The Side Two Tour - London, 3rd February 2008.

Brilliant. 'nuff said.

OK no that really isn't enough. The gig was fantastic and I really really really REALLY enjoyed myself. However, it was extremely different to the other shows of his I have been to (not that it's a bad thing.. just different!). The Time Machine tour was amazing, and very much a show, thinking back to the first gig I was hit almost immediately with Darrens star quality and a real disbelief that more people didn't see it - and even after all this time I can't think of any other word to describe it except for amazing. Last night was extremely different. It didn't really feel like a proper concert, it was more like we were just popping along, listening to some songs.. most of which have not been heard live for a long time and some not at all. I have a friend who sings, and it was almost like when we get together with him and we're all calling out random requests (most of which he doesn't sing in regular live gigs), going play this one.. OK now do this one.. ooo great.. now this one! If you can sort of understand what I mean!

Because of this, it felt almost more relaxed and even at times more respectful of the music. One of the songs he sand was 100 Challenging Things.. and noone made a sound, (Or at least around me they didn't seem to be), and I got a completely new perspective on the song and just thought wow! And then we got to hear stuff I've never heard live before.. I don't Care and Mine, and RBL and it was so cool to hear these, because even when I'm plotting in my head prospective lineups I tend to think how unlikely it is they will come up - but they did! SO good to hear things from such a long time ago. And then things I haven't heard live in an age, Dirty brought flashbacks of TCFC which was just cool.

And then theres the stuff off Delicate.. Sing to me was brilliant live and I am so glad he sung it! Ever since hearing the album I seem to keep dreaming of him singing it live so was a bit weird for it to actually happen! Casey was brilliant, even when Darren had to start again because of people clapping out of time! Lol, everyone got so excited and in to the song as the beat properly kicked in that the clapping was all over the place and Darren missed his 'click' or something and started laughing that he had to start again, specially after saying at the start that as he was recording this he better do it properly!

Aside from the singing Darren was his usual charming and funny self, he told of his hat theory which was brilliant, particularly as I know someone who actually seems to be like that (though not with a hat, a particular jacket), he made a joke about the 'fake encore' and stayed on the stage throwing out phrases that we would be saying if he had of gone off.. 'he's much better looking in real life!' 'he didn't sing I want you.. that pissed me off!' etc, very funny. Shave and Steve went off but they were back super speedy and it was the shortest fake encore I've ever seen! Darren said that in other gigs he might try going off, so for the people going again, if that happened make sure we clap as if he's never coming back lol.

Set list time..
Hero
Bombs Up In My Face
Sense of Humour
A Conversation With God
Gunning Down Romance
Random Blinking Light
100 Challenging Things A Boy Can Do
Setting Sun
Maybe
Mine
Dirty
Casey
Sing to Me
*Fake encore*
I Don't Care
So Beautiful

Which reminds me Setting Sun.. was possibly the song I was most hoping he would sing and most looking forward to and he didn't dissapoint. It was brilliant! And funny too with Shave on the keytar and when Darren messed a bit up he sang along saying how great it was that the beat was the same throughout so he could just join in again. But it sounded fab live and can't wait to hear it again :D

All in all, was a completely brilliant night, though I am glad my friends I was trying to bring a long declined as I don't think they would have known any of the songs.. but it was the perfect gig for me (and I'm sure other fans too lol). Complete brilliance!!

I also picked up a bit of merchandise.. a faberoonie mug and bag, and some badges (can not resist merchandise), the CD was also on sale which before I identified properly I nearly bought aswell lol. The only slightly annoying thing was despite it being announced before hand that there were to be no cameras there seemed to be many people clicking, flashing and even filming away - how rude!

As I don't want to end on a bad note, I will just mention again how completely amazingly fabulously brilliant Darren is and how fantastically great the gig was ;)