Darren Hayes - The Side 2 Tour - 6 Feb 2008

Darren Hayes - The Side 2 Tour - 6 Feb 2008 - He ain't John Inman! Manchester - Studio (Formerly The Late Room) Bar.

Originally posted on myspace 2/16/2008 6:04PM I got up at 7:30am after posting my London review at 5am. I felt great, better than I had in days, just a few hours deep sleep in your own bed is worth 10 hours light sleep in a Travelodge somewhere.I made my way to town to get to the post office to post my best mate's birthday present before I got the train. This time I wasn't late... but I was pushing it! My bag had more bricks in than last time as I was away for 3 days not 2. I got on the train and soon seen all the hills and greenery and stuff that is seen on the train from Nottingham to Liverpool. It reminded me right that moment of being on the train to Liverpool for the time machine tour! Nat and I chatted, she filled me on the 4th feb gig and I filled her in on Kelly and I's day off in London and we ate some breakie. Nat was good with fruit and a sarnie. I however waived my egg and bacon sarnie for some ASDA extra special ready salted crisps and a cupcake from the hummingbird. I'd bought 3 on Monday thinking - mon, tues and wed morning but I was too busy I ended up eating one tues and bringing the other 2 with me. We got to Manchester and got off at Piccadilly instead of oxford road as we are meant to as Kelly was getting off at Piccadilly. It wasn't long before we found her and started the trek to the Travelodge. We stopped in the Arndale food court for another fast food fix and made our way to the Travelodge. We were a bit early, the guy said if we waited for 1/2hr or so we could check in. so there I was in the lounge in the foyer, contents of my bag on the floor trying to do my make-up. I pulled EVERYTHING out, trying to show the girlies the outfits, trying to choose. Nat and I were being right girlie and Kelly trying to find us a route to the venue using a Travelodge map and a venue map. None of the streets matched. I never did decide what to wear before I finished my make-up and jammed my stuff back in my bag so we could go check in. Now wasn't I the idiot who forgot we were staying for 2 nights on 2 bookings and only brought first nights email? Oh well all was ok. We got the WHOLE way up to room 702 and the first thing I noticed when I got there was the room is identical to the one from TTMT. Complete with dodgy door too! Well it is the same Travelodge!! Happy memories of the bar in that Travelodge. Anyhoo... we got ready, again I took a billion times longer than everyone else and we set off to find Hilary as she's txt us a bit before saying it was her and 2 others in queue. We asked at the reception how to get there and the woman was most helpful and gave us a decent print out of a map and directions. Hilary meanwhile had been in the bar across the road and moved to queue when she first seen people. We expected there to be about another 4 or 5 there when we turned up but no one else had joined.

  
So at 3:30pm we started the queue as 4th, 5th and 6th. It wasn't long before my feet started to kill. But they were warm (thank you whoever invented fluffy socks!). The rest of me wasn't so warm. In my strappy top and light jacket I was ball froze. No other way to put it. But we were in the doorway out of the wind and sheltered a bit. We played guess who, damn I'm crap at that game, I'm josh Harnet but all I know is I'm young-ish, American and in 40 days and 40 nights. T'was funny. We were sitting on Hilary's newspaper but I don't know what was worse the numb and cold back side or the pain in my feet. I decided to stand up.

About 5pm Nat and I went to get a hot chocolate from starbucks to warm us up. Man the heat of that cup in my hands felt like the best thing ever at that moment! Soon it was 6pm (not soon enough) there weren't many in the queue still and we decided it was time for a loo break. So off we went to the loos and warmed up a bit. I almost got knocked out by the revolving door. I was standing too close to it as it was coming towards me. Luckily I run out of its path squealing just in time. Much to the amusement of Kelly and Nat.

The wait from 6pm until 7pm seemed like the wait from 4pm to 6pm. It was never ending, and by now it was even colder as it was getting dark and our feet were getting worse. The ever punctual parking meter didn't help. It reminded us regularly that it was only 5 minutes since we last looked. If that. We expected doors to open at 7pm and about 7:10pm the guys came and opened the doors and shut them again. It was about 7:40pm before we got let in, that last 40 mins waiting outside when we should have been inside was the worst.

Pre-show and the music

We got in and run to the stage. Well there wasn't a stage really just a bit of a half circle in the corner with a tiny step up then us front row. Well, the girl behind me could reach the plectrum holder of Steve’s mic stand so it was close. There was the rope, Darren's fan then that step with the kit on. The front row all sat crossed legged on the floor in front of the stage until the last song of the pre-show CD. We figured dead legs were uncomfortable but not as bad as the pain in the feet. If they're dead that's slightly better. You can’t feel the pain! Thanks Hilary for the coke. Was much appreciated! I went to the loo and on the way may have stopped by the merchandise stand and acquired both t-shirts. I love them.

There is one song the pre-show music that just jumps out at me. Anthemic and a bloke singing it. No idea what the song is or who it is but I want it. It had grabbed me straight away at London and tonight it did too. The wait from 8pm til 9pm inside seemed soo long. Even if you can’t feel your feet no more, your knees and back start to play up. Mind you normally when you get dead legs you can wriggle your toes but my feet were paralysed!! It was so cold with the fan going especially as we were all sat on floor until the start of the gig beside it. I took my coat off at the last minute (I think we all knew the last song before the gig) and pulled every muscle in my shoulder trying to get it off, sooo not enough room to move! - grr




Outfit:
Gold and black tie, black trousers, those black shoes that clipped on the floor, a lovely blue waistcoat. Red belt. Loved that red belt with the double buckle holes.

The setlist:

1. Hero
2. Bombs Up In My Face
3. Sense Of Humor
4. A Conversation With God
5. Random Blinking Light (Acoustic)
6. 100 Challenging Things (Acoustic)
7. Gunning Down Romance
8. Setting Sun (Just Shave And Darren)
9. Maybe
10. Mine (Acoustic)
11. Dirty (Drum Machine Version)
12. Casey
13. Sing To Me
------------- Encore --------------
14. I Don't Care
15. So Beautiful (The Beautiful Mix)



1. Hero

pretty much same as London. don't really have much I can add.


2. Bombs Up In My Face

This is one you always think shouldn't work live but it does. At certain points Darren sings the words planes and trains, it harmonises more, I love it. The rest of it is more like statements. Really hits home. All the little actions Darren adds in. like pointing the gun at an audience member, wriggling his entire body when mentioning scuba or using the mic as a golf club when mentioning aruba. I love the face Darren pulls when he mentions same sex union. Kinda feigning shock. Its cute, adorable and it makes me so proud of him and who he is. He came over to our side of the stage and the people behind me reached out and touched him. I could have but didn't. Rubbing my hand down his arm isn't something I want to do.

3. Sense Of Humor

Darren looked straight at Kelly and sung the line 'and I will be the shit'. I'm sure that was a really moment for her. So pleased :)
He did sing be the shit, then be a hit, and then be the shit he got the verse a bit mixed up as there was the same line a few times, was adorable though. I loved the audience's reaction when he sings 'and I will be the shit'. That's because you ARE the shit Darren!

Darren sings the main vocal and not the harmony. The audience most nights fill this in.
Darren: 'waking up from a coma'
Audience: 'tossing turning'
Darren: 'sweat has covered my body
Audience: my mouth felt dry.
Darren: my life flashing before me
Audience: nothing much to say
Darren: most of it was so boring
Audience: did you hear you me say?
Darren: only I can adore you
Audience: the wind through the trees
Darren: silently barking orders
Audience: rushing up to me
Darren: this is only beginning
Audience: don't anger the sea
Darren: feel the waves crashing higher and higher on me



4. A Conversation with God

That beat that is the opening bars on the CD. It’s weird how I never noticed how dance like that beat could be until live. Like a whole new view of a song can be spun around live. You never see the song the same again. I love this one live and being so close to Darren tonight it was an emotional moment. There was times at the start of the gig when I did think that (pardon the pun) I was a little too close of comfort at times. But then this song made me realise that being so close you can really see the Darren's emotional investment in the song so well. Still think this one is awesome.

At the end of the song Darren changed Steve's guitar, well put it on stand and joked it was a low budget tour. At London Darren forgot and joked he was sorry he was meant to make Steve feel like a superstar.

What I love about seeing these songs live, is all the little actions. Like when Darren put his hand behind head and done a tugging action to the 'reach behind and turn my light off'. Or the line 'the leaves and trees are shaking' and Darren takes his fists and does an action almost as if he is thumping a drum as if making the leaves and trees shake.



5. Random Blinking Light (Acoustic)


Actually there is a rumour going round the bar that you're cheap. You need to drink more. Those of you holding pee bottles you can go empty them I can see still see you and on the way back if you wanted to go to the bar and get 20 drinks and one for the band that would be perfectly ok.


‘I'm going to sing a song for all you alcoholics with better accents than my boyfriend’. Someone screamed husband and Darren said ' I think husband is kinda cheesy actually because then what does that make me? The wife?' lots of people laughed. Me included. 'and I have a sensitive side, CLEARLY, who do you think else arranged this shit on the stage, (cherry blossoms) but I'm hardly that guy from are you being served' god I couldn't breathe. I could hear Nat laughing 3 people down the front row. I made me think how close we were to him that he could probably hear us laughing. 'why do you always wanna talk about GAY?’ Someone shouted because its Manchester and Darren took the piss out of the accent and said 'its Manchester' mocking the Manchester accent and said he loved it. so I have an accent right? (yes Darren lol!) then he said 'I'm gonna sing a song for you'

The line 'I'm beautiful in an ugly kinda fucked up way' always gets cheers and screams from the audience.


'random blinking light and I can see it'

'you are'  - Darren moves his hand down levels like doing warm up chords.


6. 100 Challenging Things (Acoustic)

Darren looked seriously pissed off at the end of Random blinking light and took a drink of tea. I could kinda see he was trying to calm himself down and was debating saying something. I don't think I've ever seen him look that mad and I don't want to again. People in the audience started telling the wanker who was talking to shut up and then Darren said 'actually I'd pretty much have sex with 99% of you in this room but there is one person I want to kill. The fuck wit who is talking can you just stop?' (The whole place erupted into cheers for Darren). 'The people beside you are going to pull your eyelashes out one by one. This next song means a hell of a lot to me and I need you to shut the fuck up'.

My boyfriend's a midlander. Manchester has a better accent than Nottingham. Is Nottingham good? I think a few cheered everyone else booed! I love your accent its better than my boyfriend's, He's not here tonight so I can say that, but he does say cuddle, puddle and bath.

This is a song about how your own problems pale into insignificance when you meet someone who doesn't want any pity for his. The father worked in the ground with coal but he was afraid of the dark. Eventually it was the coal that killed him, he got cancer and the mother was from a foreign country and she passed away and this kid I fell in love with didn't want any pity. They raised wonderful kids. This is a hundred challenging things a boy can do.

Darren looked really emotional just explaining and during the song he did too. It wasn't perfect as he was swallowing tears but awesome. Ollerton and picket lines are meant to be one breath but Darren was choked and needed to breathe. I love this one live. it was a touching moment when Darren was singing the line 'she never got to see her son on his wedding day or our cherry blossoms falling down from the sky' and I seen him look down at the cherry blossom lights, the emotion painted all over his face. To be as close as the front row, (when there wasn't really a stage just a small step with the band on), that made me emotional; I just wanted to hug him. And the end of the song Darren tried to lighten the tone and asked 'where is my drunk fuck wit?'


7. Gunning Down Romance

Darren asked: 'how are you Manchester?' much screaming was the reply.

Darren then said 'this is my favourite savage garden song. I guess I was depressed at the time'. Steve really goes for it. It sounds so much more guitar influenced than on the CD version. I love it when Darren leans against Steve. Like a little bit of SG nostalgia going on and at the same time a little bit of that personality trait in Darren that loves doing that to guitar influenced songs.

Darren did the rock sign with his index and little fingers and put his hand against his forehead, shave looked round and thought Darren was pulling faces at him. It was quite funny. Then Darren screamed 'Mr Steven Young'. It's still weird to hear Steve called Steven. I dunno why.

Darren took his tie off and put it on the table, then on the lyrics stand, then in his pocket, back on the lyrics stand and before he left the stage for encore he took it with him. probably just as well before it got pinched too.

8. Setting Sun

Darren moved the lyrics stand to give shave some more room and shave came over and stood in front of the fan. Shave said the fan was nice (meaning the air coming from the fan) and Darren joked all of my fans are nice. Shave repeated what he said I think he thought Darren was serious!

Darren introduced shave as the talented man that produced his latest double album called this delicate thing we've made then he introduced the keytar as 'the Keyboard Geee-tar – also known as the keytar'. The way he said guitar was so funny.


This song was never one I loved on the album much but live it is one of my favourites. I love shave and the keytar. And I love how dance like it sounds. Really gets the whole place seriously jumping. At the end of the song Darren went and hugged shave and then pressed up against shave and the keytar was between them and he was moving his hips. Really that's putting it mildly. The funny notes coming off the keytar as Darren rubbed against it was so funny. So spontaneous. And the look on shave's face was even funnier!


9. Maybe

'Lets go out tonight Manchester! Where's good to go?' (someone shouted canal street) 'where are we going?' (someone shouted anywhere) Darren said anywhere and chuckled. 'Actually we're going out tomorrow night look out for us. I drink more than you think I do. I mean I'm Australian. I drink. Don't I Steve?' *Steve nods*.

'I've just encouraged my audience to become alcoholics'. How do I get to the next song? This is a serious song I need to get it out of my system and talk about celebrities. Is anyone else sick of Britney? I feel for the girl she is clearly sick but If you want to be left alone by the paparazzi move out of LA. Actually do you have paparazzi in Manchester? *no can be arranged* they have silly hats, I'm from Brisbane if you looked like that in Brisbane you'd probably get beaten up! *Darren head butted mic*- well he pretended to then did it lightly then did it so it audible and rubbed his head, I think it actually hurt! Lol! The stunned look on his face, it was priceless and then him rubbing his forehead.

*Darren started to sing part of gimme more* shave sat down and then Darren said 'fuck it I don't want to do that song. It's a good song though. actually Leona lewis' bleeding in love is the best pop song in years. Shave I need you'. Steve looked puzzled, he had a how much of the song are we going to do?  kinda look on his face.

'Right I'm gonna sing'. (Someone shouted no just keep talking). Darren tried to take a drink of water before maybe started but he didn't get it swallowed and too the mic in time, he did sing the line 'maybe your gone' quickly and then just said 'we need to start again. I've done that thing were you try and drink and then sing' *does it again only exaggerated the gasp* Everyone was laughing and you could tell Darren was thinking how do I start the song and he just shouted 'suck or fuck?' then launched into maybe. We didn't have time to laugh and scream that surely shocked us into being quiet! Some could say inappropriate but it silenced us! I thought it was priceless.

The song itself is always one I love, one that made me emotional. It seems my favourite's always have a strong bass line. This one is no exception. All my favourite songs, not just Darren's have it. Could be something to do with the fact I was listening to songs with strong bass line like U2 before I was even born.

10. Mine (Acoustic)

Someone shouted 'I love this song' and someone else shouted 'I love you Darren' Darren joked: 'I think I love you more'.

This is the one that has the drum loop coming of steve's set of pedals. Mine was honestly never a song I loved but I do now. Its vocally stunning. But then aren't they all?


11. Dirty (mashed up)

I'd heard that dirty was mashed up the second night in London and I was a bit gutted as I loved this song live. But I do love this mashed up version much more. Its brilliant.

Shave started to play the house quake bit and chickened out, Darren said 'shave you got to trust the audience I know they will get it right' shave started again and Darren showed us clap once x 3 and then clap twice x1 with a look of suspense on his face. *we got it right* Darren said 'wow I'm impressed'. I laughed he wasn't encouraging shave to trust us bit he wasn't so sure either.

“Tell me who in this house know about the quake?”
(Band was meant to say 'we do' but didn't)
Darren asked what were you meant to say?
Band: 'we do'

Darren: 'I mean really, really'
if you know how to party say yeah?
*audience scream yeah*
if you know how to party say oh yeah?
* audience scream oh yeah*

it started with a verse of all around me, Darren looked at me and sung the line
sung the line 'you're a glamour queen'. I didn't know if that was a compliment or not. The last line of the verse of all around me is 'Do you know what I MEAN?' and that high note that held for the word mean is just stunning.

Then there was a verse of two of dirty. Darren never said word 'down' but that cheeky face he didn't have to. Such an expressionate face Darren has.

Darren sung the line 'why don't you tell me your sign' and held the mic out to the lady beside Nat. I don't know if he wanted the person to tell him her sign or sing the next line but the poor woman just froze. I'm sure I'd have done the same thing.

Then a verse and chorus of I want you.

There was also a verse of Me, myself and I mixed in. the one with all the questions about the world accelerating will it stop, if someone could make the clock of time stop, and it must have been a future shock. I remember thinking this mashed up version of dirty was a shock. At the end he didn't laugh just straight away said sorry.


12. Casey

Darren said 'I love this city, it’s always been good to me, we actually sold so many tickets we've had to move to the room upstairs tomorrow night. Thanks for bringing us back to Manchester. we’re recording this one'.

Darren started singing and all was going well until he said 'I got the words a bit mixed up didn't I? You lot noticed'. He was pointing at Kelly, Nat, Hilary and I and looking at me. I didn't hear him properly and I thought he was saying I had something to do with it so I put my hands up and said it was nothing to do with me. Oops Darren was probably wondering what the hell that was all about. I’m not shouting random things Darren I promise!

Darren reached out and held Nat's hand. Bless her, the look on her face. I was so pleased for her. Darren then clambered over the stage and kissed Jayne clambered over lights to get to her. He also reached out and held Ivana's hand. She looked so happy :)


13. Sing to Me

Fresh from making a prize idiot of myself in the prior song, I was turning a nice shade of red and this song is one of my favourites. I sung my heart out and was quite excited and emotional.

------------- Encore --------------

Darren took the lyrics book with him as he left stage. I wouldn't trust us either.

14. I Don't Care

Someone shouted sing insatiable and Darren said 'I've been singing it for the last 17 years, you should have come to the last tour' I love this song live. Its bass line is awesome. It so dance like. You might have noticed by now, most of my favourites are ones you can dance to. Darren did add one line of insatiable into the song. 'turn the lights down low take it off let me show' to try and appease the idiot still insisting he sung the hits. Well it's a side 2 tour why did you come? Makes me quite mad actually people have the audacity to criticise the b-sides. I personally think some of the b-sides are the strongest songs.

15. So Beautiful (The Beautiful Mix)

God I love this one live. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven on NYE and now it's part of the set list! Darren was standing in the middle of the stage, not in front of me but looking at me he sung the line 'you made me feel so beautiful'. I just smiled! I need a response that isn't a smile. Although I guess it could be worse! Darren had messed up the words a little bit and then turned away to look out into the audience and whispered. 'it's a remix' it was a moment. :D. I almost died laughing. Seriously.


After the gig.

We saw a woman literally walk onto the stage and take his cup. Honestly some people have no shame. Literally just walk onto the stage and lifted it. Not even a thought was given to not doing that I don't think. We made our way to the door and  we went looking for the tour bus. Well the white van but you get the point. It was parked us around the corner. The driver came out and put the door on the latch and it was obvious Darren wasn't going to hang around. That's ok I don't expect him to. He's just given us his all on stage. He came out with Tracey and Steve and hopped inside. Tracey has asked what about shave but they shut the door and made their way over to the traffic lights. The next thing we seen was shave running after bus stopped at the red light with a beer in his hand. It was so funny. Poor shave! We took a stroll to find some food and at some point completely missed the turning for Deansgate and ended up at the bridge that said welcome to Salford. Good job someone spotted that as I sure didn't. I was happy rambling on about anything and everything and it was only when we turned back we realised how far off the beaten track we had gone. Luckily it wasn't too bad and we got headed in the right direction and went looking for a takeaway. Isn't there any in Manchester? We got the whole way up to Piccadilly square and found one. I got a chicken burger and chips. The burger was nice. The chips were mediocre. We got into the Travelodge, feet throbbing and we got into bed and just collapsed. I was happy that the night was ten times better than London, Darren has really eased into the set list and I went to sleep happy in the knowledge we could do it all again tomorrow.