stories: Daniel's Houston Postshow Fun - 10/3/2000

Postshow Waiting: After a fantastic show at the Compaq Center, my friend and I went to the parking lot, looking for the tour bus. After being directed by a security officer, we headed for the parking lot closest to the back of the venue, only to find out there was no admittance beyond a certain point unless you had a backstage pass. It was 11 o'clock and I could see the buses. There was no sign of the band, just some backstage workers walking about and such. Some people who had attended the concert (who had obviously met the band) were walking out with no backstage passes. Other people who weren't staff were walking into the restricted area with no backstage passes on. I had contemplated walking in casually but I was afraid I would be thrown out. I didn't want to take that risk so I asked my friend but he didn't want to go alone, so we decided to wait it out.

Sneaking In: After more than an hour of standing outside near the open gate, my mother suggested we just try to walk in. I thought we might as well try, and if someone asks us where are out passes we would just say that we wanted to know when the band would come out. My friend and I began to walk and no one said anything. I guess we blended in very well. We walked past the buses and we saw the guitar player from Guster who acknowledged us. But we saw no sign of the band we were searching for. Defeated, we began to walk back to the gate until we saw some kids who had been onstage during the show emerge from a hallway. I asked them when the band was going to come out. He said that they were just partying with them and showed me a copy of Barenaked Lunch signed by the band. We began to chat with one of the guys and we discovered we were both in the same grade and in the same school. Then they left and I ran to the gate and retrieved the camera from the mother. My friend and I began to wait by the hall they said the band would be emerging out of.

Kevin Hearn: A man in black (long sleeve shirt and pants) emerged from the hall wearing a backstage pass. He had a strong resemblance to Steven Page. But we weren't sure it was him and ignored him and continued waiting. Finally some people began to emerge from the hall (from the party). A few moments later I saw this kind of pale guy with dark messy hair come out - wait it was Kevin Hearn! He was with a young woman and they walked out of the hall towards the bus lot. As soon as they came out of the hall and into the lot I asked Kevin "Can you please sign my shirt?" I think I said please. As soon as I asked him the question, he pulled out a Sharpie from his arsenal.

While he was signing my shirt I asked him if he knew a certain person. He said yes and I told him that I lived at her home now. He looked at his female companion and they nodded, as if they both knew my friend. I told him she had all these pictures of the band rehearsing and other memorabilia. Kevin asked me if living in this den of BNL fandom had converted me into a fan all of sudden. I replied that I only knew One Week and It's all Been Done when I first moved in. But then I heard the rest of the music and I realized they were really good. He then asked me if this was my first show and I said yes and asked him if we could take a picture. Kevin's friend offered to take the picture alongside the truck and I thanked both Kevin and his friend. He asked us our names and shook our hands. I asked him who the companion was. Is she your girlfriend" "She's my wife" he replied with smile. Then they looked at each other. When I informed BNL Chatter about his "wife" most people assumed he was pulling my leg. Anyways, I thanked him again and they went on their way.

Steven Page: We waited for a while longer and then twenty yards from us, the Steven look-alike was talking to some backstage employees. They were just about the only people there so I began to study them. My friend finally realized it was Steve! I looked a little longer and then saw him do a little dance. It was definitely Steve! We took our camera and we began to approach him, even though I felt a little silly because we were the only ones there and he knew exactly what we were going to ask him. He was a domineering figure, and quite serious. I asked him to sign my shirt. While signing my shirt I asked him if he knew Cindy Royal. He said "yes" and I told him I lived in her home now. Steve replied, "You live with her?" I asked him if the band was sleeping at a hotel. "No we're sleeping on the bus" "Why don't you fly?" I asked. He shrugged and replied casually "Too expensive". I then told him they had an awesome show. "Thanks" he replied.

I asked him if he could take a photograph, he obliged and one of the road crewmembers took the photograph. So we took the picture the same way we took it with Kevin and I was on one side of Steve and we all put our hands around our backs. I could feel the fat on Steven Page's back! I've heard that Steve can be hard to talk to because he's shy at times, but with he was cool with us and answered all my questions, and even took a picture with us. After the picture I thanked him, as he began to walk away I wished him luck on the tour and he thanked me. What a great night! - Daniel