You heard it here first, 23rd of March 2017 was the best day of my life so far. I may think I'm not that same girl that I was when I was a teenager, I've grown up a hell of a lot, I've gotten a better fashion sense and my music taste has gone from only listening to metal to enjoying almost all of the songs in the charts. One thing that hasn't changed however, is my love for All Time Low.
I first heard the band way back in 2008. My friend had introduced me to Dear Maria because it was her cousin's favourite song and I haven't looked back since. They quickly became my favourite band and they have stayed put for 9 years. Nothing Personal was the first CD I ever bought with my own hard earned money, (I was 13 and I had an ever growing collection of CD's but I have to admit I was a spoiled child. My parents bought me everything!) Nothing Personal became my favourite album after that and I think I played it that much that even my parents knew the songs.
Fast forward a few years and I still hadn't seen my favourite band live, but living in the middle of nowhere does you no good when you want to see bands. It takes an hour and a half to get to Manchester (which is the closest city that has GOOD gigs). I couldn't drive and my parents were so against me taking the train on my own before I was 16. Then out of the blue one day my Nan tells me her friend has a grandson in a band. And who was that band? Yes you guessed it, All Time Low. She had kept it to herself for 6 years!! So I met Alex's parents who brought a signed gift from Alex, and we were put on the guest list for the next show in Manchester. I thought THAT was the best show, but boy was I wrong.
So it's now March 2017, I had already booked my tickets to see All Time Low and I had an email through to tell me they were doing a signing before the show. So obviously I had to buy myself and my friend a place and then began the long agonising wait of a couple of weeks until the show. I had played it out in my head a thousand times over I had planned out what I was going to say. I was going to explain to Alex who I was and hope for the best that he knew who I was. But I choked! I got up to the signing table, said hi to everybody (konnichiwa in response to Jack's konnichiwa). I got to Alex and I managed to get out a hello, decorated with a big grin. I couldn't get the words out, and when I finally got the courage we ran out of time. We were being pushed towards the exit by the guards. It felt like the longest and somehow quickest 2 minutes of my life. But I met them and that was incredible.
Then it was time for the gig itself, we just managed to squeeze in with our early entry before the general admission came in and I was in and out of the merch stand within minutes. It was heaven. Unlucky for us we had to go back to the hotel just after the signing, so there were at least 400 people in the venue before us, if we didn't have to check in we could have been right at the front! We got a little bit tipsy while the support acts were on, I've never been drunk at a gig before but I highly recommend it, it made everything so much fun! I managed to sober up by the time All Time Low came on at half 9, I think it was the excitement and the adrenaline that sobered me up, and then began the hour and a half of bedlam. I was screaming out all of the songs at the top of my lungs, I was jumping up and down like my life depended on it. I was having the time of my life, and not even the guy standing next to me back chatting Alex and Jack could bring me down. All Time Low ALWAYS put on a good show and they're one of the only bands who sound exactly the same live as they do in the studio. The energy of the fans make it incredible too, of all the gigs I've been to All Time Low always brings the best crowd.
Then it was time for the after party, we arrived a little late because we went back to the hotel to charge our phones a little bit but we were back on it half an hour later. The venue was small and intimate and perfect. Alex and Jack were on stage being the DJ's for the night and me and my friend were out to get drunk again. Unfortunately for us they left about an hour or so later, I didn't get my selfie and I didn't get the chance to tell him who I was for the second time that night! It was an unbelievable day though. I couldn't pick my favourite moment even if I tried, the signing was amazing because I met them in person. The gig was brilliant because I always love it when I hear my favourite songs live. And the after party was so good because I swear me and Alex sang to each other at a few points during the night! Next time they come to Manchester if they don't have an after party or do something similar I'm going to cry. It was the best end to the best day and I loved every single second of it.
