Darren Hayes - The Side 2 Tour - 3 Feb 2008
Carling Bar Academy, Islington, London
Carling Bar Academy, Islington, London
Originally posted on Myspace: 2/5/2008 8:45:00 PM
Mugs and hugs!!! My Feb 3rd review
I'm sitting here on the train and for once I don't feel like spilling the whole story. I feel exhausted in every way and unable to even contemplate this review. I've got a headache, I didn't sleep very well at the Travelodge and I've got a sore throat. I have however done nothing but laugh all day. My stomach muscles ache but it was so great to spend time with Kelly again. Thinking about today makes me emotional, I'm so fragile lately, anyway yesterday was fun and very emotional. I did get welled up a few times but a girl ever true to the mascara held it together!
At this point it would fit to tell you about today but I'm sure you'd much rather hear about Darren yesterday! We got up today and tried to do a set list. All I could say last night was 'I'm too shocked trying to take it all in to talk' memories were muddled, wires crossed and my mind raced trying to sort it out. Today isn't much better. Thank you Nat and Kelly for helping me with the set list. (Three of us and it was still wrong lol, ta Darren )
Anyhoo here is the bit you all want:
Before the gig:
I got up and decided I hadn't ever learnt my lesson to pack the night before and of course I was late! I ended up getting a taxi to the station so I wouldn't miss my train!
Me before I left the house:
After what seemed like the longest train journey ever (probably because it was!) we got to London. Via all of Derbyshire, Leicester and other places it so did not need to stop for 15 minutes each time like Luton! Nat and I got up off the seats and both of us wobbled and for a second and thought we'd forgot how to walk! My egg and bacon sandwich was nice though and it was great to see Nat again and chat I haven't seen her since October!
I waited for Kelly at kings cross, I swear she has a double I seen someone just like her, and then Kelly herself tried to creep up on me but I seen her pink bag out of the corner of my eye. We went to McDonalds while we waited to check in, Nat went off to see an old mate from uni. It wasn't long before Kelly had me in fits of laughter without trying. We were talking about holidays and places we would buy homes if we had the money and Kelly said London, America, Australia, nowhere else as I don't speak any foreign languages. I don't know why it was so funny but I couldn't stop laughing. People were staring! oops!
We decided to try and check in about 2:15 and after Kelly took us on the scenic route (we weren't lost apparently) we got to the Travelodge and the guy was really nice and said give him 10 minutes and we could check in 1/2hr early. We sat down and it wasn't long before Nat joined us. Once we checked into the room we decided to try and make the main lights work. Funny how it's the switch labelled 'main' that works them! We discovered that about 1/2hr later. And the two beds on either side of the room had some dangerous looking lights you could impale yourself on if not careful as they were soo close to the pillow. When we sat down none of us wanted to get up, after trying to tune the untunable TV, Nat made me a cuppa and I went to paint my nails at the radiator. It was so warm I didn't want to move from there. We got dressed and straightened hair and done make up and off we went to find the venue.
me before just before we left the travelodge:
Kelly led us off with a map Nat printed of the venue, it didn't have the part
of the road we were on but they soon worked out where we were going. I kept my
mouth shut as I'm hopeless with directions so was no use. We got to some
traffic lights and I heard a familiar voice behind me. It was Richard with
Adam. He said we looked like we knew where we were going. I said god help him
if he is following me! But Kelly and Nat were awesome and we found the venue.
We went over and said hi to Clare and mike (mike you're a joker pretending to
not remember me! ) and a few others and decided the queue was tiny so we would
join the others in Lloyds. Thanks Joyce for the chat, I got quiet emotional, it
really meant a lot to me. As did everyone who asked if I was ok.
We didn't stay long before we decided to join the queue. There were so few people there it wasn't even really a queue. It was 5:20 and it seemed like AGESSSSS to doors opened. We took it in turns to go find food. Sue, gilly and I decided to go for cake in a place that was actually a Chinese buffet restaurant (about turn lol). We decided to go a wandering and found a subway but you had to get the guy working there to let you in as last week someone smashed a door panel in. the two half manky looking cookies didn't appeal and we went back into Lloyds and the bar man said due to the storm the kitchen was recovering and it would be 40 minutes for desert. What to microwave a slice of apple pie? Grrrr¦.and more to the point what storm? Did we miss that completely? I don't think so! We had a drink and a chat (thanks sue) and headed back to the others about 7pm. By now barriers were out and it seemed about 20 people had pushed in front of us. Always the same faces that push in. I was so annoyed what gives people the right to think they can turn up 1/2hr before doors open and get front row when we'd been there damn near 3 hours? I got speaking to Daz very briefly, seen him so many times before at Soho but never seemed to get to say hi.
By now Ade had turned up and was happily winding Val's son Adam up that Darren wasn't really gay but was on his third wife. Naughty Ade! He always one to make me and laugh time flew by. Soon we were inside at the merchandise stand. What a gorgeous bag and I LOVE the mug. I hope I can get a t-shirt somewhere along the line as they didn't have them the first night.
We took our places about 4 rows back and quite central-ish and waited and waited. The heat was so bad, but you couldn't get to the bar. My feet were KILLING me. We took bets on what time Darren would come on and what would be the first song. We were wrong about it all haha. I did know that this show was going to be so obscure I actually couldn't pick a song to be first. I loved the cherry blossom lights from starlight central on stage. They looked gorgeous.
Pre-show music:
I didn't recognise much of the music, one song I ADORED but I have no idea what it was I think it was a female singer, Ade recognised a Godley and creme song called cry, and a depeche mode song called goodnight lovers. I did love bloc party's flux really got me in the mood to party before Darren came out.
The outfit:
The outfit was rather fetching. The tie was black with a gold intricate pattern on its tongue and across the bit that wraps around to form the loop. The waistcoat was gorgeous as was the shirt. Both black. Darren looked very smart.
The setlist:
1. Hero
2. Bombs Up In My Face
3. Sense Of Humor
4. A Conversation With God
5. Gunning Down Romance
6. Random Blinking Light (Acoustic)
7. 100 Challenging Things (Acoustic)
8. Setting Sun (Just Shave And Darren)
9. Maybe
10. Mine (Acoustic)
11. Dirty (Drum Machine Version)
12. Casey
13. Sing To Me
------------- The Fake Encore --------------
14. I Don't Care
15. So Beautiful (The Beautiful Mix)
1. Hero
'ladies and gentlemen listen up please'.
What a way to start a show. It worked so well live. I heard quite a few people screaming that Darren was their hero.
2. Bombs Up In My Face
same sex union ooh! The face he pulled, cheeky, provoking, adorable, I felt proud of him. The way Darren emphasised certain words: is golfing. In Aruba. It sounded more like a statement than sung, kinda said in an unimpressed sarcastic tone. I dunno how to describe it. He also changed the words slightly so it worked better singing it, I adore the way the lines 'bombs up in these planes' and 'bombs up in these trains' were sung and not done in that snatched statement on the CD If you know what I mean? I soo loved this version.
3. Sense Of Humor
Darren had the whole place laughing when he changed one particular line: 'I will overpower you with wit and I will be a shit' cue much laughter from the audience!
And damn isn't Darren good at holding the end note? We all cheered and clapped and Darren said 'Thank you, your all for being so kind' (cheering, clapping, screaming so loud after every song he seemed to thank us a lot)
4. A Conversation with God
This song for the first one that got me emotional. Something about it live grabbed me so tightly. Truth be told maybe it's because I have at times felt like Darren describes in the song. He reached behind his head and pretended to pull a light's chord to the lyric 'reach behind and turn your light on' he seemed to have a real conviction in his to the lyric 'I scream at God' and there was real emphasis put on the lyric: ' can’t recall. Getting. Here'. Such a harrowing and chilling song. I adored it. And I adore the breathing bit at the end, it was…. erm….fun
5. Gunning down Romance
OMG this one live! I'd never heard it live before and it was never one of my favourites until I seen the superstars and cannonballs DVD. I think we all half expected to see the dancing. It sounded fresh and funky with shave and Steve in on the game and it was great.
------------Acoustic Set ---------------------
'Is it just me or is it really hot in here?' Everyone screamed yes. I Dunno if Darren thought that was a yes to its you or yes to its hot but it was freakin hot in there. Then he quipped 'maybe someone should buy me a drink' (he lifted his tea cup) and said he was joking
So it was about time for one of Darren's jokes right?
So ever true to his love of the odd naughty joke Darren said: 'I need a stool for the next song. Not a human stool, but if I sit down you won’t see me, let me try *sits down* not you can't see me. I will forgo my butt comfort for you'.
I think a lot of us thought he must be joking we'd been standing outside since about 5pm!
6. Random Blinking Light (Acoustic)
At the start of nearly every song all you heard from Ade was 'shit or Fuck!' no one expected this one I don't think. But live it works. I do love this one.
7. 100 Challenging Things (Acoustic)
Darren Said: 'I want to explain why it's called the side 2 tour. I wanted to play you rare songs, songs I'd never played in years, songs I'd never played before because I'm going away for a while'.
'play some talking music shave'
*shave refused and gestured at Steve*
'play some thinking music Steve. *Darren corrected himself* Not thinking music talking music. Actually the chords from the next song will work'
'this is a song about when I met someone and he made me realise that I had nothing to complain about, that's why I fell in love with him. It's a song about two people who loved a little boy very much. This is a 100 challenging things a boy can do'.
The song started, I've always loved this song but live, broken down, right then it sounded amazing. Darren missed out the line 'She never saw her son on his wedding day or our cherry blossoms falling down from the sky'. I don't know if he forgot the words or emotion choked him but at the end of the song as he wiped his face on his towel his face was full of emotion and his eyes sad and almost tearful.
I loved the whispering bit like on the CD '100 challenging, 100 challenging, 100 challenging, wave goodbye, say goodbye to you' and he held the end note, it was awesome, a real moment, very emotional.
Darren joked he didn't know what song was next as he'd just covered the set list with his towel, he moved it then said 'oh yes that one'
8. Setting Sun (Just Shave and Darren)
Darren brought shave over to the middle of the stage with him and started to explain the keytar. Darren said the whole song could be played with just the keytar and shave 'can do it with 1 finger well many fingers just one at a time'. Darren was messing about with playing it, pressing random keys, it was very funny.
From the minute the song started the energy in the place increased by tenfold. From the opening bar the place became alive and jumping. What an awesome beat it has I hadn't noticed as much before on the CD. Much like when I first heard listen all you people live. The noise was deafening, the beat rockin, it was freakin awesome!
Darren joked 'god this is low' (the key to the song) and when he messed it up he started to talk and joked 'see that's the best thing about using the keytar, you can just start the verse again' *shave started the verse again*
My favourite bit was the verse:
Do I make you hot?
Do I make you uncomfortable?
A stirring down in your soul for something more.
Does it happen a lot?
Does the drudgery bring you down?
Is anyone still around?
I'm coming down.
That bit sounded soooo good sung live. Especially with Darren bending his knees and lowering down to the bit 'I'm coming down' it was just so fun.
9. Maybe
This has always been a firm favourite of mine. Ever since I first heard that 30 second sampler of it. There is something so beautiful about the way Darren is looking upon the afterlife. I adore this song and live I thought I wasn't going to keep it together but I managed to hold it together and swallowed the tears. I found myself getting choked up a lot.
This song just soars, that melody it gets me every time and Darren standing there, arms outreached to the audience singing 'maybe you've found a shinier star'. It was one of my favourite moments of the night.
10. Mine (Acoustic)
I have to be honest mine was never one of my favourites but as soon as I heard the line tonight 'just a twist in time' I loved it. Everything seemed so strange. This whole gig was. I think it was the unexpected. The songs you've never heard live before; you never know where the journey is headed next. But you're so glad to be in on it with Darren right there and then.
11. Dirty (Drum Machine Version)
This song used to be a real favourite of mine but times change and I grew up and I kinda fell out of love a bit with this song. I still like it but I just don't play it as much as I used to. This one was a real shock to hear live. Never in a million years would I have gotten close to predicting this set list but it is awesome.
Darren said: 'I need you to be quiet (1 sec later) I said I need you to be quiet!' I dunno if it was Darren laughing off the people who TALKED through the whole show or if he was just kidding.
Darren explained that Steve had a pedal that was going to be the drum and Steve started the drum loop.
Darren sung the line: 'i can be just like you, and do the dirty things you do' and a woman from the corner of the room screamed 'we have'. Quite a few people laughed.
Ade the cheeky git decided it was funny to embarrass the hell out of me, the place was dead quiet listening to Darren sing and he screams:
'And when you move its assumed you feel it too don't you Hayley?'
I will get you back, I promise! Mwahaha!
I loved the bit 'commercial break this is where the censors kick in' that's bit sounded sooo good
Darren left out the words to 'go down' on second time round, but did bend his knees and duck down a bit, had that naughty glint in his eyes. Hmm this one was fun live!
At the end he laughed, went to walk away and turned back to the mic and said sorry. It was very very funny. I was in fits laughing.
12. Casey (the first time round)
Darren said: 'we better get this next one right as you can pay for it, will the sound guy is getting ready to tape it, he's giving me the thumbs up.
The place came alive, perhaps too alive and we all got rather excited at the bit where the bird would have come out on tour, the clapping got faster and faster and as Darren couldn't hear shave he was forced to follow us, and the timing was just getting further and further out! Shave was mouthing the words to Darren, it was funny Darren sung 'leave this town' about 3 secs before shave did! Darren couldn't hear the click from Shave, you could see it running away from him, and he had his hand over the ear piece trying to hear it over our clapping, then he gave up and said: 'We need to stop the song'
The song got stopped and Darren had the click turned up in his in ear monitoring
'I'm going to put this version on myspace for a day and you can download it'
'Your clapping, you rather lovingly fucked up the song, you need to not clap, actually I'm going to change the song I need you to clap. It was fine in rehearsal without all of you here'
Darren joked there was only one more song before the fake encore and said thanks I've got performance anxiety now I didn't before!
12.b. Casey (the second time round)
Once they'd decided they were ready for a second go Casey got launched into again. It was weird almost deja vu but with baited breath.
When it got to that really energetic bit Darren has his fingers crossed on both hands and held them up to the crowd, a look of pleading and prayer on his face, some clapped but it wasn't running away and he mouthed thank you and at the end screamed thank you London.
He said 'I don't understand the technology but you can txt a code to buy it.You'll know if I've messed it because it will be the same version we do every night'.
13. Sing To Me
Ade asked what are we doing to do? I just looked at him and said cry! This song just seemed so very poignant to life at the moment ('I've gotta know why, tell me') and I got very emotional. Thank you Ade for supporting me, literally holding me, hugging me.
This song has always been a favourite of mine, I remember when I first heard it, and I was lying in bed, playing it for the first time and tears streamed down my face. It was beautiful.
The way it builds live, almost like Casey, louder and louder, bigger and bigger, and then it explodes into that 'oooooh maybe its just meant to be' ! I was having sooo much fun. I spent half the gig miming so my terrible singing didn't distract people!
I'd closed my eyes to take in the song, and not cry, the lyric being ' flashes of your hands' and I could see Darren's hands in my mind, held out, trying to wrap his arms around the room, sending out love, I needed that right then. I'm proud to say I held it together and swallowed the tears.
------------- The Fake Encore --------------
If you come and see me in another city on this tour you have to clap like I might never come back but tonight I fucked up a bit so I figured I need to suck up a bit so I'm not going to leave the stage. Well I might leave and go to the toilet and come back, the band can go.
Darren decided to tell us a joke. He asked 'does anyone here have a hat?'
No one did. Darren said nobody here is a wanker and we'd ruined his joke now.
He explained that people in Notting hill act like wankers with bowler hats on and normal when they don't have it on. Someone suggested he take Steve's hat 'I can't take Steve's hat that doesn't work, and not a hat like that either, that doesn't work (a woman's hat)'
He put on a hilarious accent and said:
'Look at me! I'm mad me! I wear a hat! I'm zany. I'm different. I always do things differently. I wear a hat so people can tell from space how crrrrrrrrazy I am!!'
Then Darren joked: 'I'll do your review for you, well he was a lot better looking in real life, but he didn't play I want you which I was a bit pissed off about, but he was better than Justin and had better songs. Actually Justin tried to hit on me when he was drunk, I'm kidding he was sober, no I'm joking' everyone was laughing at this point.
'Thanks for coming out, not as gay, but isn't it funny everyone in the room is gay? I'm joking!'
*Darren took his tie off, the waistcoat stayed*
Do you think we can get the band back? (Right on cue) ahh their here!
14. I Don't Care
'People asked for it so I decided to do this one'
olly, Ade and I all looked at each other during the open beats and screamed I don't care. I truly love this song. One of my fave b-sides. olly said she'd never heard it live and Darren said 'I've never sung this one live before' and olly joked that would be why she hadn't hear it live before then.
As soon as I saw the teaser video for the mug I thought OMG he is going to sing I don't care. And I was right. I think I just sung (still miming) and clapped my way though this one. I loved it. Perhaps my fave moment from the show. Well one of my fave moments. Sing to me and maybe are right up there. Darren was standing further back from the edge of the stage than before and I couldn't really see him anymore but who needs to when you have a song like this one!?
15. So Beautiful (The Beautiful Mix)
I loved this one live at NYE. I said before the show I wanted to hear it again. Always been a fave of mine this remix. Darren tried to get us to applaud the band but cheers replaced clapping as we were all clapping the rhythm of the song.
Stage exit
'Step behind a curtain and in a moment you were gone'. Darren just lifted the curtain up and ducked under it, then he peeked back again at the audience.
After the gig:
WHAT A NIGHT! Only 3 of the 15 songs I'd heard live before.
I can really relate to Darren when he described the show as uncomfortable but pivotal. The best tour but also the most unpredictable. It was strange not being able to guess what came next. Out of a comfort zone and into loads of B-sides. A fans heaven but at the same time you wondered what was going to happen next.
I went over to Louise and said I was speechless. Well that's just it I wasn't but almost. While everyone else sat talking about the gig I was unable to contribute to the conversation. We concluded only about 3 or 4 songs now hadn't been sung for delicate. Quite an achievement I think. My poor brain trying to keep ticking over what was the real overload it experienced. I said to olly about 1/2hr later, I'm not fully speechless, I can talk as long as it’s not about the gig otherwise I couldn't form sentences. It wasn't until I'd got up the next day I started to find my voice again and talk about the gig.
We didn't stay long before we decided to join the queue. There were so few people there it wasn't even really a queue. It was 5:20 and it seemed like AGESSSSS to doors opened. We took it in turns to go find food. Sue, gilly and I decided to go for cake in a place that was actually a Chinese buffet restaurant (about turn lol). We decided to go a wandering and found a subway but you had to get the guy working there to let you in as last week someone smashed a door panel in. the two half manky looking cookies didn't appeal and we went back into Lloyds and the bar man said due to the storm the kitchen was recovering and it would be 40 minutes for desert. What to microwave a slice of apple pie? Grrrr¦.and more to the point what storm? Did we miss that completely? I don't think so! We had a drink and a chat (thanks sue) and headed back to the others about 7pm. By now barriers were out and it seemed about 20 people had pushed in front of us. Always the same faces that push in. I was so annoyed what gives people the right to think they can turn up 1/2hr before doors open and get front row when we'd been there damn near 3 hours? I got speaking to Daz very briefly, seen him so many times before at Soho but never seemed to get to say hi.
By now Ade had turned up and was happily winding Val's son Adam up that Darren wasn't really gay but was on his third wife. Naughty Ade! He always one to make me and laugh time flew by. Soon we were inside at the merchandise stand. What a gorgeous bag and I LOVE the mug. I hope I can get a t-shirt somewhere along the line as they didn't have them the first night.
We took our places about 4 rows back and quite central-ish and waited and waited. The heat was so bad, but you couldn't get to the bar. My feet were KILLING me. We took bets on what time Darren would come on and what would be the first song. We were wrong about it all haha. I did know that this show was going to be so obscure I actually couldn't pick a song to be first. I loved the cherry blossom lights from starlight central on stage. They looked gorgeous.
Pre-show music:
I didn't recognise much of the music, one song I ADORED but I have no idea what it was I think it was a female singer, Ade recognised a Godley and creme song called cry, and a depeche mode song called goodnight lovers. I did love bloc party's flux really got me in the mood to party before Darren came out.
The outfit:
The outfit was rather fetching. The tie was black with a gold intricate pattern on its tongue and across the bit that wraps around to form the loop. The waistcoat was gorgeous as was the shirt. Both black. Darren looked very smart.
The setlist:
1. Hero
2. Bombs Up In My Face
3. Sense Of Humor
4. A Conversation With God
5. Gunning Down Romance
6. Random Blinking Light (Acoustic)
7. 100 Challenging Things (Acoustic)
8. Setting Sun (Just Shave And Darren)
9. Maybe
10. Mine (Acoustic)
11. Dirty (Drum Machine Version)
12. Casey
13. Sing To Me
------------- The Fake Encore --------------
14. I Don't Care
15. So Beautiful (The Beautiful Mix)
1. Hero
'ladies and gentlemen listen up please'.
What a way to start a show. It worked so well live. I heard quite a few people screaming that Darren was their hero.
2. Bombs Up In My Face
same sex union ooh! The face he pulled, cheeky, provoking, adorable, I felt proud of him. The way Darren emphasised certain words: is golfing. In Aruba. It sounded more like a statement than sung, kinda said in an unimpressed sarcastic tone. I dunno how to describe it. He also changed the words slightly so it worked better singing it, I adore the way the lines 'bombs up in these planes' and 'bombs up in these trains' were sung and not done in that snatched statement on the CD If you know what I mean? I soo loved this version.
3. Sense Of Humor
Darren had the whole place laughing when he changed one particular line: 'I will overpower you with wit and I will be a shit' cue much laughter from the audience!
And damn isn't Darren good at holding the end note? We all cheered and clapped and Darren said 'Thank you, your all for being so kind' (cheering, clapping, screaming so loud after every song he seemed to thank us a lot)
4. A Conversation with God
This song for the first one that got me emotional. Something about it live grabbed me so tightly. Truth be told maybe it's because I have at times felt like Darren describes in the song. He reached behind his head and pretended to pull a light's chord to the lyric 'reach behind and turn your light on' he seemed to have a real conviction in his to the lyric 'I scream at God' and there was real emphasis put on the lyric: ' can’t recall. Getting. Here'. Such a harrowing and chilling song. I adored it. And I adore the breathing bit at the end, it was…. erm….fun
5. Gunning down Romance
OMG this one live! I'd never heard it live before and it was never one of my favourites until I seen the superstars and cannonballs DVD. I think we all half expected to see the dancing. It sounded fresh and funky with shave and Steve in on the game and it was great.
------------Acoustic Set ---------------------
'Is it just me or is it really hot in here?' Everyone screamed yes. I Dunno if Darren thought that was a yes to its you or yes to its hot but it was freakin hot in there. Then he quipped 'maybe someone should buy me a drink' (he lifted his tea cup) and said he was joking
So it was about time for one of Darren's jokes right?
So ever true to his love of the odd naughty joke Darren said: 'I need a stool for the next song. Not a human stool, but if I sit down you won’t see me, let me try *sits down* not you can't see me. I will forgo my butt comfort for you'.
I think a lot of us thought he must be joking we'd been standing outside since about 5pm!
6. Random Blinking Light (Acoustic)
At the start of nearly every song all you heard from Ade was 'shit or Fuck!' no one expected this one I don't think. But live it works. I do love this one.
7. 100 Challenging Things (Acoustic)
Darren Said: 'I want to explain why it's called the side 2 tour. I wanted to play you rare songs, songs I'd never played in years, songs I'd never played before because I'm going away for a while'.
'play some talking music shave'
*shave refused and gestured at Steve*
'play some thinking music Steve. *Darren corrected himself* Not thinking music talking music. Actually the chords from the next song will work'
'this is a song about when I met someone and he made me realise that I had nothing to complain about, that's why I fell in love with him. It's a song about two people who loved a little boy very much. This is a 100 challenging things a boy can do'.
The song started, I've always loved this song but live, broken down, right then it sounded amazing. Darren missed out the line 'She never saw her son on his wedding day or our cherry blossoms falling down from the sky'. I don't know if he forgot the words or emotion choked him but at the end of the song as he wiped his face on his towel his face was full of emotion and his eyes sad and almost tearful.
I loved the whispering bit like on the CD '100 challenging, 100 challenging, 100 challenging, wave goodbye, say goodbye to you' and he held the end note, it was awesome, a real moment, very emotional.
Darren joked he didn't know what song was next as he'd just covered the set list with his towel, he moved it then said 'oh yes that one'
8. Setting Sun (Just Shave and Darren)
Darren brought shave over to the middle of the stage with him and started to explain the keytar. Darren said the whole song could be played with just the keytar and shave 'can do it with 1 finger well many fingers just one at a time'. Darren was messing about with playing it, pressing random keys, it was very funny.
From the minute the song started the energy in the place increased by tenfold. From the opening bar the place became alive and jumping. What an awesome beat it has I hadn't noticed as much before on the CD. Much like when I first heard listen all you people live. The noise was deafening, the beat rockin, it was freakin awesome!
Darren joked 'god this is low' (the key to the song) and when he messed it up he started to talk and joked 'see that's the best thing about using the keytar, you can just start the verse again' *shave started the verse again*
My favourite bit was the verse:
Do I make you hot?
Do I make you uncomfortable?
A stirring down in your soul for something more.
Does it happen a lot?
Does the drudgery bring you down?
Is anyone still around?
I'm coming down.
That bit sounded soooo good sung live. Especially with Darren bending his knees and lowering down to the bit 'I'm coming down' it was just so fun.
9. Maybe
This has always been a firm favourite of mine. Ever since I first heard that 30 second sampler of it. There is something so beautiful about the way Darren is looking upon the afterlife. I adore this song and live I thought I wasn't going to keep it together but I managed to hold it together and swallowed the tears. I found myself getting choked up a lot.
This song just soars, that melody it gets me every time and Darren standing there, arms outreached to the audience singing 'maybe you've found a shinier star'. It was one of my favourite moments of the night.
10. Mine (Acoustic)
I have to be honest mine was never one of my favourites but as soon as I heard the line tonight 'just a twist in time' I loved it. Everything seemed so strange. This whole gig was. I think it was the unexpected. The songs you've never heard live before; you never know where the journey is headed next. But you're so glad to be in on it with Darren right there and then.
11. Dirty (Drum Machine Version)
This song used to be a real favourite of mine but times change and I grew up and I kinda fell out of love a bit with this song. I still like it but I just don't play it as much as I used to. This one was a real shock to hear live. Never in a million years would I have gotten close to predicting this set list but it is awesome.
Darren said: 'I need you to be quiet (1 sec later) I said I need you to be quiet!' I dunno if it was Darren laughing off the people who TALKED through the whole show or if he was just kidding.
Darren explained that Steve had a pedal that was going to be the drum and Steve started the drum loop.
Darren sung the line: 'i can be just like you, and do the dirty things you do' and a woman from the corner of the room screamed 'we have'. Quite a few people laughed.
Ade the cheeky git decided it was funny to embarrass the hell out of me, the place was dead quiet listening to Darren sing and he screams:
'And when you move its assumed you feel it too don't you Hayley?'
I will get you back, I promise! Mwahaha!
I loved the bit 'commercial break this is where the censors kick in' that's bit sounded sooo good
Darren left out the words to 'go down' on second time round, but did bend his knees and duck down a bit, had that naughty glint in his eyes. Hmm this one was fun live!
At the end he laughed, went to walk away and turned back to the mic and said sorry. It was very very funny. I was in fits laughing.
12. Casey (the first time round)
Darren said: 'we better get this next one right as you can pay for it, will the sound guy is getting ready to tape it, he's giving me the thumbs up.
The place came alive, perhaps too alive and we all got rather excited at the bit where the bird would have come out on tour, the clapping got faster and faster and as Darren couldn't hear shave he was forced to follow us, and the timing was just getting further and further out! Shave was mouthing the words to Darren, it was funny Darren sung 'leave this town' about 3 secs before shave did! Darren couldn't hear the click from Shave, you could see it running away from him, and he had his hand over the ear piece trying to hear it over our clapping, then he gave up and said: 'We need to stop the song'
The song got stopped and Darren had the click turned up in his in ear monitoring
'I'm going to put this version on myspace for a day and you can download it'
'Your clapping, you rather lovingly fucked up the song, you need to not clap, actually I'm going to change the song I need you to clap. It was fine in rehearsal without all of you here'
Darren joked there was only one more song before the fake encore and said thanks I've got performance anxiety now I didn't before!
12.b. Casey (the second time round)
Once they'd decided they were ready for a second go Casey got launched into again. It was weird almost deja vu but with baited breath.
When it got to that really energetic bit Darren has his fingers crossed on both hands and held them up to the crowd, a look of pleading and prayer on his face, some clapped but it wasn't running away and he mouthed thank you and at the end screamed thank you London.
He said 'I don't understand the technology but you can txt a code to buy it.You'll know if I've messed it because it will be the same version we do every night'.
13. Sing To Me
Ade asked what are we doing to do? I just looked at him and said cry! This song just seemed so very poignant to life at the moment ('I've gotta know why, tell me') and I got very emotional. Thank you Ade for supporting me, literally holding me, hugging me.
This song has always been a favourite of mine, I remember when I first heard it, and I was lying in bed, playing it for the first time and tears streamed down my face. It was beautiful.
The way it builds live, almost like Casey, louder and louder, bigger and bigger, and then it explodes into that 'oooooh maybe its just meant to be' ! I was having sooo much fun. I spent half the gig miming so my terrible singing didn't distract people!
I'd closed my eyes to take in the song, and not cry, the lyric being ' flashes of your hands' and I could see Darren's hands in my mind, held out, trying to wrap his arms around the room, sending out love, I needed that right then. I'm proud to say I held it together and swallowed the tears.
------------- The Fake Encore --------------
If you come and see me in another city on this tour you have to clap like I might never come back but tonight I fucked up a bit so I figured I need to suck up a bit so I'm not going to leave the stage. Well I might leave and go to the toilet and come back, the band can go.
Darren decided to tell us a joke. He asked 'does anyone here have a hat?'
No one did. Darren said nobody here is a wanker and we'd ruined his joke now.
He explained that people in Notting hill act like wankers with bowler hats on and normal when they don't have it on. Someone suggested he take Steve's hat 'I can't take Steve's hat that doesn't work, and not a hat like that either, that doesn't work (a woman's hat)'
He put on a hilarious accent and said:
'Look at me! I'm mad me! I wear a hat! I'm zany. I'm different. I always do things differently. I wear a hat so people can tell from space how crrrrrrrrazy I am!!'
Then Darren joked: 'I'll do your review for you, well he was a lot better looking in real life, but he didn't play I want you which I was a bit pissed off about, but he was better than Justin and had better songs. Actually Justin tried to hit on me when he was drunk, I'm kidding he was sober, no I'm joking' everyone was laughing at this point.
'Thanks for coming out, not as gay, but isn't it funny everyone in the room is gay? I'm joking!'
*Darren took his tie off, the waistcoat stayed*
Do you think we can get the band back? (Right on cue) ahh their here!
14. I Don't Care
'People asked for it so I decided to do this one'
olly, Ade and I all looked at each other during the open beats and screamed I don't care. I truly love this song. One of my fave b-sides. olly said she'd never heard it live and Darren said 'I've never sung this one live before' and olly joked that would be why she hadn't hear it live before then.
As soon as I saw the teaser video for the mug I thought OMG he is going to sing I don't care. And I was right. I think I just sung (still miming) and clapped my way though this one. I loved it. Perhaps my fave moment from the show. Well one of my fave moments. Sing to me and maybe are right up there. Darren was standing further back from the edge of the stage than before and I couldn't really see him anymore but who needs to when you have a song like this one!?
15. So Beautiful (The Beautiful Mix)
I loved this one live at NYE. I said before the show I wanted to hear it again. Always been a fave of mine this remix. Darren tried to get us to applaud the band but cheers replaced clapping as we were all clapping the rhythm of the song.
Stage exit
'Step behind a curtain and in a moment you were gone'. Darren just lifted the curtain up and ducked under it, then he peeked back again at the audience.
After the gig:
WHAT A NIGHT! Only 3 of the 15 songs I'd heard live before.
I can really relate to Darren when he described the show as uncomfortable but pivotal. The best tour but also the most unpredictable. It was strange not being able to guess what came next. Out of a comfort zone and into loads of B-sides. A fans heaven but at the same time you wondered what was going to happen next.
I went over to Louise and said I was speechless. Well that's just it I wasn't but almost. While everyone else sat talking about the gig I was unable to contribute to the conversation. We concluded only about 3 or 4 songs now hadn't been sung for delicate. Quite an achievement I think. My poor brain trying to keep ticking over what was the real overload it experienced. I said to olly about 1/2hr later, I'm not fully speechless, I can talk as long as it’s not about the gig otherwise I couldn't form sentences. It wasn't until I'd got up the next day I started to find my voice again and talk about the gig.
Feb 4th
As we walked home from the gig it occurred to me it sounded like I'd kidnapped a cat the rattling of the badges inside the mug really did sound like a cat's collar! We went into KFC and I got a fully loaded meal and we sat and ate our KFC in the hotel room. Then we went to bed exhausted. I didn't sleep so well, I think it was just being somewhere new, all the excitement, I must have woke up about 20 times so when Kelly and Nat got up all refreshed I was still half dead! We stepped outside the Travelodge and it was a gorgeous day. You could feel the sun on your face, it really made me smile; remember when I was first in London almost a year ago for Soho. Over breakfast I didn't speak much until about lunchtime when I found my voice. I had however laughed all morning. Never had so much fun laughing at nothing. We went and got a yummy breakfast in a cafe in Covent Garden, the worlds smallest café, I swear but it was good food. We had a look around build – a - bear, I want the Irish one! And then Kelly spotted the Disney store. God her and eeyore honestly! I made the mistake of pointing out the eeyore section and she bought a gorgeous brown and pink bag. I want one! We walked down the street and there was a massive eeyore in Clinton cards window. I looked round to see where Nat was and when I looked back Kelly was over the other side of the road looking in the window. We went inside and all the eeyore stuff they do reminds me of when we seen it all in Liverpool so long ago on the time machine tour.
We made our way back to the tube and left Nat to go and check in to her hotel as she was going to the gig on the 4th and we decided to go to Notting hill for some cupcakes. We got a far as the hummingbird in Notting hill before it dawned on me the reason Notting hill was so quiet was because loads of things are shut on a Monday. Included is the bakery. I laughed my head off while Kelly stood gutted. Photos exist!
We decided as it was a lovely day to walk down to Ladbroke grove tube and go to the south ken hummingbird. Only who would have thought Ladbroke grove could be soooo confusing? After waiting 6 minutes for a delayed train we got on the over ground (that was weird) and got as far as Edgware road. Then we got lost. How the hell do you know if the circle line is going clockwise or anti-clockwise? After a bit I made a guess if it was going to high street ken it must be anti-clockwise and there for the one we want to get to south ken and luckily my guess was right!
We got some cupcakes woooo hoooo and decided to go the Victoria and Albert museum. That was until we realised we'd never done the science museum so we went there instead. It was awesome! A lot of physics and inventions I really enjoyed all the space stuff, and domestic stuff. I was mesmerised by mika's F1 care he crashed in Germany at 207mph and only the nose cone had any real damage. I love F1 so it was so great to see an F1 car. It's so low but wide. Didn't realise how close it is to the ground either. I loved it. I also loved the games bit. Kelly and I sat and played 2 games of ping pong. The really old 80's one with knobs and not buttons. Kelly won both times! I think it was 15 - 7 and 15 - 12. The second game was 14 - 11 until I messed it up. I was getting right into it then got distracted.
Pics from the Science musuem:
Dentists:
v2 missile from WW2. did you know the first one struck paris and later than day one hit london?:
i think its called an EMI scanner, basically an ancient MRI scanner like thingy:
the apollo 10 module:
bricks for phones:
the old gameboy....mine was that big but yellow:
some sort of coding thingy, i cant remember what it was:
a plane stuck to the wall:
mika's F1 car he crashed in germany in 1999 at 207mph and only the nose is damaged really:
some sort of 3D slicing of body parts and then using the images for this learning tool thingy:
a plane hanging from the roof....as you do:
the first locomotive:
some weird thingy hanging from the ceiling by the cafe that lights sparkle and whizz round in:
the mar explorer thingy that got declared lost before it got to mars. of course not the real one...its lost in space haha:
the hubble 1/5th of its real size:
some groovy space thingy....:
'if you believe they put a man on the moon' - REM lyrics for ya lol:
its plays both sides of vinyl:
how a cd player works:
some vibration thing, i sat whizzing the handle like a kid to make it vibrate:
a massive video camera:
a tv:
speak and spell from the 80's....mine was 90's blue:
my cousin had one of these....:
i want one!!:
erm hairdyer anyone?:
switches.....
an airplane wheel almost as tall as me:
We made our way back to kings cross and chatted and drunk coke and played with
our phones and my ipod for a bit. We wished we were at the gig and not the
station.
Kelly's train was 9pm and mine 10pm so I went and got myself a sandwich and called mum. We got on the train and it was ancient. No plugs to charge phones, a weird little table for one, and not four and the noise was so loud as we were at a door at it is one of those old trains with the drop down windows. Damn the new east midlands trains provider. We got as far as the midlands and the rain was pissing it down. “it's raining, it’s raining hard” lol. I felt exhausted, drained. But happy. I put on convo with god, sing to me, setting sun, and smiled about the gig and slept for a bit. I think I must have had Daniel's remix of I knew I loved you on for about 1/2hr!
I woke up and wrote a bit more of my review, read the two London papers, well the energy I had it was more read the pictures and soon but not soon enough it was time to get off and get a taxi home.
5th Feb.
I gathered my stuff and wondering how the hell to get out of the Train. Then I realised you have to open the window, and reach the handle from the outside. It was raining hard and I got in and just unpacked and got my stuff ready for work. I posted a quick thank you to everyone who touched my heart these past few days and went to bed. Work today was fun, I was half dead still, I've sat and made pancakes and ate cupcake and drank tea and I’ve done this review and now I have to go to bed as I've got to be up at 7am to get ready for Manchester and I'm sure I'm going to regret only 3 hours sleep.
Kelly's train was 9pm and mine 10pm so I went and got myself a sandwich and called mum. We got on the train and it was ancient. No plugs to charge phones, a weird little table for one, and not four and the noise was so loud as we were at a door at it is one of those old trains with the drop down windows. Damn the new east midlands trains provider. We got as far as the midlands and the rain was pissing it down. “it's raining, it’s raining hard” lol. I felt exhausted, drained. But happy. I put on convo with god, sing to me, setting sun, and smiled about the gig and slept for a bit. I think I must have had Daniel's remix of I knew I loved you on for about 1/2hr!
I woke up and wrote a bit more of my review, read the two London papers, well the energy I had it was more read the pictures and soon but not soon enough it was time to get off and get a taxi home.
5th Feb.
I gathered my stuff and wondering how the hell to get out of the Train. Then I realised you have to open the window, and reach the handle from the outside. It was raining hard and I got in and just unpacked and got my stuff ready for work. I posted a quick thank you to everyone who touched my heart these past few days and went to bed. Work today was fun, I was half dead still, I've sat and made pancakes and ate cupcake and drank tea and I’ve done this review and now I have to go to bed as I've got to be up at 7am to get ready for Manchester and I'm sure I'm going to regret only 3 hours sleep.
I hope you enjoyed reading it half as much as I did living and then
re-living it doing my review
much love!
xx
much love!
xx
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