Last night was completely amazing! Of course I don't expect any less but it would be a pretty poor account of events if I just wrote 'the usual.. met expectations'.. and in fact it would be a little untrue! No matter how many times I see Darren live, he ALWAYS amazes me at some point, be it by his voice (flawless.. and this tour sounding better than ever) or how long he can hold notes (seriously long amount of time) or just the notes he can reach! At one point he let out an extremely high pitched 'woo' which put my brother and I's high pitch squealing competition we had the other day to shame. The thing is, though me and my brother managed to sound like cats being strangled, Darren still manages to be pitch perfect - it really does amaze!
Anyway! Last night was at the academy 2, which despite being as small as a postage stamp, has a stage a little bigger than the Manchester and Bristol venues had. There seemed to be loads more lights and the stage looked really pretty. The pre-show music was much louder last night than it has been, which was good as I finally was able to hear and appreciate the songs picked out! Admittedly most I could not recognise lol, but actually being able to hear the music made the waiting time seem to go quicker, either that or my discussion with Charlotte that she really needs to come to the last London gig ;)
As I was standing a little closer to the left hand speaker I was able to pick up more on Steves guitar (who really is quite fantastic) and just in general get a better appreciation of the backing sound. Darren sounded amazing and as funny and sweet as ever. He seemed to have a little trouble reading the setlist and asked for Steve to play the loop for Mine a couple of times in the wrong place and made a joke that he should be wearing his glasses all the time because his eyesight was getting bad as he was getting older and he couldn't see it! He also remarked on how it was terrible that he couldn't get the order right as it was the 7th time! When it really was time for the loop for Mine he made a show of saying that at least he was paying attention to the setlist and knew where things were lol. 100 Challenging Things last night seemed extra beautiful, as did Darrens explanation preceeding it.
Dirty was brilliant! He added bits of Vogue and Prince's Kiss which was extremely exciting! The bit from Quake was removed though, which is quite funny as me and my Mum have been practicing the 'We Do!' response bit as noone seems to do it and usually we get swept along with the moment and don't remember to do it fast enough! I really love Dirty on this tour, it is so cool how he adds little bits in from everywhere, and it always sounds fantastic.
There was another brilliant performance of Casey, and Darren looked really chuffed when everyone was singing along. I can't wait to get the downloads as it always sounds special, and everytime I get the shiver! When Darren introduced the song after Casey he remarked on the singing saying 'and this is Sing To Me which you all do so well!'.
Darren remarked a few times on how he liked being around the Brummie accent and that he liked Brummies! And he was glad he was doing two concerts as being around the Brummie accent more could only be a good thing!
After he came back on for the encore, he said how he really wanted to thank everyone for turning up, and for everything, and how he knew he wouldn't be there if it wasn't for everyone. He said that he didn't know how he could ever thank everyone enough for helping him to reach his dreams and that he owed a lot. It was so sweet, he also mentioned about taking a break but 'I promise, I will always come back'. He then sung Unloveable with Steve on the electric guitar rather than.. well I'd guess acoustic guitar he usually uses but my knowledge on different guitars isn't too wide! It sounded amazing and perhaps because it had followed his little speech more emotional than ever, pure brilliance!
He finished off with the So Beautiful remix which I still think is the perfect end to the perfect show, it just rounds things off really well.
Other things.. Setting Sun was as great as ever, I still completely love that song, and have decided that I want a keytar now lol. I Don't Care is another of my favourites of the tour, I think everyone clapping and singing along emphasises the themes of the song, and it just sounds brilliant every time.
So once again, a definite WOW, amazing show! Can't believe it's nearly all over and I only have London left!
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Monday, 18 February 2008
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
Side 2 Tour - 11th February 2008 - The Bristol Thekla (WHICH IS A BOAT!)
Last night I got to see Darren.. ON A BOAT!!! Lol, when booking the tickets we were trying to be strict with ourselves with the number we went to.. but how can you turn down a concert on a boat?! Anyway despite my Mums slight worry we were going to sink, and my hopes that the boat would sway along with the music the boat didn't seem to move at all (which is probably a good thing really lol) and seemed more club like than boat like anyway! Definitely wasn't the fancy cruise ship I'd secretly imagined!
As always, Darren was amazing! In fact he still seems to get better every time I see him (which seems impossible as I am always saying how amazing and brilliant he is, but it really is true!). He seemed extra chatty last night which was fab, he seems to talk more each night! He was funny as ever, at one point he was asking someone at the front to turn his fan on, and when they did he told the guy helping out that it was OK, his fan had turn his fan on lol, he then said how that was a really bad joke, and that whenever jokes that bad are told they call it 'dropping the funny egg' and that when someone does it you're supposed to pick it up and hand it to them. He then said his joke was so bad he'd made a whole omelette. When introducing 100 Challenging Things he was talking about reviews he'd had, and how he'd had a Malaysian phone interview and they asked him did he realise that his album was so GAY and that him being GAY was so controversial and did he realise that he was being so controversial.. the way he said the word gay can not be portrayed by text but it was very funny and then a few times later in the night he brought it back up again making everyone laugh.
At one point someone shouted out something, and Darren said 'is that a Thekle heckle?!' and said that he'd been waiting all night to say that lol. He also mentioned a few times about being on a boat! And teased us saying that he was sure we were tilting and perhaps we ought to move over to the left some. He then sang out Don't Rock the Boat, Don't Rock the Boat Over! (he also fitted this into one of the songs.. I think it was Dirty) which was cool -and fortunately for us all the boat did not tip over!
He sounded great, and you know it never fails to amaze me how stunning his voice actually is! Sometimes when I'm listening I just feel a sense of awe and realise how lucky I am to be there listening.
He sang Dublin Sky after the encore, acoustically with only Steve on the guitar and it sounded amazing. I got all excited when it started realising that we was getting a chance to hear something different! He then sang Unloveable, but very sweetly reminded people that the questions in the song are actually rhetorical and that it is not a pantomime and people aren't actually meant to respond. He put it much more tactfully than I could have done lol! But it worked, and people just listened rather than shouting throughout the song, and it sounded stunning.
The atmosphere on the boat was brilliant, and everyone seemed to be singing along, especially in Casey which to me seemed like the best performance of the song yet.. I really can't wait to hear the recordings of these performances! I Don't Care was probably my favourite song of the night, it just seemed extra special!
All in all another fantabulous night, and I can't believe I've passed the half way mark in concerts I'm attending! Only two left ;( But so far I am enjoying every minute of the gigs, and even the excitement inbetween the gigs. Definitely loving the Side 2 Tour!!
As always, Darren was amazing! In fact he still seems to get better every time I see him (which seems impossible as I am always saying how amazing and brilliant he is, but it really is true!). He seemed extra chatty last night which was fab, he seems to talk more each night! He was funny as ever, at one point he was asking someone at the front to turn his fan on, and when they did he told the guy helping out that it was OK, his fan had turn his fan on lol, he then said how that was a really bad joke, and that whenever jokes that bad are told they call it 'dropping the funny egg' and that when someone does it you're supposed to pick it up and hand it to them. He then said his joke was so bad he'd made a whole omelette. When introducing 100 Challenging Things he was talking about reviews he'd had, and how he'd had a Malaysian phone interview and they asked him did he realise that his album was so GAY and that him being GAY was so controversial and did he realise that he was being so controversial.. the way he said the word gay can not be portrayed by text but it was very funny and then a few times later in the night he brought it back up again making everyone laugh.
At one point someone shouted out something, and Darren said 'is that a Thekle heckle?!' and said that he'd been waiting all night to say that lol. He also mentioned a few times about being on a boat! And teased us saying that he was sure we were tilting and perhaps we ought to move over to the left some. He then sang out Don't Rock the Boat, Don't Rock the Boat Over! (he also fitted this into one of the songs.. I think it was Dirty) which was cool -and fortunately for us all the boat did not tip over!
He sounded great, and you know it never fails to amaze me how stunning his voice actually is! Sometimes when I'm listening I just feel a sense of awe and realise how lucky I am to be there listening.
He sang Dublin Sky after the encore, acoustically with only Steve on the guitar and it sounded amazing. I got all excited when it started realising that we was getting a chance to hear something different! He then sang Unloveable, but very sweetly reminded people that the questions in the song are actually rhetorical and that it is not a pantomime and people aren't actually meant to respond. He put it much more tactfully than I could have done lol! But it worked, and people just listened rather than shouting throughout the song, and it sounded stunning.
The atmosphere on the boat was brilliant, and everyone seemed to be singing along, especially in Casey which to me seemed like the best performance of the song yet.. I really can't wait to hear the recordings of these performances! I Don't Care was probably my favourite song of the night, it just seemed extra special!
All in all another fantabulous night, and I can't believe I've passed the half way mark in concerts I'm attending! Only two left ;( But so far I am enjoying every minute of the gigs, and even the excitement inbetween the gigs. Definitely loving the Side 2 Tour!!
Monday, 4 February 2008
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 ;)
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 ;)
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