Sunday 27 December 2015

The Script - Thetford Forest - 2 July 2015


I can't really find the words to describe just how perfect The Script was in Thetford Forest last night. One of the best gigs I've ever seen the band do, and a connection almost second to none (Aberdeen 2013, still up there).

Brandon and Thetford forest are beautiful and peaceful, and music brings me back to what life is all about. It's nice being in the middle of nowhere, but there are too many bugs and it would be better if there was a little 3G or at least WIFI that wasn't a snatched moment in the Hotel bar. Gah.







The queue was bullshit but it was nice to hear the sound check through the fence. I appreciate the lady trying wristband us in number order but some fans the stewards didn't care about respecting who was first in line. I thought we were The Script FAMILY. One steward did make me laugh though. "Don't run because if you fall I ain't helping you up" "that's fine" and I carried on running LOL. Our plan worked well. I was the legs, Anna was the eyes, and Kelly caught us up. Running flat out in nearly 25°C heat was not fun though, I didn't feel well for a while. But we got right where we wanted, in front of my love, Mark.













I ADORED Colton Avery's set. Colton asked 'don't you guys have air-con and someone shouted we didn't need it and he said 'maybe just on the off chance the one day of the year you do?. he's getting it over in the UK LOL. He's mega talented. I ADORE 'The One'. "We're just people, trying to find our equal, hoping someday we will, we will find the one". And as I sang my heart out, Colton spotted me and smiled. That meant the world. Two people, fan and artist, bringing it back to what it's all about, a connection to the music. I LOVE 'rewind'. It's another relate song. I need this album like yesterday. I walked away last night singing weatherman. I love it so much. It's a move your feet and sing-a-long song, but it has meaning.







 



Then it was The Script time. Thanks to whomever handed the green balloons out for 'Paint the Town Green'. That was a lot of fun. Even if Anna did try and kill us (and the stewards) when hers went pop haha.




'Hail Rain or Sunshine' was fun and I'm sure Danny saw us dancing, going for it. Mark came over to the front of the stage and mouthed Hello. All I could think to do was wave like an excited child waving goodbye to their parents whilst off on a school trip. UGH. LOL.







I will FOREVER adore 'Breakeven'. One of my favourite ever songs. Danny's voice sounded so very beautiful in the forest last night.



Danny joked: "I've been praying for no rain, but then there was a fucking heatwave, so I stopped praying" giggles. Love him.

'Before the Worst' was great. I was having fun, enjoy it, singing... And then I died of shame. Because I had no pockets in my dress I was the classy bird who stuffed my phone in my bra, at the exact moment Mark looked my way. *dies*

Superheroes was a moment. Connecting to Danny and Mark like that. It's a powerful song that means a lot. I adore Danny's strength and Mark's wisdom.

The 'twitpic' is always a great moment. Glen took the Glen cut out some girls on the front row had on a stick and held it up and joked "if you ever wanted an ego boost"... Danny joked "they sell them near the hotdog stand, they come in vanilla or chocolate, near the toilets.." Then Glen joked it was for the toilet as a toilet stick, and Mark just laughed and said 'OH MY GOD, we're meant to be working'. That's what I love about these 3 guys, they love what they do so much it isn't work to them and their passion and personality shines through.

'We Cry' was fun. The sing off war is alway good fun. I always love Danny's sweary language trying to rile the both sides up.

'If You Could See Me Now' was emotional. It's not often you get close enough in the right spot to really make a connection with Danny, but last night, during that song, Danny and I for a brief second held a connection and it meant the world.





'Man on a Wire'. God I love this song Sooooo much. It's all about the Mark and his speech.
"Our view is definitely better than your view, I know you have to look at us fucking ugly bastards.. It's crazy because life is like a tightrope, you can fall off, the wind can blow you anyway it wants, it can take you down, but you know everyday you gotta take one step in front of the other, every single day".  Danny got the lyrics wrong and Mark covered it over for him. I love the bond the lads have.

'Good Ol' Days'. Aww I love this song. I was going mental, jumping up and down from the very beginning, and Danny came over and just looked at me and smiled. I'm glad when Danny jumped down to make people sing he didn't come our length to make us sing though Lol.

'The Man Who Can't Be Moved'. Danny thanked us for coming out and supporting the forest and supporting them for the past 8 years. It's always so very beautiful and humbling to see the guys play this song.

'You Won't Feel a Thing'. I literally couldn't believe it when Danny asked the middle of the crowd 'to part the seas' and he walked from the barrier to the other end of the crowd. 9,750 people all with respect for the man. Amazing.





'Six Degrees of Separation'. I love this song. I love my little connection with Mark I've had since the very first time I saw the guys perform this song at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in September 2012. "No no there ain't no help, it's every man for himself". Danny got the lyrics wrong and we giggled and Mark saw us and just shock his head as if to say I give up on him and just laughed with us. Love it.



'It's Not Right for You' was great. It was nice to have enough space to actually get your arms above your head and clap along. It's got a powerful message. I loved how the crowd kept the singing going until the lads were almost back on stage for the encore.

'The Energy Never Dies' is great. Mark stood on a speaker at the front of the stage because their full stage wouldn't fit. I loved seeing Mark so into it.







'For the First Time'. Aww this song means a lot to me. I remember when I bought the science and faith album and this song stood out and I would run around the house singing it and drive my sister crazy. Now kelly, Anna and I, stand, arms around each other and sing and dance for our lives.
"Oh these times are hard,
Yeah, they're making us crazy
Don't give up on me baby".

I love you girls, this life is hard sometimes but to know you girls always have my back means more than I could express.

'No Good in Goodbye' looked incredible in the forest. When there was nothing like an arena's walls limiting the range of the lasers they looked beautiful across the crowd. So stunning and humbling. And Danny lost his words again LOL. So funny.























Danny's speech before 'Hall of Fame' was amazing. Reasons I adore this man X 1000.
".. Different colours, different religions, different nationalities, different sexes, there is only one thing that can bring these people together, so many like-minded people together, you know inside we are all 100% the same, and that's music, music is here for everybody and music is the one true religion, it's there for you in your darkest hours and it's there when you need the power, music for me means moments, I wanna create a moment right now, one that we will remember for the rest of our lives"
And that you certainly did Danny. This song is just amazing. So powerful. Such a real belter. Sing for your life. Own it. And don't forget about the confetti cannon. Danny ran down the barrier and back. I've managed a few times to run my fingers past his as he run by, but last night he grabbed hold of my hand. Just for a split second his hand fit inside mine. And it just seemed like a great end to a great show. Symbolic of what Danny and the band mean to me. That connection. That bond. That strength.

















Mark came to the edge of the stage and was throwing plectrums. I wondered earlier why the plectrums he was throwing our way kept taking a curve ball and then I realised it was the fan at his feet. I managed to get 2 from the stewards off the ground in front of the barrier and coupled with the one Mark threw that I felt hit my foot, all 3 of us girlies got Irish flag plectrums. Finally. It was bittersweet.

 


My 30th script gig. The moon shone so brightly above the stage and we walked away last night and I ate my cheesy chip. So happy. So content. This band and these girls are my world. Don't ever for a second discount the power of true friendship and music. I love you girlies. I love you The Script.



The script - Croke Park Stadium - Dublin - 20 June 2015


The Script, in a stadium, in Dublin.
Croke Park.
Dream come true.
82,300 people and us.
I'm so excited. And sunburnt. But WAHOOOOOO.    
    

We made it to the barrier... barrier record unbroken and we are still breathing. just.!!!!

 







Wow. Colton Avery was amazing. His speech about how the boys took him on when he was weeks away from giving up made me emotional. I love 'The one'. It's such a great song.

"We're just people, trying to find our equal, hoping one day we will, we will find the one"
The Weatherman is a great song too. I walked up the River Liffey, past the ha'penny bridge singing that on the way back to the hotel.

The Wailers were actually good fun. I'm sure only 1 or 2 people are original members but the songs are great. 

Pharrell Williams was ok, not really my deal and his showmanship consisted of a scantily clad dancers and playing on the 'Irish girls' thing. And he done that bloody robin thicke song. My face haha. HATE IT. DON'T START ME.



Then the script. I was shaking before they even hit the stage. I think it was a mix of excitement and nerves for the boys.  Mark and Danny both crossed themselves as they walked out onto the stage. Took me about the 1st 3 songs to calm down. If you could see me now was emotional. Something about an Irish crowd. I missed my grandad.

As the sun set, Mark's man on wire speech was beautiful. "Music is the umbrella we can all hide under.."

Never seen anything quite like you looked STUNNING in that stadium. Man who can't be moved was emotional. Danny and Glen's hug at the end of the B-stage segment was awwww.

Danny lost his words in six degrees and just a glance and Mark and Mark picked it up, that bond is beautiful.

For the first time was amazing. I LOVE Mark's verse, I always have. and to have my girls Anna and kelly beside me, arms around each other I knew that whatever life throws at me I'm gonna be ok. Because I've got these girls, and music, and I got this band. We even made it onto the livestream singing our hearts out.
"Oh these times are hard, yeah they're making us crazy, don't give up on my baby"

Danny's little speech before hall of fame was amazing.
"You might have found our music in a moment of pain..."
I decided to be a little different and hold the green screen they tweeted for paint the town green up on my phone instead of the torch light. Mark gave me a little smile and Danny a little Nod. Meant the world to me.

This band has been a constant in my life for the past 7 years and to see the boys play their homecoming gig in a stadium, in Dublin, was Incredible. I've seen them play to 300 people at the BBC radio theatre and to a stadium full of 82,000 people tonight and they are the same humble guys from Dublin. My 29th script gig, and definitely one of my favourites. Amazing.

Sorry about the waffle, I'm exhausted, my feet kill, and I'm sunburnt to fuck, but I'm so fucking grateful for tonight. My scalp, forehead, arms and even my left hand got burnt (I was holding magazines, reading), we got rained on, but I don't care. My heart is happy. Music really is the most beautiful thing.

"This is the first time we've sold out Croke park, but it fucking well won't be the last" - Danny as he walked off stage tonight.

I LOVE THIS BAND. And my Ireland. And my girls.

The energy never dies. 24/7 baby 3-6-5.






 













































 I spy us in this pic from the stage!!:















The next day we done the skyline walk around the top of the stadium. and i'm so afraid of heights. I'm so proud of me. I freakin' done it.













We tried to recreate the promo pictures the band done. in the wind. it was a fail but it was damn fun.



we seen what sounds like a great bar....



and we had some silliness at the hotel...




and a gorgeous flight back...







Exhausted doesn't cover it. The Script will be the death of me. Croke park was worth it though. Would do it again in a heartbeat.