Hard Rock Cafe
June 13, 2001
Los Angeles, CA

i literally just got back from the hard rock cafe where i saw michelle, and i had to post this for you all. to start, i was basically the only fan there who was not in some way connected to michelle or maverick records. When i walked in michelle was standing on the stage signing autographs for these little girls at some birthday party. so i walked up to her and said "hi michelle, i'm tessa." and she said "oh, you've been posting on the message board, haven't you?" so there you go guys, she does check this often, so write away! so she signed my copy of broken bracelet (again) ad then she ran off and got me a glossy 10x13 and signed that for me also. she was so nice! Michelle, you are so nice!!! So it was me, families of the record guys, and all the big wigs at maverick in their shiny rolexes and necklaces. and, a certain someone many of you will know...christopher sabec! what he was doing there, i don't know. maybe checkin' her out for hanson? but anyways, she started out with "I'd Rather Be In Love" and i was pretty much the only one there singing the lyrics. It was a much rockier version than on broken bracelet. but it sounded awesome. about halfway through, a ton of people got up and started cheering and clapping, and she was sort of surprised, so she got even more into it. but she told us after that she realized they were cheering for my lakers who just made an awesome slam dunk. Then she played a new one caled "You Set Me Free." Pretty good..i might like it on the album. I think it's the black and white song on the video. No, actually, that is "All You Wanted" which was really really good!!!! You all will love that one. it's my favurite right now. Then came "Everywhere" which i hope will soon be playing 'everywhere.' Pard' the pun. Then she introduced the next song as "Sweet Misery" and you could see the band going "WHAT???" and she was like "Ooops, I mean 'You Get Me.'" So that was even rockier than it is on the video that most of you have seen. Then came "Sweet Misery" with a totally phat drum beat...didn't expect that one at all. And there were a couple new lyrics in there that threw me off. Then came "her favourite song on the album" called "Something to Sleep To" which wasn't one of my favourites, definitely not something to sleep to, but i can see how she liked it. And finally came "Here With Me" which I actually can't remember cause I was too busy thinking about how I can get to the show tomorrow at The Gig. Afterwards, I went up to tell her how good the show was, and i asked her if i could have one of her guitar pics up on her stand, and she took one out of her pocket an said "oh, this is the one i used tonight...here, i've been playing with it for about three weeks!" so that was so awesome since i collect those. now i have a sugar ray one, a john fogerty one, a michelle branch one, a hanson one, and a kevin okie one. (kevin is a friend of mine, lol). And i also met all her band members. her lead jesse was trying to give me directions to The Gig but he actually had no idea how to get there. so she was the coolest person in the world. and i am trying to get out of my family vacation tomorrow so i can see her at The Gig. Is that dedication or what, Michelle!?!?!?! i hope i see you tomorrow!!! and if not, hopefully at the freakin' evan and jaron concert!!

peace out,
~tessa~