June 16th, 1999 - En Route to NYC

I am sitting on a train, and it is about 5 in the morning.  Out of nowhere, 
Adam tells me that the Toilet Boys are playing Joey Ramone's birthday party 
at Coney Island High, in NYC.  It was originally just supposed to be a few 
bands, but then it turned into an all out event and I guess 12 bands are 
supposed to be playing.  So I am on my way to NYC now, with Lindsey.  We 
should get there at about 1 and we have to meet Adam and then go to Coney 
for sound check with him.  I hope this all works out ok.  The train might be 
delayed for a while so god knows what time we are going to get off it.  I am 
totally looking forward to this show.  The Toilet Boys are supposed to be 
doing 5 of their own songs and then 4 Ramones songs.  It is going to be 
extremely cool to see them up there with Joey.  I wasn't expecting to see 
them this soon but it came up suddenly and I had the day off and a little 
extra cash, so it's working out really well.

June 17th, 1999 - Buffalo, NY

Shit, I never expected a day like yesterday.  We got to Manhattan at 3 
o'clock, and called Adam right away.  We had to meet him at Coney at 4.  And 
while standing there waiting for Adam, who walks down the street but Jesse 
"Wannabe a VJ" Camp.  So of course we talked to him for a few minutes and I 
don't know what possessed him, but he gave me his number.  Then Adam shows 
up and we go inside.
This was my first time at Coney and it was a lot smaller than I had 
expected.  We were just siting around, talking, and showing some pictures 
from Canada when Rocket showed up.  This was Lindsey's first time meeting 
the Toilet Boys and she was REALLY freaked out.  (I mean she screamed 
"JESSE" as he was walking down the street.)  Sean and Eddie got there, then 
Guy.  Lindsey went to meet her friend Eron later and I watched the
soundcheck.  They did Another Day in the Life, Living like a Millionaire, 
and 2 new songs I have never heard before, one called Heartstopper, which I 
later learned was written by Adam, and I loved it.  Then they did a Rick and 
Sean number called Rock N Roll Whore that was also really cool.
Then Joey Ramone showed up and they ran through the Ramones songs with him. 
I just watched them, in awe.  I couldn't believe my favorite band was 
playing, with Joey Ramone singing.  And I was the only one there besides the 
sound people.
Later, after the soundcheck, Lindsey came back and we actually met and 
talked to Joey Ramone.  Lindsey said, "You don't understand how happy I am 
right now."  AAAAAAAAAAW.  And I simply asked him why is he having his 
birthday party in June when his birthday is actually in May?  His reply? 
"My birthday was in May, and now I am having my birthday party."  Fair 
enough.
I ended up leaving Lindsey in Manhattan while me, Adam, Rocket, Sean, and 
Adam's friend Albert walked over to Rocket and Sean's house.  I have never 
seen someone as excited as Sean was at this point in time.  He was like a 
kid.  It was so amazing.  After dropping off his bass, Adam and me went back 
to his house.  He walked his 2 pugs while I dropped off my stuff.  He let me 
watch the video that their friend recorded of their show in London, England, 
the one where they set the roof on fire.  That was awesome to watch!
Then we headed back to Manhattan where we hung at Coney for a while, and 
when Ronnie Spector performed, we couldn't even get up the stairs to see 
her.  There were just so many people there, I couldn't believe it.
I got ready for the Toilet Boys set, and they opened with DEUCE.  Guy looked 
hotter than I had ever seen him look before, and they played the other songs 
they rehearsed at sound check before Joey joined them on stage.  That was 
something so amazing, so awesome, I just couldn't believe it.  I can't 
really put it into detailed words, its all such a blur to me now, but this 
little bit of excitement just hits me whenever I think about it.
After the show me and Lindsey went back to Adam's and crashed.  In the 
morning we left for Penn Station, and here I am, on the train, weasing the 
juice, and wondering what the hell just happened.  It all went by so fast, 
yet it was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had.  I can't 
believe I didn't bring a camera!

August 18th, 2000

I can't believe I slept the entire way to New York. Normally the train keeps me awake, but Elijah and I took some great sleeping stuff and managed to sleep the whole ride.

When we got to the hotel we realized that we had to hurry because we had to meet the guys for sound check at 2. When we got to the Continental we went in and got to watch them soundcheck. It was incredible. I knew they had changed some of the songs around, and I was afraid that I would not like them, but then at soundcheck we got to hear Ride and it was pretty incredible. The new Hollywood really leaves this question unanswered... How did they manage to make the perfect song better? Getting to soundcheck was a real chore, seeing as I only knew the general direction we were going, and we got off at the wrong subway stop and walked for 45 minutes in the pouring rain. But once we got there it was worth it. I am back at the hotel now, and am going to take a nap before the show.

August 19th, 2000

I can't believe it's been so long since I've seen this band. Almost 14 months. And they have changed so much in that time... Their show is so much better, the songs are all different and played with a new ferocity. I am finding it hard to put it all into words...They opened the show with 2 new tunes, The Party Starts Now and Saturday Nite. These songs rock so fucking hard. My new favorite song is Kiss in the Wind. It's a very beautiful song, has a very tender feel. Guy and Sean wrote it and I never thought I would like a song more than I loved Hollywood, but this one is just so touching. They did a small change to Livin' Like a Millionaire. It's got a new chorus that goes, "Got nothin to lose, baby I don't care, cause I'm livin like a millionaire." It just really adds to the song I think. Another Day has this tiny change in the guitars during the chorus and they added some melody to the chorus as well. It sounds excellent! I was really amazed by the whole show. I was so happy to see them play live again that it was just too much. I got up on stage holding one of the Toilet Boys signs to get the crowd going for an encore. I guess I did a pretty good job because they came back out and rocket it some more. They had the cheerleaders, too. I got to see Lyle Derek shake his pom poms once again, and it was a great nite.

Elijah and I are so tired today that we have pretty much slept all day. He's still sleeping. It's about 6 PM and we really have to get ready to go see them again tonite.

August 20th, 2000

Well, back on the train. These weekends tend to go much too fast for me! Last nite they played pretty much the same setlist, and the show was just as good, if not better. Jayne County came up and guest sang with the band, and dammit, that woman knows how to rock. I got some incredible shots of her! After the show we went to a party called Glam 2001 and had a few drinks. I met one of Eddie's friends, this cool guy named Vikas and also got to see Theo. It was a great nite, and finally after we got back to the hotel around 5 I went to bed and then got up this morning around 11. We hit the train station and got on the train around 3. We should be home by midnite. I honestly cannot wait to get home and sleep in my own bed. This trip truly was incredible though. I am so happy that I got to go!