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================================ *Rain's Gonna Wash Away I Believe This* Stories ================================ ~Short stories on or inspired by Matchbox 20~ This story is a lot like the song Kody, and a bit like 3AM. I can't say whether it is true or not, maybe it is, maybe not............... y'all can decide for yourselves. ‘Almost Time' I thought to myself as I look at my clock. It's red numbers glare out into the inky blackness of my room 12:45. The night was like most in central New England, hot and muggy. I lay on my bed listening to the silence, sometimes it was like a companion. But not now. Now it screamed its tones where deafening. I nearly smiled at my next thought, which without realizing it, I had whispered aloud cutting into the very subject. "It could drive you crazy, the silence." Except I already am. I climbed out of bed and creapt down the hall, at the end it came to a T. My parents room was there. I stopped and held my breath, I listened for the steady breathing that was my all clear...They were asleep, and I could go free. I made my way down the stais, till I was four from the bottom, those four creaked far too much to walk on. I leaned on the banister and flipped over it, landing silently on the cool tile. Through the house to the basement. Under the old armchair I pulled out an oversized sweatshirt with my Birkenstoks in the pocket. I slid out the bulkhead door, the musty heat clung tightly around me. Climbing over the chain-link fence, the rattle that it made was non-existant compaired to the squeaking that the gate would have made. If I got busted I was in deep shit. I stared walking and thinking. ON and on. The night grew thicker. The moon and stars where blotted out by thick clouds. The circles that where cast by the streelights where like search spotlights, attempting to disclose the secrets below them. I always avoided their light. I just want to leave, to keep walking. Not to be or get to anywhere, but to not be where I am. Wherever that happened to be. To keep walking till it all made sense, or I didn't care. The hour passed as they always did, seemingly endless, but passing before I knew it. I found myself standing on the sidewalk of an overpass. I peered over the rail, at the highway and passing cars below. I want to jump. I lean over the rail till I am bent in half like a stlff piece of paper, the blood rushes to my head and for several seconds I feel like I truely am falling. One of my sandals falls from my sweatshirt pocket, and I watch it hit the highway below. "Fuck!" I hollered after it. I leave my perch to retrieve my shoe. Down the long grass embankment to the highway. I dart accross the first lane, into the middle of the second. As I snatch up my shoe, a car grazes my knee, the baffled driver lays on the horn as I flick him off. I wish he had hit me. Angry that he didn't I sat, indian style,on the grass curb with my back agaist the exit ramp sign. Cars and trucks fly past, creating a humm that strangely begins to pacify my swelling frustration, almost like music. A gray car pull over "Want a lift?" a mans voice drolls from the drivers seat, his face hidden by cigarette smoke. "No, but thanks anyway." "What's a young lady doin' on an exit ramp damn near two in the mornin'? Eather you want a fukin' ride or your looking to get yourself hurt, either can be arranged" The stench that billowed from his window was riddled with alchol and cheap cigars. "You can just keep driving, I said ‘no thanks'" "So you want to get hurt, how ‘bout a little fun..." The man reaches for the door handle. This action, and his words infuriate me "Don't fuck with me old man, I'm not intersted in any of your shit, so hit the fuckin' road!!" "Bitch", he snarels as he peels out onto hthe highway, spraying my face and arms with gravel. I can hear my pulse in my ears as I lean further back onto the pole. ‘Shit, I need a cigarette, and a drink' I say out loud to the passing truck. I don't even smoke, but lately I've had the worst cravings. I make a mental note to grab the bottle of bourbon from over the basement stairs on my way out when I go tonight. I wish I had it with me. As I sat, it began to drizzle, slowly at first, before I realized it, it had gotten heavier, till it was pouring. My watch alarm goes off breaking the earthy rhythm of the cars and the rain. I stretch and ring out my long, sun-bleached hair, allowing it to fall back, tosseled, onto my soaking shoulders. I stretch and climb the enbankment. Time draws onward as I make my way reluctantly thru the strees twards home. I don'twant to go back to that house. I just want to leave, to keep walking. When I am out alone, I am lonely but I can think. I am far from alive as I can get, without dying, that is. The only thing that can overcome the pain, and the numbness is anger. I hate how I am and where I am, I want to be left alone, but at the same time I want to be someone's possesion, to be cared for and told what I want and what I think. But that was exactly what I am running from. No, I'm not running from it, I'm walking, and walking back to it. I hate this fuckin' place, and I hate the people that made me hate it even more. Thoughts overwhelm me as I find myself once again in my basement. I leave the sweatshirt and shoes in a wet pile under the old armchair. The carpet of the basemant stairs is mockingly comfortable on my weary feet. The kitchen floor is cool, even in the heat. The sweet aroma of fresh coffee fills me. I love that smell more than anything about this place, one of the few comforts I can find. The timer on the coffee maker says 5:15. I am late, later than I have ever come in. I reach the top of the stairs silently, skipping every other stair. I slide into bed. I will sleep until just before my mother leaves for work 7:15am or so. I wonder if she will notice my wet hair. The rain pummels my skylights as I drift to sleep. Tonight I will wait till they are asleep and I will once again asleep, and I will be free. To walk, or sit, and think. To keep walking. Maybe I'll even have the balls to keep going. To keep walking untill it all made sense, or I didn't care.........-dreed3@juno.com To check out a funny story featuring MB20 go to: Lex Luthor's Underground Sanctuary http://home.istar.ca/~luthorl/ It would be in the 'zine, but it is humongous. If you love MB20 fiction be sure to check this out.
================================ *Funny How it Comes to Pass* Concert Reviews ================================ ~Matchbox 20 concert experiances~ I didn't know you guys wanted to hear about this, I guess I'll share the info. It was over the summer, sometime in July. It was WAY hot out up here in New York. My friend called me up and asked me if I wanted to go see Dave Letterman, he had forgotten he had the tix and he had no one to go with. We were in a rush, so we didn't even check who'd be on. We get there, and it's HOT AS HELL in the city. So Dave had his guys at the door telling us to go around to the "HELLO" deli and get a free drink on Dave. Well, while we're waiting on line outside the door, the drink got to me, so I went inside to relieve myself. You'll never guess who was doing their soundcheck! That's right, MB20. So I listened through the doors a minute, and then walked back out. Well, when they came out to do their performance on the show, it was really cool. They did "Push" for us. Rob's lady friend was AMAZINGLY hot. They played the song pretty well, and it had some feeling in it, but they didn't go nuts or anything. That's pretty much the only time I saw them, and it was cool. -Brendan (statmanBBB@aol.com) Thanks to my lovely friend Lee Anne, I am able to bring you a review of an OUTSTANDING concert I went to last night (10/29) in Atlanta. We got there kind of late, halfway through the opening band--Lili Haydn. I wasn't too impressed with her, but managed to keep my close-to-the-stage spot during her performance. So Matchbox20 comes on stage and I almost have an heart attack--they looked spectacular (which isn't the point of the band but it's my opinion so I threw it in). They opened with Busted, of course, and proceeded to put on over an hour and a half of one of the best shows I've seen. There were a lot of lyrical variations, like in Shame, that were badass. They did 3 new songs--"You and I and I", "Tired", and Kyle's beautiful song "Happy". And for the first song of the encore Rob came on with his Elvis guitar and performed "Time After Time"...a tremendous highlight of the show. The band sounded amazing and flawless...Rob seemed extremely happy to be in Atlanta and everyone was happy to have the band. So afterwards I stood outside, next to the tour bus for 2 hours waiting for them to come out. Finally, the crowd thins out to about 10 and Kyle strolls out. He signs autographs and when I get to him, I told him how much I loved his song. And he hugged me and thanked me profusely...then we talked about how I had driven 5 hours (from Tallahassee) to get to the show and he seemed really impressed and hugged me again. I was complaining to him how cold my feet were--it was like 30 degrees out--and was like "Oh no, really?" and sat on the ground and starting rubbing my feet and blowing on them to warm them up!!!!! When he was leaving he invited me to go to a nearby bar they were planning to head to but I couldn't because we were driving back that night. So he left and Brian came out. He's so hilarious...he introduced himself to me like I didn't know who he was...so I played along and said "Oh, you're in the band?" He started laughing and was like "You're awesome". Then, FINALLY, Rob came out and I got Brian to introduce me to him. Rob comes over to me after signing some shirts and gives me a huge hug and kiss on the cheek and says "Vanessa what's up it's really good to see you" like we're old friends. I almost passed out...he was really warm and I almost jumped him. But anyway I told him how awesome the show was and gave him a pack of Camel special lights b/c I heard he like them...he was like "Wow thanks so much"--then I pointed out how I wrote my # on the side and he told me they were planning to hang in Tallahassee during Christmas break so he would give me a call. RIGHT ON!! So then my friend was ready to leave and I told him goodbye and he hugged me again, really hard, and kissed me on the corner of my mouth. Then he signed a paper I had: "Vanessa you are the cutest" etc etc love Rob. I'm sorry this review is so long but it was really one of the best nights of my life...have a great day! --Vanessa VanessaWW@aol.com I first saw Matchbox 20 while I was summering in Chicago; The performance was truly amazing! I saw them again earlier this month here in San Fancisco and I am so excited, because I am planning a trip back east and it would appear as though my visit to New York will coincide with their show at Ham-merstein. I think the group is so much fun to see in person. They play very well together, as though they have played together for several years. They sound just like their CD. And this brings me to the next point, which is that I love this CD. At the end of the day when everyone is gone and I have the office to myself, I load it in my CD Rom Drive and crank it up! My favorite song is "Busted" and the guys always open with it! Oh especially, love the part, where Rob sings, "I just want to get inside you, inside you." Oh, I do love his voice. -Lisa Martinez Reeves902@aol.com Matchbox 20 on October 31, 1997 at Austin Music Hall in Austin, TX: To answer the first question that I'm sure comes to mind - no, the guys didn't dress in costume for Halloween. Rob did, however, address that during the show. He said that he actually did dress up for Halloween; he was going as "some asshole with an Elvis guitar." It was an EXCELLENT show through and through. Austin Music Hall is very small, and my friends and I had general admission, which put us on the floor in front of the stage. It was sold out, so the little hall was jammed with people. I was no more than 20 feet away from the stage, and could see everyone very well. Rob was wearing red velvet (sigh). They played everything from the album except "Argue," plus four non-album songs. They were "You and I and I," "Tired," and then two new songs - "Black and White People," and "Happy Now." The latter two of those songs were done for an encore, with "Long Day." Rob came out by himself to do "Black and White People." He just stood there inthe spotlight with his Elvis guitar - and it was a beautiful song. "Happy Now" was written by Kyle, and Kyle sang it - Rob said it would be on the next album. While Kyle sang - and he did a GREAT job - Rob stepped back from the spotlight and played his guitar with a cigarette dangling from his lips...ah, it was beautiful. By far I'd say the best song they performed was "Long Day." It was the last song they did, and everyone in the group put the most amazing intensity into it - Rob had his eyes closed, pouring himself into the song, dancing, Kyle pulled out every chord of the song perfectly, Adam played the rhythm guitar with his whole body, Brian launched himself into the melody, and Paul was absolutely slamming out the rhythm on his drums. The crowd just swallowed it up, jumping, connecting. I told my friends afterwards - I was the only one among us who was actually a huge fan of the band - that I must have died and gone to heaven 98 separate times during the show...I wanted to stay longer after the show to see if the band would come out and sign autographs, which I'm sure they would have, but one of my friends said she wasn't feeling so good because of all the cigarette smoke. So we left... Overall, I think I could spend at least a few weeks of my life at one long matchbox 20 concert - they were that awesome. Sorry this was so long, folks, but I'm STILL reeling from the whole experience. It's one I hope to repeat as soon as possible! *** Okay, I also have a quote. Rob said this in the middle of "Long Day" - the band kept playing behind him, and he stopped singing to talk to the crowd - and he launched into this "rock and roll is what we live for" speech. Something he said struck me as very funny - and maybe you had to be there - but here it goes anyway: "So the next time you're in an elevator smoking a cigarette, and the old lady next to you gives you a funny look, you just look at her and say...rock and roll!" Aaah, I dunno. It was the WAY he said it... Well, thanks guys! -Amber groovular@rocketmail.com I saw the November 1st concert with Matchbox 20 in Texas when they opened up for the Rolling Stones. They were awesome! They played Real World, Long Day, Push, Kody, Busted, Argue, Girl like that, and 3am. They were by far the best opening band. Since most people I know love them we got a bunch of people to come and we were all screaming but the whole audience loved them! They were by far the best opening band! -Gilly923@aol.com Ok, this is what I got: I went to see the guys in Austin and Dallas the next day. The Austin show ruled and they did some cool stuff. I have a few cool quotes from the guys. They just finished playing a song, and Rob said: "You know when you are standing in the elevator, smoking a ciggarette, and that old lady looks and you, and she just gives you that look, you just say, ROCK N ROLL BABY!!! That's the excuse for everything!" As they began to play Damn, Rob said, "this song is about trying to get laid!" When he was explaining Back 2 Good, he said, "You know when your with a girl, and your just like damn, she's the one. Then you walk around the corner, and you say, no, wait, now that girl, she is the shit! Then you see another one and you say, oh no baby, now she's it!" They played a couple of new songs....One Rob said he has never played in front of anybody before. He said he plays it with his buddies when they go drinking. He said he was playing it there because Austin was the music town. They also played a new song that Kyle wrote. It is called "Happy Now." They said it would be included on the next album. It was pretty cool. Kyle sang lead and Rob sang backup. I also got the set list from the show. If any one is interested, it is as follows just as they wrote it: (That drinking song is not listed and I don't remember what is was called.) 1. Busted 2. Argue 3. Girl 4. Shame 5. Real 6. Kody 7. 8. Damn 9. Back 10. Tired 11. 3AM 12. Hang 13. U & I 14. Push ---------------- 15. Happy 16. Long Hmmmm, I am trying to think what else I I have to say. I did get to meet the guys and they were awesome! They were so nice! They are a very humble group. They kept thanking me over and over again for buying shirts and coming to see them. They were just so cool. Oh yeah, I got another added plus. When I saw them in Dallas open for the Stones I saw them again. Kyle and Brian have family that live there and they came to see them. So I got to meet Kyle's mom, dad, brother, and sister, Brian's brother. They were super cool too! Well, I love these guys tons! They are by far my favorite band of all time! I can't wait to see them again! Matchbox20 Rules!!!! -WundrGIRL1@aol.com Here is Meera's concert review on October 24th for the show in Cleveland, OH at the Agora. Plus there is a ton of backstage happenings. Here is the review! -- Oh my gosh! I just had like the BEST night of my whole life(well, so far....)! Ok, I'll start out in the beginning. The show started at 9, but the doors opened at 8, and thats when I wanted to get there. My dad called me at 6 and said his car broke down.. I freaked out,but I went to sleep for a 1/2 hour (don't ask why..) Then I woke up at 6:30 and really started freaking out! Then he magically got home, cos his car was working now... So then we had to wait for my mom's car so his car wouldn't break down on us. We left the house at 7:30ish.... We got to The Agora at 8:15, and the first 3 rows were filled, so I sat in the middle of the 4th row. They were still good seats. So, first, before I sat down, I went to the lady with the guest list. She said I was on it, but only for tickets (which I already had!) so then I asked about Backstage/After Show passes, and she said I wasn't on under that, but she would see what she could do. I was freaking out cos I didn't want to not give them the scrapbook, so I asked her who she worked for and she said the band, so I asked if she could give it to them, and she said she would get it to them, so that's when I parted with that. I REALLY hope they get it! So then I had this sad look on my face cos I couldn't get b/s passes and she saw me and goes "Why don't you come back later and I'll see if I can get you a pair of passes?" And I was like ok! And so I left. Then we went and got our seats. The opening band/singer was Lily Hadyn. (They played 9-9:45)She was a violinist and she sang too. She had a band with a guitartist, bassist, keyboardist, celloist, and drummer. (The guitarist was HOT!) They had wierd music, but they were ok. After that I went back to the lady. She said to come back cos her boss was right there, to come in the middle of the show : ( So I went back to my seats and at 10:20ish the band came out! They were soooooooo excellent! I love them all! They started with Busted. I loved it! Then they went to all the other songs in the album, except for Long Day. They also played 2-3 extra songs that they said they didn't put on the album. For one of the songs...I think it was Damn Rob said "This song is about getting laid" and then the song after that was Back 2 Good I think and he said "If that song was about getting laid, then this song is about getting laid with the wrong person" The whole show was GREAT! I loved Kyle and Paul! They're so cute/hot! (Sorry Sabrina!) "Hang" was soooo GOOD! I loved that song.. I wish I could see it again! But these stupid girls were making rude comments when Kyle started singing. They were like "What the hell is this, we want our Rob back!" and "We don't want this guy! Rob sing for us!" I was gonna say something, but I was with my dad so I didn't. They left after playing Push. Then after like 5 minutes they all came back out and Kyle sang this song all by himself. Rob played acoustic guitar for this one (he also did for Hang). Then they ended with Long Day. For the person who asked, Rob DID sing that extra chorus, but no, I couldn't make out the words. Then the show ended and I was really getting excited. I went in the middle of one of the songs I didn't know and I went and got the passes. The lady had a pair for me!!! Woo Hoo!! Anyways, so we waited, but then I forgot about a T-shirt so I went and bought this reddish-brownish-maroonish long sleeve T-shirt that says "Matchbox 20....stole my baby" and then it has the MB20 logo on the back. So then I asked some guy about where I should go and he said just wait, so me and my dad sat on a bench and I saw these people with little posters, so I asked a security guard and he told me to go "bug" the Warner Bros. Rep and he would get me one. He did and then the doors opened to go backstage!!! I love this part! I went thru the 'magic' doors and I saw Rob Thomas a mere 5 feet away from me! I felt a huge smile form on my mouth! Then I looked to my left and I saw Adam! I was freaking out! Then I decided to look for Kyle. He was all the way in the back, but I managed my way back there. Paul stopped me on the way over! He introduced himself and I said hi and introduced myself. Then I got over to Kyle. I felt really, really wierd standing next to this famous guy that I love, so I wasn't acting to pushy. Then I finally got to him and I go "hey!" and I said "I'm Meera" And he goes "hi.." And then thought about it and then he goes ''Oh! Are you Sabrina's friend Meera?"and I said "yeah" and then he started talking to me like all cool and stuff. We talked and my dad came up and Kyle talked to him about how he got me the b/s passes and stuff and these 4 girls about 16-17 were standing there watching and they looked all jealous and I was just laughing inside! It was funny. Then I got his autograph and a picture and I told him I'd be back. Then I went to Brian. Now, Brian scared me! I went up to him kinda timid, cos I forgot his name and I go "hi.." and then he whispered 'hi' and then he started talking about how Mira means to see or something in Spanish and I was like, yeah. And then he was talking about how I should go to school one day and demand that everyone pronounce my name like MeeRAH! or something..it was weird and freaky! So I got his sig. and left. Then I went to Adam. He was so tall! (so is Kyle) I said hi and asked him to sign that poster I got and he did and I said I read his postcards from the Road (on the Official Website) and he started talking about that and the web and how he likes doing that stuff. Then he goes "Am I gonna get a hug?" And how could I resist! Of course I gave him one! Then I got a pic with him. Then I went to....Rob! There were ALL these girls flocked around him. I just wanted his autograph! So I said hi, I like your coat, can I have you sign this, can I take a pic w/.u? and then I left. Then I went to Paul! Paul is great! He is the perfect height for me! He is like 5'5'' or something (cos I was wearing heeled shoes). He goes! Hey! I saw you a LONG time ago! And then we talked and he signed my thing. And then I got a pic with him. Then I went back to Kyle and he gave me a hug and I told him I had to get something signed for a friend and then I was leaving, but I'd say goodbye to him before I left. So then I went around to all the guys again and got a new poster for Carrie and got signatures for her. Then I went back to Kyle, and we talked for a minute, and then I left. It was sooo sad when I left! There was a big MB20 poster on the wall and I had my dad take it down, but then this asshole security guard said they were for display and to leave them alone, and then we turned around and the girl he was talking to ran up and took it... @%$@!!!! And that's about it! I loved every minute of it! I love Kyle, Paul and Adam! Rob and Brian are cool too, but I love the other 3! I'm soo happy that I got B/S passes from that lady. This was like the BEST night of my life! I gotta go! I'm gonna fall asleep on the computer! -RubyTues23@aol.com ================================ *Outside it's Stopped Raining* Poems ================================ ~Expression through words~ Red Velvet (Ode to Rob) October 31, 1997 You wore red velvet It draped you like another body Which made love to you beneath the wash of a spotlight Among the screams of the crowd - Amber Warnke groovular@rocketmail.com Growl (Ode to Rob) Could your fierceness reach through sound waves & break time & air, Taking form, body, shape and wrap around me with infinite passion & intensity - Amber Warnke groovular@rocketmail.com I have been writing poetry for seventeen years now. I wrote my first poem when I was nine. Actually, it was a charade. Since you asked for contributions, I thought I would submit this inspired creation. It's a little rough, but I think it's still sweet. I hope you like it. I call it "Rob's Song" "Rob's Song" Once more mine eyes looked on you. You stood, your shake to my quiver. Once again I must summon the strength to push through I'll quiet this shiver. Your words are lasting as I continue to throb. And you croon, I just want to be inside you, inside... The most cherished lyric of all your melodies so easily robs me of my former state, so I'll hang my head to hide to disguise the unadulterated shame of an impure thought. Damn, maybe if I were a girl like that, I could impress upon you to see Still in the real world, I'm a dreamer for naught. For it was not a sudden whim, I was overwhelmed by your passion gradually. Kody says I dream wide awake, but you caught that meaningful glance. Still I was busted and the moment was priceless. I'd wish on a thousand stars this long day might bring the slightest chance. At 3am I wonder why my mind would argue my heart this. I'd invite you to travel these hills and valleys to get it back to good. It was Rob's song which lead the way no one else ever could. -Lisa Martinez Reeves902@aol.com ================================ Don't it Make You Wanna Think Damn* Whatever... ================================ ~Anything that doesn't seem to fit anywhere else~ I don't know how many of you were already aware of this, but while messing around at the computer lab of my university, I came across something that shocked me. An anti-Matchbox 20 website. I mean, it actually almost hurt my feelings or something to see their picture with a big red "x" over it. Or the little news flash about Matchbox 20 being killed in a plane crash or something equally stupid and cruel like that. I think, if at all possible, you should circulate the news about this site to any of the other magazine subscribers. That way we can all stand up for our favorite band by signing the guestbook and telling the girl who created the site (Kathleen or Katherine, I can't remember which) what an idiot she is & just how great Matchbox 20 is. (I'm happy to report that the vast majority of the people who signed that guestbook were as outraged as I was upon seeing it). The site address is this: http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Lights/8218 Thanks, -Amber groovular@rocketmail.com Hey fellow Matchbox 20 fans ! I absolutely love Matchbox 20!! (I know y'all do too!) Anyways, ----> I have one comment, " Push" is the B*E*S*T song to listen to when you're pissed off at someone or something. That is why it is my favorite song! So go ahead and get that anger out! It helps . . . :-) -Laddie183@aol.com Hey - I don't know what good this does anyone, but I found an EXCELLENT picture of Rob - good quality and everything - that I hadn't seen on any of the MB20 web pages before. to view it, go to: http://starbulletin.com/specials/poifest/singer.gif If you love Rob, check it out. The site itself was kind of disappointing in the way of MB20 information - they were at some music festival, and the guy/girl that did the fest review didn't mention MB20 except to say it was the hottest when they took the stage. Anyway, check it out! -groovular@rocketmail.com
Issue 3 - Part 3
