Brandon
Show: Kansas City, MO @ The Uptown Theater, 11/6/09
Age: 25
Distance traveled for show: 1300+ miles (Tempe, AZ)
On why he traveled so far to see AFI: Well, it was on my birthday. And I did research on all the venues for this tour and this is the one that kinda caught my eye.
On how he came to hear about AFI: Since late 1998, actually. A friend played "The Prayer Position" for me. Not long after that, the Short Music for Short People compilation came out with that "Hearts Frozen Solid" song. Then I waited for the All Hallows EP to come out and I've been dedicated ever since.
On why he became more than a casual fan: I mean, back then, the music scene was so saturated with crap and you could hear and feel the emotion in the lyrics. They weren't what other people were talking about. It's something that was an emotional thing that had a sound that made its way into my heart.
Because, you know, some bands you can listen to for a week, but there's some that you can connect to on an emotional level that might help you through certain times. Which it did for me. It became much more of a personal thing because I can relate so much to the lyrics.
On specific instances in AFI's music that had personal relevance to his life: There's a couple. Probably off of Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes...there a couple on there where I was at a time in my life when I could relate most to those lyrics. In "Coin Return," the line, "I have slipped, I have fallen, so far down I can't get up." It was a time when I was feeling that sort of thing. And AFI embraced that, and kind of used it as a way to get out of it. That gave me strength and motivation.
On getting to see AFI live for the first time: It was December of 2000. It was a co-headlining tour with Rancid when The Distillers opened for them. It was in Tempe, Arizona at a venue that's been condemned since them. It was the most memorable show I've ever been to. They played all my favorite songs, mostly The Art of Drowning and Black Sails songs. You can't ask for more than that.
On why he sees AFI at every opportunity: The interaction and the charisma they have on stage is so captivating. It's really an emotional experience to see it with other people who feel the same way and that have that intense passion for the band. And you're all signing together with songs that mean so much to you in different ways. It's really powerful. It's almost addicting, in a way. It's a physical release and an emotional release.
Ideal songs to hear live
Too Late For Gods
The Despair Factor
Coin Return
Narrative of Soul Against Soul
Age: 25
Distance traveled for show: 1300+ miles (Tempe, AZ)
On why he traveled so far to see AFI: Well, it was on my birthday. And I did research on all the venues for this tour and this is the one that kinda caught my eye.
On how he came to hear about AFI: Since late 1998, actually. A friend played "The Prayer Position" for me. Not long after that, the Short Music for Short People compilation came out with that "Hearts Frozen Solid" song. Then I waited for the All Hallows EP to come out and I've been dedicated ever since.
On why he became more than a casual fan: I mean, back then, the music scene was so saturated with crap and you could hear and feel the emotion in the lyrics. They weren't what other people were talking about. It's something that was an emotional thing that had a sound that made its way into my heart.
Because, you know, some bands you can listen to for a week, but there's some that you can connect to on an emotional level that might help you through certain times. Which it did for me. It became much more of a personal thing because I can relate so much to the lyrics.
On specific instances in AFI's music that had personal relevance to his life: There's a couple. Probably off of Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes...there a couple on there where I was at a time in my life when I could relate most to those lyrics. In "Coin Return," the line, "I have slipped, I have fallen, so far down I can't get up." It was a time when I was feeling that sort of thing. And AFI embraced that, and kind of used it as a way to get out of it. That gave me strength and motivation.
On getting to see AFI live for the first time: It was December of 2000. It was a co-headlining tour with Rancid when The Distillers opened for them. It was in Tempe, Arizona at a venue that's been condemned since them. It was the most memorable show I've ever been to. They played all my favorite songs, mostly The Art of Drowning and Black Sails songs. You can't ask for more than that.
On why he sees AFI at every opportunity: The interaction and the charisma they have on stage is so captivating. It's really an emotional experience to see it with other people who feel the same way and that have that intense passion for the band. And you're all signing together with songs that mean so much to you in different ways. It's really powerful. It's almost addicting, in a way. It's a physical release and an emotional release.
Ideal songs to hear live
Too Late For Gods
The Despair Factor
Coin Return
Narrative of Soul Against Soul
