In everyday life, if you were to have a bra thrown at you, youd probably wonder what the hell just happened. If someone throws their bra on stage at a HIM show its not uncommon. Ville will pick them up and hang them from the mic stand. So many bras were thrown at this show that two - thats right, two - mic stands adorned various sizes of braziers. Half way through the ballad Play Dead, Valo narrowly escaped getting smacked in the face by flying undergarments. He caught it in midair and chuckled, unfazed.

Valo isnt the only one to display some impressive showmanship. It was my first time seeing opening act Aiden live and they were nothing short of amazing. The energy that they brought to the room got the crowd really psyched. If singer wiL let out and more chord on the mic he was violently swinging around, he would have knocked a damn light out.

After throwing Gas' White Castle hamburgers out into the crowd, smoking indoors against Columbus law and suggesting the power of Scandinavian sperm, Valo and the band dispersed, the crowd thinned and the crew come to start packing everything up. I, however, had the amazing opportunity to meet the guys on the balcony in the venue. While waiting in line, my friend Simay noticed Aidens Wil walking around. We got his attention and asked if he could take a picture with us. He was kind and graciously posed with everyone who wanted a photo.

We were the last group to go up. It was so unreal. Security told us to follow him up the stairs and he motioned to seats where we could sit and wait. Im nearsighted and wasnt wearing my glasses, but you can spot Lindes dreadlocks from a mile away. The were all seated behind a table except for Ville, who seemed the most awake and the most talkative of the group. It was our turn. Simay and I pinched each other in line; we just couldnt believe it. Gas and Linde were the first two in line. I told Gas that I really enjoyed the show and they both kindly signed my poster. I asked for a quick picture with the two of them and they quietly complied. I thanked them of course and my logic was lost when I realized that my idol was next in line. Often compared to (and inspired by) Edgar Allen Poe, Valos heartbreaking honesty in his voice and music have swooned millions of fans for a good ten years now and Im no exception - I was smitten.

Its been a dream of mine for a good two years to meet the man I consider a lyrical God. My friend Simay, who came all the way from Philadelphia on an eleven hour bus ride, has had a longer wait; this chance meeting was ten years in the making. When you see someone on a poster above your bed for so long, you almost forget that theyre real. This, however, was as real as it gets, but to me it felt like a dream. It happend so quickly, Im still denying it ever happend.

Hello. I say and smile.

Hellllo! he replies in his deep voice and Finnish accent.

Its an honor to meet you. I managed to squeeze out as I watched him sign my poster.

Well its an honor to meet you. he says back.

To be honest, I could have died right there. He could have said Thank you or Here you go and handed me my poster. But no. He made sure that that moment was special for me. I felt like doing a happy dance right then and there, but because I didnt want to look like a COMPLETE moron I opted for a picture with him instead. At five foot two inches, I felt like a midget next to Valo who stands at at least five foot ten inches. My arm around his waist and his around my shoulder, I instinctively widened my eyes and put up my hand for a salute. He looked down at me and automatically did the same thing. Perfect. The picture of my dreams was taken. I hugged him and thanked him before going back round to the other side of the table to find that Mige and Burton had already signed my poster. Simay, who was behind me in line, needed me to take HER picture with Ville so I quickly stepped back and took a shot of them together.

Before I could ask Burton and Mige for a picture, their tour manager said All right. Now a few group shots and were done. They all got up and and Simay and I hung back so we could get a group shot. A few people went before us and we handed our camera to a girl named Lora who was nice enough to take our picture with all of them.

We did it. It happened. We turned the corner and Simay made sure she was clearly out of sight before she started jumping up and down. Needless to say I soon followed. It was the greatest night of my life.

And here's Simay's take on things...