Rage Against the Machine - July 23 - Hollywood Palladium

Its been over ten years since RATM has played a concert in their hometown of Los Angeles.  They are my son's favorite band so - I got him tickets.  

One of my philosophies in life is that you need to take the opportunities that come your way because you only have this ONE LIFE.  That applies to concerts too!  I could have come up with a lot of reasons NOT to get my son tickets but I want him to experience this.  I want him to have the thrill of seeing these guys on stage, live, in a small venue.  

He asked me if I wanted to go with him :)    It's a sweet gesture but I told him to invite a friend and that if he couldn't find one of his buddies to go I would be happy to go.  I LOVE Tom Morello's guitar playing but don't know if I could handle it (GA seating - standing all night - very very loud).  Sure, I stood almost all night at Bad Co. but that was different.  

They are doing a benefit show "fighting against SB 1070" the new law put in place in Arizona relating to immigration.  

I admire these guys for their talent and convictions but ... I just can't see myself in this audience.  Keven will have a great time.  

This reminds me of something that happened last summer related to Keven and a concert. His other favorite band is Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan was doing a solo concert but Kev was unable to attend because he was in jail at that time. His friends went and decided to hold up a sign that read "Free Keven". They were near the front of the stage and at one point Billy stopped the show and said something like "Okay, I have to know what this is about - who's Keven?" Then his friends and Billy had a conversation about him and one friend got the whole thing on video! It was very cool (well not the jail part - but the rest of it!)

Billy Corgan "Meets" My Son :)

WOW - this is one fun thing to share, I am so jazzed.  My son hasn't even heard about this yet!

Here is the story:  First of all, Keven's favorite band is Smashing Pumpkins.  He thinks Billy Corgan is "the man" and he indentifies with him because of some of the things Billy shares about his life that Kev can relate to.

So....the other day two of Keven's friends go to see Billy's solo band, and in honor of Keven not being there they made a sign that said "Free Keven". ( I smiled at this because its kind of cute but it makes him sound like he's in jail unfairly - he's certainly not!)

Well they kept holding up the sign and Billy finally says, "Okay, who's Keven and what's the story?" and proceeded to have a conversation with Andrew about Keven while Matt filmed the whole thing on his cell phone!!! 

So imagine it - your favortie musician (in my case lets use Bruce) is up in front of a crowd at a concert having a conversation about you - even though you aren't there to hear it - but its all caught on tape.  Keven will DIE! 

So tomorrow Andrew and Matt are going to surprise Keven with a visit (this is a first so far only family has gone to see him).  He is going to FREAK OUT in HAPPINESS to see them and then he will GO INSANE to hear the story I just shared! 

I LOVE IT!!!  I am so happy that my son is going to have such a great visit!  I can barely stand it!!  I had just sent him about five Smashing Pumpkin songs (lyrics only) the other day.  They aren't allowed music but he reads the lyrics and can hear it in his head.

I am waiting for the video to be transferred to YouTube, you KNOW I'll post it here!  (FYI, Keven is doing well and may be out next week to receive the help he needs.  He is not a criminal, he's a drug addict.  Unfortunately being an addict often turns one into a criminal)