ROCKLAHOMA SUMMER CONCERT 2008

 ROCKLAHOMA FESTIVAL 2008 MEMORIES

HAPPY TO BE HOME! VERY HOMESICK..... :(

I AM STILL LACKING A LOT OF SLEEP, BUT WANT TO TELL YOU HOW THINGS WENT.

GETTING EVERYTHING PREPARED FOR ROCKLAHOMA WAS A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE WERE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT I PREPARED KEVIN ON WHAT NOT TO BRING ON BOARD FOR A CARRY ON - HE WOULD BE TRAVELING WITH ME AND JEFF.

THURSDAY 5:00AM JOEL AND KAT TAKE OFF TO THE AIRPORT BY SHUTTLE AND ARE THE FIRST ONES TO ARRIVE SAFELY TO OKLAHOMA AFTER A QUICK LAY OVER IN CHICAGO.

THURSDAY 10:00AM JEFF, CONCETTA, AND KEVIN MEET UP AT THE LAX AND BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT KEVIN BROUGHT IN HIS CARRY ON WAS THROWN AWAY FROM SECURITY - I WARNED HIM WHAT TO BRING. I WAS LAUGHING AND HE WAS HEATED FOR A GOOD 10 MIN. :) OUR PLANE TOOK OFF AT 12:45PM AND I WAS A NERVOUS RECK, BUT MADE IT THROUGH AFTER GETTING MY HEADSETS ON AND WATCHING A LITTLE TV. :) WE WERE FLOWN PAST OUR DESTINATION TO CIN. OHIO FOR A LAYOVER, WE THEN BOARDED FOR A TWO HOUR FLIGHT ON A VERY SMALL PLANE AND THE PLUMBING WAS OUT OF SERVICE, YOU COULD NOT USE THE TOILET AND THEY WERE NOT SERVING ICE OR COFFEE - NOW ON OUR WAY TO OKLAHOMA AND WE MEET JOEL FROM NIGHT RANGER AND WHAT A NICE A GUY. IT MADE THE TWO HOUR FLIGHT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE. WE ARRIVE LATE AND WAIT FOR A SHUTTLE TO TAKE US TO OUR HOTEL @ 11:00PM

WE ARRIVE TO OUR HOTEL TO FIND OUT KAT BROKE HER TOE IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE HOTEL AND WE GIVE HER TAPE TO TAPE HER TOES TOGETHER. POOR THING. :( WE GO TO OUR ROOMS TO UNPACK AND MOST OF ALL MY BOTTLES EXPLODED - WHAT A MESS, I HAD THEM IN PLASTIC BAGS, BUT NOW I KNOW YOU MUST USE ZIPLOCK BAGS.....:(

FRIDAY MORNING WE ARE WAITING FOR OUR RESERVED RENTAL CAR THAT NEVER SHOWS UP @ NOON. WORRIED.... THEY TELL US TO CALL ANOTHER RENTAL CAR PLACE AND THEY ARE SOLD OUT. LAST RESORT THE HOTEL SHUTTLE SAYS THEY WOULD DRIVE US OUT TO ROCKLAHOMA (WE WERE STAYING .40MIN OUT FROM ROCKLAHOMA) WE KNEW THIS WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE RIDE, BUT WE HAD TO GET THERE. OUR SHUTTLE SHOWS UP AND AT THE SAME TIME THE RENTAL CAR PLACE CALLS US BACK AND SAYS THEY FOUND US A CAR. THE SHUTTLE DRIVES US TO THE RENTAL CAR PLACE WE PILE OUT TO FIND OUT HE DROVE US TO THE WRONG RENTAL CAR PLACE. YIKES!!!!!!!!!! WE SEE BOBBY AND JEN WHO JUST ARRIVED TO THE AIRPORT AND THEY HAVE THEIR RENTAL CAR, THEY FOLLOW OUR SHUTTLE TO GET US TO OUR RENTAL CAR PLACE. FINALLY WE GET OUR SUV. BOBBY AND JEN DECIDE NOT TO CHECK INTO THE HOTEL, BUT TO JUST FOLLOW US ALL OUT TO ROCKLAHOMA.
SOME FUNNY MOMENTS ON THE WAY TO LIGHTEN UP ALL THE MADNESS.

IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE 2 YOUNG GIRLS AND THEIR MOTHER WAITING FOR ME AT GATE 16 TO GET INTO ROCKLAHOMA BECAUSE I HAVE THEIR TICKETS. THEY ARE WAITING IN THE HEAT WITH NO SHADE NOW FOR 2 HOURS, BUT ANGIE WHO WORKED THE SIDE STAGE GATE WAS BRINGING THEM SOME WATER TO HELP THEM STAY A LITTLE COOL.

WE GET TO PRYOR AND MISS OUR TURN......SOMETHING DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT WE MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS AND WE ARE TOLD WE ARE GOING THE RIGHT WAY SO WE KEEPING GOING......THEN WE REACH THIS ANORMOUS LAKE IN SALINA AND I KNOW WE ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY........I MAKE JEFF PULL OVER AT THE GAS STATION AND BOBBY IS TELLING US I REMEMBER THIS LAKE LAST YEAR THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY THANK GOD WE DIDN'T LISTEN TO HIM BECAUSE WE WERE ALMOST IN KANSAS CITY. LOL WE TEASED BOBBY FOR AWHILE ON THAT ONE. YES WE FINALLY MAKE IT TO ROCKLAHOMA AT 3:30PM ON FRIDAY AND IT IS HOT AND HUMID.

A LOT OF MUD FROM THE RAIN A FEW DAYS PRIOR AND WE HAD TO BE CAREFUL. WE ALL SPILT UP AND WENT OUR OWN WAYS FOR AWHILE. WE WERE BUMMED OUT WE MISSED OUR FRIENDS ARMORED SAINT DUE TO ALL THE ABOVE. WE WENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TRI-LABEL STAGE AND IT WAS AWESOME 30'X60' FEET AND HUGE LIGHTS ABOVE. WE MET MICHAEL WILKERSON AND HIS WIFE HOPE FROM BLASTZONE ENT. GROUP AND THEY WERE VERY NICE AND THEY WERE ALL VERY BUSY WITH ALL THE BANDS PLAYING THAT STAGE.

WHILE KINGDOME COME WAS PLAYING AT 4:15PM WE WENT LOOKING TO FIND THE TENT THAT WAS SELLING OUR T-SHIRTS AND CD'S. WE SEE THE T-SHIRTS, BUT NO CD'S. WE ARE A LITTLE UPSET BECAUSE JEFF AND I SPENT $350.00 ON MONDAY TO OVERNIGHT 500 CD'S TO BE THERE ON TIME FOR THE FIRST DAY OF ROCKLAHOMA. WE GO SEARCHING AND WERE TOLD THEY ARE IN BOX AND ARE COMING OUT RIGHT NOW. WE COME BACK TO CHECK TWO HOURS LATER AND THEY ARE STILL NOT OUT. :( THEY TOLD US AGAIN RIGHT NOW AND WE COME BACK IN AN HOUR AND STILL NO CD'S, IT UPSET US, BUT WE LET IT GO.

NEXT WAS LIVING COLOUR I ONLY KNEW ONE SONG AND BY THE TIME THEY WERE PLAYING WE WERE IN GROSSED IN A CONVERSATION WITH OUR FRIENDS HONEY AND BRIAN. THE WHOLE BAND ENDS UP IN FRONT OF THE BEER TENT AND VH1 SPOTTED OUR BAND AND GAVE ASKED FOR AN INTERVIEW. THAT WAS COOL AND THE GUYS WERE STOKED.

NOW THE SUN WAS STARTING TO GO DOWN AND NIGHT RANGER CAME ON AND IT WAS GREAT! THE NEW GUITARIST JOEL THAT WE MET IN FLIGHT DID A FANTASTIC JOB - GREAT PERFORMANCE!

9:30PM JEFF AND I DECIDE TO LEAVE AND GO BACK TO THE HOTEL TO HAVE SOME DINNER. 11:00PM THE BUFFET WAS CLOSED SO WE WENT TO THE LITTLE TAKE OUT IN THE CASINO FOR A SANDWICH. WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND HEARD THE REST OF THE GANG START COMING BACK. WE ROOMED WITH KEVIN.   JOEL, KAT, BOBBY AND JEN ROOMED TOGETHER. CLOSE QUARTERS, BUT WE ALL MADE IT WORK.
THEY STAYED AND WATCHED EXTREME AND PART OF TRIUMPH.

SATURDAY MORNING TENSION.....LOL THE BAND TOOK OFF AT 9:00AM TO GET TO THE SIDE STAGE AND I WAITED FOR KAT AND JEN TO GET READY AND DROVE US GIRLS OUT AND WE ARRIVED AT 11:00AM. THE WEATHER WAS TERRIBLE. SO HOT AND HUMID - I WENT TO THE ENTRANCE ALONG WITH OUR STREET TEAM LORI AND KAREN AND WE STARTED PASSING OUT FLYERS AND I DIDN'T MOVE UNTIL I HEARD THE CAUZE BEING ANNOUNCED AT 11:45AM. I HAVE TO MENTION TOO THAT LORI AND KAREN MADE BIG SIGNS AND WENT TO THE MAIN STAGE TO BRING PEOPLE OVER TO OUR SIDE FOR OUR SET. THE GIRLS ROCKED!!! I GET MY BUTT OVER THERE TO THE STAGE AND THE CAUZE ROCKED! THEY ENDED UP PLAYING A LONGER SET BECAUSE PRETTY BOY FLOYD CUT THEIR SET EARLY PRIOR TO US, SO THE CAUZE PLAYED TWO MORE SONGS. WHEN THEY WERE DONE JEFF WAS READY TO PASS OUT FROM THE HEAT AND SO WAS I. WE WERE ALL DRIPPING SWEAT. WE HEARD A STORM WAS COMING IN A COUPLE OF HOURS AND IT COULD DUMP UP TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN.

FORGOT TO MENTION OUR CD'S ARE NOW ON THE TABLE.

WE JUST COULDN'T TAKE THE WEATHER ANYMORE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO LEAVE OR DIE THERE...OUR BODIES COULDN'T TAKE IT. WE LEAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HOTEL TO TAKE SHOWERS AND RELAX AND KEVIN WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT STAYED AT THE CONCERT AND WE TOLD HIM WE WOULD COME BACK AND GET HIM LATER.  3:00PM WE ARE ALL TAKING NAPS AND RESTING IN AIR CONDITIONED ROOMS. LOL 6:00PM WE ALL DECIDE TO EAT AT THE BUFFET IN THE CASINO...VERY GOOD BUFFET....THEY HAD EVERYTHING FROM PRIME RIB, SHRIMP, LONDON BROIL YOU NAME IT. I STUCK TO THE SALAD AND SHRIMP .... OHH AND I DID SNEAK IN A COUPLE OF THE CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWEBERRIES. :)

NOW THE SCARY NEWS.....THE CELL PHONES START RINGING OFF THE HOOK.... KEVIN IS IN PANIC MODE. A TERRIBLE STORM HAD HIT AND KNOCKED OVER BOTH SIDE STAGES AND KEVIN WAS ONLY A FOOT AWAY FROM THE STAGE WHEN IT FELL. PEOPLE WERE RUNNING FOR COVER. ONE PERSON BROKE THEIR ARM, A GIRL HAD A FAT LIP AND WAS BLEEDING AND PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING. OH MY GOSH HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET KEVIN BACK TO OUR HOTEL. WE ALL START CALLING PEOPLE WE KNOW THAT ARE THERE TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP. OUR GIRLS LORI AND KAREN AND LORI'S MOTHER LOIS CAME THROUGH FOR US. KEVIN FOUND THEM AFTER A GOOD HOUR AND THEY DROVE HIM BACK TO OUR HOTEL. NOW THE RAIN IS POURING AT OUR HOTEL WITH MASSIVE THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. WE ALL THOUGHT THE SHOW HAD BEEN CANCELLED AT THIS POINT.

KEVIN'S RETURN. HE IS A SOAKED MESS. HIS ADRENLINE IS PUMPED AND HE RETELLS THE STORY ABOUT 100 TIMES. LOL IT GOT BETTER EACH TIME :)

10:00PM JEFF AND I, JOEL AND KAT DECIDE TO GO TO THE PIANO BAR AND WIND DOWN. BOBBY, JEN AND KEVIN HAVE EARLY FLIGHTS OUT AND DECIDE TO GO TO BED. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DRINKS AND MAKE IT BACK TO THE HOTEL AROUND 12:30 AM.

SUNDAY MORNING WE FIND OUT THE SHOW IS GOING ON AND THAT THE MAIN STAGE ACTS DID PLAY THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO WE MISSED LYNCH MOB, LITA FORD AND WARRANT - IT WAS POURING THOUGH...GLAD I WAS AT THE PIANO BAR...LOL 11:30AM WE DRIVE OUT TO ROCKLAHOMA TO CHECK THINGS OUT AND JOEL AND KAT WERE GOING TO BE THE GUITAR TECHS FOR AXE AND THEY GO ON AT 1:00PM SO WE HAVE TO HURRY. WE GET THERE AND HAVE A QUICK BITE AND CHECK OUT THE SIDE STAGE AND THEY ARE RUINED. :( THEY WERE ABLE TO SET UP TENTS IN THE BACK AND GET THOSE BANDS GOING.....NO ONE KNEW WHO WAS PLAYING AT WHAT TIME IN THE BACK TENTS. OUR TIME WAS WRONG IN THE BULLETIN WHICH SCREWED UP A LOT OF OUR FANS THE DAY BEFORE.

NOW AXE GOES ON. JEFF AND I ARE SEATED 4 ROWS BACK FROM THE MAIN STAGE. WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED AND THOUGHT THEY DID A GREAT PERFORMANCE AND THE VOCALS WERE GREAT TOO!

ZEBRA WAS NEXT AND THEN UFO. JEFF, JOEL, AND KAT WATCHED THEM...I WAS SITTING IN THE VIP TENT COOLING OFF FROM THE HEAT AND DRAMA. LOL UFO ROCKED AS USUAL!  YES, TENSIONS WERE HIGH TODAY.  :(

STEELHEART WAS NEXT AND PUT ON ANOTHER GREAT PERFORMANCE. ACE FREHLEY - HIS BAND WAS VERY TIGHT...FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER SEEM THEM LIVE. TELSA WOWED ME.....THEY ROCKED THE HOUSE......GREAT PERFORMANCE AND GREAT SONGS!!!!!! NEXT QUEENSRYCHE FANTASTIC VOCALS........IT WAS LATE AND THEY WERE DOING A BROADWAY SHOW AND STUCK IT OUT FOR ABOUT 30MIN AND THEN WE WALKED THROUGH ALL THE MUD TO GET BACK TO OUR VEHICLE.

IT WAS A LOOOOOOOOOOONGGGGGGGG DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE GET BACK AND GO STRAIGHT TO BED. OH AND THE MAID FORGOT TO CLEAN OUR ROOM. GO FIGURE.

MONDAY JEFF AND I, JOEL AND KAT WENT AND HAD A QUICK BITE AT THE HOTEL AND THEN WE TOOK OFF AND DROPPED OFF OUR RENTAL CAR AT 2:00PM AND THEN OFF TO THE AIRPORT. WE HAD SEPARATE FLIGHTS, BUT ONLY 30 MIN APART. OUR FLIGHT WASN'T TAKING OFF UNTIL 5:20PM SO WE HUNG OUT AND MET SOME REALLY NICE PEOPLE FROM AUSTRALIA WHO I HAD REMEMBERED SEEING AT ROCKLAHOMA, WE TALKED TO THEM THE WHOLE TIME AND WE MET A REALLY NICE GAL FROM NEW YORK FROM GLAMROCKS.COM.

WE GET ON OUR FLIGHT AND ANOTHER SMALL PLANE AND NO TV. THIS PLANE TOOK US TO SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. WE ARRIVE AND GET A PHONE CALL FROM JOEL AND THEIR FLIGHT WAS DELAYED FOR AN HOUR DUE TO STRONG WINDS IN CHICAGO WHERE THERE LAY OVER WAS AND THEY FINALLY GET THERE, BUT THERE CONNECTING FLIGHT TOOK OFF ALREADY AND NOW THEY HAVE TO STAY THE NIGHT IN CHICAGO. YIKES! WE STAYED IN UTAH FOR 2 HOURS AND HAD A QUICK BITE TO EAT AND NOTICED EVERYONE WORKING THE COUNTER HAD AN ACCENT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, BUT JEFF THOUGHT THEY WERE FROM AUSTRALIA, BUT IT TURNS OUT THEY WERE FROM BULGARIA AND WORKING AT THE AIRPORT IN UTAH - GOT TO LOVE IT!!!!! LOL WE ARE NOW ON OUR WAY TO LAX AND WE ARRIVE IN L.A. AND SAT ON THE PLANE FOR AN EXTRA 20MIN BECAUSE THERE WAS SO MUCH TRAFFIC. TIRED AND IRRITABLE ..... OH AND STILL HOMESICK. LOL WE NOW GO TO CLAIM OUR LUGGAGE AND OUR LUGGAGE IS LATE. WE WAIT FOR A SHUTTLE AND ARE WAITING IN THE WRONG SPOT AFTER 15MIN, GET TO THE RIGHT LOCATION AND LOAD UP OUR CAR AND GO TO THE FREEWAY AND THERE IS MAJOR TRAFFIC AT 12:00AM IN THE MORNING.....THE RAMP IS CLOSED.....AFTER SOME WRONG TURNS WE GET OUR BUTTS HOME AND IN BED AFTER 1:00AM.

TODAY STILL VERY TIRED, BUT SO HAPPY TO BE HOME. JEFF HAS TO GO BACK TO LAX TODAY TO PICK UP JOEL AND KAT.

THROUGH IT ALL THERE WAS LAUGHTER, TEARS, EXCITEMENT, JOY, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. GLAD WE DID IT - BUT SO GLAD TO BE HOME. STILL HAVE TO PICK UP MY KIDS AND OUR SWEET DOG LUCY. CAN'T WAIT. :)

NOT SURE WHERE OUR CD'S ARE OR OUR T-SHIRTS, BUT HOPE TO FIND THEM SOON. :)

I AM ONE OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED ROCKLAHOMA 2008!

GOD BLESS.....

Concetta

P.S. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE YOUNG LADY THAT DIED ON SATURDAY AT ROCKLAHOMA FROM A HEART ATTACK.