Welcome To The Family Tour May 6 2011

For weeks my heart had been lost as I awaited May 6 2011. I couldn't get myself excited to see Avenged Sevenfold, Three Days Grace, and Bullet For my Valentine. Maybe it was because I was going alone since my friend said she could not come. Or perhaps its because I felt this weird connection in the music of Avenged Sevenfold and the late passing of their drummer, James Sullivan or The Reverend Tholomew Plague, and its affected me very much. It’s like any other death I've been through and yet I feel a personal connection with this.

I went with this idea that I was attending the concert as a support for them to show that were all there for them when they need us, as fans, to step up. However I believe something changed while I saw Avenged Sevenfold on stage do their amazing performance and pay tribute to the amazing ball of light, love, and laughter that was, and as I believe will still be, The Rev. It all started when vocalist M.Shadows announced to all those who haven’t seen A7X before, “Welcome To The Family.”

I couldn’t feel upset as M.Shadows spoke like a true friend when he introduced the background curtain containing an image of their late friend and laughing, “You all know that crazy mother fucker right there. He has been in the band for eleven years but our friend for over eighteen.” The crowd laughed. I was in awe. How moving was it that there I stood in the pit maybe five feet away from this band, live, and seeing them continue forward and remember someone who had been like a brother to them a brother to them as they begin So Far Way, which now has an amazing video accompaniment containing images and video of The Rev. At this point of the concert I had begun to cry like a baby because of the high emotions I was feeling.

I had never seen the band live before, which I wish I could have because it was probably an amazing experience. However even with a piece missing they were still breathe taking to see play live. It was as though The Rev may not physically be there but this ball of light and happiness was there encouraging everyone in the room. I felt as if he was there with them on stage as they played every note to each song they played. I couldn’t help this bubbling smile that was on my face as I cried because I felt this amazing happy energy inside telling me to enjoy each moment of this concert. I may not have met The Rev before but as M.Shadows promised, “One day when we all arrive up there I’ll introduce you to the man, The Rev.”

Something tells me I’ll be listening to this band quite possibly for a long time, and that is if they continue after this tour is over. I believe they will and if they do I’ll do everything I can to support these group of amazing guys. And maybe one day I’ll be able to say Thank You to them. Thank you for this amazing experience and for the love I had been missing for a while. I had nearly lost my faith in music, which is hard for me to do since it’s all I talk about. I attend concerts not just for the affirmation that the music is real and not faked but for the feeling between a group of friends that is visible when something just clicks. When something makes so much more sense because it something your creating that causes a feeling that this is just right, that this is what is supposed to be.

Thank you M.Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, Synyster Gates, Johnny Christ, and The Rev. This feeling is foREVer.

P.S. If you plan on using my photos even if you have just stumbled across my blog I'd appreciate if you'd just let me know you want to use them. Thank you.