July 3rd 2002 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.....HOSTILE AMBIENT TAKEOVER!
I was physically removed from this show because I started jumping up and down with happiness when they started playing YOA. I wasn't drunk, nor was I slamming into people, just jumping. That was when the security staff at First Ave was super shady and looking to fuck with anyone. It sucked. At least it was the last song of the set but being dragged out in a headlock while hearing it was upsetting. Once they got me outside the door guy actually said "Oh hey I want in on this!" so the handed me off to him and I was thrown on the sidewalk in a sleeper hold and was told to just get up and walk away. So I did. Right down to the cop shop on 3rd St and filed a police report. I was told that that shit happens all the time and funny enough a few months later they fired pretty much the entire security staff and hired a new friendlier staff. Fucking assholes. I loved First Ave up until that point. After that I get twitchy when I go there.
Later that night I was talked into robo tripping for the first time. That's a whole other story but that was quite the night!
My first time was 94? They opened for NIN. That day I had bought the Your Choice series cd and my friends and I were listening to it before the show and talking about how awesome it would be to see them. The shows opener was Pop Will Eat Itself for which we were fans of at the time but when we showed up there was Melvins merch. I was so stupid back then, I asked a random security guy if the Melvins were playing, he looks at the merch and looks at me like an idiot and was like "Uh yeah, I guess they are.". Best surprise EVA! believe it or not but the crowed was really good to them too! Haven't missed a tour since.
