Aaron and Santa Cruz
Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2014 12:49 am
Back in the day, and really, I mean back in the day...when the way you had access to the internet was downloading AOL from a hard disc and making sure no one used the phone so you could sign on with a modem which made the loudest most annoying sound for about 10 minutes and then finally clicked you online. Then when I was signed into America Online (once a powerful force in the landscape) I went to message boards, chose the sub-title "Music" then the sub-sub-title "Rock Music" and finally then the sub-sub-sub-title Pearl Jam. I'd post there under the name of "noisaddct".
I haven't regularly posted in a forum like this since then. Nearly 15 years I'd say. I've kinda missed it lately. So here I am again. I want to reminisce. I want to share and learn. I want to commiserate with my kind. You understand. I know you do because you are reading this now.
So here's the first story I want to tell. I started talking to this guy named Aaron. I don't recall his screen name. He had logged onto the message boards late one night and saw that just moments before someone had posted the comment "why does eddie spit so much onstage?" Aaron noticed that just seconds before he looked it had been answered "because sometimes I like to clear my throat..,". Could this actually be eddie? Aaron thought and he immediately emailed the respondent and started a "pen pal-ship". The person did claim to be eddie. And he told Aaron that pj would be opening for the Stones in SF but they would be playing a secret show in Santa Cruz to warm up at the Catalyst Club. He asked if Aaron wanted to go and that he could bring some friends and he would put him on the guest list.
So we are in Santa Cruz. I had been put on the list through a favor from a friend. I met Aaron in Santa Cruz. He was worried that his story was true, He and his friends had driven in from Sacramento on the faith that this guy on the internet that Aaron had never spoken to much less met was actually vedder and put him on the guest list...I mean...really?!? Right?!
So we go around to the back. I ask for Eric Johnson, and when he pops out we ask if he would check if Aaron is on the guest list. He tells Eric his name. Eric says "plus how many" Aaron says "plus 17" PLUS SEVENTEEN. I fucking swear to god he said "plus 17". Even Eric Johnson looked at us like "yeah right" I mean...really?!? Right?!
so a little sidebar here...he brought 17 people here. How cool and frightening is that? Cool because his friends said "oh yeah? you've been talking to eddie vedder online and he says they are playing in a club and will put you and 17 of your friends on the list? hell yeah I'll drive with you to Santa Cruz" and he had 17 of THOSE friends. and frightening if Eric walks back out and says "nope" and you gotta go tell all 17 of them that its not happening.
So Eric goes into the club. He's inside for like 10 minutes but it feels like 40. Finally he steps out and says "yep you're on the list, you plus 17".
I haven't regularly posted in a forum like this since then. Nearly 15 years I'd say. I've kinda missed it lately. So here I am again. I want to reminisce. I want to share and learn. I want to commiserate with my kind. You understand. I know you do because you are reading this now.
So here's the first story I want to tell. I started talking to this guy named Aaron. I don't recall his screen name. He had logged onto the message boards late one night and saw that just moments before someone had posted the comment "why does eddie spit so much onstage?" Aaron noticed that just seconds before he looked it had been answered "because sometimes I like to clear my throat..,". Could this actually be eddie? Aaron thought and he immediately emailed the respondent and started a "pen pal-ship". The person did claim to be eddie. And he told Aaron that pj would be opening for the Stones in SF but they would be playing a secret show in Santa Cruz to warm up at the Catalyst Club. He asked if Aaron wanted to go and that he could bring some friends and he would put him on the guest list.
So we are in Santa Cruz. I had been put on the list through a favor from a friend. I met Aaron in Santa Cruz. He was worried that his story was true, He and his friends had driven in from Sacramento on the faith that this guy on the internet that Aaron had never spoken to much less met was actually vedder and put him on the guest list...I mean...really?!? Right?!
So we go around to the back. I ask for Eric Johnson, and when he pops out we ask if he would check if Aaron is on the guest list. He tells Eric his name. Eric says "plus how many" Aaron says "plus 17" PLUS SEVENTEEN. I fucking swear to god he said "plus 17". Even Eric Johnson looked at us like "yeah right" I mean...really?!? Right?!
so a little sidebar here...he brought 17 people here. How cool and frightening is that? Cool because his friends said "oh yeah? you've been talking to eddie vedder online and he says they are playing in a club and will put you and 17 of your friends on the list? hell yeah I'll drive with you to Santa Cruz" and he had 17 of THOSE friends. and frightening if Eric walks back out and says "nope" and you gotta go tell all 17 of them that its not happening.
So Eric goes into the club. He's inside for like 10 minutes but it feels like 40. Finally he steps out and says "yep you're on the list, you plus 17".