The Most Incredible Trip Ever: Part 1: "Smoke and Mirrors"

Let me begin by saying that every college student should have one amazing story to tell from their undergraduate career. And, let me tell you, this one tops about 87% of those stories. That might sound cocky, but please, bear with me as I unfold to you the most incredible series of events that could only be dreamed of. 

So, ever since high school, Brandon Kelly, Joshua Henderson and I have loved this band called The Receiving End of Sirens. They are a post-hardcore, ambient, progressive rock band from Boston Massachusetts. Their lyrics center around themes of relationships and the brokenness of humanity, while still remaining upbeat and hopeful. The last album "The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi" takes its title from Johannes Kepler's book Harmonicus Mundi (translated: The Harmony of the World). Here is their take on it from Absolutepunk.net 


"The title, The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi was taken from a book written by a late 16th century astronomical theorist by the name of Johannes Kepler [Harmonices Mundi] and the publication just fascinated the band. Kepler’s theory suggested that each of the 9 planets in our solar system produced tones as they orbited the sun. Throughout the orbit, Venus would stay a consistent note that was considered the 6th in relation to the rest of the planets. As Earth would shift its tonality, it would create the effect of the notes moving from the major 6th to the minor 6th and back and forth. This is where the “Mi Fa Mi” comes into action, symbolizing the corresponding syllables when singing a scale in relation to the notes of the earth {Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do}. Kepler further concurred that the Earth “singing” Mi Fa Mi could truly stand for Misery, Famine, Misery and ultimately, that is the song the Earth and Venus continued to sing. Misery, referring to an empty place and Famine, referring to the appetite or thirst for things."

Suffice to say, there are many reasons for me to like them other than the sound of their music. 

Sadly, TREOS (The Receiving End of Sirens) broke up in May of 2008, which came as quite a sad surprise and shock to Brandon, Josh and I. Luckily enough, Brandon was surfing the web one day in November 2009 and came across some exciting news: TREOS would be playing a single reunion show in May of 2010 at a yearly concert festival called Skatefest. That, to us was incredible news, but there was only 1 problem...


It was in Worcester, MA, which was a 12.5 hour car ride. 700 miles away. 


However, that didn't deter the three of us. In spite of our tight budgets and limited resources, we decided to buy tickets that December and nabbed a cheap $100 plane ticket to Boston out of RDU the Friday before the concert, which was on that Saturday. 


Closer and closer the day came for us to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Josh, the ever eager, would periodically text Brandon and I a countdown. 


70 days


30 days


24 days


10 days

2 days


At about this time, Brandon came across some EVEN MORE AWESOME NEWS. Before the concert Saturday, some bands whom were to be playing at Skatefest were playing a show in Providence, RI on that Friday which was called "The Real Eve Of Skatefest." Their headlining band was called only "special guest appearance," and upon further investigation, Brandon discovered the acronym for the concert was TREOS. Brandon, the sleuthful, deducted from purely circumstantial evidence that TREOS was playing. 


(side note: congratulations on being so awesome at looking up stuff, BK)

 So Brandon calls me, and it goes something like this:

*ring ring*
Cameron: Hello?
Brandon: Hey, what's up?
C: Nothing, just readi---
B: I just found out TREOS is playing another show before Skatefest - a secret show!
(He proceeds to explain)
B: So should we go? It's all the way in Providence.
C: (thinks momentarily) Yes. I'll buy and print tickets for us now.


So that was it, we were going to be seeing TREOS twice, but there was 1 problem, we had nowhere to stay in Providence, RI, and I had already booked us 2 nights in Worcester at a place 1 block from the Palladium (the concert hall they were playing). So I called the Crowne Plaza Hotel and cancelled our Friday Night stay in Worcester. We had no where to stay, but I figure we'd just handle that later.


The Day of Departure:
To Be Continued....