True Perfect Symmetry.

When I was in seventh grade, my family went on a vacation to Captiva Island and we had rented out a condo with everyone, all 15 of us (exept my grandparents couldn't join us.) Every morning I would wake up and for the first time I watched MTV and VH1 music videos. Nowadays VH1 is the only channel that continues morning videos but I digress. So as a 13 year old, I had heard here and there of artists such as Britney Spears and N*Sync but I wasn't too into modern music. My parents had just played Blood, Sweat, and Tears, The Beatles, etc. I remember siting in this Florida living room and watching my first music video, Hoobastank's The Reason. Immediatly I was in love. To this day that is one of my favorite songs of all time. The second video was Maroon Five's This Love, also a great song. The only problem with these good bands was that they didn't do too much else in their careers. Another video I saw that day had a huge influence in my life though, Keane's Somewhere Only We Know. The first few times I saw the US version of this video I hate to admit it but I wasn't too impressed, it was kinda boring. When I got home from that vacation, we got Time Warner Cable and they have a feature called On Demand which is where you can watch certain TV episodes that aren't playing on the stations. I found the music channel and my newfound love of music videos was fulfilled even more. I watched every video I could and I saw that one song by that one band (Keane) was there but it said UK version. Skeptical, I hit play and instantly was infatuated.

I'm not quite sure what it was abou this video that was so enticing, but it was. That was really their only "big" US hit and since that was way back in 2004, well not many people know who they are. For a while I would get very upset, almost offended when I would mention keane and no one would know who they were, but I learned to enjoy the fact that, at least in my little world, they were mine and only mine. One day I was chatting to one of my friends and i mentioned that they were one of my favorite bands, and to my surprise, she had heard of them!! I was bewildered because not only had she heard of them, but she really liked them! It was so nice to have one other person who cared when a new single came out or when a CD was released.

As their first US tour came to an end we had the misfortune of missing them, in 9th grade. I was really sad because it would have been the perfect way to begin high school with an awesome concert. So when I heard that their second CD was due for fall 2006, I immediatly planned on going to the LA concert, no question. When Under the Iron Sea was released, a lot of fan reviews were negative, but I loved it, as a true fan would. So when the tickets went on sale for the LA concert in May 2007, I bought 3 tickets. One for me, one for my mom, and one for Marie. It started out with a little band called Rocco DeLuca and the Burden and they were very good. Between bands, we went to the bathroom and when we came back, to our very last row seats, a woman was talking to my mom. She was with the opening band and offered us her floor seat tickets! The seats were pretty great, and Keane was all we ever hoped for and more. They are so good live, even better than on CD, which nowadays is pretty rare.

Over the next year and a half I listened to them and never lost interest, and waited for a third album to come out. In the Summer of 2008 they announced that in a few months they would release Perfect Symmetry. I was so excited! The day it came out I got home from band practice and my dad had bought me the CD, so i ran to my room and listened to it all evening. It was by far their best work yet!It is a very '80s inspired sound, yet it has the "Keane" vibe to it. The moment tickets went on sale, I bought Marie and I tickets. The timing for the concert worked out perfectly, it was the weekend after my 18th birthday! A month or so before the concert they came out with an extra SoCal show in Anaheim, which is 25 minutes away from my house. I pleaded with my parents, but I was just happy yo be going to one. But the week before the concert, one of my birthday gifts was 2 tickets to the Anaheim concert! Marie and I were so excited at the thought of spending 2 nights in a row with Keane!

Concert #1. What a night. The concert at the Paladium was impecable. The only problem was the crowd wasn't too into it, we were the crazy teenagers going nuts. Nonetheless, we still had one more night to go.

We got to The Grove on May 10, 2009, 6 hours early and we were 7th and 8th in line. Those were some of the longest hours of my life. We finally got in and had front row spots! We were so close! The Helio Sequence and Mat Kearney performed and were great but we were there for Keane. Finally the lights dimmed and they came barreling onto the stage, breaking out in The Lovers are Losing which happens to be my favorite song off that album. Tim was right in front of us with a super awesome zebra shirt and Tom was a maniac, running all over the stage. We would reach up and scream with the others and grasp at his hand. Richard was in the back drumming away and newcomer Jesse was on the other side strumming his bass. Even thinking about it gives me the goosebumps. I didn't know one could be so affected by something of this magnitude. All of the songs were incredible and as they finished their signature encore, Bedshaped, Marie urned to me and said, "Let's wait to see if they sign and take pictures outside." WE waited another 2 hours but it was so worth it when one by one each member, including Jesse, came out to sign and be in pictures. Only Richard would pose for pictures, but we were totally fine with that. As we walked back to the car, in awe, we still couldn't believe it. I don't even remember driving home, we were so awestruck.

Growing up with Keane, I always hoped I would meet them, but never actually thought I would. Getting a hug from Tom was so surreal and I wouldn't trade that moment for anything. I am so excited for the CD's, tours and new Keane experiences to come. They are my little secret, here in California, but I would like to one day see them in their home country of England where they sell out stadiums, such as the O2 Stadium. I may be a bit selfish in keeping Keane as my own, but they are so amazing who wouldn't want their own band. :)

I doubt that they'll ever read this, but I hope they know how they have changed lives around the world. They are truly one of the best bands ever and I hope to God that they keep doing what they do best, making music.

"If only I don't bend and break

I'll meet you on the other side

I'll meet you in the light."