Robert Aubin and his fianc? Emily Sprunk arrived in downtown Clarkston at midnight last Saturday ? they heard one of their favorite bands was performing there later that day and wanted to be sure they made it in.
The pair was first in line 10 hours later when Union Woodshop staff began handing out wrist bands for the free, live acoustic concert featuring the band Thirty Seconds to Mars.
‘Music is my everything,” smiled Aubin. ‘Camping out last night to see the band perform live was an adventure. Life is all about adventure. You gotta? have fun.?
Woodshop owner Curt Catallo greeted the couple before the 3 p.m. up-close and personal concert and handed Aubin a $50 gift card to enjoy a complimentary visit at the joint.
Haley Christinson, a Warren resident, came because she loves the band, led by singer and actor Jared Leto, for both their beats and lyrics.
‘They are just amazing,” Christinson said. ‘They have it all.”
Only 150 people were admitted, and some who stood in line were turned away due to limited space. Shalonda Shiny said she “died a little inside” when she found out she was the 170th person in line and missed the cut by 20.
One of the songs performed in the intimate setting was the band’s hit “Do or Die.”
‘In the middle of the night, when the angels scream, I don’t want to live a lie that I believe. Time to do or die,” Leto sang. ‘Here right now, under the banner of heaven we dream out loud dream out loud.”
Visitors came from near and far hoping for the experience and many held tickets to the band’s concert at DTE Energy Music Theater later that night, Aug.30, with Linkin Park in The Carnivores Tour, with special guest AFI.
Not having tickets in hand was not a problem for some lucky music lovers. Volunteers with the Echelon, fans of the band, collected names and emails of attendees, and gave away free tickets to a meet-and-greet session at the evening’s show.
Many Facebookers expressed appreciation and amazement to the Woodshop for hosting the show.
‘Wow, we know the Union Woodshop rocks but this is totally amazing,? wrote one fan.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Leto’s fellow band members include his brother, Shannon Leto, and Tomo Milicevic.
At DTE, Leto told the crowd the fans he has encountered in Michigan are among the greatest.
Leto, the band’s vocalist, found success as both an actor and musician. Earlier this year, the 41-year-old won an Oscar for best supporting actor in honor of his 2013 performance in the movie “Dallas Buyers Club,” about AIDS patients in the ’80s who bought and sold non-approved alternative medications from Mexico to treat the disease.
Leto, who played a transsexual in the film, lost over 30 pounds to play the role.
Detroit alternative radio station 89X requested space at the Woodshop, which, along with the station and Blake’s Hard Cider, made the gig happen.