MARS at Pinkpop 2011

It's a beautiful sky!!!

The sun is shining, everybody's spirits are up... We're ready for a beautiful festival day!
I had never been to one, but I had never had a reason to go ;) This time I did! I had a fantastic reason to go to Pinkpop (just the monday) My reason was: 30 Seconds to Mars!!!






3 Of my sistahs drove up there with me and after a quick bite on the way we were ready for a day filled with good music!
My day did start out with a bummer, because I wasn't allowed to bring my inflatable 30 with me!!! Crazy rules these festivals have...




Anywho...
We met up with some more sistahs in the crowd and enjoyed a couple of surprisingly good and fun acts: Beatsteaks, the Gaslight Anthem, the Script and 30 Seconds to Mars!!!
As you can see, I was actually enjoying these performances a lot. Especially the Script since I knew several of their songs!

















Though the weather forecast predicted rain, not a drop fell during the hours we were standing in front of the 3FM stage! The sun was shining and there was a perfect breeze to keep us from getting hot... Although, we got very hot as soon as MARS started...
Though they didn't start as they usually do! I had to get used to it, and it's not my favorite way of opening the show. But I'm guessing there's a reason for everything ;)




Tomo walks on stage and we all go fucking insane!!! Love that man!







Not too long after him, Shannon appears from behind his EPIC kit! (looking good in purple there Shan... dahum!)







To complete this magnificent trio, Jared walks on aswell! Looking fly as always!















A Beautiful Lie is the first song they play... Not Escape as I was expecting :p And I was kinda bummed they didn't do NOTH, but I guess I'm just a little rusty after all the shows I've seen haha! They're epic either way... As long as they play ATTACK!!! That's my song!!! And they did ;)
This Is War was a great moment too, so nice to have so many people sing along to this amazing music! If you look close, you can see a sprakle in 3 sets of eyes up there ;)



























Jared even had his own extented stage ;) Though he didn't jump into the crows as he usually does during The Kill, he did walk up and down this "catwalk" several times to come check us out!














The interaction with the crowd was outstanding, as always! J sure knows how to work a crowd!!! A big ass picture was made from the stage view! Sooooo many people!!!











I met up with some more sistahs after the show and we took a nice picture with the, now empty stage in the back ;) What a special thing we all have!














I enjoyed every second of the show and as always it freaking sucks to have it end... During Kings and Queens a shitload of people got on stage... Agressive moment I tell ya, you either have to fight your way over the barrier of be tough and hold your ground ;) After my amazing M&G, it's no longer my mission to be recognized by either one of the guys. Every moment I have with them from now on is a bonus in my opinion! Jared mentionned this was the last time in a long time they'd come visit our little country and I heard some protesting and boo-ing coming from the crowd... I personally am very glad and feel incredibly blessed with all the shows they did give us! With, like I said, the amazing time I had with them during my meet and greet in San Jose... If some time away from the road is what they need, I couldn't wish it for them more! They desearve it! THANK YOU GUYS!!!

MARStricht 2011

Date: May 28th, 2011.
Time: 1 pm
Place: Maastricht, the Netherlands. Central station
Expected people joining: 14
Mission: Make Maastricht aware of the amazing band 30 Seconds to Mars, spam the entire city with posters, stickers and spray wals with (washable) graffiti. Promote the upcoming performance on Pinkpop. And smile while doing it!


I don't know why I begin this blog like this, but it sounded fun in my head... If it bores you before the actual story even begins.... WHERE THE HELL IS YOUR IMAGINATION PERSON??!!

Alright seriously!
Us Echelon got together in the lovely city of Maastricht in the South of the Netherlands this May to do some promo.






After everyone had arrived we grabbed something to eat/drink and set up the game plan.











Stickers, posters, tape and a can of spray paint were handed out and off we went!
Since Maastricht is kinda devided into 2 areas, we split up into 2 groups!
Let's make this town aware of the Echelon and what it is they do: Promote a band called 30 Seconds to Mars!











We made the place look pretty, and maybe, we adjusted a few already pimped poles

:-D









We even were kind enough to leave a little present on peoples' transportation! :p Don't worry, no harm was done to any objects!











We even took the opportunity to form a cute little human TRIAD! (anyone notice the fact that, without a dresscode, everyone is in black?! Weird...)







After discovering a way too inviting wall, it was attacked with plenty of stickers and posters... After dinner though, we found out someone had been kind enough to glue posters all over the friggin' wall! All over our promo!!! So what do we do, true Mars Army that we are... Re-decorated the wall! BIG TIME!!!






Ofcourse no personal porperty was tagged, or did we make a mess! We kindly dropped our waste in bins all across town!








This, I'm proud to say, was our second and greatest result of decorating a wall that was asking to be decorated! We were watched while doing it, apparantly the guys working at the restaurant nearby had never seen a group of people deticated to music this much! But that's just what we are!!! ;)

All in all, it had been a great day and another succesfull promo! Anyone get to Maastricht after May 28th and saw some of the cookie crumbs we left??? There was a lot, so I'm pretty sure it's still there ;)

I'm sure we made the guys proud! Thank you to everyone who showed up and thank you to everyone who brought plenty of promo stuff! I'd say: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! ;)

The big 5-0 BDay party!

A very special Echelon get together this time!!!
We all came together at Charley's place to celebrate her 50th birthday!!!

This amazing woman is probably the most inspirational person in our family! What a great person! She had one of her hips replaced just a few weeks before, but the trooper she is, the party had to continue!





Charley got us some delicious treats!!! We were pretty naughty while eating these babies! Yes, I'm admitting it on behalf of all of us! :-D






Time for prezzies!!!














I think it's safe to say, she didn't expect such gorgeous presents!!! Marianne got creative with some amazing scrapping and we all made a big card for her and made it possible for her to go to a festival this summer without feeling guilty ;) You deserve it sis!





After the presents we had one more beautiful surprise for Charley. We all sneeked out to prepare these





When we felt the lanterns were ready to be lifted into the air, we called Charley out to join us!





What a great idea, these lanterns. All kudo's to Nancy for this one ;) Charley was absolutely gobsmacked, and one look in her eyes told me, she was a happy woman!
We lifted the lanterns in the air and didn't take our eyes off of them untill they were all burned up!




We went back inside and the fun continued! Some snacks, some good talks and above all, some good bonding once more!


A bond never to be broken, I hope!



Us with all the creative gifts and big smiles on our faces! Don't you agree that this family portrait looks damn good?!!




Alright alright! We do fool around from time to time! Keeps us young and happy ;) GOOFY AS A GOOSE!!!







It sure was a great party! We had a nice breakfast the next day and kept the fun going! Ended the day with a movie and some great chinese food! Still amazes me, how one little band brought us all so close together! Going strong for almost a year now ladies! And bro ;) I'm proud of you and I'm very proud of our guys!