Part 1: How To Party Like A Rock Star

It’s about an hour until the Black Eyed Peas are scheduled to come out on stage. But we decided to stay up at the stage anyways. We were right up front and center, we didn’t want to give up our spot. We chatted with the other people around us and basically didn’t move much. I especially couldn’t move. The girl to the right of me was pushing and shoving so I had to stand my ground in order to keep my spot and not fall over. I was getting quite upset about this since I was honestly just standing in one spot not minding my own business. Now I’ve been to my share of shows, been in my share of mosh pits, etc., I know that people are going to get pushed around and I’m fine with that. But seriously, this girl was shoving me like crazy and there weren’t that many people on the floor yet. I turned around and asked her nicely if she would please stop pushing me. She exploded in my face, claiming that I was the one pushing her. Insert a few other snide, catty comments and some profanities and evil looks and you’ve got what was being yelled in my face. I was taken aback. I said again to her, calmly and civilized, “I’m sorry, I’m just standing here minding my own business, could you please stop”. And I get chewed out and threatened. I’m not one for cat fights like that so I turned around and continued talking to my friends. All the while, this girl and her friend are complaining to the bouncer that I am pushing them, when in fact I was supporting myself on the support bar of the railing in front. Not pushing, just resting. Eventually this girl’s big ‘bouncer’ type boyfriend has to put his arm in between her and I. He stated it was because she was scared of me! Well, after that she quit pushing me with her body, but continued with her butt. She continued complaining because my butt was touching her butt. HELLO?! Are we in grade two here? I can’t help it if my butt is large and in your way, if you don’t like it, move your own big butt. Now all this time, I’m trying to ignore this girl and act like a grownup about the whole thing. Then suddenly, this girl’s friend leans over and claws my shoulder. Excuse me? I turn around, angry this time, and ask what their problem is. This time I get both of them yelling at me. Still trying to keep my cool I explain to them that this is what happens at a show, people will get pushed; if they don’t like it, leave. All I am doing is standing there minding my own business. They continue to bicker at me, calling me pathetic and tattling to the bouncers who just look at them like they’re stupid. Again I turn around and mind my own business. I’m not going to give in to them and leave so I stand my ground. All of a sudden one of them pinches me arm, hard. By that time I am frustrated and annoyed at how immature they were acting. I turned around and stated, “That really wasn’t necessary!” Then a third girl leans over calling me Honey, and explaining ever so sweetly that she understands that everyone is pushing but if I could please stop picking on them and just have fun and enjoy the show, and then she kisses my hand. And that my friends, is why I dislike 75% of the female population; most of the time they are snotty, catty, immature and most of the time just downright stupid. Luckily the show started before I could tell those girls just what I really thought of them.

Part 3: Black Eyed Peas Performance

I’m not a big fan of hip hop, but the Black Eyed Peas are a definite exception. The excitement that Fergie, William, Taboo and Apl produce on stage is automatically reflected in the energy in the crowd resulting in total chaos. They erupted on stage with their high intensity introduction, leading into two songs from their third CD, “Elephunk. They accompany their hip hop tracks with amazing break dance moves. You can tell that each member of the band is having a blast on stage by the way the smile, laugh and cheer each other on. They all look like they are having the party of the year up on stage while they jump and dance all over the place. It was really neat to witness Apl jump on the barrier and sing right over top of us during ‘Smells Like Funk’. Moves like that show that a band like this isn’t there just to make money, that they really are there to please the fans and give them the best show they are capable of performing.

After seven songs, the Black Eyed Peas left the stage. After a few short minutes of cheering and chanting from the crowd, William appeared back onstage. He took his spot behind the drum kit and began playing and singing Snoop Dog’s hit ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’. The rest of the group then joined him on stage singing other hits such as J-Lo’s newest single, Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl”, some Aerosmith and much more. They also took the opportunity to introduce their onstage band and gave them a chance to do some solo’s of their own. The introductions started off with Tim Izo, who announced was just recently engage. He is a master at the sax and the flute and produced amazing solos. Next up was Printz Board who plays the trumpet, the keyboard, and the bass guitar. Again, more amazing solos produced by this guy. By this time, George Pajon Jr. was itching to do his guitar solo. He was already started before William could finish introducing him. The solo was electrifying and a good lead up to Keith Harris’ drum solo. That man can hit the drums! Not only can he play well, he can play a wide range of music from punk to rock to hip hop. I was amazed at the talent that all of these people possessed. I have never seen an onstage band with so much energy, and I have been to a lot of high energy shows! They were all really excited to be up onstage doing what they love to do! I was impressed!

Following the solos came ‘Don’t Phunk With My Heart”. Not only did Fergie and the gang perform this song remarkably, they turned it into what seemed like a mini music video by acting out parts of the song. It was really fun and something that not a lot of bands out there do. It‘s something that really sets them apart from the rest of the mainstream artists. The next song was the groups latest single, ‘My Humps’ in which Fergie was the main attraction dancing all over the stage, shaking her ‘lady lumps’. This song really got the girls in the audience singing and dancing like crazy! The final song of the night was the groups first single, ‘Lets Get Retarded’. Now if you weren’t energized and completely into the music by now, you sure were by the end of this song! They worked the crowd like you wouldn’t believe.

All in all, this was probably one of the best shows I’ve ever been to, despite putting up with the catty girls. The Black Eyed Peas and their band all have amazing talents whether it be vocally, instrumentally, or physically. Not only do they produce good music, but they get the crowd excited and ready to party while getting themselves pumped as well. If you ever get a chance to see these guys play, whether it’s at a private party or not, I say go for it! You will love every minute of it.

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