March Your Ass Back In There...(An Epic Tale of a Perilous Journey to Skate and Surf 2004)

We left Thursday from the Barnes and Noble parking lot in Indiana around 6 PM.  The original plan was to leave around 4, so we were already two hours late.  We departed in the mini-van and headed for Pittsburgh to pick up Steve.  It was me, Austin, Bradley, and Erik (the name dropping shit that owes me money).  I drove since Erik said he had night blindnes - too bad none of us believed him.  The drive to Pittsburgh took two hours more than planned, so we reached Steve around 2 AM.  That sucked.  He jumped in the van and went to sleep.  He was in the middle of the whole finals thing and was pooped.  I drove more.  

We stopped at this cool gas station where you order food on this screen and they make it.  We needed real food to make the rest of our voyage alive.  I will admit, I rode the rumble strip most of the way through PA.  As we neared New Jersey, the sun came up and the night blind kid thought he could drive.  I hopped in the backseat, but couldn't sleep.  

It had now been almost 24 hours since my eyes were closed.  I dozed off for a few at a gas station.  I woke up and saw a sign in the window for Reese's White Chocolate Big Cups and whined that I wanted one.  Austin went in and returned quickly with a jug of water.

This is what happened:

Me: Where is my Reese's Big Cup?
Him: I knew you had expressed interest in one; I didn't know you wanted me to get one.
Me: (with tears in my eyes) March your ass back in there and don't you dare come back without a Reese's White Chocolate Big Cup.

I didn't get one.  We reached NJ and checked into the hotel with enough time to shower.  I slept.  I was tired.  It was now officially Friday.  We headed out with no directions to the coast.  When we got there the line was so long that we could not see the beach.  Where did all of these kids come from?  We hopped in line and there was no sign of the kids I was supposed to meet.  We sat down on the curb.  

There were these two girls in front of us.  They were totally the type of girls that would sleep with a roadie's cousin to get to a band.  So Erik starts shooting jive about knowing Kenny from The Starting Line and these hoes bought it and off they headed to the hotel across the street, the Berkeley.  We did not see him, nor did we want to for the rest of the weekend.  

Friday was kind of the day where you figure out what is going on.  It's cold and confusing inside.  The coolest thing was when we were running around upstairs trying to find the rest of the crew and I ran into Garrett from Brand New.  He was with a camera crew and he wanted them to interview me because I was his friend.  It made me happy to know that they still care about the people who were there for them in the beginning.  We ended up hooking up with a few of our friends from home and agreed to let them stay with us that night.  They were hilarious.  I really enjoyed having them around.

Saturday was ridiculous.  Taking Back Sunday played an acoustic show outside before the doors opened and it was O.K.  We were flyering for XROXX and decided to hand out Starburst with them.  A girl asked us if we worked for Starburst and Feigle responded, "Yeah, I am John Starburst."  That's just the kind of funny they are.  The day was nice, so we didn't mind chillin' outside.  We also caught up with them for lunch in a little diner.  Midday, we went into the small stage to sit down and discovered the Coheed and Cambria acoustic surprise concert.  It was cool, but I was tired and just glad to have a chair.  

Shortly thereafter, we booked ass to the main stage to catch a sneak show from Joan Jett.  To all of you little punk ass pozers who weren't giving Joan no love, learn your roots.  O.K., that night at the hotel, it was like being at home.  I
felt like I knew our visitors forever.  We were talking about tattoos and I asked them if any of them regreted any of them.  Fernando responded, "I'm in this lifestyle forever, so no."  I really think they are too.  That's what I like about them, they are not in the scene cause it's cool, they are in it because they want to be.

Sunday was one of those days that you remember forever.  We started the day by watching Army of Freshmen and then catching up with them and hanging out.  We made the trek to the van to get stuff for them and we hung out.  We talked about Dane Cook and Easy Mac.  It's weird being with them because they feel like they are your best friends and they are so real that it makes your forget they are in an awesome band.  

Later, we were all rushed out of the building because Static Lullaby had gathered such a crowd that they were a fire hazard.  It sucked, it was so cold outside.  At the end of the night, Something Corporate rocked us out with their rendition of Outkast's, "Hey Ya." The whole crowd was dancing and grooving and this dumb broad decides to go crowd surfing and got dropped on her head.  She deserved it.  

The coolest thing was "Pooh vs. Monster."  All weekend, there was this kid dressed in a full Pooh costume and on the last day a kid dressed as a monster called Pooh out.  Pooh kicked Monster's ass and then launched himself into the crowd.  Only at Skate and Surf!!!

There are some things that happen at Skate and Surf that will only ever happen there.  Only there can you meet someone in line, later on see their band, and a year later, see them on TRL.  The people and the bands are all like one
family.  It's like being locked in a building with 6,000 of your best friends.  It is so worth it, so go!!!!!

Jayne*Star
jayne.star@XROXX.com