While waiting for Cobra Starship and 40 of their biggest fans to board the New York City tour bus that would usher the band to the VMA red carpet, I happened to strike up a conversation with the driver. It turns out he's the king of a small Nigerian village, and as we killed time waiting for the "Good Girls Go Bad" musicians, he said of the multiple VMA nominees, "Must be nice to be important."

True story, folks. And listening to a Nigerian monarch wonder what it's like to be Cobra Starship wasn't even the most surreal moment of our ride to the VMAs.

Packed into the top floor of a double-decker bus, fans decked out in Day-Glo offered up high praise for the New York City-based band that was nominated for a pair of awards for their "Good Girls Go Bad" single: Best Pop Video and Best Direction.

"It's great to see them get the recognition they deserve," said Brittany Tuft, one of the fans who managed to snag a seat on the bus. "If they win their first time, I'll be so impressed — because it took Britney Spears a lot of nominations before she won."

As the gaggle of fans waited, they were treated to bird's-eye views of Best Female Video nominees Pink and Taylor Swift riding by on a fire truck and a Cinderella-style carriage, respectively, making their way to the red carpet. While the pair elicited a fair share of screams from the roof of the double-decker, it was the arrival of Cobra Starship members Gabe Saporta, Ryland Blackinton, Alex Suarez, Victoria Asher and Nate Novarro that brought the biggest roar.

"Reminds me of my first date," Blackinton laughed as he boarded the tour bus.

Armed with a megaphone and old-school boom box, the band took up position at the front of the bus, encouraging fans to "go ape-sh--" when Radio City Music Hall came into view. Their fans, not surprisingly, were happy to oblige. Amid screams and seat-bouncing that threatened to send a few fans over the side of the bus, Saporta made his way through the center aisle, posing for photos as "Good Girls Go Bad" blasted from the front of the bus.

According to the singer, the band's chosen form of transportation was more than just a novelty. In fact, it was a homecoming nod of sorts.

"We spend so much time traveling that when we come home, we feel like tourists," Saporta said. "So what better way to show up?"

Even so, the band confessed that their music-pumping, arms-waving, bus-shaking entrance wasn't something any of them expected to be doing at this year's show — or any VMAs, for that matter. After making their VMA debut in 2007, the band went big for their return to the show — garnering a pair of nominations and one of the most eye-catching (and loud) entrances of the night.

"I always thought I might roll past the VMAs at some point, but nothing like this," Blackinton joked.

So, with a party bus full of fans, a Nigerian monarch behind the wheel and a pair of nominations on their plate when they step onto the red carpet, the only question that remains is: What about next year? Will the band be able to top the riot-on-wheels of this year's grand entrance?

"Well, we have a full year to think about it," Blackinton said as he waved to the crowd gathering around the bus. "But I think we can come up with something."

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards might have wrapped, but the party is far from over. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes updates, party reports and much more.