Paramore at Waitakere Trusts Stadium

In what happened to be one of the best months I have had in a long time. March was filled with numerous international acts. Unfortunately I was unable to get to all of them, with my restricted income. Namely that of The Pixies. Now of which I find out the gig they announced in Christchurch is the same day as 30 Seconds To Mars. And as I cannot be in two places at once (lets admit, that would be pretty fucking cool) I once again miss them. Because there ain’t no way this bitch is missing Jared Leto and his tight tight jeans.

Anyway, the month of March contained a whirl-wind trip to Auckland for Paramore. Then the following weekend of insane madness for Backstreet Boys, Cobra Starship and Lady Gaga.

Paramore: It was totally awesome to finally see these guys live. We’ve only been waiting, oh, four years or so. Their albums do not do them justice. They are a band. Bands need to play live. ‘Nuf said. They sold out the first Auckland venue on the first day of ticket sales. It was then announced they were to move to a second venue and another allocation of tickets were to be sold. These also sold out promptly. Of course there was also the Christchurch gig the next night, which I hear was just as awesome. They played the usual hit singles – Misery Business, Brick By Boring Brick, Crushcrushcrush… ya get the picture. Also was a throw back to their first album, All We Know Is Falling. The Jury and the Saints opened for them. Another stand up Kiwi band. I personally love their catch phrase: “When you find someone else who hates The Beatles, U2 and Coldplay just as much as you. Start a band with that person.” – That’s my type of band. So first gig of the madness run was successful.

Backstreet Boys - chair dance!

Backstreet Boys: Oh swoon. If you thought these guys were awesome back in the ’90s, nothing has changed. They managed the same level of singing and dancing at this concert, that I expect they were doing 10 years ago. Afterwards, my voice was worse for wear from all the childlike girlish screaming and my eardrums were bleeding from everybody else’s childlike girlish screaming. They played the favourites – Everybody, Backstreet’s Back, Larger Than Life… But they also played the new from their latest album This Is Us (most of which I didn’t know, because I haven’t listened to their new album. Shocking, I know.) Overall, a good night of girlish fun spent with my sisters-from-other-misters (you know who you are!)

Good girls go bad at Cobra Starship.

Cobra Starship ft. Owl City: What a combo. Owl City opened. They were pretty fucking awesome. With their mini string section and shiz. Total respect there. But the fun really started when Cobra took the stage. This was the second time I’d seen them play (the first was with Panic! back in 2008) and I think they got better. Their third album isn’t the best – it has it’s moments, but their stage presence has most definitely improved. And being in the Auckland Town Hall was amazing. It was such a weird place to have a gig like Cobra, but that is what made it awesome. The only downside was the floor. I would suspect it is a dance floor, which has the extra bounce put underneath to give dancers help with their jumps. Unfortunately when you fill the floor with a mosh pit of people, you get an experience like being double jumped on a tramp. Uncomfortable. Fun, yes, but uncomfortable.

Mz Gaga.

Lady Gaga: OHEMGEE. Semi Precious Weapons opened for Mz Gaga. Rather fitting as they are just as provocative as she is. The most amazing part of the entire concert were the costume changes. I think it was 16 in total. Her singing was amazing, the full stage setting was amazing and the fact I got almost within touching distance of her, made it magical. Her stage show and presence were nothing like I have ever seen before. If you ever get a chance to see her, it is a must. It will change your life forever. EVER.

And that wrapped up the end of the massive weekend/month of gig madness I have ever been to. Needless to say I was exhausted. I could barely move without aching. I was sleep deprived and my voice was fairly non-existent. But as I like to think, if you still have your voice the next day, you didn’t scream loud enough.

She’s got her inner fierceness down.