Levemente

I just got back from one of the best musical experiences I think I'll ever have.

Reik Concert, June 13, 2009 at the Fox Theatre in Pomona

For readers unfamiliar with the group Reik, allow me to explain. Reik is a Mexican band made up of three guys: Julio (guitar), Bibi (guitar), and Jesus (vocals). They play pop rock en espanol. The best comparison to English music I can come up with is the Jonas Brothers, but older, more appealing, not brothers, and not annoying in any way whatsoever. =)

Diana invited me to the concert a few months back. She's the only other Reik fan I know and she says I'm the only one she knows! It worked out quite well. She had been to a concert of theirs two years ago and met them too. Lucky girl!

Anyway, I picked Diana up at 2pm sharp to begin the journey to Pomona. We left extra early so that we could get to the front of the line. The show was general admission, so we wanted to get a spot in the front of the crowd. We got there around 3pm. There were about 10 people ahead of us, which wasn't too bad.

We spent the next 4 hours standing and waiting for the doors to open. These fairly young people (early 20s?) were in line behind us. Apparently they're members of the only official Reik fan club in California. They kept making a huge deal about how they went to the LA show too and woke up super early and blah blah blah. I don't understand how they could be that devoted. I mean, I love good music, but I don't think I love any band enough to follow them to every show they play. Plus, the money spent must be outrageous! They were pretty entertaining to listen to though. Their spanglish was hilarious.

After a while I walked to Starbucks to buy Diana and I drinks. I got my signature iced chai, but with an espresso shot. I was pretty tired from Doris's birthday dinner the night before and hadn't slept well. That espresso shot helped me through the day. =)

Somehow, we survived the 4 hour wait. It just seems so endless when you stand there for such a long time. Our feet were really hurting and I kept wondering if I'd make it. Haha. Of course, they didn't open the doors at 7 like they'd promised. I think they finally let us in at 7:15 or 7:20.

Diana and I ran to get good spots. We were on the right side facing the stage. Ahhhhh. I almost jizzed over how good our spot was. I was trying to picture the beautiful guitarists in front of me, but it was nearly unimaginable. But as we stood there, it kept getting later and later! By the time 8:30 rolled around, we were really anxious. We both had to pee and our feet were super tired. This lame DJ was mixing music onstage as a sort of opening act. He sucked.

This part was so frustrating because the thing was supposed to start at 8pm!! The staff seemed to be taking their time in setting up. And I hate that the fans are so helpless in that situation. Like, you wanna leave to show how angry it makes you, but then the money spent on the ticket shouldn't go to waste like that. So, you're forced to stay there.

FINALLY, around 9:40, the lights went out and those sexy Mexican vatos took the stage. On our side of the stage was Bibi, the lead guitarist. I was so fascinated with him!! God, he's beautiful. And he plays with such finesse. I must have stared at him forever...

Julio, the other guitarist, is a total flirt onstage! He knows that every single girl in the audience wants him, and he loves that. Girls threw a bra, underwear, stilettos, neck braces and tons of jewelry at him. As much as I hate that he's a flirt like that, his charm is irresistible!! Diana was wearing a heart necklace, and she decided she wanted to give it to him. But rather than throw it onstage and risk him not getting it, she held it out. She was holding it out for a while until he finally noticed. He made his way over to our side of the stage and we just about died. Diana squealed after he put it on, gave a cute little grin, and posed for a picture. This all happened in the middle of a song!

Julio had come over to our side of the stage multiple times already, and at one point he kneeled down to play and get closer to the audience. While he kneeled, he looked at me and winked!! Ahhhh. The whole night I was outstretching my hand for him or Bibi to touch it, but I'm too short. =( That's what sucks about trying to reach over a metal barrier...my tiny arms. BUT!!!!! Julio again looked over at me and saw my little outstretched hand. He made his way over and reached out to me...and...I...died. He could only really reach my fingertips, but that was enough! I felt him holding his guitar pick! What made it all the more special was he ONLY touched my hand when he made this particular trip to our side. =)

The lead singer, Jesus, was also very interactive with the audience. He wore jewelry they threw at him, along with scarves and other random things. At the end of the show he touched most everyone's hand (most everyone who was near the front of the audience).

Bibi, however, was very elusive. He looked at me a few times, and at one point he winked, and another time he made a funny face, but that was all I could get out of him. =/ He wasn't as into trying to touch fans' hands, probably because he was so focused on his amazing guitar skills. It's okay though since I got to stare at him for most of the show. Too bad he was wearing a wedding band. UGH! Diana says he has a kid too. More ugh. But I still took a picture of him on my phone and made it my wall paper. =)

The show ended around 11pm. Diana wanted to get her necklace back, but the stage crew and security team were total jerks! She kept going back and forth trying to see if they'd go check and try to grab it for her, but no one seemed very eager to help. One guy felt bad, but he was an underling and didn't have the power to go backstage or onstage to retrieve it. Diana says the necklace was cheap, but she wanted it because Julio had worn it!!! Sigh. I felt pretty sad for her.

Overall though, we both had a lot of fun—even after having to wait 8 hours. My Reik mix CD sounded so much better on the drive back home. Seeing a band live, and seeing them actually play well, makes you appreciate them so much!

It's just too bad that Julio is a player, Jesus gives off a gay vibe, and Bibi is married...