stories: Jeska's Home...Detroit 2000

Preshow: The coolest pre-show moment occured before I even left work - I was one of the callers on 95.5's WBNL radio show and got to talk to all of the guys on the radio - I asked Jim if he was feeling better and asked them to play "Baby Seat" at the show that night - they said they'd think about adding it and then played "Baby Seat" for me after I hung up. It was an amazing way to start off a bnl day.

Ruth and I arrived at the Palace early, but couldn't find anyone from the boards outside (I think this was because it was about 20 below 0 out there). So we went inside to find out where our seats were. Finally got the tickets in my hot little hands and freaked out because it was 2nd row! Scouted out the seats and found out we had the last two seats in 2nd row Stage Ed. My mother got to the show and had the fan club seats right next to us. Excellent! (see pic 1- that's my mom and I in the little pic and left to right in the big one, Ruth, Jeska - me, Faith my mom- and Janice - her best friend).

Guster: Had an awesome set- these guys have really grown on me after 4 shows - and they seem to have grown more comfortatble with the large venues then they were at the beginning of the tour. I was amazed to find myself singing along to most of the songs in their set and was among maybe 5 people standing and dancing around in the first few rows. (I also remembered by Guster bubbles - any excuse to play !)

Partially through the set, I noticed Ed, his wife and two kids sitting on the side of the stage and got warm fuzzies watching him with his daughter. Ed also sang and danced on stage during one of Guster's songs- it was the only time most of the audience noticed Guster.

The Show: Of course the show was amazing. I am constantly amazed by the musical and performing talents these guys posess. During "Pinch Me", I managed the most perfect throw and watched with glee as the Edible Panties I purchased arced and landed directly at Ed's feet. He smiled when he saw them and continued the song. After the song, he holds them up and goes, "Now, I didn't say "I can hide out Edible Underthere" and shows everyone the box. I am laughing so hard by this time that I can hardly breath. People around me are high fiving me and laughing as hard as I am. What happened next was typical of the BNL- insanity that keeps me coming back - Steve offered to eat the Panties off Ed, causing me to laugh even harder. Ed agrees and runs off stage to get them on.

Moments later, he comes back to the stage without them and I realize they must've ripped as he sings back-up to "Old Apartment" with a twist - "Broken glass, Broken undies...". I have now been laughing for almost 5 minutes.

After the song ends, Tyler asks him where they were and Ed admits with a smirk that they broke and they goad him into putting them on anyways. This is where the show took on a slighty more mature rating - Steve ate the undies directly off of Ed's hips! It was priceless and hilarious. Steve made a nasty face and complained, "Yuck, it's tobacco flavoured." Which of course launched them into even more banter and hilarity.

Encores (or Jim has a mind like an elephant): The rest of the show as, of course amazing. They finished the show with that 80s pop hit, "Feed the World" with the BNL-Guster superband. Very nice. Before they left the stage, I waved goodbye to all of the guys, realizing that they would never remember who I was, well except maybe Kevin, but still waving like a freak anyways. A girl can admit she was wrong can't she?

When Jim reached my side of the stage after the first encore, he was waving his hands around and started talking and waving his hands towards me. The girl in front of me acted like he was talking to her, and I just waved and nodded back to him with a goofy smile on my face. I had no clue what he was saying, until I see him do the universal "phone" signal with his hand and realize he is talking to me, about the phone call to the radio station earlier that day! My mom (next to me) is freaking out waving her hands, pointing to me and stuff, trying to let him know it was me. I think he gets it and he smiles and they go off stage - in between the encores my mom tells me that she had watched his mouth and he had said "Jeska, was that you on the phone earlier today?" Needless to say I was amazed by his power of deduction and memory!

So after the last encore he wanders over again and I hold my hand up like a phone, point at myself, nod, smile, and mouth "That was me." He laughs, points to me and says "I Knew it was you, I knew it!" He laughs, waves and they leave the stage. He is one smart cookie - he either knew my voice or remembered me and the Jeska from earlier and put two and two together. Either way, he remembers me. This is when I realize that I'm officially a groupie.

Postshow: After the show, I gathered up as much heavy clothing as I could, put on gloves, a hat and scarf and went to stand by the busses, hoping I could continue the conversation Jim and I had started while he was on stage.

Unfortunatly, bnl-luck was not with me, since everyone was partying since they didn't have to tear down and leave town. Ed came right out to talk to us for a few minutes (see pic 2-4) in the cutest little hat and shiny coat. He walked up and said he wasn't going to sign anything, everyone was kind of staying away from him, so I took my cue to speak up about the Edible Panties.

"Hey Ed," I smiled and he looked over, "Sorry about the undies." and I smirked. He looked at me and laughed and said "That was you?". My panty/ed connection was made. Althought the rest of the guys didn't come out, I had a great time talking with all the other fans, laughing at how insane we were, and joking around with the crew. All in all, a great time was had by all - even while we were thawing out on the way home. - Jeska