Tale of Two Concerts, Part I

Well, it was interesting to say the least. And just the trip alone through security is a story on to itself. All because Trent's head and a very obvious Ralph Lauren Green Plaid bag.

When I was flying out of MIA, airport security pulled me to one of their side tables and asked what was in the bag and wanted me to open it for them to search. Apparently it didn't show up like something they would recognize on the x-ray. I complied and basically pulled the head out and placed it on the table in full public view. This guy passes the wand over it and asked me what it was. I thought of the fastest thing that would get me out of that situation.

"It's a face cast of a dead person. He was fam..."

Before I could even finish the sentence he told me I was okay and told me to pack my things and go.

And I thought that was good.. But then in NYC:

At LaGuardia to go home, I went through the security screening check point and I waited for my Bag o' Trent's Head to come out of the x-ray machine. It took like 3 minutes of moving the conveyer belt back and fourth and stopping before it came out. The moment it cleared the opening a grizzly, 40+ weathered NYPD cop appeared out of NO WHERE and grabbed the bag before I even got to touch it.

"Please follow me this way."

I smirked knowing where this little confrontation was going to lead and I figured out the story I was going to tell (freshly made death mask of a beloved family member). So I didn't say anything, grabbed the rest of my shit and followed. I walked down this pathway and went into this room that had a table, a stainless steel bench, and a woman stationed with gloves on and wand at hand.

The cop put the bag on the table and asked me to unlock the bag and if he can search the contents inside. I unlocked the bag, stepped bag and said "There you are. Go nuts."

He looked up at me with the "WTF?" face and then proceeded to wave the woman over as he put on a pair of gloves. He unzipped the bag, looked a bit puzzled at the bubble wrap and the SPIN magazine (that Cliff had given to me) layed on top, pulled the top layer off and pulled out the towel.

Then he just DEAD STOP.

He stared into the bag for a little more than a minute while the women was confused as hell, looking between me and the cop.

He looked in the bag then at the magazine on the table and then back in the bag again. I will never forget what he said when he looked up at me. In a heavy New Yorker accent "What is Trent Reznor doing inside this bag????"

I swear to GOD I nearly fucking died when he recognized it. I was so totally expecting to ask me who died or what the fucking is that. But he actually fucking said that. I was so stunned that I forgot to answer him. He waved a hand in my face and said "Uh, hello?"

I proceed to explain to him what it was, where it came from, how I bought it, my trip to go see the concert in Philly and Wilkes-Barre and that I was luckily enough to have met Trent and have him sign the head. I took the head out of the bag and showed him the signature. The next thing you know he turns into my best fucking friend and a totally NIN fan geek. He proceeds to tell me that he is a huge fan and so was his son (who is a NYFD fire fighter), how long they have been fans, how he attended one or two of the club tours, how his son has every cd, how they had a fucking great time seeing them at Madison Square Garden last Thursday and etc. The man talked my ear off. He asked me if he could hold it and I said sure. And then he asked me if he could take a picture of it with his camera phone to send to his son. Sure, why not.

I have never meet anyone who wigged out like that. I was really suprised. So after some more nicey nicey (he told the woman to skip wanding me and searching me), I packed the head away and was allowed to leave. Even though I had an hour till my fight boarded, he insisted that he drive me to my gate in the security cart.

Totally fucking nice man. It was just to funny to see a hardened NYPD cop turn into a fanboy for a moment.

More to come in a few day. I have photos to sort and distribute.