Sunday 12 May 2013

6 years ago tonight my mind was blown

I still can't believe it's 6 years ago tonight since Darren Hayes club delicacy show at the Soho revue bar.

It was my favourite delicacy by far, the atmosphere was just electric, everyone could feel it. Kelly and I weren't going to go to the may gig. I was at home for Easter and we suddenly thought what if we don't get tickets to the last one so we decided to go to 12 may gig just in case.


That night truly changed things for me. I still remember fan-girling when Darren read my review and replied...and then he messaged me on myspace. I hadn't met him yet, but to stand literally at his feet and then have him message me was the most amazing thing I could ever imagine happening. I remember sitting reading his message to me on myspace again and again, just to make sure it was real, I remember it being almost 3am and NO NE was awake so I just sat shaking and unable to go to bed!

From that night came a chance meeting at park in the park a couple of months later and another message from Darren saying it was lovely to put a face to the name. Those few months in 2007 changed everything. I'm so blessed with everything that has come my way because of that night and my review I posted.

I remember that night so well. it was the first night I was ever front row at Soho. More to the point it was the first time I was front row at all. I remember standing watching his support act Antigone and realising Darren would be that close. I almost burst into tears with joy, excitement, nerves, I dunno.

It was a terrible day, it had rained so much and I was wandering London in my dress and pumps. we'd just learnt the joys of the pie tin motel and my feet killed by the time I'd queued for so long but when I was stood in front of Darren, just the other side of his laptop, when he looked down and sung to me nothing else seemed to matter. I remember after he sung that line to me, I stood shaking for about 10 minutes afterwards!

That night was so special I remember coming in and writing this review,when I posted it I have never been so shocked as the first person to reply to it was Darren himself. I still cringe when I think about him reading it, a lot of it was written from a fan-girl’s point of view for another fan to read, it was never meant for his eyes.


Darren had his friend and photographer Myrna Suarez there that night. I remember seeing her come out to the side of the stage with her camera, I considered for a minute not looking like a cat that got the cream but in the end it was impossible. I decided to look away from her, and to behave naturally towards Darren in that moment. I'm so glad I did because my adorable gazing up at a hero is exactly what that moment was.

Here is Myrna's pic: Can you all spot me? ;) 

 photo 12thmay.jpg


The following text is the review I originally posted on myspace on 16 May 2007:

conversations with 'God' my review of soho May 12th :p
Current mood: happy
Well this review is kinda all the little things Darren said, some paraphrased. Just the bits that make it unique and my memories. An investment I'll never forget!


The setlist:
1. for fear of falling under
2. who would have thought
3. carry on Amadeus
4. unlovable / teardrops
5. step into the light 
6. time machine
7. I like the way
8. words
9. I want you
10. on the verge of something wonderful
11. me myself and I
12. baby I'm popular
13. impromptu jacket song
14. I don't know you anymore
15. to the moon and back
16. void / all is full of love




It's Sunday. I'm sat at the train station. I feel numb. Happy. Sad. I dunno what I feel. On Saturday night Darren excelled himself. It was THE best night of my entire life. The best Darren gig by far. Kelly and I got soaked going to B&B got changed and then made our way to soho and we got their about 4:30pm KFC in hand! Glad it had stopped raining. There was me in my summery dress and it was raining!! Sorry guys I was trying to say hi through a handful of chips and popcorn chicken! We were 5th and 6th in the queue and god was it a long wait! We chatted, we listened to music (the killers, tig and Darren), we got sore feet, we complained some more about our feet. We were incredibly childish about the adult shops around us. We saw Boyd go in and a bit later Antigone. A Bloke outside asked what we were waiting for and said someone said Darren Hayes and he said 'Darren Hayes! savage garden! two beds and coffee machine! and started singing, could hear him down the street! Lol' Another Bloke outside asked what we were waiting for and someone said Darren Hayes and he said oh I thought it was free porn! Got a lot of strange looks in the cue from passers by it was funny, I don't think they are used to people queuing round the block! And their was a drunk standing at the front door! He stepped in when a few people asked if they could skip in as they were a myspace winners! Security moved him on hehe! 6:55 let us in! We got let in about 7 ish. We got in and were too the left at the front of the stage! We took it in turns to go to the loo then a girl screamed she'd got a cd, the woman at the bar had said they weren't doing it. I found some duct tape and though I was landed, my heart raced but alas the cd was already gone. We were so close to the stage, about a metre from Darren, we could read Steve's lyrics off his book in front of his pedals before tig came on! Didn't learn much we forgot it again as fast! He sings on wwht, time machine and verge.


Antigone

setlist:
1. Hello Yellow
2. into your head
3. more man than man
4. life without you
5. funky Dancers

We sat on the stage to rest our weary feet and got up when tig came on. My god isn't she energetic! She had a green leopard print t-shirt, black belt, pink shorts with ruffles all over, pink footless leopard print tights and red shoes with a wooden heel. The stage bounced as did the drum kit as she danced. Seeing tig up there it hit home how close Darren was going to be. Made me a bit emotional.

We chatted some more, sung and danced to the pre show music. The whole place screaming 'little red corvette' was amazing! Then bombs came on. OMG! The songs are going to be little sub headings as I cant be arsed to write it out logically my exams are in a week! Not enough time!! 

Bombs up in my face: heard it before the show! it was after tig and before Darren.
Now you know when I posted that thread about preshow music? 
Well there was this song I completely forgot about, there was a song that I loved but in the entertainment that is Calvin Harris forgot all about it. I remember loving it! It wasn't until Kelly pointed out is that Darren?.... I listened… I heard the line 'you can change the constitution, you can carry a gun' and thought, that's political that's bombs!, Darren's voice is hard to recognise on it, it sounds like the new stuff only very very fast, and the words are like statements, like all around me with the line 'In the middle of the night your a kiss so long You're the only good thing when all is wrong' kinda sounds in that sort of style but sounds nothing like all around me. I can't explain it but I was happily dancing when I realised it was Darren I danced some more. Whilst listening of course. The song rocks I can't believe I remembered hearing it at Soho in March! All this time id heard it but not known it. kinda awesome don't you think when everyone knows Darren's voice, they could spot it a mile off, but didn't spot it!!


About 9pm shave jumped up onto the stage followed by Darren strutting onto the stage. Sooo close. I was standing in front of his laptop with the lyrics onDarren was wearing those navy trainers with white soles, he had a black crocodile effect belt, shave had a white belt with a black kinda monochrome pattern, and I love white belts :p

The songs and the banter:

1. for fear of falling under:
From the first note I was so happy to here it as it wasn't on set list taped to stage, I remembered it from March but can't remember any of it now!! He backed into the laptop box, the box was lined with bubble wrap, way too much bouncing going on, Oops! You could tell why the box was lined in bubble wrap, the stage and the box bounced every time Darren danced! man how Darren can really move these days!...HOT! 

Then Steve and Keith came on looking as cool as ever, such sweeties!

2. Who would have thought: the beginning is different from the version we've heard, it starts with something along the lines of: why does first love, hurt love, first love, hurt love…..
After who would have thought: 
Darren said: Thanks for coming, for missing Eurovision, some of my friends stayed in to watch Eurovision, I've got a new record out in august, and I'm playing 21 dates at the O2 dome! That was shameless self promotion! Let's face it that's why I'm doing this (the gig) Jools shouted are you going to see prince. Darren asked, am I going to see prince? Then replied: I hope so, you know that thing were you get free tickets then put them on eBay to pay for the Alexander McQueen suit! (Nice touch Darren…meow! cue cheers) Then Darren sung 'you don't have to be rich to be my girl' then said that was prince – kiss. Someone shouted the Isle of Man loves you to which Darren replied – the Isle of Man that sounds like a nicccce place! *cue gasps from audience and much laughter* someone shouted happy birthday Darren! He said that was last week! Then said I'm 35! *pulls face* great!
Anyone here from myspace? *cheers* then he said: I try to trick people with the online thing and I send messages to people saying it's my helpers buts it's really me!

3. Carry on Amadeus
Before starting to sing carry on dancing Darren said: 'I used to love this song'.
All I remember is singing lots, and the Amadeus, Amadeus,…..lol. Afterwards Darren said 'you've passed your revision' (on us singing words to him).

4. Unlovable / teardrops:
Darren mentioned something about emptiness in one of the songs; think it might have been unlovable. I recognised the little teaser of youtube, the first bit you can hear, the last bit Darren sings over. Loved teardrops been listening to song non stop since last gig!


5. Step into the light
Before Darren started singing he said:
My songs used to be the Hollywood version of love because that's what believed I felt but now it's more real… (Exactly the words I've been trying to say to explain since March!)
During sitl – Darren put his hand on his heart and moved it to his heartbeat and looked at Richard, and then he was on his knees singing, he seems to reach into crowd and cleared a space so he could see down the crowd, either or that or he was looking at someone, I dunno. :D
He got up and was raising his hands to make us sing, at which point the place erupted singing 'so step into the light y'all, this dog doesn't bite no more'
I like sitl better live than wwht.


6. Time machine
Before time machine:
Darren said steve's going to play acoustic, then Steve played a little riff on the guitar so soft and gentle as Darren talked. Darren said tell me a joke, someone shouted I love you, to which Darren replied I love isn't a joke! Someone shouted You're sexy, to which Darren replied speaking of sexy I wanna sing a song about my dad, my dad is sexy *screams* that sounds so wrong, I'll explain, I had a crush on a guy and you know when you tell someone and it does work. If its gonna work it just happens, its progressive. The guy said to me you're not my type, you know your dad he's more my type. *cue laughter and awws from audience* Darren said he was devastated *then there was a huge crash at the bar* to which he replied: what a reaction! I had therapy! Don't worry too much!...their Danni Minogue fans getting here early for tomorrow night! I'm gonna sing a song, it sounds like it's about quantum physics but it's a song I wrote about my dad. I adore my dad but I have a really turbulent relationship with him…but erm …erm *pauses* …we had a turbulent time growing up; this is a song for my dad. It's a song about 1982 or 1983. he then mentioned something about 'for the relationships i've messed up…..if I could change some things…….for the times I lied….'

I Still love the line: 'they want me to stop…there coming after me….I hide the time machine…5 yr old me'. The middle of the song sounds about different to rest I like it...a lot! I've heard it twice now at the gigs and I still damn well love it, I want the lyrics, all I can remember and it might not be right is:
'if I've understood correctly velocity equals the distance travelled divided my time' …'I turned on the key…*Darren done the hand movement of turning a key in the lock*….'for all the things I haven't done, for all the people I hurt, for all the lies I told'

Omfg I still love it wayyyyy too much! The whole debate about velocity and speed has been done to death, they aren't the same thing
velocity = displacement (distance WITH A DIRECTION) divided by time
speed= distance divided by time
it doesn't matter the song rocks!! I love it, just thought it was funny especially as it has the line: 'if i've understood correctly velocity equals the distance travelled divided my time' dunno if that line was 1st or 2nd line but he ain't understood correctly as its wrong lol!! I think in all honestly singing the word speed wouldn't flow in the song the way velocity does.
There was a line in March which was 'I read you book' on Saturday he sung 'I read your books'.



7. I like the way
Before I like the way, Darren said: this is Steve *cheers* to which he replied: 'you didn't have to do anything'! Steve sat on the stool and played! I love I like the way live, Steve's guitar playing is so good, as is Darren's voice :p
During I like the way:
Steve dropped his plectrum the stage hand picked it up whilst Steve played on, I love Steve, what a professional!



8. words
Before words: Darren gestured at the stage hand to bring on the stool, then looked and shave and said I thought it was the fu*king party song! Put your fu*king party glasses on shave, (they were white and oversized and very funky!) I thought it was the fu*king party song, but I looked round and the stool was there so it's not the fu*king party song! *laughs* language Darren!!!! :p

During words – Darren closed his eyes and I just stood watching his eyelashes flutter, kinda hit home HOW close I really was! I just stood watching!
I remember the lines about 'paralyse me…..the contents of his pretty little head', remember listening to that bit in March! And the line 'Bible in your eyes'.
'Give me a taste of what's to come' – hehe yes please :p


9. I want you: Darren dropped his microphone, he was dancing, spinning, trying to look very jacko, very Justin and it was so funny that kinda oops look on his face. Like a kid that's dropped the paint pot! Then he said: 'there I was trying to be cool, Reign it back in, reign it back in, do you still think I'm cool? *Everyone cheered*, I screamed no as a joke :p I was only kidding!


Darren reached down for his towel and managed to pick up someone's scarf by accident! Wiped his face on it anyway after shrugging, put it around his neck then put it back on floor, the girl took it and put it on her hehe, the next time jools held out his towel and he wiped his face and threw it at the stage hand and it hit the wall, I don't think he meant it was just a joke throwing it!


10. on the verge of something wonderful
During verge – microphone stand fell into crowd! Darren spun round to Steve and knocked it over and someone in the front row put it back upright, Darren came back round to where it was none the wiser and did the same thing again! Was very funny!

'I'm in a panic, in bursts of bubbles (lol rock song with bubbles in)…on the verge of…..road trip….on the verge of….on the verge of something wonderful……resurgence….on the edge of…..You where there….dark and grey'

It reminds me of something I can't place, a 90's rock song but not rock, not rock pop, No idea! 

'You can dance in the devils heels'; remember that bit from March too!

Their was a lyric dropping a bomb, Darren put his hand up in fist and opens it up, as if letting go of something from height! The over-emphasis on his face of the word bomb :).

11. Me, myself and I:
There was no future holds a lion's heart, just straight into me, myself and I, it was ok with me as I didn't like lion's heart much in march but would have been cool to hear again. Me, myself and I, is jamiroquai sounding almost…. 'I don't know what the future will bring but I'm gonna sing till I drop' *cue much cheering!*
I left gig singing the line, 'it was all over'…… I drove everyone made asking what it was the concluded it was me, myself and I, only to get home a realise it was tig's life without you!! Oops!!


12. Baby I'm popular!: guitar...*points to Steve* very the darkness the way he said it (I believe in a thing called love?) then he points at shave, and says keys only, then points at Keith and says 'Keith prior' was expecting him the say drums! 

Loved baby I'm a star mixed in, been listening to song non stop since last gig!
Darren left for a few seconds during baby I'm popular but returned in same clothes!
When singing the line 'baby I'm a star… tell me do u like what u see? hey, check it all out' started he was posing away, giving side profiles, hand on hip, putting the back of his hand on his forehead…very Madonna! Soo sexy, quite camp but I love camp!
Crowd went wild when he sung the line 'tell do you like what you hear'


13. Jacket song

Before I don't know you anymore:
I knew this was going to be played as I could read set list of the stage but didn't realise the impact it would have on me until Darren sung it!, it's one of my faves, 
Darren sung a few words then said 'I can't do this whilst Anthony is on stage' (joking) and then said 'can you dim the lights a bit but not to much and not over me…you know If you drink more the show gets better and the venue likes me more'

Then he sung jacket song:

Impromptu, as Keith's drums blew up, Darren decided to sit on the rickety table, you could see him contemplate sitting on it, he put his hand on it first then sat on the edge, foot on foldback and sang
'do you like my new jacket? (screams) I bought it last week
When I had a record deal they paid for my stuff
I'm a bit more choosy with what I pay for now
Can't believe how much I paid for it!'
Someone shouted out how much and someone else shouted out primark, shave was creased up laughing! Dunno if Darren heard it, he didn't react to it. He was sat on table and said he didn't think the new jacket went with his old trousers lol and then said ' I cant do this with him on here as well his jacket doesn't match mine' (meaning Anthony). He stood up and had his foot on the foldback poking someone in the stomach almost! Soooo close!


14. I don't know you anymore:
Then he said 'I haven't sung this song for 8 years, we worked out the other day it was in south Africa in 2000, so actually it was 7 years and I was really bad at math!' bless!!


15. to the moon and back
Before ttmab – do I have a drummer? Or a drum kit? (Keith had torch in his mouth, fiddling away trying to fix it during jacket song and I don't know you and then left stage) Darren said: 'I want the drums so I can sing you an awesome song' (void) 'shave we have to pull something out of our butts' This is Justin shave co producer of the new record, when we started making the record shave thought he was only doing a few songs did you shave? *shave nods* what will I sing for you? Someone shouted darkness, someone else shouted scootch, Darren said he couldn't sing that one as he didn't know it but he could sing buck fizz, he said to shave, come on shave you can do it, remember that song you played on bni?, shave played a few bars of ttmab, steve played a riff, Darren said he didn't know that one yet. someone shouted 'strip' and he said for £17 have I not entertained you enough, it's pretty good? i'm not going to strip for you'…laughing…someone shouted you're great, someone else shouted you're sexy, then a bloke shouted 'I'm pitching a tent for you', Darren looked shocked, kinda a bit horrified and put his face in his hands and shook his head for a few seconds, clearly thinking of what to say and everyone laughed and then he said 'before I got married I was getting teddies thrown on stage now i'm getting a guy pitching a tent for me I dunno what is worse *pauses and looks kinda embarrassed bless him* and said 'but thank you im flattered'. Then Darren said to shave 'there is a guy pitching a tent for you shave', Darren was trying to throw shave I think, shave laughed and started playing ttmab.


During ttmab – Darren sung the line 'All her friends they've been tried for
Treason and crimes that were never defined' straight into my eyes, those gorgeous big crystal clear blue eyes looking at little old me! I was so overwhelmed. I didn't stand a gasp though I just smiled at him. I hate my smile but right then at that moment in time that smile on my face was real, not held back, not faked, a real sense of happiness! then he sung 'She's saying love is like a Darren Hayes' instead of 'love is like a barren place', I dunno if that line was aimed at me I think it was just Darren having fun with the song as impromptu as it was, the whole place screamed so loud! We sung some of the song for him, poor guy was so concerned what he was going to sing, we would sing it back to him no matter what it was!!! Then Darren said 'id actually semi-retired that song'


16. Void/all is full of love:
Darren said: 'It's a good job were good could you imagine if we were bad? And there was this many delays?' (gig was 1 1/2hr in the end) then he sung void. I adore void it was the very first song I ever heard Darren sing live so I hold a special place for it. When the ttats 30sec sampler was made available it caught my attention. When void was over he thanked us, his band and antigone and left. :D 



After the gig:
Said to Kelly in Ed's easy diner with a few other friends that I would stop being a fangirl now! I wouldn't shut up about his gorgeous blue eyes!, the kit kat sundae shut me up for a small while, diet coke didn't, I only shut up when I was eating it then was hyper again! Was knackered on tube, but came alive writing review in the B&B about midnight then got tired again! It was 1:30 when we decided that was enough note taking! The B&B was lovely! The toilet and shower where 2 cupboards, and the heating was on it was soooo hot!! I think the funniest bit was dropping the mic! That face! Darren has such an expressionate face! My fave moment was Darren singing a line of ttmab at me!



Phew!! That was a bit of a book, I've written essays for uni that was shorter, if you've survived all the 3800 words, well done hope you enjoyed reading it half as much as I did at gig and reliving it when writing it.

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