Blog

http://www.ivykennedy.com/concerts/gavin.htm

Gavin Rossdale

Gavin Rossdale
At The NorVA
May 13, 2009


My parents told me I was special when I was young. Especially my dad, he told me a lot. Back then I really didn’t know what it meant. Yeah I was different but did that equate to being special? Even as an adult, I see myself as just like anybody else. I feel the same emotions, have a sweet sense of humor, strive for the same goals as everybody, etc; my body just doesn’t work right. Does that make me special? My answer is no, but to others it’s yes. There are times when I have to remind myself on how I may be perceived by some abled-bodied people.


Would I describe what happened last night as creepy or sweet? Maybe 90% sweet and 10% creepy. As time goes by it’ll probably become 100% sweet.


It wasn’t just a 5-minute chance meeting; it went on the whole show. I’ve met a few rock stars in my life, but nothing like this has ever happened.


I want to say The NorVA is my favorite concert venue. Even before we caught an elevator ride with Gavin! The place just kicks major ass. No wonder Rolling Stone ranked it in their top ten venues. …And yes the reason why I like it probably doesn’t even register to people, but they’ve got the best ADA seats ever! (Above the stage)


Brian I got there 30 minutes early. As we were making our way to the elevator, Brian spotted Gavin just ahead of us and pointed him out to me. I put my wheelchair into high gear in hopes of getting on the elevator with him. We made it! Though I thought for sure the doors where going to clamp shut in our faces. But that wouldn’t have been very nice, would it?


‘Hey Gavin!’ I said with a big smile on my face. Immediately I scrambled to find something to say. I didn’t want the time to go by in complete silence. I think I asked him how he liked Norfolk. My brain kept stalling on Gwen, but I wasn’t about to ask him something so personal. He said he just had a delicious fish sandwich over at Kincaid’s. He was smiling and being friendly. Great guy. Then somehow he mentions how cold it was in there. I’m a goofball. I had my jean jacket over my legs. I picked it up in the air and said; ‘Yeah that’s why I have this!’ Hehehe. Stupid. Midway between our short convo I finally noticed I had to pull up my wheelchair a bit more so the door could close. A tad embarrassing. I felt kind of bad for Brian. He didn’t get to say anything! Gavin did shake Brian’s hand though before we got off the elevator.


I called mom to tell her before the music started. All week, she teased me. ‘Who are you going to see? Who?’ I’d reply back, ‘That guy. The guy from Bush.’ Hehehe. She knew who, she just was being funny. So when I got her on the phone I said, ‘I met that guy! We rode the elevator together!’


As Brian and I were waiting for the music to start, we happy babbled about what had just happened and remembered other famous people we’ve met. ‘Man! I wish had gotten his autograph! Boy, we should’ve had the camera out! I’m so glad I didn’t run over his toes!’ Blah blah, blah. So the first band starts playing and we finally calmed down. They are on the last song. Who comes up behind me?! Gavin! This is where it gets unreal. Brian tells me later that Gavin put his finger to his lips as to say don’t let her know I’m here. He swats down by my feet, and I say real loud ‘HHHEEEEYYYY!’ He smiles and says he really likes this band. I say, ‘Yeah, they’re pretty good.’ He stays swatted down by my feet watching until they are done playing. I’m thinking two things, ‘Please don’t kick him and why oh why don’t I have my camera ready?’ I’m laughing to myself about not kicking him. It’s a CP thing. I’m thinking ‘Holy shit, please God don’t kick him’. I didn’t kick him incase you’re wondering. He gets up to leave. I think he touches my shoulder. I try to say have a good set, but he doesn’t hear me. He says, ‘You’re very pretty.’ Thank you and I smile. Ironic. This was the first concert of the season for us so beforehand I was reminding Brian not to tell drunks hang on me as they sometimes do. They usually tell me I’m beautiful as they’re hanging on me. Now it’s the lead singer is telling me I’m pretty! But he wasn’t high or drunk, rather the opposite. Just then he reminded me of Johnny Depp for some reason. For one, he had this tiny little waist like Johnny probably has, and he struck me as this super sensitive artist type guys. After the show, before Gavin left the stage, he blew me a kiss. I blew him one back and mouthed ‘bye’ to him.


As he was standing by us, a few people recognized him and were taking pictures. Wouldn’t it be wild if I could find a picture of the three of us online?!


I have to be honest now. A few many times during the show Gavin looked up and sang to me. First time it was cool, then I kind of creeped me out. I knew he meant nothing by it though. It’s just awkward having everyone look up at us, probably wondering who the heck is she? Well here I am. Just a regular ol cripple gal he shared an elevator with. Now you know! Hehehehe!


I wished I wasn’t creeped out but I was. Brian was too. Good thing I didn’t have a pimple that day. Believe or not, it was the few times of the year when Brian was shaved. I mean people were looking up at us a lot! I wished I could’ve taken it all in for what it was. But I’m used to people ignoring me. People don’t seem to care about issues I struggle with, like disability rights. I’m used to having to ‘scream’ to be heard, and here is this rock star singing to me off and on thru the whole night.


Thank you Gavin. I appreciate it. You’re not weird, you’re just super sweet! I’m just not used to strangers being sweet to me. You singing part of the acoustic version of Landslide to me was amazing. I’ll never forget it. I found a video of it thanks to shellatbeach! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDOM1rfSF5E


I knew my mother would be able to explain it to Brian when we got home. I know why sometimes people act like that towards me, but it’s hard for me to explain. She helped us get a better perspective. He’s on the road everyday nonstop, and he found a face he can identify with. It’s good for him to do that. I touched him in some sort of way. I still feel like I’m just like everybody else. But really I’m not and I know that too. I’m glad he saw something special that night


What a way to start the 2009 concert season!


My mother had a good idea I thought…..
She said I should write to him.
So I’m posting this on the chat board and mailing this in to his fan club.
Gavin, I wish I had told you my name.
It’s Ivy.

www.ivykennedy.com



setlist:

Frontline
Machinehead
Boombox
Chemicals between us
Can't stop the world
Animals Attack
The trouble im in
Forever may you run
Landslide
Everything Zen
Another Night in the Hills
This is happiness
The people that we love


ENCORE

Love remains the same
Adrenaline
Glycerine
Comedown


*Holy Shit, Gavin replied back to me on the chat board!!!*

http://www.gavinrossdale.com/forum/default.aspx?cid=462&tid=331511



Re: Gavin at the Norva

thx for your note ivy-
i've read it twice and appreciate what you say.
yes,people that come and see me help through the shows.

i lean heavily on my audience.i guess i appreciate you coming out and seeing me so i want to dive into everyone and make the show the best possible.

i kind of pick people that i feel connected/safe to and that seem to be lost in the show too.

i could see you peaking through the railings and i wanted you to feel the music and the words and the whole experience,so you became a focus for me.thx.

i would NEVER want to creep you out-that is the opposite of my intention.

but as you say,memory will shift it to 100% good,as it was intended.

thx for coming to the show- and i too applaud the venue for being disabled friendly.

they were very good to us and it was a cool set up.

we enjoyed the staff plenty.


my recommendation at kincaid's was the pulled pork sandwich,which for me was the best pulled pork sandwich i have ever eaten and i am picky.

so if you're passing..

until we meet again-thx for enjoying the show and coming out-it was great to meet you.

best

g



______________________________

my reply:



So you weren’t joking about the sandwich. Hehehe cool! Oh it was the pork, not the fish. Ok.

I want to say this again. …Thank you Gavin. I appreciate it. You’re not weird, you’re just super sweet! I’m just not used to strangers being sweet to me. You singing part of the acoustic version of Landslide to me was amazing. I’ll never forget it. So don’t feel bad. I wouldn’t change that night for a million bucks!

I’m ecstatic you wrote back!

Thank you again Gavin.


PS. Before I read your reply, it finally hit me. I couldn’t sleep last night because I finally got it. hahaha! It WAS a special night.