I got to The El Rey around 7pm and walked right in. It was so nice not having to wait in the long will call line. That would have sucked. To my surprise, I walked right up to the stage and stood in the second row right in front of where Darren and Sam play. I thought for sure by getting there after doors opened I was going to be in the back. But I was in the front!

Before Phantom Planet went on there was a Coca Cola 2^nd Annual New Music Award finalist competition. Last year 1000s of bands sent in tapes, the judges narrowed those down to 10 bands, and then eventually 2 bands. At this show, we saw the final 3 bands compete to play on the American Music Awards on Monday. Dick Clark was the host so that was pretty cool seeing an American icon about 6 feet away from me. The 3 bands were: Honeycomb, Terrel, and Moe. Moe ended up winning. This was all definitely interesting because Coca Cola was filming it. They had professional photographers, interviewers. It was a big deal going on in that place.

Before the show I saw Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley and heard that tweo of the girls from The Like were there. I also finally met up with Seleena and I waved to Tisha and Gen! Then around 9:45pm. PP came on. Ahh, 6 months well worth the wait! They put on a great show with tons of energy!

The stage went black and then.. there was nothing. After a few minutes of waiting the Zelda theme song came on! Yes. The original Nintendo Zelda theme song and moments later the guys made their way on stage. Jason was holding up a big stuffed leopard above his drums, and then it all started. With the Zelda music still going in the background, they opened with Please Apply Yourself To Me Sweetly. Jacques decided to spice things up for a change by wearing a Jesus wig. LoL It was a wavy, partially curly, dark brown, shoulder length wig that covered his face half the time he was wearing it. He took it off about 3 songs later. Then they played Always On my Mind and a new one called Stiffs. Actually, I think Stiffs is one of my favorite new songs. I really like the beat through out it and Sam has a great bass solo in it. Its only a few seconds long, but man its nice. It kept humming the beat in my head for about 2 songs after Stiffs until I forgot it. Then was By The Bed. This song seemed harder and faster to me than last time I heard it. But its still a new song so Im sure it isnt 100% perfected yet. Next was Happy Ending. Before Alex started singing this one he said I think this one is still available for download at our website. I think Happy Ending is definitely one of the crowd favorites because the crowd really started going during this song. Then was a brand new song called All The Same To Me that Alex told the crowd when it was over that it was the first time they ever played it live. Then Alex told the audience about how his house was just egged really bad, toilet paper and everything a few nights ago by the subject of this next song. Then Jason and Jacques said something to Alex and he was like no this is the right song. Well, that person is the subject of this song. Then they finally played the song, First Things First. This is also another new song that I think was a favorite among the crowd. Next, was Lonely Day which got the crowd going absolutely crazy. Next was another song from The Guest. I think besides All Over Again the crowd enjoyed Nobodys Fault the most from The Guest. As usual, before singing Nobodys Fault Jacques had the crowd ask How are you doing? and Alex started the song Everything is okay, everything is fine. Then there was another new one called Jabber Jaw and then Badd Business. Badd Business ended on a huge high with the crowd going crazy which quickly faded into the first few notes of California which just made the crowd go even crazier. I, along with a good majority of people there, sang along with Alex during the first verse and then the ones that knew the rest of the song kept singing. California has always been one of my personal favorites, so of course I sang along to the entire song. That song really catches the emotions surging through the band on stage. When Alex is singing the chorus you can feel and hear that Phantom Planet is putting everything they have and more into their music and having a great time. When Sam went to start singing back up at the beginning of the song, he forgot he still had his pic in his mouth from when he was playing the tambourine and gave this little smile at himself for forgetting. Then the madness started. The never ending All Over Again. This is the usual show closer that takes new forms every single sure. No one is ever quite sure how long it is going to last or exactly what is going to happen. Throughout the song at this show, the band went absolutely nuts and then right as you think the song was over, one of the guys played a few notes on his guitar and it all started again. Alex took his mic and hopped up onto a speaker over by Jacques. Everyone thought he was going to climb the light structure, but after looking at it decided knock over Jacques mic stand, hop down off the speaker, and stage dive by where Jacques plays for the second  time of the night. Hutch ended up reeling him back in. Sam Played drums with Jason too. But now instead of just kind of playing around with the drums for a little bit, Sam and Jason really tried making something out of what they were doing. They were following each other and having a great time. Then Alex joined in on the drums and there you had three guys on drums and Darren and Jacques playing guitar. Soon Alex and Jacques both ended up on the ground and before you knew it the guys were slowly making their way off stage until just Darren and Jason were left. They played of each other for a bit, then Darren went off, and Jason played for a little more. Then Jason stood up holding one of his drums just letting the crowd go wild.  Then off he went to the back and the show was over. Hutch came out, turned off the amps, and gave away the set lists, drum sticks, and pics that were all left behind on stage.

After the show, Sara (the friend I was with) was able to snatch Darrens bottle of water off the speaker and I talked to Seleena some more. I met Lisa, Seleenas friends, and we decided to meet up in a little bit again by the merch table. Away from the crazy crowd. Well, that did not really work out. I some how totally missed the merch table and me and Sara ended up outside. They were giving away free American Music Awards goodie bags with cds and flyers in them, and miniature cans of Coca Cola! LoL I love free stuff. Then we waited out side. At one point, Tennessee from The Like came running over to me because she saw that I was wearing their shirt. That was pretty rad. LoL. Its always fun to see how excited she gets when she shes me wearing the shirt. It always puts a smile on my face! HaHa And I just happened to be standing next to the guy that helped design those shirts for The Like. That was cool. Then we waited some more. I ended up seeing Charlotte and Z from The Like, Robert and Matt from Rooney, and countless other familiar faces that Ive seen time and time again at these shows.

Finally, Seleena came out and told me she had talked to Jacques! Woo! We talked some more and then Jacques came outside. I didnt talk to him though. Then awhile later, Seleena left and Sara and I waited for the other guys. All of a sudden I hear my name and I see Seleena coming towards me to tell me she just talked to Alex!! Yeah! Then Darren came out and we all talked to him. He complimented me on my jacket I was wearing and was surprised to hear id been to 15 shows. Sara and I took a picture with him, and then, once again, Seleena left. So, Sara and I stood around for a couple more minutes and then Jason comes walking up! He said he saw this group of girls waiting out front as he was driving away and he couldnt just leave without talking to us! LoL He was unbelievably nice last night and was really talkative. He just bought a new black Toyota Pryus that only uses $12 in gas every 2 weeks even though he drives a lot. Sara got his autograph on some Dickies paper that he was quite amused with. He said it reminded him of when he had to write in curvise at school, so he started out writing the cursive alphabet for her. HeeHee. Then we all took a picture and a few minutes later Sara and I were picked up. Wow! What a night!

Setlist: Thanks Jessica from the PPF MB for the set list (Thanks Hutch!)

please apply yourself to me sweetly
always on my mind
stiffs
by the bed
happy ending
all the same to me
first things first
lonely day
nobody's fault
jabberjaw
badd business
california
all over again

Phantom Planet was the last band to go on for the night. The show started at 7pm and PP did not go on until 11:30pm. Throughout the night, the majority of the fans were Hanson fans, so by the time PP came on, many people had already left and I stood in back which was about the sixth.

The oldest Hanson brother introduced PP from a side balcony and as the curtain started to rise, PP opened with a brand new song called Big Brat. Members from the previous bands including Bleu, The Like, Hanson, and possibly Maroon 5 were all on stage dancing. Jason was not at this show because he is currently filming a new movie, so Ryland from Audiovent filled in for him. This song was a little different because Sam played guitar and Jacques played bass. Alex, whose hair is now about shoulder length, was also using a dark brown guitar for the entire show instead of his white one with the Japanese flag sticker on it. Big Brat is definitely a good way to get a party started. There is just an endless amount of energy in the song and it has an amazing chorus everyone can really get in to. I think the main part of the chorus was stand back. But those words could have been different and I cannot remember any of the other words. This is by far my favorite new PP song which I am sure will be on the new album. Alex then mentioned that the song they were beginning to play was Happy Ending which is the first song on the new album. Then the next few songs on the set were Badd Business, First Things First, Always On My Mind, and Nobodys Fault. At the beginning of Nobodys Fault Jacques had the crowd ask Alex how he was doing just like he does at every show. Oh and Jacques was wearing a white tee that said in orange glitter letters, Take Me Home Tonight. Next either Alex or Jacques said they were going to slow things down a bit as they started California which was by far the most mellow song of the set even though everyone was going crazy to the song. By The Bed was next and I really like how far this song has come. The first time I heard By the Bed I am pretty sure it was acoustic, or if it wasnt then it was a very calm, slow song. Through the months, this song has evolved into a fast paced song that is much heavier. Now it is more along the lines of Badd Business. Im pretty sure Stiffs was next and this song has come along way since I last heard it. Back in February, Stiffs had a strong bass line that was the major part of the song, but now PP has added more guitar parts and fiddled with the bass line a little so the music has more, well substance. There is more to the song now than before. Stiffs is one song that definitely shows the work PP did over the last few months. The last song was All Over Again, which is always a crowd favorite and is always filled with every little bit of energy the guys have left. It wasnt nearly as long as it has been the last few shows where it was near the 10 minute mark, but it was just as much fun.

Somewhere in that set, someone from the audience threw a huge pair of mens briefs at Alex that had black writing all over them. In the front the said Phantom Planet Panties and Alex preceded to put them on his head while he sang the next song. They were so large, the covered his entire head plus the entire mic. While the underwear was on his head Alex said, I hope these arent used. Then after the song, he said, Those arent my size by the way. Also, somewhere in there, Alex jumped off the stage into the crowd. Then he sort of crowd surfed back about 6 rows. The crowd almost dropped him twice! Then he was about 7 feet away from my and he started jumping up and down in the crowd and a good number of people around him did the same. Then he made his way back to the stage to finish the song. Pete Thomas (drummer for Elvis Costello and The Attractions) also played drums on one song, which could have possibly been California, but I cannot remember.

 Overall, Phantom Planets sound is much harder even since the last show I went to in February and the newer songs are definitely more rock than pop. I think the sound really fits PP as a band better now that they are older and more experienced musically.

Thanks break (Jessica) from the PPF MB for the name of the guest drummer from Audiovent.

The actual MOS itself was really just a show with only PP performing that they taped and recorded for the DVD and a special bootleg cd that is coming out the last week of September. I wasnt expecting a long show though, so I thought this was fine. I got to hear 2 brand new songs and rock out to my favorite music. Just like the sound, times change and yes, the MOS is no longer the awesome 2+ hours of straight PP performance.

I loved the old times, but I embrace this new time with as much joy and love as the past because its Phantom Planet, a band that grows and evolves like every other living thing. Change is inevitable.

Now lets get to the actual performance! HeeHee. I hope that whole first part was clear to you. I was just throwing out everything thats been on my mind about PP after reading peoples unhappy posts on the boards.

PP started out with The Happy Ending and then played Badd Business, Always On My Mind, First Things First, and then I got to hear a brand new song I had never heard before. Makin A Killin has a great beat during the chorus where Alex keeps repeating the words makin a killin. The brand new songs have an even rawer harder sound than the others do, but they are really fun. Some people complain about not being able to sing along to them, but that was the first time I ever heard that song and after hearing the chorus once, I had no problem singing along. It may have been during this song where Alex danced first, but he did it a few times off and on. Its just this bouncy back and forth dance. He kind of bounces around a little and moves his shoulders. If you watch that video on the PPF MB that a girl made of Big Brat. He dances in that. HeeHee I actually am a huge fan of that type of dance because I dance like that a lot. HaHaHa So I guess I can relate to it. HaHaHa It didnt look choreographed to me, but it looks like there may be certain times in certain songs where he really enjoys doing it. Then Alex and Jacques were joking around and said the next song, which ended up being The Guest, was off a bad album. HaHa Funny boys. Or at least I think it was before that song. Then they Jacques had everyone ask Alex how he was doing and Alex started Nobodys Fault. Then PP played By The Bed and Alex said they had only played the next one, which was Turn Smile Shift Repeat, once or twice before. (They played it twice before. Once at each LA show in February 03). Then they played another brand new one called The Meantime. I think this was when Alex was making more hand movements than usual. He was making little squares and other shapes to go along with the words, but like you said its nothing new. Hes done hand movements before. I really enjoy them. I think they add more emotion to the song and it looks like Alex really likes making them. HeHeHe. Then the guys played Jabberjaw, Big Brat, which they said would be their new single on Oct. 21 and lastly, they closed with the always enjoyable All Over Again. During All Over Again Alex got up and played drums with Jeff and then Sam joined in with them. HeeHee That is always a blast seeing three guys on drums at once. Then Alex decided it was time to climb. He went up the scaffolding/post the lights are on near Jacquess side that was about 8 feet away from me and climbed to the top. Once up to the top, he wedged a leg around a few of the bars and flipped himself forward so he was looking down at the people/ground while he was singing. HaHa A security guy or someone used his little flash light and lit Alexs face up so the camera man could get the shot. Man, that was one of the favorite parts of the night. Then Alex climbed down a bit and eventually jumped back on stage. Oh also, Sam and Jacques switched instruments on Big Brat and one other song that I cant remember. All I remember is that it was one of the brand new ones, maybe Makin A Killin. Then all the guys went off stage and they turned the lights on.

But people werent leaving. Everyone wanted PP to come down and do an encore, which they didnt do. But they did come down and take all the fans for coming and they introduced Jeff as their new drummer. Then they said they had to get ready for the next show and everyone left.

Overall, PP looked much happier at this show then the last few Ive been to and I thought they sounded a lot better. Jeff seemed to fit in perfectly and he seems like a very kind and considerate person. I think he was a nice addition to PP.