193) I Saw Tom DeLonge for the 2nd Time

Tom DeLonge used to be in the punk rock/pop band, Blink 182. (My sister introduced me to music when I was growing up. And Blink 182 was one of them.) In 2006, Tom started his own band, Angels and Airwaves.

He named the band in honor of his daughter's name, Ava. 

​I saw DeLonge for the first time live at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California on December 7, 2007. The event was Live 105's Not So Silent Night presenting various rock bands:  Angels and Airwaves, Jimmy Eat World, Modest Mouse, Paramore, and Spoon.

Yesterday, my old friend David from elementary and high school contacted me through FaceBook Messenger. (I yelled and sweared at him in 2006. Anger took over my mind. Then I held a long-time grudge on him. My younger-self started grudges and created enemies at the time. I came at peace with David some time between 2016 and 2017.) I'll be writing a blog entry soon about my friend David.

"Angels and Airwaves are in SF tonight," he messaged me. "First live show in years I heard."

I did see a FaceBook ad about Angels and Airwaves performing in San Francisco. I was thinking about going. Then I received David's message. It was unexpected. 

​I decided to go. It was last minute. But it was an exception. Because I haven't hung out with David for a long time. I think the last time was before the grudge in 2006.

We went together to the concert. David drove to the El Cerrito del Norte's Bay Area Railroad Transit (BART) station located in El Cerrito. Then we arrived at Powell Street's BART station located in San Francisco. It was about a 36-minute BART ride. 

A 4-minute walk from BART station to the music venue, The Warfield. And close to it is a strip club, The Crazy Horse.

"I remember this strip club. I was owned and hustled," I told David. "I lost about $500. It was my first time." (I'll be writing a blog entry about it soon.)

David and I were at the front of The Warfield. I took a quick snapshot. And I posted it on my Instagram story.

My sister's friend Glenn from high school replied to my story:  "Marrianne would have loved to be here!"

"True," I told him.

David and I had floor seats to the point we will be standing up for the whole night. We were near the stage and the middle aisle.

The opening band just ended. An intermission occurred.

I saw a guy with his friend drinking a cup of beer in front of us.

"How did you get the drink?" I asked him.

A server would walk by.

I caught a beautiful lady near the aisle. She was the usher. She looked Hispanic or Indian. I couldn't tell. She was stunning. I told David about her.

I prepared my iPhone. And I left it on the keypad screen. I knew she will walk pass us.

And she did. I patted her back. She turned back.

I showed her my iPhone. She looked puzzled and confused.

"I would like to get your number," I told her.

"Ummm...no," she told me as she shook her head.

David laughed alongside the the 2 guys in front of us. (I forgot to ask their names. I'll just call them the 2 guys.)

​The 2 guys live in Fresno, California. And they are both 22 years old. It was closer for them to see Angels and Airwaves in San Francisco than in Anaheim or Los Angeles. 

One of the 2 guys grew up liking Blink 182 and other punk rock bands from his older brother. 

I was in a bit of tears when Angels and Airwaves began to perform.

I remembered my sister. I was processing and reminiscing when she performed a cover of Boxcar Racer's song, "Letters to God," at her friend's debut in 2002. (Boxcar Racer was one of DeLonge's bands at the time.) I thought she was near me too.

Before we walked out of the Warfield, I bought an Angels and Airwaves snapback hat from their merchandise area. I'm not for buying stuff. But this was a moment to remember and cherish. 

David has read my blog. He was surprised on how I'm able to be honest and vulnerable.

"I have to. Blogging is my therapy," I told him. "I need it. It's what keeps me going and living. I wouldn't be where or who I'm at right now."

He has enjoyed reading my stories about my approaches with women. He has read one of my blog entries about my Uncle too. He laughed at one of my sauna stories when I met a guy named Jordan. Jordan and I were introducing to each other. And I told him, "Michael Jordan."

"I had a fun time tonight," David told me when the night was over. This was the first ever to hear. His younger-self would never say that. 

I was able to relive with Tom DeLonge and his music, and reconnect with my old friend David.

Seeing David last night reminded me of when I came at peace with my coach. I held a long-time grudge to both of them. (Coach died on November 4, 2018 at 66 years old. It has been almost a year.)

David has grown. He's more mature now. We had a deep intellectual conversation. We never did before. Because we were young. And we would just hang out to kill time. We played video games more than talking and connecting. (I'll continue writing about him in one of my future blog entries.)

"I enjoy having deep intellectual conversations like this now," I told David.

The concert ticket was $52. The BART ride was $10.10. The drinks were $41. The hat was $30. And I treated David for In N Out since he drove. His meal was $7.60.

I spent a total of $138.70.

Money was involved. But I enjoyed the experience. 

Thank you Tom DeLonge.

Feel free to scroll down and see my experience from some videos and pictures I captured. 

Angels and Airwaves perform "It Hurts"

Perform "The Adventure." My favorite song from them.

DeLonge talks about one of his crew members. He calls him Jesus Christ.

He gives a funny short story about his Blink 182 days with Mark Hoppus.

He talks about his high school-self falling for his girl crush.

He performs an acoustic version of "I Miss You"

He lets the crowd sing along "Aliens Exist"