A page dedicated to everything BUSH/Institute/Gavin Rossdale -- the past, the present, & the future. If you're not with us, you are against us...

Ok, so I’d made plans to go to the Detroit Shush show on 4/14/2012 with my husband, sister and her boyfriend. I’d even planned to meet up with some Bush Army folks who I met over twitter.  The show was a first come, first served kind of thing and started at noon. So we decided to get in line at 6 am!  I had to get up at 2 to get ready and for our almost 2hr. drive. We got there just before 6 and waited around til the others got there cuz sitting alone on a street in downtown Detroit at 6 am just isn’t the greatest idea!  Our group was the first ones there, as it should be. Shannel B., Jaimie F., Kim K., Diane H. and Mandi L. all waited in the cold rain for the bar to open.  Bush Army sitting on the streets of Detroit waiting for our chance to be Shushed!  Not very many other people lined up behind us and we later realized there was a second door into the bar where others were lining up.  Shannel and Kim called one of the employees over and asked him to open our door first, which he promised to do. Right about 9am, they opened the doors and we lined up to get our bracelets for the show.

Turns out the stage was in the upstairs part of the bar and they didn’t open that up until 11!  The owner wouldn’t let us line up by the stairs and we were all told to order drinks if we wished to stay inside.  Eventually everyone crowded around the stairs, effectively making our early arrival pointless.  When we were finally able to go upstairs, everyone pushed their way up and my new BA friends promised to save me a spot, as they got ahead of me and my companions. 

Once we got upstairs we found the set up was like that of any other concert, standing room in front of the stage.  We were back a few people but the other girls made it to the front, right in front of where Gavin would soon be sitting. Then I hear the girls say, ‘where’s Jamie?’ and they reached back and pulled me up with them.  I had never met these people before, they owed me nothing and yet they still made a point of making sure I got as good of an experience as they did!  This is exactly as I’d hoped it would be, but way more than I actually expected.  I know not everyone can be as great as these girls were, but I highly suggest meeting up with other Bush Army members when you attend a concert!  It makes the experience that much more amazing! 

I expected the show to more like the Indy Shush. I expected people sitting and quiet. This was not the case!  It was great energy and an amazing show for sure, but I would have preferred a calmer atmosphere. Still, Gavin seemed to enjoy the crowd very much and all the guys seemed to be having a lot of fun. 

Chris has such an adorable smile and I love how he can go from that smile to seriously getting down on that guitar!  Dude can play!!  Love watching him. 

After he’d finished he signed a few autographs from the stage and left.  I had never met any of them and had really hoped for a meet & greet, I guess after seeing the pics from the Indy Shush I had myself convinced that it would happen.  Sadly, that wasn’t the case.  We made our way down the stairs, out of the bar and onto the sidewalk.  I so didn’t want to go.  I’d heard of so many times that people had found the guys after a show and I wanted so bad for that to happen.  My dear, sweet new friends knew how much it meant to me and so we wandered around until we came upon a white van in the alley behind the bar so we kinda just hung out.  And then it happened, Gavin, Chris, Corey and Robin came down the fire escape with some other people and we all started freaking out.

[Photo by: Stefanie Rodman]

My sister later pointed out that the van seemed to have been strategically placed next to a dumpster, kind of providing a barrier but as they came down the steps, Gavin made his way through and came right to us. Chris came right behind him.  Corey and Robin came over for a bit, but didn’t stay long enough for me to make my way to them.  They went back to the van and I wasn’t going to intrude on that. I hung back for a bit but made my way up to Gavin cuz I knew if I didn’t do it soon I may not get another chance.  I was so nervous, I didn’t even introduce myself and I didn’t even ask for a hug I just jumped in and put my arm around him for a picture.  So we got our pictures with Gavin and Chris and I’m so happy I can’t even say. I did get a hug from Chris.  Chris does give good hugs :)

[Photos by: Jamie Gostnell]

My sister wanted more than anything to meet him, so her entire day was made by getting this chance.  She really digs his wolf ring and asked to look at it.  He went to show her and then said, “well, here” and he took it off and handed it to her!  She freaked!  She got a picture of herself wearing it while he closely kept an eye on it.  Seriously though, how amazingly cool is that?!  He just had one stolen and he still didn’t hesitate to let a complete stranger wear it.  We got signatures and then they were quickly ushered off into the van. 

[Photos by: Stefanie Rodman]

I will never forget how amazing that was.  They could have just gotten right into the van and made us move but instead they didn’t even hesitate to come and see us.  A lot of bands/musicians say they love their fans but these guys SHOW it and that means the world.  My new friends and I hugged each other goodbye and I thanked them though I’m sure not nearly enough.  Without these amazing women none of that would have happened.  I would have been shoved to the back during the show.  I would have left the bar and headed home, happy that I got a great performance, but sad that I wasn’t able to meet the band.  The Bush Army is more than a fan club, it’s a family.  People coming together for the love of a band that so completely deserves it, and more.  And now I wait for my next show, with my BA pals and four wickedly awesome guys!!

- Jamie Gostnell of the BUSH ARMY