When: January 26, 2006 Where: Black Cat in DC Occasion:Pagoda show Story:
*Please note that this is not word for word or detail for
detail. I have the worst memory ever and am basically reconstructing the
event the way I vaguely remember it happening. I have also purposefully
left out certain details. Ryan is one of the nicest people I have ever
met, and he talked a lot (I was just too preoccupied to remember exactly what he
said. Sorry!)
I asked my friend, Nicole, to come with me, although I didn't tell her
where we were going; I made it a secret. She's not a fan of the OC, but she did know who Johnny was (no worries, she has now
pledged to always watch the OC).
The Black Cat is split into two levels with the mainstage
(bigger) upstairs and a bar and backstage (smaller) on the ground floor.
Before the doors opened, people attending the show hung out at the bar.
While Nicole and I were walking towards the bar, guess who walked past us?
Ryan. That was the first time I've seen him. We sat down, and I
pointed him out to Nicole, who to be honest, feel in love with his face at first
sight (she'll later fall in love with his drumming talent).
So we sat around waiting for doors to open while Pagoda's
band members walked around the bar and chatted with each other.
Once doors opened, we went in, and about ten minutes later,
the band members came in. Fans came up and took pictures and chatted
shortly.
Then the performance began.
I am the first person to admit (and I did to Ryan) that I do
not normally listen to Pagoda's kind of music. However, Pagoda is great
live! They are all just natural born performers who know how to draw in a
crowd and get people tapping their feet to the music. Ryan is an
AWESOME drummer; it's obvious that during the thirteen+ years he's been
drumming, he hasn't just been banging around, but actually making music.
After the performance, Nicole and I stayed for a couple songs
from Knots. Then, we decided to venture out to the bar to find Ryan before
we left (we had to get back before midnight because the metros to campus stop
around then). So because I felt semi-stalkerish asking for a picture with
him, we stood around for a while waiting for the crowd around Ryan to disperse.
During that time, several things happened that I will not write about here, but
were very interesting.
Then finally, I couldn't wait anymore and just cut into their
group and interrupted Ryan. Me: Hey! I just wanted to say great set! You guys are awesome. Ryan: Thanks. He led us over to a less crowded area. Me: I don't normally listen to your kind of music, but you guys are great live
performers. Ryan: Thanks. What kind of music do you listen to? Me: It's kind of embarrassing, but I'll tell you anyway. Like punk and emo. Ryan: Emooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Nicole: Can't you tell? She's like an Abercrombie model. Ryan: Oh, you're into that stuff? *this part of the conversation has been edited Me: Yeah, and I definitely look like I do, don't I? The reason I was
taking pictures of you was because I created a fansite on you. I actually
got a lot of help from Justine; she ran that first fansite on you. Ryan: Oh yeah, yeah. I know of her, but I've never met her. I took out a slip of paper with R-D.com on it and gave it to him.
Sam: It's your name with a hypen and then dot com. Ryan: I was on it the other day. Or was it today? Me: Right.... Ryan: No, I liked that New York skyline. Nicole and I were then completely speechless. Ryan: But I have to ask about that 'Focus' thing. Me: Oh, no! I did spell it wrong. People told me it was with a K,
but I wasn't sure so I didn't change it. Ryan: Yeah, it's with a K. Me: I'll fix that tomorrow. Would you mind if we took a picture? Ryan: Sure. Nicole took a picture. Me: Thanks! He hugs me (one of the best hugs of my life). Me: Thanks again! And great show. Ryan: We have another show tomorrow at Tonic. Me: Oh, in New York? Nicole's from there. Ryan: Really? Where? Nicole: Long Island. Can't you tell? Me: Oh! I'm sorry to ask, but can I have an autograph to give away to a
fan? Ryan: Sure! Me: *edit* I don't have a pen.... Or paper. Ryan then gives us back that slip of paper with R-D.com on it. Ryan: That girl over there has a pen (if you are that girl, please
contact us!). The girl gives us her pen. Ryan and I move to the other corner. Ryan: Who should I write it to? Me: I don't know. To a fan? I'm going to hold it as a contest
prize. He writes. Me: So how did you find out about R-D.com? Ryan: Oh, I was looking at the Pagoda myspace site and saw it. Me: Yeah, why did Kevin close it? *this part of the conversation has been edited Ryan: But that's all resolved now. Kevin's friend was actually here
tonight. *this part of the conversation has been edited Me: This is going to make a fan so happy; you have the best fans. Ryan: Thanks. *this part of the conversation has been edited Ryan finishes signing the paper. (To see this, please visit the
autographs section.) Ryan: Oops, I signed it backwards. I don't know why I did that. Me: Thanks a lot! This is great. Ryan: No problem. We walk back to Nicole and the girl. Nicole: Do you mind taking a picture with her? Ryan: Of course not. Nicole takes the picture. Then I take a picture of Ryan and Nicole. Me: Thanks. Sorry for bothering you! Hopefully I'll see Pagoda
again. Ryan: No problem. Bye! Then we left.... And screamed like little girls once we stepped
outside.
Story:
*Please note that this is not word for word or detail for
detail. I have the worst memory ever and am basically reconstructing the
event the way I vaguely remember it happening. I have also purposefully
left out certain details. Ryan is one of the nicest people I have ever
met, and he talked a lot (I was just too preoccupied to remember exactly what he
said. Sorry!)