100 Monkeys Concert

As a Twilighter one of my dreams would be to meet one of the stars from the Twilight Saga cast. This dream came true!


On Thursday, July 28th in Tampa, FL the band 100 Monkeys performed in concert. For those of you who are unfamiliar with 100 Monkeys this is Jackson Rathbone's band. You all know who Jackson is so no need to explain further. :)

I found out that they would be in concert in Florida from a fellow Twilighter who follows my blog. I immediately looked up the tour dates and discovered that they would be in Tampa in two weeks! I called my sister who lives in Tampa and asked her if she would go with me. Of course she didn't know who the band was or what kind of music that they sang. Neither did I. I just wanted to go so I would have a chance to see Jackson.


My brother in law also lives in the Tampa area so I asked if he would like to go since it would be good chance to hang out and watch live music. I told him beforehand so he would know my reason for wanting to go. He was cool with it and thought it would be fun. He also invited a friend along as well. So I bought the tickets online and couldn't wait for the two weeks to pass by.

The day of the concert I worked half a day so you can imagine how I was waiting for the day to go by so I could get to see Jackson. I was so excited and telling everyone what I was going to be doing that night. When it was time to leave I was super excited and loaded up the car. The drive to Tampa is 2 hours so I grabbed a red bull, got comfy and cruised listening to music.

My sister was at work so the plan was I was going to her house and get ready and then she would be home and we were going to meet up with my brother in law and his friend to all drive together. In my excitement I totally forgot to bring my sister's house key with me. HAHA I called my brother in law and he was working so he wouldn't be home either. One of my good friends also lives in the Tampa area so I called her to see if she would be home. Luckily she was so I went to her house to get ready.

Once I got to my friends' house I started getting ready for the concert. I straightened my hair which takes forever since it is so long and thick but I wanted it to look good so straight was the way to go. After my hair was done I put on my makeup. I applied a light layer of diamond dust to my face so it would *SPARKLE*. It was very subtle but later my brother in law mentioned he noticed it so I was excited.

After I did my hair and makeup I was about to get dressed but all of a sudden it started pouring rain. At first I was like "No my hair is gonna get frizzy" but then thought, "How fitting! It's raining! Very Forkish!" LOL Luckily by the time I got dressed it stopped raining so I didn't get wet.

I wore a cute black shirt and comfy jeans. I didn't want it to be obvious that I was a Twilight fan so the Twilight shirts stayed at home. However with a sparkly face, my Cullen Crest necklace and excited behavior I'm sure it was very obvious that I was! :)

Once I was dressed and ready for the concert I gathered up my tickets and items that I brought to get autographed if the opportunity presented itself and headed out the door! Of course I didn't leave without taking a picture. If you haven't noticed by now I am a picture freak. I love taking pictures and usually fill up a memory card or half for each occassion. HAHA I know it's a little obsessive but it usually takes a lot of pictures to get a few really good ones. I've already decided that I need to bring a 16 GB card with me on my Forks Trip. I don't want to be stuck with no memory card space. That would be horrible.

With tickets in hand I met up with my brother in law, his friend and my sister and we set out for the concert in downtown Tampa. The concert was at a place called The Orpheum. None of us had ever been there so we were excited to check out a new place. I was excited for other reasons as well like meeting Jackson.

When we arrived the second of the three opening bands was on stage. There was a lot of people there and a lot of girls. Hmmm wonder why! LOL We walked around and checked out the place and looked for the perfect spot to hang out once they took the stage. Most everyone was standing at center stage so there was no way we would get close if we went there. However there was very few people off the to the left of the stage so we were able to get RIGHT UP to the stage. It was awesome. We were so close it was great!

Since there was time before they took the stage we went to check out the merchandise table. My brother in law bought me a cool t-shirt. My favorite color is purple so I got this purple v-neck shirt that had a sword on it and a lyric from a song and then said 100 Monkeys on it. I didn't read the lyric until later and was like what is this. The lyric was, "I will kill you in your sleep so you better try and try and keep awake." I totally didn't know what that meant until I heard them sing a song called Keep Awake which they refer to as The Lullaby. So really I got the perfect shirt! It's my favorite color and its about The Lullaby. It's not Bella's Lullaby but the 100 Monkeys! Very cool. :)

After getting my t-shirt we went back to our spot stage side and waited. We didn't have to wait long. The third opening band finished and they changed over and the 100 Monkeys took the stage! OMJ! I was soooooo excited and couldn't wait. I looked over there was Jackson Rathbone in person! EEEKK!!!! I was speechless of course. I couldn't believe how close we were . It was awesome.

I had a great time during the concert and enjoyed all the songs. I'm glad I listened to their music before the show because I recognized and knew a lot of the songs. I was amazed by how talented they all were. They all sang and they switched instruments frequently. It was great. Jackson played the guitar, keyboard, harmonica, drums and the mandolin.

While I was enjoying the show my brother in law went and got the scoop from the girl at the merchandise table. She told him that they were going to be doing a meet and greet after the concert. During the last song she said to come back here and get in line so we could be near the front. Awesome!

Awhile later the band finished playing a song and they went off stage. I said to my brother in law "let's go!" We went back there and the girl at the table said they were going to take a break and there would be a dance off and then they would come back on and do 3-4 more songs. So we went back to the stage to enjoy the final songs.

The band came back out and sang a song called "The Monkey Song". It was a very catchy song and a lot of people were singing it. At one point during the song Jackson said "Spider Monkey". I started laughing and looked at the girl next to me and said "Did you catch that?" She said "Yeah, that was awesome!" Loved it!

After the band played 4 more songs Jackson ended the show with introductions of the band members. When they took they final bow we went back to get in line for the meet and greet. I had my items all ready to get signed. My sister was in charge of the camera, my brother in laws friend had a picture from Eclipse and I had an apple that my sister Twi-Sister from The TwiHard Diet's Mothers Day exchange made for it. It's awesome, thanks Darina.

We were third and fourth in line for the meet and greet. The girl at the table gave me a thumbs up. My brother in law's friend went first and got the picture signed. I was after him. I kinda don't remember the whole encounter because I couldn't believe that I was face to face with him. I remember saying "Hi" and "Great show" other than that I can't tell you if I said anything else. HAHA I was totally trying to be cool but I think I was just speechless. I handed him the apple for him to sign and just smiled at him. :) They wouldn't let you take any pictures with him but my sister got a great candid of him signing the apple. I LOVE IT!

Once he signed the apple I said great show to the other band members and went running off to the side. AHH!! LOL How funny! I was so excited that I got to meet him say hi and get his autograph. How cool! I wonder if he's ever signed an apple before? I thought it was very original and I now have a great piece in my collection.

After we got the autographs the girls who were in front of us asked if we wanted to see the Tour Bus. We were like "YEAH!" So they walked with us around the back of the bar to where it was parked. We took pictures in front of the bus and then other people started showing up to. Obviously hoping that we would see them come out to the bus and get a picture with them.

We wait for quiet awhile and finally some of the band members came out and talked to everyone and took pictures. They seemed surprised by the amount of people that were standing there. I would say that there was 20 people or so waiting to see them or see Jackson.

Finally Jackson came out and he stood beside a van. There was a guy there with a camera so I believe he was doing an interview. The interview lasted for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile the band was hanging out talking with everyone and getting on the bus etc. Then the band went back inside the bar and Jackson turned to everyone and waved. He smiled and then went back into the bar himself.

My brother in law's friend said "I wonder if the bus is decoy and they are actually going out the front door to get into a sedan." I said "I don't know, go up front and look." If you can't tell by now I was REALLY wanting to get a picture with him. LOL I've never been to a concert and waited around by the bus to see someone but this was JACKSON RATHBONE. To me it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I did not want to miss it.

So I gave the friend my phone # and said call me if he's up front because I don't want to miss my chance. He went around the front of the bar. Everyone else stayed by the bus. Next thing I know he's calling me saying that Jackson was out front and to come quick. I grabbed the camera from my sister and went running around to the front. HAHA

When I got there he wasn't there. The friend said that he was just here but he went inside. The front doors of the bar were glass so you could see inside. I saw Jackson standing by the bar. We waited for a few minutes and then the band members came outside. They asked me if we were waiting for a cab to. I said no. Now looking back I probably should have said yes. LOL

I talked to the band and asked them how they were enjoying Florida and did they think it was hot. They said it wasn't too hot. They were just up in the North East and it was very hot. I said I know I was just up in New York and it was high 90s and in the 100s one day.

While I was standing there talking to the band, Jackson walked outside. He walked right up to me (as I was the only girl standing there) and smiled. I yet again tried to be cool but I can't say that I remember the exchange much as I went blank and speechless again. HAHA I remember saying hi to him and then this is where it was kinda awkward. Well looking back it does.

After saying hi I just froze and stood there. Then without saying anything I just looked at him and he was looking at me too. Then I somehow without saying anything went to give him a hug and it was kinda one of those half a hugs. It turned out to be something like my arm around him and my head on his shoulder and I still didn't say anything. HAHA I know weird but obviously I was in shock and didn't know what to do. He didn't say anything either...well not that I remember. It all happened very fast and the whole encounter was probably less than a minute.

After the "hug" I asked if I could take a picture and he said yes. So I got my picture with him!!! Yay!! I was a happy girl. After the picture I asked how he was enjoying Florida and he said it was nice. Then he took pictures with two other random guys that were out front and then got in the cab and we waved goodbye.

Once the cab drove away my sister by this time had arrived and she asked me "What the heck was that?" I said "I have no idea!" LOL Oh well. I tried to play it cool but apparently I wasn't that cool. That's okay it was better than being a blubbering or flustered fan talking non stop. I guess being shocked and speechless was better. Who cares right? I don't! I GOT MY PICTURE WITH HIM AND I GOT TO MEET HIM!

It was an absolutely awesome night and I had a great time. Thank you to my sister, brother in law and his friend for going with me, taking pictures, buying me a shirt and getting one of the autographs for me. I will remember this night and I am so thankful that my dream came true and I got to meet a member of the Twilight Saga cast.

Also thank you to Jackson for the great show, being cool and taking the picture and signing autographs!

Check out all the pictures from my adventure at the 100 Monkeys Concert on my Twilighters Dream Facebook Page.


Also check out my videos that I took that night which are also on my blog.