Marshmallow Gun x UKF Dubstep

Date : December 1, 2012
Venue : The Hammerstein Ballroom
Location : New York City, New York
Line up : Chase & Status, Borgore, Bare Noize, Delta Heavy, Dirtyphonics, Gemini, Xilent, Alex English

Before The Show 

So when I got there, of course I had trouble with security. They didn't even let me stand in line, since I was under 18. So I went around the venue and found the box office, spoke to them for a while, but had no luck. I went back outside and stood in front of the venue and watched everyone else have fun and get hyped up for a great show. After standing around for a while a group of kids showed up (4 guys and a girl), one of them was in a wheelchair, but this want your ordinary wheelchair. This wheelchair was tricked out with glow sticks and lights, it looked pretty sick and everyone who passed by would comment about it. The group got up to the line and the security told them to wait in the front of the venue (near where I was standing). So they came back near me and by that point I couldn't help but continue to look at how much fun they were having, and even with a wheelchair bound friend they were all smiling and having a good time. So after some staring back at each other, they asked me if I was going to the concert, and I said that I hoped so. They said that they had one extra VIP ticket and offered it to me. I was in shock, I said that would be awesome but that I was under 18 and asked if I could tag along with them and they said sure. So off we went. We walked right up to the ticket counter, checked in and got into the elevator. After constantly thanking them for their generosity, we got to talking and I asked them what they were doing in New York and where they were from. They said that they were going to be deployed back to Afghanistan soon and they wanted to have on last good time. My jaw dropped. I stared at the young guy in the wheelchair and connected the dots. By that point they said they that this kid, whose name was Alex, got his leg messed up and he lifted up his pant leg, showing the metal rods and scaffolding surrounding his leg. The girl, who said she wasn't in the military, told me how she knew the guys and as we got out of the elevator I realized how lucky I was. We got to the balcony and I knew that we weren’t going to the General Admission floor with a kid in a wheel chair.

The Event

So let me just talk about the actual music side to this event before I go back to the story.  By far, the best performance was Gemini, the bass was thunderous and the crowd was going nuts. Xilent had a great stage presence and was moving as much as the crowd was, which was great to see. Delta Heavy was great, the lighting was epic and the music was even more epic, everyone was raging. The rest of the sets we all great but those didn't stick out as much. Overall, to have this UKF lineup all at the same show was unreal and it could not have been better.

            
             Later into the night, the group decided they wanted to go down to the floor. I was shocked; there was no way that was going to happen. But in the end they went down and I made my way down, taking some pictures. When I found them near the front they were having an amazing time. They were looking out for their buddy and all raging with him. Every once in a while they helped him up and he would stand for a bit, nodding his head, smiling, and just rocking to the music. Eventually I said goodbye and made my way out, but this event wasn't just an event, though it was amazing, the experience I had with this group of kids was just as good.

After Thoughts


          Obviously with a line up like this one, the UKF team put on a great show and the Hammerstein Ballroom did a great job with the sound and lighting. It was incredible. The photos I got were awesome and my gear worked great, I can’t wait t do it again. But the group of people I met was even more amazing, to see them rally around their injured friend and be such caring, nice people was heartwarming. To see a wounded veteran get out of a wheelchair onto his feet and dance was an experience that will never leave me. And for them to give so much to me after all they already do for our country was unbelievably selfless. Amanda, Miles, Mike, Geovany, and Alex thank you guys for an amazing time and an experience that I will never forget. Rage on guys, rage on!

-Josh