Sorry I couldn't get this posted right after the show...we had a long drive. I didn't get home until late Wednesday night, and I had to work all day today... I don't even know where to begin...It's gonna be a long one! This was my third Daughtry show, but the BEST...by a LANDSLIDE!!! Perhaps that's because I GOT TO MEET THEM! Where to begin...Well, I received a message back in February about VIP tickets to one of the Chicago shows. Unfortunately, I missed it due to our internet services being switched... I was crushed. I bawled and was nauseous. I had to convince myself daily that everything happens for a reason. Sure enough, I was right! I checked my PMs on here at least once a day, and on March 12th, I received a PM about the St. Paul show for VIPs on the 18th! I thought I was going to pass out! Without even making arrangements for my job or my kids, I replied that I would be there...what did I have to do?!?! Once work and kids were settled (I totally would have called in sick if I didn't get the time off! And thank GOD by husband somewhat understands my Daughtry obsession!) I really wanted my husband to come with me since he's a huge Bon Jovi fan..I'm working on the Daughtry part! Well, someone had to stay with our kids, and it definitely wasn't going to be me! My sister and 3 of my best friends were unable to go, too, because of work conflicts. I really didn't think it would be so difficult to find someone to go see Daughtry and Bon Jovi... COME ON!!! Finally, my friend Melissa came through! She was with me at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield last summer, and she nearly missed the whole thing because of the heat. Once Daughtry hit the stage, she was better! At least I wouldn't have to worry about her passing out because of the heat this time around! Since we had a 8 hour drive ahead of us (we're from central IL...and every second was COMPLETELY worth it!) we decided to rent a car. We picked up our car, filled it up with gas and were on our way to St. Paul to meet the guys! WOO HOO! Thank God for GPS! We only stopped for the necessities...we were on a mission! We checked in to our hotel and got ready for the concert. We got to the Xcel Center around 6. I was surprised to see there weren't more people there already! I went to the will call ticket booth to claim my tickets and was told they would be at a table on the other side of the lobby. So, Melissa and I headed over and met 2 really awesome Bon Jovi fans during the wait...thanks again for taking our pic! It turned out great! Anyway, we got up the the table at 630, and we found out the tickets at the table were only for Bon Jovi VIP... I started to get a bit nervous...did we drive eight hours for nothing? I went back to the will call window, and told the guy I had DAUGHTRY vips, not BON JOVI. He told me they just brought them up, and they had mine right on top with my name printed on them! It was then I realized it was no longer just a dream! We had our tickets in our hands with meet and greet stickers and instructions on where to meet after Daughtry's last song. We took our seats...section 103, row 9 seats 19 and 20. (nine rows right behind Bon Jovi when he sang on the side of the arena). Back to Daughtry...I really could have used a drink, but we were afriad we'd have to go to the bathroom and miss something! The lights went out, and Chris, Joey, Brian, Josh and JP hit the stage at a very punctual 730! The night started with their new song, "You Don't Belong." I freekin' love it! I watched it on youtube to know what to expect...and to learn the words so I could sing along! It's a great song and has a great message! We also heard-not necessarily in this order-Home, Over You, It's Not Over, There and Back Again, Feels Like Tonight, What About Now, Breakdown, and What I Want...Steely...you sounded just like Slash! After their last song, we met in the tunnel off of the floor section of 107. We had to wait there for what seemed like an eternity until someone came and got us to escort us to the room where we eventually met the five most amazing musicians ever! The wonderful guy from North Carolina who walked us down the hall was so sweet! (I'm sorry...I didn't catch the name...) I told him I thought I was going to pass out, and he asked me please not to do that cuz he'd had a real long day! So, we got to the room, and he asked us to form a semi-circle and not to sit down. He said that Melissa and I could stay in the front of the line since we were first in line. Then he realized we were the VIP winners (there was a red asterick on our meet and greet passes that no one else had! ) and he asked us to move to the back of the line. He said he promised we wouldn't be disappointed! Okay...Melissa and I had already discussed that being last would probably be better...we hoped that we'd get to chat with them longer that way! We were then told that this was a signing only meet and greet and that there were to be absolutely NO pictures taken! We were all given a black and white picture of Daughtry that we could have signed. We were told that we could have ONE thing signed, whether it was the picture he gave us or something we brought. I had my CD and a picture I took from the first concert I went to in Columbus, OH last March (yes, another 8 hour drive...), but I thought the picture of all of them was a better choice! So, the other people in our meet and greet all progressed through the line farily quickly. They just kinda said hi as their pictures were passed down the table of the Daughtry guys. At this point, my knees were shaking and I was pretty sure I needed a paper bag to breathe into! Once the others left the room, there were 2 little boys who wanted Chris' autograph. Their mom took them up to the table and Chris talked to them so sweetly I got teary eyed! I know he's a Dad, too, but so many celebrities these days think they're too good for their own kids, let alone other people's. Chris apparently knew the boys' mom and said that he heard one of the boys had an awesome guitar stance and asked if he would show it to him. He froze up and didn't move! I thought, damn, that's going to be me in about 5 seconds! Once the boys got their autographs, Melissa and I FINALLY got to shake hands, talk, etc...to Chris, Joey, JP, Josh and Brian. It seemed like a lifetime since they stopped singing and we were waiting to go down the hall! Chris asked how we were doing while I was shaking his hand and I said just fine now! I told him I was sure he'd heard it before, but I was sure I was his biggest fan! LOL! He looked at me and said that I was definitley the tallest! (I'm right at 6' and was taller than all of them!) I told him that I wore flats just for him! They then all got up from the table and I got to give Chris a HUG! I thought I was going to melt! He then said that he might have to find a chair for me to sit in for our PICTURE! YAY!!! That's why we were put at the end of the line!!! I politely offered that he could sit on my lap...ha ha ...there was no chair in the picture, by the way...Melissa and I definitely wanted Chris between us, so we lined up for our picture. Joey came over from the table last and said something about where he was going to be. I held out the arm I didn't have around Chris and said right here...I love drummers! He got comfy and hugged me around my waist and put his head on my shoulder!! :) The sweet North Carolina guy took our pics and told us to change it up for the second picture. Joey told me he was going to stay right there! Believe me, I was FINE with that! So, our pictures were over. We chatted for another minute or so. I asked Chris and Joey how they managed to smell so good after rockin out the way they did! Chris said that they ran backstage, changed clothes and do this (imitating spraying himself with cologne)! I told them that it worked well for them! They thanked us for coming, we hugged them all again, told them it was nice to meet them (nice is such an understatement!), and we were escorted back to the arena where Bon Jovi had already started! I would have missed the whole Bon Jovi concert to hang out with the Daughtry guys all night! However, Bon Jovi was absolutley incredible! And since I didn't get to hang out with Daughtry all night, I guess Bon Jovi was the next best thing! Bon Jovi sang all of the hits, and they were all amazing! Richie Sambora sang "I'll Be There For You" and it was freekin awesome! After this show I have been inspired to learn how to play guitar! When the show was sadly over, we tried to get the hell outta dodge...thousands of people at a sold out show=mass chaos upon exiting! I called my husband to tell him what an amazing night we had, and I could hardly talk. My voice still hasn't fully recovered. We had to wait in the parking garage for quite a while before we could get out, but that was okay...we looked at our pictures on our cameras...over and over! We finally made it back to our hotel about 1230, but of course we couldn't sleep. We had to look at the pictures again! I finally fell asleep after 1. We needed to get some sleep since we had another 8 hour drive to get home! To make a long story short, I love Daughtry, Bon Jovi was amazing, and I would go to every damn show of Daughtry's if I could afford it! After all the nervousness and anxiousness, I found that it was unnecessary to feel that way. Once we started talking to Chris, it was so easy. He's a real person, too, with an incredible sense of humor and personality. Thank you so much RCA for allowing me the opportunity to meet these wonderful guys! I hope it's not the last time! And thank you Chris, Joey, JP, Josh and Brian for taking the time out of your hectic schedules to meet your adoring fans. That means so much, I can't even put it into words. I love what you've done to rock music, and you've definitley got a fan for life from me!
--
~Amanda Jo
ROCKIN WITH DAUGHTRY IN...
COLUMBUS, OH 3-13-07
SPRINGFIELD, IL 8-12-07
ST. PAUL, MN 3-18-08...VIP WINNER!!! THANKS RCA!!
HOLY ROCKER ROYALTY, BATMAN!
Sorry I couldn't get this posted right after the show...we had a long drive. I didn't get home until late Wednesday night, and I had to work all day today...
I don't even know where to begin...It's gonna be a long one! This was my third Daughtry show, but the BEST...by a LANDSLIDE!!! Perhaps that's because I GOT TO MEET THEM! Where to begin...Well, I received a message back in February about VIP tickets to one of the Chicago shows. Unfortunately, I missed it due to our internet services being switched... I was crushed. I bawled and was nauseous. I had to convince myself daily that everything happens for a reason. Sure enough, I was right! I checked my PMs on here at least once a day, and on March 12th, I received a PM about the St. Paul show for VIPs on the 18th! I thought I was going to pass out! Without even making arrangements for my job or my kids, I replied that I would be there...what did I have to do?!?! Once work and kids were settled (I totally would have called in sick if I didn't get the time off! And thank GOD by husband somewhat understands my Daughtry obsession!) I really wanted my husband to come with me since he's a huge Bon Jovi fan..I'm working on the Daughtry part! Well, someone had to stay with our kids, and it definitely wasn't going to be me! My sister and 3 of my best friends were unable to go, too, because of work conflicts. I really didn't think it would be so difficult to find someone to go see Daughtry and Bon Jovi... COME ON!!! Finally, my friend Melissa came through! She was with me at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield last summer, and she nearly missed the whole thing because of the heat. Once Daughtry hit the stage, she was better! At least I wouldn't have to worry about her passing out because of the heat this time around! Since we had a 8 hour drive ahead of us (we're from central IL...and every second was COMPLETELY worth it!) we decided to rent a car. We picked up our car, filled it up with gas and were on our way to St. Paul to meet the guys! WOO HOO! Thank God for GPS! We only stopped for the necessities...we were on a mission! We checked in to our hotel and got ready for the concert. We got to the Xcel Center around 6. I was surprised to see there weren't more people there already! I went to the will call ticket booth to claim my tickets and was told they would be at a table on the other side of the lobby. So, Melissa and I headed over and met 2 really awesome Bon Jovi fans during the wait...thanks again for taking our pic! It turned out great! Anyway, we got up the the table at 630, and we found out the tickets at the table were only for Bon Jovi VIP... I started to get a bit nervous...did we drive eight hours for nothing? I went back to the will call window, and told the guy I had DAUGHTRY vips, not BON JOVI. He told me they just brought them up, and they had mine right on top with my name printed on them! It was then I realized it was no longer just a dream! We had our tickets in our hands with meet and greet stickers and instructions on where to meet after Daughtry's last song. We took our seats...section 103, row 9 seats 19 and 20. (nine rows right behind Bon Jovi when he sang on the side of the arena). Back to Daughtry...I really could have used a drink, but we were afriad we'd have to go to the bathroom and miss something! The lights went out, and Chris, Joey, Brian, Josh and JP hit the stage at a very punctual 730! The night started with their new song, "You Don't Belong." I freekin' love it! I watched it on youtube to know what to expect...and to learn the words so I could sing along! It's a great song and has a great message! We also heard-not necessarily in this order-Home, Over You, It's Not Over, There and Back Again, Feels Like Tonight, What About Now, Breakdown, and What I Want...Steely...you sounded just like Slash! After their last song, we met in the tunnel off of the floor section of 107. We had to wait there for what seemed like an eternity until someone came and got us to escort us to the room where we eventually met the five most amazing musicians ever! The wonderful guy from North Carolina who walked us down the hall was so sweet! (I'm sorry...I didn't catch the name...
) I told him I thought I was going to pass out, and he asked me please not to do that cuz he'd had a real long day! So, we got to the room, and he asked us to form a semi-circle and not to sit down. He said that Melissa and I could stay in the front of the line since we were first in line. Then he realized we were the VIP winners (there was a red asterick on our meet and greet passes that no one else had! 
) and he asked us to move to the back of the line. He said he promised we wouldn't be disappointed! Okay...Melissa and I had already discussed that being last would probably be better...we hoped that we'd get to chat with them longer that way! We were then told that this was a signing only meet and greet and that there were to be absolutely NO pictures taken! 
We were all given a black and white picture of Daughtry that we could have signed. We were told that we could have ONE thing signed, whether it was the picture he gave us or something we brought. I had my CD and a picture I took from the first concert I went to in Columbus, OH last March (yes, another 8 hour drive...), but I thought the picture of all of them was a better choice! So, the other people in our meet and greet all progressed through the line farily quickly. They just kinda said hi as their pictures were passed down the table of the Daughtry guys. At this point, my knees were shaking and I was pretty sure I needed a paper bag to breathe into! Once the others left the room, there were 2 little boys who wanted Chris' autograph. Their mom took them up to the table and Chris talked to them so sweetly I got teary eyed! I know he's a Dad, too, but so many celebrities these days think they're too good for their own kids, let alone other people's. Chris apparently knew the boys' mom and said that he heard one of the boys had an awesome guitar stance and asked if he would show it to him. He froze up and didn't move! I thought, damn, that's going to be me in about 5 seconds! Once the boys got their autographs, Melissa and I FINALLY got to shake hands, talk, etc...to Chris, Joey, JP, Josh and Brian. It seemed like a lifetime since they stopped singing and we were waiting to go down the hall! Chris asked how we were doing while I was shaking his hand and I said just fine now! 
I told him I was sure he'd heard it before, but I was sure I was his biggest fan! LOL! He looked at me and said that I was definitley the tallest! (I'm right at 6' and was taller than all of them!) I told him that I wore flats just for him! They then all got up from the table and I got to give Chris a HUG! I thought I was going to melt! He then said that he might have to find a chair for me to sit in for our PICTURE! YAY!!! That's why we were put at the end of the line!!! 
I politely offered that he could sit on my lap...ha ha 
...there was no chair in the picture, by the way...Melissa and I definitely wanted Chris between us, so we lined up for our picture. 
Joey came over from the table last and said something about where he was going to be. I held out the arm I didn't have around Chris and said right here...I love drummers! He got comfy and hugged me around my waist and put his head on my shoulder!! 
:) 
The sweet North Carolina guy took our pics and told us to change it up for the second picture. Joey told me he was going to stay right there! Believe me, I was FINE with that! So, our pictures were over. 
We chatted for another minute or so. I asked Chris and Joey how they managed to smell so good after rockin out the way they did! Chris said that they ran backstage, changed clothes and do this (imitating spraying himself with cologne)! I told them that it worked well for them! They thanked us for coming, we hugged them all again, told them it was nice to meet them (nice is such an understatement!), and we were escorted back to the arena where Bon Jovi had already started! I would have missed the whole Bon Jovi concert to hang out with the Daughtry guys all night! However, Bon Jovi was absolutley incredible! And since I didn't get to hang out with Daughtry all night, I guess Bon Jovi was the next best thing! 
Bon Jovi sang all of the hits, and they were all amazing! Richie Sambora sang "I'll Be There For You" and it was freekin awesome! After this show I have been inspired to learn how to play guitar! When the show was sadly over, we tried to get the hell outta dodge...thousands of people at a sold out show=mass chaos upon exiting! I called my husband to tell him what an amazing night we had, and I could hardly talk. My voice still hasn't fully recovered. We had to wait in the parking garage for quite a while before we could get out, but that was okay...we looked at our pictures on our cameras...over and over! We finally made it back to our hotel about 1230, but of course we couldn't sleep. We had to look at the pictures again! I finally fell asleep after 1. We needed to get some sleep since we had another 8 hour drive to get home! To make a long story short, I love Daughtry, Bon Jovi was amazing, and I would go to every damn show of Daughtry's if I could afford it! After all the nervousness and anxiousness, I found that it was unnecessary to feel that way. Once we started talking to Chris, it was so easy. He's a real person, too, with an incredible sense of humor and personality. Thank you so much RCA for allowing me the opportunity to meet these wonderful guys! I hope it's not the last time! And thank you Chris, Joey, JP, Josh and Brian for taking the time out of your hectic schedules to meet your adoring fans. That means so much, I can't even put it into words. I love what you've done to rock music, and you've definitley got a fan for life from me!
--
THANKS RCA!!
~Amanda Jo
ROCKIN WITH DAUGHTRY IN...
COLUMBUS, OH 3-13-07
SPRINGFIELD, IL 8-12-07
ST. PAUL, MN 3-18-08...VIP WINNER!!!