a Valentine's Day delight

It was February 14th 2001... I knew that Unified Theory was playing at the Roseland that night, but I also knew that it was a 21+ show and I was only 19 at that time. My friend Mary and I were walking around downtown, shopping and what not. Eventually we ended up right where the Roseland was so I decided, I wanted to pop in real fast and see if any of the Unified Theory guys were there so I could at least say Hello.

Since the last Unified Theory show the year before, I had kept in touch via email with Chris Shinn, the singer. So, it was because of that communication that I wanted to stop in and at least extend a Hello since I had long since accepted that my ability to go to this show was pretty much nil. So, Mary and I walked into the venue and not only were Unified Theory there, they were doing soundcheck. So, Mary and I tuned in for a few and before leaving, we caught Chris. I got to say my Hello and he asked if I was coming to the show... I told him that wasn't possible due to my age and that my best friend Melissa and I were crushed, as we were both just slightly underage (Melissa being 20 at that time). Chris told me not to worry about and to knock on the Winnebago door later that night and he would take care of things.

I promptly called Melissa and told her that Chris was going to help us with the show. She skeptically accepted, even though her boyfriend and her had made Valentine's dinner plans. But he knew how bad she wanted to go and relented to come along with us (being the only one of us who was old enough to actually obtain his own ticket). We met up downtown and knocked on the Winnebago door as instructed. Chris came out and handed us two passes. Nothing was specified or crossed out, so I wasn't sure what it meant exactly... But Melissa and I were chilling in the lobby eating before the show, I saw a couple Roseland employees starting to head our way... I was waiting for them to promptly throw us out. But one got a look at our passes, stopped the other and they both walked away leaving us alone. I smiled to myself knowing that we were officially in. No worries.

When the show started, there we were. Me. My best friend and her boyfriend. Valentine's night. In the presence of a band we loved to our very core. It was a fantastic show and we reveled in every second that it occurred. After the show, we got to join them again in good conversation... I remember talking with Brad about Shannon and that new thing called Napster... I remember telling him that I still remember where I was when Shannon (Hoon) died and how devastated I was. I remember him relating to me what a beautiful person Shannon was and how it was amazing to have known him. In regards to Napster, Brad's thoughts at the time were... "I don't mind people sharing our music, I just wished someone had asked me permission first."

In the end, in all my years... all my Valentine's days... none have compared to that night.