What is an AFI concert like?

Don't know. If any group is apart of the Despair Faction, expect real dedicated individuals. I think that the majority of people there will be mixed between older and newer fans. Probably during their older songs the fans will be more active in the audience. From some recent setlists I've seen they've been playing, "A Single Second," "Bleed Black," "God Called In Sick Today," "Girls Not Grey" a lot. Here's some guidelines for an AFI show:

DO get a good night’s sleep the night before. We know all too well that trying to sleep before an AFI show is hard, but not sleeping and trying to have energy at the show is harder. You need to be at 100% the next day so you can sing those “woahs” and “ohs!” as loud as possible.

DON’T arrive late! If you want to get a good spot at an AFI show, you have to show up early. Fans sometimes (more often than not) will show up at 7am or sooner just to wait in line to get in front. Sleeping the night before helps with those early morning drives to the venue.

DO talk to other fans in the line and make friends! Sharing experiences and stories about your love of AFI is probably one of our favorite parts of the whole experience. You can learn a lot about a person by asking what their favorite album, song, or lyric is and why? Don’t forget to share your own stories, too!

DON’T forget to bring food and water for the day! If you plan on waiting in line all day, you will need something to keep you energized and hydrated. Be sure to bring energizing foods like nuts and legumes. You will also want to drink plenty of water before and during the show. You will be losing a lot of liquid from sweating when you are rockin’ out!

DO find the perfect spot in the crowd for you. Are you laid back and like to relax while watching the show? Then a good spot for you may be in the back or on the sides of the audience. Do you like to be up-close and personal with the guys? Then in front and up against the barricade may be the best place for you. Do you want to dance, jump, and mosh to a little old skool AFI? Then in the middle is where you will find like minded punx like you.

DON’T break the rules the venue has. You want to leave and have the venue staff think “wow, those Despair Factions kids were awesome!” Being respectful to the venue helps not only us, but also the band. If the band’s fans are well behaved, the better chance the band has of being welcomed back to the venue.

DO enjoy and move around during the opening bands. Even if you have never heard of Touche Amore or Coming, doesn’t mean you have to stand still and look like a zombie. Feel free to move a little and listen to them, you may even end up liking them if you don’t already.

DON’T crowd surf. We know this sounds strange since you will be at a concert, but the band strongly dislikes crowd surfing. Plus, nobody likes having to make sure somebody doesn’t drop on their head while watching their favorite band.

DO help your fellow DFer. If the person next to you falls, or seems as though they are going to pass out, help them out! We are a family joined together by one thing: a love for A Fire Inside. Family members help each other.

DON’T take pictures or record the show the entire time. Our age group needs to learn to put down the cameras and experience what is happening right in front of you, rather than trying to snap a crappy picture just to show to a friend later. This is annoying to the people behind you and even more annoying to the boys. How would you feel trying to perform and showcase your art (that you pour everything into) to a sea of cameras? Put the cameras down.

DO have fun and live every second of the show. This will likely be the highlight of your year, if this band means anything to you like it does to all of us. You are going to experience a sense of unity you have never felt before—enjoy it. Through our bleeding, we are one.