Big Wal-Mart show with the Plain White T's digs up family values - By N.L. Belardes

All-access means what?

It was one of those last-minute decisions to jam out to the free Plain White T's show at Wal-Mart on Monday night. I wasn't going to. But then I thought, what if I miss a big local event? I figured I would go snap some photos, maybe meet the band, then leave.

I didn't expect to see 5,000 people gathered.

Four hours later, right as I was entering the autograph-signing tent my mini-HD camera ran out of batteries. I have yet to upload that content. There's funny imagery of one of the band members examining a police baton.

What can you do? I'd already shot stills and videos of the the concert, kids and adults getting yanked from the crowd as they were squashed against a railing. I ran out of space on a 2-gig card so had to get another (4-gig) at nearby Best Buys (Sorry Wal-Mart).

I caught the entire police message of "We might stop the show" on camera, the song 'Hey There Delilah' and even shot some stills on members of my family I hadn't seen in years. It's all attached to the ABC23 article, "Free Concert At Rosedale Wal-Mart Rough For Some Kids."


On-air promotion of local music scene.
Related blog: Have the Plain White T's Changed That Much?

Yeah, those family pics. It was one of those, Oh-yeah-those-people-ostracized-me moments. I walked by them. They pretended to gaze through me the way they always looked through me when they knew me. It's OK. You just deal with the bullshit and stupidness of a family who doesn't support an artist. I'm from one of those families who thinks writers are losers, who've put me down for years. I was told one of my books was "too boring to read". That same book is now being read by Brenda Knight, who freakin' rocks in the publishing world. I can't even begin to state the importance of a Brenda Knight in anyone's life.

So one day I got tired of the name-calling, the putting down of myself and kids. I fought back. I stood up for them and myself. If you read this blog, you know I do that now and then. It's like I say on here time and again. Like Ray Bradbury said when he came to town. People who are obstacles, who put you down, who don't believe in you, shove them out of your way. Live your life and fulfill your dreams.

Well I was going to interview Plain White T's and was asked by the tour manager to hang around. I made friends with one of their distribution representatives. I had already put in four hours. I just left. It had been a long night.

It was one of those nights that showed me a few things about myself and my ex-family. My ex-family just stared from a distance, like they did when I walked past. They stared at me like they still think I'm a loser--the loser I never was but they judged me to be. Like I'm sure they stare at the accomplishments that I don't pretend to be quiet about.

My kid is on the front page of Bakersfield.com today. I'm proud of that. My other son who has high-functioning Autism just aced his first college exam. I'm very proud of that.

I walked up to a concert on a whim and negotiated an all-access pass, and could have met the band for an interview. I'm proud that I am able to do that and grateful for having become a journalist through blogs that some people like my ex-family hate.

That's pretty damn successful.

Now go live your dreams, whoever you are.

Peace.

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