Manchester - March 21st 2003 by Ellen Tomlinson - Try To Shut Me Up Tour

[Sharifa]

Try To Shut Me Up Tour Review

Concert: Manchester

Reviewer: Ellen Tomlinson

Date: March 21st 2003


It was Friday the 21st of March, There was no way I was going into school today, I knew that and my parents knew not to disagree because this was MY day, I'd been looking forward to this day for fuck knows how long. I knew that this had to be the best day ever.My mate Rhea knocked on at my house at about 8.15 and we left for 8.30, We were at the bus stop going to Manchester and the bus drove past us going to school, we got some funny looks but most people knew where we were going as we hadn't shut up about this day until the day we got our tickets, Avril Lavigne was practically all we lived for.
We arrived in Manchester at around 9.15, and we had to get another bus to Manchester University because Id arranged to meet up with a girl from the Internet to buy the Wilkesboro T-shirt from her, but the t-shirt was too big L So we went into Manchester's Food chain and waited for our other friend Tara, She took it upon herself to keep us waiting for an hour. Finally she arrived. Rhea and me couldn't contain ourselves. It still didn't feel like today we were guna see Avril Lavigne Live. I suggested we walked to the Apollo, It'd kill a bit of time and it'd be a good laugh, and help us to calm ourselves down. Well Rhea, and me Tara was more interested in her cig (js kidin m8) We walked but come to a dead end. So we got on a bus to the Apollo and all we said is 'WERE GUNA SEE AVRIL LAVIGNE TODAY!' passengers to the right said they were too, but it was 11 o'clock and they weren't going for another 7 hours!
We got off the bus, and walked past the entrance there were people sat down already, but not too many. We noticed some tour buses on a field, but the last thing we ever thought that they would be Avril's. We got talking to a big hairy dude in a black vest, (turned out to be Avril's body guard) I tried to steal his COOL all access pass off him for a joke but he wasn't having any of it. He then informed us that the bus about 2 yards to my left, held a sleeping Avril Lavigne. I couldn't believe it, but I mean literally didn't believe him, and thought it was a pile of shit. Then I looked forward at the back entrance. And there right in front of me was Charlie! I screamed at the top of my voice " OH MY GOD IT'S CHARLIE!!!!!" I got some funny looks off fellow Avril fans as they stood about looking like it was an everyday thing that Avril's bassist is stood right in front of you. Charlie smiled and disappeared quickly. I know it sounds such a cliché but I actually thought it was a dream and questioned myself, was Charlie in my imagination? We got talking to some Avril fans from Liverpool; I told them I had presents for Avril and Evan. (Now I wish I had one for Jesse!L) I loved Evan soo much, he's so hot. They told me he'd been in the tour bus for a banana and back out, but they didn't say anything to him (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Then after about half an hour Evan came out. But I cudnt say anything, I turned to face the wall and began crying, All the Avril fans were laughing and stuff, but we all had a laugh together. We waited around for hours. The Avril fans were so cool, and we all had a gr8 time. Then I saw Evan, This time I wasn't guna let me go. IU ran over to him. But behind that gorgeous smiling exterior Evan was nothing that I thought he would be. He was so weird, And backing away from us, he was hesitant to have his picture taken with us and stayed out for less than 5 minutes. But he's still fucking hot!!!!!! He posed for 2 pictures with me, and he shuck my hand and asked my name "Ellen.WE HAVE THE SAME INITIALS!" I was so embarrassed; it just came out because I was so nervous. Evan said he had to go but would be back out later, I wads crying my eyes out, I loved this dude! He thanked me for his present and waved and went somewhere. Tara was bored and went to the pub next to us, Me and Rhea couldn't understand her, THIS WAS AVRIL'S TOURBUS!!!!! Then Charlie came back out, I asked him to sign my face and started a whole body part signing sesh. He was nice and posed for some photos, and went back u cud tell he wasn't used to the attention. I was stood next to sum people, Rhea, Sarah a freaky Avril fan from Newcastle but she was cool, And Angela and Ben from Liverpool. We all had a right laugh together, mostly at my expense because I was 'obsessed' but we had a wkd time. But I was starting to get worried. The queue was taking form and we had to decide whether we wanted to stick around and meet Avril or queue so we were guaranteed front row. I chose to wait and Meet Avril, Because this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. And the fan atmosphere was AMAZING. But then Angela and Ben said that we could get in the queue with them, as they were at the front of the queue. I couldn't believe it, WE WERE GUNA BE RIGHT AT THE FRONT, AND MEET AVRIL! It was all too much I was all giddy, ands it was all thanks to Angela and Ben. At about 2 o'clock, I saw Jesse walk to the tour bus. I felt sorry for him as no-1 shouted him, But as he had a baseball cap on I was still wondering if it was him, I told Sarah to shout him, he turned around and told us he'd be 5 minutes. Matt came out and he has the most wonderful eyes ever. He posed for pictures then went bk into the tour bus. Then Jesse came out, he was real shy at 1st. He signed some stuff, like paper and my cheek, this girl's hand. I asked him to write I love you on paper followed by his name and he did. He was talking to us for at least 2 hours. And I could definitely say now Jesse was the coolest person I have ever met. Me all made up a song about Tony Blair and
the war, I can't remember it exactly but I know it ended it in suck my cock. I kept commenting on Jesses cool Canadian accent as he kept saying oot and aboot. He also tried to make a security guard laugh, but the security guard started getting nasty thinking he was just a fan, until he was notified he was in the band, and he easened up. Jesse kissed me, and I kissed him. He was so stubbly, and soon after I'd forgot about Evan and I LOVED Jesse! He told us a joke about superman, signed more stuff, made us laugh more, asked me where he cud buy a t-shirt from, I told him id take him, WE WERE GUNA GO SHOPPING!! Until a woman told him there wasn't any shops round here, only in the middle of Manchester. I was gutted! He stayed for ages, shown us his cool Lego watch, and reminded himself of what shoes he was wearing, and wrote no war on his hand. He told us he had to go wind down and blow some people up on grand theft auto vice city. Everyone was in a good mood then, and all said how lovely Jesse was.
About another hour passed and Everyone was just talking, Then the door opened of the tour bus opened, The light was shining and I couldn't see, All I saw was long hair.yes long hair. IT WAS FUCKING AVRIL FUCKING LAVIGNE. Her hair covered her face; she came out armed with a marker pen, which I thought was sooooooooooooooo lovely. I couldn't move. I had been waiting for this day for so long, I had loads of stuff to say, my main priority was a hug, But I cant explain it, For people who haven't met there idols yet, I tell you its so weird your mind goes blank and u cant think. I had tears in my eyes, She came to me "I bought you a present Avril" It was a t-shirt saying if you don't like my attitude.FUCK OFF. It was in a bag so she couldn't see it. "AWWWWW THANKS" She said. She dropped it though, apologized and her security guard picked it up, she smiled. Avril can you sign this please, I said, " I'm sorry I have to go""Pleeeeeeeeasssse Avril" she smiled and signed, explained she had to go for her sound check and was taken thru the crowd door. Everyone was in shock. Avril Lavigne had spoke to me. Ellen Tomlinson. I had spoke to avril lavigne.OMG!!!!!!

Everyone was getting more and more tired, id been standing up waiting for about 7 hours, so I felt like I had to go sit down, I went and took my place in the queue. AT THE FRONT (Thanks Angela and Ben) Time passed and we all spoke of how we met Avril. And JESSE! It was then 6.30, doors opened @ 7. That half an hour, I shit you not felt like 3 hours. Then the men came to the door. We were guna be let in, I eased my way to the door, and he opened it, Rhea ran, not giving a shit about being told not to. I walked and looked down, I saw Rhea's face 'ELLLEN!!!!!!ELLEN!!!!!!!" She had her arms wrapped over the barrier. All these months of waiting had paid off. I was guna be right at the front. I was getting very scared, the crowd were going mental asking for avril, there were so many people pushing against me. I felt I was guna die, but at least it was in the presence of Avril Lavigne. Our Lady peace cam eon, they were so gr8 to warm us up. And did a really great job. They went off, they changed all the equipment.
And a black curtain went down. All you could see was feet, and everyone was screaming at the site of black converse.THERES AVRIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was very funny, and then a projection of 'TRY TO SHUT ME UP TOUR' took its place on the projection. All u cud hear was stomping of feet. Screaming of fans, and my ribs cracking against the barrier because of the hunger of fans. Then it was 9.00, the red avril star was projected onto the logo. The intro of sk8er boi came on, the curtain lifted. And there, stood in front of me, was Avril Lavigne. The crowd was phenomenal. U couldn't hear a thing, I kept smiling at Jesse. He was so cool, and looked so hot, Evan was smiling at everyone, and I cud think was 'FAKER!' lol Avril got set into my favorite song ever- nobodies fool; I was so excited as id looked forward to this song forever. But all I had was big orange men pulling the fainters out of the crowd, That was what I saw mostly all night, Big orange sweater mean, and feet being dragged over my head. Then when she sang basket case, The crowd, went absolutely MENTAL. I was electric, Avril was grinning, the crowd were amazing but people were being dragged out every minute after fainting etc. Then too much to ask came on, on the 2nd verse avril came out into the crowd and walked towards rhea and me on the pegs. She stopped where mine and rheas shoulders met. Rheas hand was on her left hip, mine on her right, throughout the whole chorus it was amazing, I looked up, and I cud see up avrils nose.IT WAS FUCKING AMAZING. As she walked away rhea touched her hair, but I couldn't move. I was frozen! She got two ppl out to sing complicated, the boi didn't even know the words and just harassed avril with kissed and ass touches.HE ROCKED! Lol the crowd were getting worse, the guards tried to pull me out but I told them no, Id been wanting this night too much. Mine and Rhea's song was things ill never say, it reminded us of each other, and the last song all I heard was LADDEDEEDAA, me and rhea went MENTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the best song to end that night with, The lights went out and Avril and her band toddled off.
It was the best day/night of my whole 15 years and will be forever. Avril is amazing. I can't wait till her next tour. But I don't think we will be as lucky to find another Angela and Ben! Jesses made that day more complete, what a fucking hottie!!!!!!1 JESSE ROCKS! And as for the t-shirt I bought Avril, still no sign of it, I think she just forgot about it and left it at the Apollo, its not as if she cant afford to buy her own t-shirts!!! But if u see her in it! Email me!
Ellen_Tomlinson@Hotmail.com
21st march 2003- FUCKING A!!!!!!