Disturbed Embrace: Unveiling the Intensity of Jan 22, 2024

Where do I start? Well, my name is Michelle, but my friends call me Mickey. My father picked Michelle after the Beatles song, my mother picked my nickname Mickey because when I was born, I was tiny, she said like a mouse lol. I am a music enthusiast; my whole life revolves around music. I have seen live bands since I was very young. It started with local musicians who played a bar that my parents were good friends with the owner, it moved on to watching friends jam, me learning guitar and wanting to be a rock star…as you can see that never happened. But I started attending arena concerts when I was about 13 years old in the early 80’s, in downtown Detroit. My first concert was Def Leppard with my best friend, her father dropped us off at Joe Louis Arena (which is no longer standing) and I remember to this day how amazing the feeling was to see my favorite band live, to share something in common with 1,000’s of others. This was the beginning of my infatuation of concerts. I have attended so many concerts that I cannot count, I have seen more bands live than most could dream of seeing. The feeling you get when you wait for the band to hit the stage is something unexplainable. I remember waiting in line at the local party store where tickets would be sold for concerts like Ozzy, Iron Maiden, Metallica, just to name a few. Tickets back then were only $10 for amazing seats. Things have changed when it comes to that, but that is another story for another time. The reason I decided to write this blog, review, journal, story, or whatever you want to call it is because after all the concerts, live shows and being able to meet famous musicians never prepared me for what I would experience on January 22, 2024, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I have longed to see the band Disturbed live, never being able to. I kept watching prices and really wanted Disturbed Indestructible Rock Star for a day ticket, to meet this band would not only check it off my bucket list but would fill a space in my heart to shake their hands and thank them for the music that has pulled me out of depression so many times. I did not end up getting them because when I went to grab them, they were sold out. Well, my youngest son took it upon himself to get me a birthday present, he bought me tickets to see Disturbed. Excited as hell that I would finally be able to see a band I have wanted to see for so long. So, the day of this concert I worked half a day and then drove 2 hours to Grand Rapids, cold and crappy out, I stood in line with others waiting to get in, taking in the surreal feeling that I was there. Once we were let in, I instantly went to the merch table to get a shirt, then I made my way down to the main floor pit area and ended up being 3 people behind the rail. I watched the opening bands Plush (first time seeing them) and Falling in Reverse (I have seen them many times) both bands were amazing, sounded great, and full of life. What happened after Falling in Reverse’s stage strike, I was not prepared for. As I sat there anticipating the arrival of Disturbed on stage, I looked around at a full arena and thought to myself how thankful I was to be there to witness a band like Disturbed. Then the lights went out and what happened to me next has never happened at a concert ever. I held my phone up to capture the moment they hit the stage, but my hands were shaking so bad I couldn’t hold it still. The curtain dropped and when they came out, I literally started to cry. I was shaking and crying, the emotions I felt seeing them on stage I have never experienced for any other band and mind you I have met Bret Michaels who was my favorite since I was young and have never felt this way. There was something about Disturbed that touches your inner soul, the connection they make with every person in that venue is felt. The energy they put off touches your heart. It is like they know how you are feeling and that you need them in that moment. I have suffered some severe depression since I lost my mother in 2022 to Covid, when I hit that depression, I turn on Disturbed and I listen to 3 main songs, Reason to Fight, The Light and Hold on to Memories they pull me out of this depression and then I just listen to every album by them. When I got to see them play Reason to fight and the light the tears rolled as I sung along at the top of my lungs with them, it is hard to explain the feeling, it was an emotional experience, one that I will never ever forget as long as I live. As a fan you feel like they know you, that they know what you are going through, and it is as if they are singing it just for you. Even though you know they are singing it to everyone. Their songs connect you to so many emotions, to so many people, to life and the love of all things. They leave you feeling full, like everything that is bad magically disappeared. That as long as you have their music you will never be alone, you will never suffer from your demons, whether it is addiction or depression. You leave with a smile and a very happy soul. They make you want to be better. They give you a reason to fight. I will say that as long as I have been alive (55 years) I have never felt this after a concert. I usually suffer the post-concert blues, but not this time. I left wanting more, more Disturbed live, more life, more love in the world. It made me want to just be a good person and not back down to anything, to stand up for what I believe in, to fight my demons (alcohol) and depression. If you have never seen them live, I suggest you do it, because after the experience I had, I will definitely see them every time they come to Michigan, and if by some miracle of money falls in my lap lol I will get the meet and greet and go to other states or festivals to see them. I know they will probably never read this, but if by chance one of them do, I would like to tell Dan, John, Mike and the amazing vocalist David THANK YOU for all your music, thank you for giving me the will to fight, thank you for making me feel the way I felt in Grand Rapids, you all opened my eyes. You gave me a reason to strive for more. Just know that because of you four, I get through the loss of my mom and many friends (from addiction and suicide) with your music daily. I hope that this little bit of writing has inspired those who read it, to not pass up the chance to see your favorite bands live. The feeling cannot be duplicated. Thank you for reading and I plan on writing more about my life, my experiences whether good or bad, and mostly about my love of live music and concerts.

Sincerely yours truly, the live music and concert junkie herself,

Mickey

David Draiman of Disturbed