poison Heart, which is an awesome song. But after the song, they transitioned into this kind of instrumental piece where Valo sang and it was so emotional and wonderful- he ended the show but yelling “Please God help me” and bowed and went off the stage while the other members kept playing. One by one they came off the stage, the last one being Gas (the drummer). The lights slowly came on and everyone left, seemingly in awe from what they just saw. That’s how I felt anyway. Later!

It would be a lie, thought not a major one, if i said that this concert was as good as the 1st one. However, This was an amazing trip. Monster Magnet sucked really bad. End of Story. When HIM came on (introduced by Phil and Ape Margera), that opened with Burried Alive by Love, like last time. They played basically the same set of songs, as well as Its All Tears and Love Said No, 2 songs i was really hoping to hear. Whats great about the HIM concerts is that Valo is very off the cuff (probably because he is drunk). He will say whatever is on his mind and

everything he says is cool. The show was great. Afterwards we waited a little, and met Ape and Phil, and they are so cool. So we left after that cause it was cold and it could only be assumed that Valo and Bam were getting tanked. Today we went to FDR, Bam’s main skate spot in Philly, and phil skated a little. All the pics from this weekend will be up soon, including a couple of good city line photos. Later!

That fine gentleman [that was] pictured is none other than Valo, vocalist and front man for the greatest band in the world, HIM. But let me start from the begining. We got there at 4:30 PM – 2 hours before the doors opened. Where we were standing, we could see the tour bus perfectly. 3 members of the band walked to it, where me and phil were stupid and didnt do anything about it. However, When Gas- the drummer- walked to the bus, i ran over, and got his autograph. Hes really cool.
Anyway, in the concert. Soil opened, we were in the pit. We got are asses kicked, as well as kicked asses. It was ok. The singer for Soil is real cool. Then the long awaited moment, the moment that me and phil have been waiting for since we heard of the finish band, came. HIM went on stage. A million people squished into the middle and so me and fil left the pit for a better viewing place. We went just outside the pit, dead center. SO Valo acknowledged us. Anyway, They opened with Buried Alive by Love, and ended with Soul on Fire. And the played Solitary Man. It was the most amazing, and awesome thing I have ever heard. I now know how Mike feels when he listens too his cds. The songs themselves are amazing and I cant imaging how they can write songs like them, but hearing them live is a million times better. My dad even liked it. They played every song, more or less that me and phil wanted to hear. And Valo was pretty funny on stage. They have an awesome stage presense.
After Soul on Fire, me and Phil went to the tour bus, where we waited a good two hours for them to come out. Universal Studios was in there making some kind of deal with them- which is fuckin awesome. But some of you might say- 2 hours is a long time. Damn right it is. But it was well fucking worth it. We met Burton, the bassist, Gas came out again, and then Valo. Who was really fucking cool. He was out there for a while signing everyones shit, and taking pictures.
If you ever get the chance to see HIM in concert, you must do it. It will be like nothing you have expirienced before. Later