Blue - Nottingham Royal Concert Hall - 4 April 2015

Blue were awesome. I sang, I danced, I laughed. These boys really do have a brotherhood and it shows. 'U make me wanna' was awesome, 'all rise' was amazing as was Duncan's smile at me, 'If you ever come back' got me emotional and 'one love' made my night. The stuff off the new album is sounding great too. Signature cheesy pop. I love these boys. Duncan is so beautiful and even after 15 years I still have a soft spot for Lee. Man I feel old but I loved tonight.

 

The script - No Sound Without Silence Tour - 2015.

23 Feb 2015 – Newcastle Arena

Cold, wet, tired and hungry doesn't cover it. The Script will DEFINITELY be worth it later tho….

 

OMG. I can't really describe this feeling. One of the most fun script gigs I've seen. It's the happiest and most alive I've felt in weeks. And although i feel like I'm never gonna be warm again, I'm still in love with Danny O'Donoghue after all these years. Tonight was thrilling, emotional and full of energy. Same again tomorrow yeah? PS the pre-show music is BANGING. Such fun. Argh.

 

24 Feb 2015 – Leeds arena

Goodbye Newcastle. You are beautiful. But F**king freezing.

 

Here we go again. Gig 2 of 11. So over this cold and wind, seriously.

 

Another great script gig. Chug chug chug LOL. In other news Kelly and I are famous in today's Newcastle chronicle newspaper review from last night.         

 

25th feb 2015 – Birmingham (day off)

Bet Kelly a fiver she wouldn't climb up the top bunk. I thought it was the easiest fiver she'd ever earnt until she couldn't get down. CRYING laughing. True to my word I gave her the fiver when she eventually got down.

 

About tonight (Frankie and Benny's Birmingham Airport)...

 

26 Feb 2015 – Birmingham Genting Arena

Another day. Another queue..

 

The Script gig 3 of 11 was Definitely my favourite yet. God bless Mark, after throwing 3 plectrums our way I finally got one LOL. Danny smiling at me and me grinning back during Breakeven.. And the total highlight was Danny coming straight down to the barrier in front of me. He smelt so good as a stroked his chest.  LOVED LOVED LOVED tonight.

And we Just met The Script. Amazing. Icing on the cake. They all commented on my script scarf, Mark said he saw us down the front and asked us if it was loud because he was half deaf and Danny said it was a great show and he was tired from its energy. Love those lads. Is it Saturday yet?

 

 

 

28 Feb 2015 – Sheffield arena

Pre-gig selfie. The script, Round 4 of 11.

 

Tinie freakin' tempah. UGH.

 

Such a fun gig. Danny sounded a little tired but he was so up for some fun. Yet another one of those 'day off eve's' as Mark calls them, so more chugging of beers. I love those boys. Bless Danny for refusing the carry on the gig until a fan at the front was out and ok and bless him for apologising for caring. Love him... And damn our luck when Danny came along the crowd just 2 rows behind us.. I sang my heart out in my seat. It was a bit of an emotional one tonight. Nothing almost in got me... and Danny sliding down the ramp on his side in the confetti. Hails is in a happy, giggly mischievous mood now

 

1 march 2015-  Cardiff (day off)

 

 On the way to cardiff. so blessed.

 

When in wales, happy St David's day... So we're in an Irish bar LOL. Taste of home. Not the nicest or cleanest pub but good food.

 

2 March 2015 – Cardiff arena

Up WAYYYY to Early to queue for barrier. LOLs though.

Hails: The thought of McDonald's breakfast and Danny O'Donoghue's face is keeping me going.

Kelly: maybe combine the two

Hails: what Danny O'Donoghue's face for breakfast?

3 March 2015 – Nottingham arena

Another day, another train. Tour Life.

 

Round 6 of 11 of The Script done. Amazing night. The lads were on top form. Good to see Natalie join Kelly and I again, and I'm glad I dragged Gavin along. Right at the top beside the stage was a great view. It all seems so surreal. Great gig. Great laughs. Great friends.

"In the end, in the end, You'd better hope that you're taking it all in. In the end, in the end. You've got one life to love what you do".

5 march 2015 – Liverpool arena

Mr Danny O'Donoghue is the most humble, grateful and talented human. That speech before 'The man who can me moved' tonight was amazing. Great show. Danny seemed extra moved tonight by the love in that room.

"Thank you for holding us on your shoulders.. You look at anyone here and we are all here for the same reason, because music speaks to us in a certain way". The way Danny put his arm around Mark's shoulder at the end of the song..

I love you Danny. Six degrees was especially awesome tonight.

 

6 March 2015 -  Manchester arena (Night 1)

What is this fireball in the sky? 

 

The script round 8 of 11 Done. Not a great crowd and Danny seems a bit poorly but still a great show. Sang my little heart out.

"We are all under one roof because music affects us .. Could be heartache, could be pain, could be joy. We don't have fans, we have family. We are all about moments, things that can't be downloaded. Manchester we have no way to thank you for this incredible night" - Danny.

No, THANK YOU lads. Loved it. And I will never tire of those beautiful Lasers.

7 march 2015 -  Manchester arena (Night 2)

Script 9 of 11.

 

The highlight was definitely Anna’s alternative westlife-esque lyrics for 'Never seen anything quite like you'. I wish I could remember them.

8 march 2015 – Bournemouth (day off)

London drive by! (Costa Coffee Waterloo)

These are the moments I live for. Sunset at the ocean with my girlies 

 

Awww get to O'Neils and The Script's Millionaires comes on. Awww it's a sign.

"Singing our hearts out

Standing on chairs

Spending our time

Like we are millionaires

Laughing our heads off

The two of us there

Spending our time

Like we were millionaires

Millionaires"

 

And that pie and desert was the most amazing thing to ever happen.

9 march 2015 – Bournemouth IC

Good morning Bournemouth

 

Another day, another queue. This one in a car park.

 

Bam! Show 10 of 11 done. Don't want it to ever end. Tonight was an absolutely incredible Script show despite all queue drama and the bitches around us. Danny looking straight at me for moments of 'Breakeven', 'Energy never dies' "24 /7 baby 365" and 'Hall of fame' "You can talk to God, go banging on his door" made my life. Mark's smile at us at the beginning of Breakeven.. And a smile of recognition from Mark at end during the bow.. And I'm sure Glen recognised us at the end too..

And Danny's speech: "We are all here because we feel something. We feel Pain, we feel anger, we feel happiness....It doesn't matter where you come from, music means something to everyone. You can't download this, you had to fucking be there"

 

Anna, Kelly and I doing our best "we do give a shit about the shitty Tinie tempah really" faces

 

10 march 2015 – Brighton Centre

 

The script Gig 11 of 11. It can't ever be topped. Both Danny and Mark had a little moment with me during superheroes. Still can't get over Danny O'Donoghue taking my phone for 'nothing' and Calling up my Ex Tom. Best moment ever. Wayyyy too much fun. Danny and I had a real moment laughing and smiling with each other. Such a laugh. Even when the asshole hung up Danny called him back. You're right Danny, payback is a bitch. 1,2,3 GOODBYE ASSHOLE.

Danny: "Imagine if he's up there now (in the seats) at the script gig thinking he wants to get back together"

ME: NOOOOOO.

Yeah you're right Danny I'm never getting back with him haha.

Then Mark came straight over to the stage in front of me during six degrees and threw a plectrum at me. Only it was pitch black and I couldn't see it. I got it at the end.

And that's not to mention Danny putting the mic in Kelly's face again for good 'ol days, Danny's ass in Kelly's face, and Danny having a moment with Anna during superheroes as well.

Danny is right, these moments can’t be downloaded. As everyone held their phones up to make a night sky Danny said something profound:

"Every white light I see now means music affects you"

This band made me really Fucking happy tonight. I feel drunk of that buzz. And we ain't opened the vodka yet. I love you girls and I love this band.

Arm in arm to 'for the first time', "oh these times are hard, don't give up on me baby" 

 

 

11 march – Home time

Already waved goodbye to Kelly and now Anna and I are on the journey home. So happy for the good times but sad it's over. This Script tour has been amazing. Just what I needed. I needed to get away and chill and be who I am with friends and just live. We've been so so blessed. I kinda lost sight of who I was for a while, I remember now, I'm just a girl that hangs with friends at gigs and feels alive.

20 March 2015.

Just spent an hour putting together The Script's Pre-show playlist. Some great tunes, some great memories. Some songs I listened to and it was like it was that very first show in Newcastle with Kelly again. Thank you Hilary for the itunes gift card for xmas, came in very handy. WAHHHHHH i wanna go back on tour. Thank you to those that made it awesome.

 

Alistair Griffin The Monkey Tree 10/7/15

Amazing gig tonight with Alistair Griffin. A little function room at the Monkey Tree bar in West Bridgford, capacity maybe about 80 people, and he was great. I still love his voice.

It was 2003. I was a 17 year old watching Fame Academy in Ireland. Alistair was always my favourite. Even before he covered my ultimate love, savage garden's 'truly madly deeply'. I bought his debut album and I remember listening to 'Bring it on' and 'You and Me (Tonight)' and wishing of escape. I was in love with my first love who didn't love me, and now I'm 29 and Alistair played a pub just down the road from me in Nottingham. Surreal. Almost a full circle. Never thought life would take this road and our paths would ever meet like they did tonight.

He opened with The Killers Mr Brightside, way to get me on side ;) I loved it. It sounds so good acoustic.

'I wish for you the world'. A song Alistair recorded originally with a choir. It's a beautiful song.

'She loves you'. A Beatles cover. Not a fave song of mine but his voice is beautiful.

'The  one'. A song Alistair recorded originally as a duet. It killed me. It's so beautiful. "We are hopeless, we are young, we are dreamers on the run, but I know, I know right now, you are the one".

Joni Mitchell's 'Both Sides Now'. Alistair joked the only reason people knew it was from love actually. Only reason I know it lol.

'Just drive'. This song brought Alistair back to my attention during the F1 in 2012. I love this song. A lot. Such a gorgeous ballad. "There is a star that lights the road, Will it take me to the end? Well, I don't know But for last time, I take this ride and just drive"

"It's a camp fire song, end of the night, but it's not the end of the night, yet" Ben E. King's stand by me. Such a beautiful song. I love it. Always have.

Then we had Alistair adjusting his strap and talking about snapping the G string. Hahaha. He's talking about a guitar people! Minds out the gutter. HAHAHAHA.

Take that's Rule the World. "There is only about 2 left, Steve?, Jason, Mark" STEVE. Hahahaha.

Take That's back for good. The sing-a-long that was just classic. "I'll be Gary and you be the remaining members of Take That". There was one guy singing 'Roger Black'. It's 'WANT YOU BACK'. *dies laughing*

The Killers 'Human'. Oh my. It was so beautiful. One of my favourite ever songs. Ever. Acoustic it was gorgeous.

Hallelujah. "This song was written by Leonard Cohen, made famous by Jeff Buckley, and to the younger generation, shrek".

"This is an untitled song". It's was a gorgeous song.
"Fly away little bird ... now it's your turn to be free".

Kings of Leon's Sex on Fire. This just seemed ironic as most of the people in the room were over 50 haha. It was fun acoustic.

'The road'. Originally a duet with Kimberley from girls aloud. The song Alistair wrote for the Tour De France's grand depart in Yorkshire in 2014. It's gorgeous. I'd forgot about this song.

Journey's 'Don't stop believing'. Always a classic sing-song ain't it?

Bruce Springsteen's 'If I Should Fall Behind'. "It's not very well known. It's on an album of theirs" I've heard this song somewhere before. Perhaps my dad has played it in the kitchen on the stereo, or maybe I've seen another band cover it somewhere. "I'll wait for you, and if I should fall behind, Wait for me". It's so Beautiful. Alistair's voice is gorgeous on this song. Definitely a highlight.

'I have lived'. An original song of Alistair's. It's gorgeous. I haven't heard it before but I fell in love with it. "And when they bring the news that I was drinking champagne when I died, And my sixth wife will tell the gathered crowds, now please don't cry, You see, my friends, I have lived each moment of each day, And I have lived"

Avicii's 'wake me up'. A great set closer. Such a great dance song, even acoustic it was a dance ditty.

Afterwards I got brave enough to go to speak to Alistair. My heart beat out of my chest just thinking about walking over to him. But I did it, and he was adorable. I reached out and hugged him. 'Nice to meet you' was all I could think of. I didn't really know what to say but Alistair was amazing. He was interested in my life. We talked about Ireland, Nottingham, what brought me here, what I do.. We lamented the disposable nature of the music industry today, talked about bands; The Killers, Ed Sheeran, the feeling, scouting for girls.. Alistair tells me he covers 'spaceman' and 'thinking out loud' as well. Would love to be a fly on that wall.. We talked about Fame Academy and how Lemar was the only other one still doing music really. Then Alistair said he was doing a gig in Mansfield soon, in a cave. I said 'that could work' and we joked about getting places to gigs and stuff and then I said I might come And he joked 'I'm sure there's a bus'. Made me smile. I told him I adored 'The One'. Then I told him again it was nice to meet him and I shook his hand and walked away. Then remembered I wanted a selfie. So I went back and asked for one. He said he like selfies because you can see in your hair doesn't look good and you can adjust it. Too right, I hear you.

Tonight was lovely. I hope a lot of money was raised for cancer tonight. Beverley seems like a lovely lady. The raffle was funny. Just my luck. 86-90 on white won and I had 91-95. And 91-95 won eventually, but on pink.

It was a fun night. I almost didn't go because I didn't want to walk into that bar alone and feel judged. Live music and all the feels from that will always be enough to push me into going and get me over any anxiety I feel. Because music really is my happy place. It takes me somewhere. Someplace else.

Thank Alistair and thank you Beverley.


"Have you ever loved someone,
But you waited just too long,
To tell them what you're feeling.
Maybe I was just too proud,
To say I love you right out loud,
Found the words I must believe in.
On this night, it holds us both within,
Set me free, oh let me live again."

The Script Thetford Forest - 2/7/2015

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 soundcheck 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.

'He'

I feel compelled to write this blog.

I'm currently on a Boeing 737-800 cruising at 35,000 feet somewhere over the Irish sea towards Dublin. I don't think I have sat in the front of a plane since the day I left Ireland 10 and 1/2 years ago. 

On my iPod I have a playlist of 7 'new' songs off the Savage garden re-releases. I'm looking out in wonder at the clouds and blue sky, and I can see the wing and the engine of the plane which is essentially my life support right now. How amazing is that we place our lives in the hands of engineering? Not just planes but every single day in cars, buses.. 

As the plane taxied to take off, I looked out at the lights that lit the runway and I smiled. A knowing smile. I've always loved aviation and my Ireland. I've always loved flying. 

And I've always loved Savage Garden and Darren Hayes. Over the last few years as Darren has grown as a person and pursued other aspects of his life away from his music, truth is, so have I. I've followed other bands, travelled the UK, chased boys, chased love, and worked on a better me. I've chased a happiness and confidence that eluded me for so long. I've currently lost 21.6 kg, 47.6lbs, 3.5 stone whichever way you wanna put it. I'm much happier, content and confident now. I faced my depression and anxiety and I'm slowly winning. I wear my heart on my sleeve but I've worked on the walls surrounding me and started to bring them down. I've still got a long way to go but Darren teaches me every single day that if he won, I can too. 

There are sometimes I still falter. These past few weeks have been rocky. And then yesterday something amazing happened. Savage Garden re-released their two studio albums and a new singles collection in Australia. I managed to recover my old dodgy Aussie iTunes account last night and use my last $16 to download 'she' and my six favourite live tracks because I'm too impatient to wait for my CDs from Australia. 

The 'new' 1994 demo of a song called 'She' is so heartfelt and beautiful. It very much felt like I was listening to D singing for his life. The vocal FLOORED me. D won me over with a gorgeous ballad, just like he first did 17 years ago with 'Truly Madly Deeply'. 

And that brings me back to why I'm writing this blog. On the bus to the airport I listened to 'Crash and Burn' (live from London radio) for the first time. We drove past a poppy field and I was reminded that even in times of strife you can still see beauty if you look for it. Darren's ability to pour his pain into a song as passion and emotion is one of the reasons I ever became a fan. That BEAUTIFUL live version full of pain, passion and conviction and the little lyric changes was just what I needed. I listened to it again. And again. And then again at 35,000 feet. And I closed my eyes so I did have tears rolling down my face. Happy tears. Because I could feel Darren's pain when he sang that song 15 years ago, and he made it, he survived, and so did I. 

I listened to that live version of crash and burn and I wondered how many people listening to the radio that day in London when it was first broadcast felt as inspired as I did just now. How many lives D saved with his honesty that day.

"You feel like your caught, you're caught in a one way street, with the monsters that are always in your head.. And you feel like, you feel like me, like I can't face another day.. You'll always breathe again, there's always another day, you wake up and you'll breathe, and you'll breathe again.. Give me a moment please, for I will tame it, I'll tame your wild wild heart"

I love you D. You are such a beautiful human being. You will always be my number 1 because we will always be two people who have more in common that our taste in music. You have the ability to connect directly to my soul and save me from myself. And I'm forever grateful for you and that song. 15 years ago and today. It saved me then, and it's bittersweet now. Time elapsed means nothing to the right song.

And like that day 10 and a 1/2 years ago, when I landed in Nottingham for the first time and I walked into my local pub and Savage Garden was playing ('Hold Me' if I remember correctly), I know now, what I knew then. It's going to be alright. Because I'm a fighter. A survivor.

THANK YOU will never ever be enough. I love you D.

Maroon 5 Wembley Arena London 26 May '15

What a great couple of days in London for Kelly's birthday. I'd been looking at maroon 5 tickets on Twitter and was getting nowhere but we decided we would get tickets somehow. The evening before the gig I found a guy on Twitter selling two for face value to be exchanged in central London on the afternoon of the show. I was nervous but glad thankfully he was genuine and we had a great show. So glad I found that tweet when I did. I will always believe in what's meant to be.

TGI Friday's was standard for dinner, it's a tradition. It had some really great tunes going on and a great vibe. I love London.

Maroon 5 was fun. We turned up at 18:50, I got a cider and still we got end of the barrier. So chilled out and we could even get out to go to the toilet. Was a bit weird to be so chill lol. The support act 'Nick Gardner' was good. Nice voice but needs a bit of work. His cover of Madonna's like a prayer blended into Hoizer's Take Me To Church was awesome and actually emotional. Magic! however were shite. They are some jumped up band with a singer that loves himself and they think they're reggae. They ain't. Absolute crap.

Maroon 5 were awesome. Such detail to an elaborate light show and Adam's a great frontman.

I apologise in advance for the references here on in about the ex. He was a huge fan of maroon 5 and the last time I seen him before he walked out was maroon 5 at the O2. I wasn't sure how I would feel seeing the band again. But I surprised myself with how songs tied to a memory can actually feel different 18 months later. Or maybe I've just moved on from the arsehole.

The opener was 'Animals' and I don't get all this howling like a wolf Adam was doing. Just a bit unnecessary. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not really a fan of the new album 'V'. I only bought it last week but it didn't strike me as that great.

'One More Night' was fun. Never really rated it 18 months ago but it means something now.

I ADORE Adam singing 'Stereo Hearts'. He raps so well and lyrically the song means a lot of me. It always did. It always makes me sing for my life. I love it.
"My heart's a stereo, It beats for you, so listen close.. Make me your radio, And turn me up when you feel low"

'Harder to Breathe'. It's a great crowd pleaser but you know I love the ballads. It's a great song and the catwalk was a nice touch. They've got a great stage set up.

'Lucky Strike' I love. It's got the most fun chorus.
"Oh oh oh my lucky strike. Your body rocking, keep me up all night, One in a million, my lucky strike"

'Wake Up Call' I LOVE Adam's attitude when he is singing this song. Revenge and spite are so much fun.
"Six foot tall, Came without a warning so I had to shoot him dead. He won't come around here anymore, Come around here? I don't think so".

'Love Somebody' THIS song. Wow. I remember singing my heart out to this song 18 months ago when I was still in love with my ex and wishing I could love somebody. I really wanted that. As much as I still want that, I'm cynical and jaded now, and I found myself not quite as into the song as I thought I would be. Took me by surprise but I LOVE that song. It's such a great upbeat number.

'Maps'. Another one of 'V' and another one I could pass on.

'This Love' awwww. Old skool. I will always love this song. It was what brought the band to my attention.

'Sunday Morning' such a sweet song and a great sing-a-Long track. Always goes down well live.
"That may be all I need, In darkness she is all I see, Come and rest your bones with me"

'Makes Me Wonder' I love this song. "And it really makes me wonder, If I ever gave a fuck about you"

The band all came to the front of the stage, will an old skool microphone and Adam sang an acapella intro for 'Payphone'. Wow. He sounded so good with 12,500 people singing along. I love this song. It used to make me cry thinking about the ex but now it's just a damn great song that I adore.

'Daylight'. I was never really keen on this song when 'overexposed' was released but after the last tour I loved it because it meant something. It was a song I held close. And I didn't really realise that until it made me a little emotional last night.

Encore:

'This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like a Motherfucker'. I'm not keen on this song. The shock value I'm not a fan of. I love Adam's no shit attitude but I'd rather have the sweet Adam of yesteryear singing a love song. Swearing for the sake of swearing is a bit pointless. I loved Adam defending swearing though LOL.

'She Will Be Loved'. Adam asked the crowd to put their phones and cameras away for this one song. The people cheering where the ones watching it through a camera lens all night. He seemed shocked most of the crowd agreed and that was sad to me. He remarked that in America I takes him about 4 hours to get them to do it. I'm as guilty as the next person of talking pictures but photography is a passion of mine, as is creating memories to look back on. For me it's not so much about 100's of pictures of Adam but I try and capture staging, lights, emotion... I love that he cussed out the person with the selfie stick on the front row and called them selfish and that the person 30 rows back hated them. Gooooo Adam. Anyhoo.. It was strange watching him on the big screen without 1000's of camera lights on him. It sounded so good. I just looked up into the rafters of the lighting rigs and got lost in this song. It got me emotional, I was connected in a moment and it was like I was 16 in my bedroom in Ireland with my bestie listening to Songs about Jane for the first time. "Look for the girl with the broken smile, ask her if she wants to stay a while, and she will be loved"

'Moves Like Jagger'. This song is just so overrated and overplayed and I never loved it. It's great that it brought the band back to the mainstream but God I'm bored of it. I long for them to play some of the 'hands all over' album tracks the casual fans don't know. Like 'how' and 'just a feeling'.

'Sugar' was a bit of a strange last song, another one of the new album that I'm not keen on.

All in all a great show and that McDonald's Arizona nacho grande burger after the show was to die for. Thank you kelly for inviting me spend your birthday with you. What an honour and I hope you had fun.

Today was lovely. We had a cavery at the posh 'strand palace hotel', went shopping at Covent Garden and Leicester Square. I literally screamed when I saw the minions in build-a-bear whoops. Bit loud :p. £35 is a bit steep for a fully kitted out one and they don't have Carl or Dave. Rude. I spent a FORTUNE on Pokemon memorabilia in forbidden planet, fell in love with shoes I can't afford, got some minion London Pj's and a Lion King tote bag from primark's finest, and stopped off for the cupcake pilgrimage to the hummingbird bakery.

Then we went to see tomorrowland at the cinema in Leicester Square. There is something more magical about cinema when it's Leicester Square. It's a shame all the adverts and trailers meant we had to leave early but it's a lovely Disney film full of hope. we had to leave just as it was getting good so I'll have to wait for the DVD now. Need to know what happens, PS no one tell me.

I'll leave you with a quote from Tomorrowland that I ADORED:
"You have two wolves, one representing darkness and despair, the other light and hope. Which one lives? The one you feed.”

Now I need my bed. Brandon flowers round 3 of 3 tomorrow in Birmingham :D

Brandon Flowers Manchester Academy 24 May 15

I think Brandon flowers last night broke me. My arse still hurts from sitting on that pavement queuing & I'm dying of a cold but... Round 2 of 3 was incredible. Truly probably the best solo gig I've seen him do. He sounded incredible. And those moments when he had a grin on his face when he saw me singing my heart out made my night.

'Dreams come true' is a great opener but I wanna experience 'untangled love' as an opener. Hopefully Birmingham. 'Dreams come true' makes me giggle. "Don't go shooting all the dogs now, Just cause one's got fleas". It's got a message though. "Dreams come true
Yes they do..
If you see things a little different
I'm not casting any stones..
I'll overcome the dark"

'Can't deny my love' is a great crowd pleaser. And that grin when he saw me singing for my life, <3 .="" p="">
"Remember this?" Asked Brandon. 'Crossfire'. I love it a lot more than I ever did 5 years ago. It's so much fun live.

Then 'jilted lovers and broken hearts'. I came alive. I was transported back to almost 5 years ago in Dublin when the crowd was bouncing on that wooden floor. This song was always one of my live favourites. so happy I got to hear it again last night.
"I need a place to take refuge
See I been loving you blind
And I guess that made it hard for me to find"

'Hard enough'. I love it. Also memories of 5 years ago. "It's been hard enough on you, it's been hard enough on me"

'Jenny was a friend of mine' was funny. "I want you to listen closely to the lyrics and then decide whether or not he done it"... end of the song... "Well what do you think? Who thinks he didn't do it? *few screams*.. Who thinks he did do it? *everyone screams* "we'll he hasn't got a chance" HAHA.

'Lonely town' was so much fun. Another grin from Brandon as I sang and danced for my life. I swear you can't put a price on the happiness live music gives me.

Then 'digging up the heart'. I knew he was gonna sing this one as I took a cheeky picture of a set list before it was moved and put on the floor. Couldn't read half of it but could read 'dreams come true' was the opener and this one. I was so happy. I love this song so much. It's close to my heart. "He’s digging up the heart, To know the price he paid"

'Read my mind' will always be a fave of mine. I love this reworked version. Brandon remarked he liked reworking it and the girls brought something new to it and that he was reminded of when he wrote it. I dunno what happened but halfway through he lost his place in the lyrics. I think the song was close to his heart last night, and he was in a mindset of thinking about the content of the song and lost his concentration. I love him though. A few years ago he would have been so hard on himself, now he just shrugs and laughs.

'Magdalena'. I didn't bother recording the speech because I done it in Brixton but please someone tell me they have a video of it? I died laughing. He explained about the song and the pilgrimage. He said he should do it one year and asked what month it was 'is ur June?' LOL and decided he had 5 months before it happens this year LOL.. Then he said he felt there is musical pilgrimages too. He said coming to Manchester was a pilgrimage for him. He went to the Salford boys club because he wanted to be blessed by Morrissey, and he went to The Hacienda because he wanted to be forgiven by Bernard Sumner. Then he asked what's the furthest someone's travelled to the gig tonight, someone shouldn't Nevada in a mancunian accent and Brandon copied the accent perfectly and laughed that they didn't sound like they where from Nevada. I laughed so hard. He's so cute.

I'm sorry but 'swallow it' will always make me giggle.

'The way it's always been' I adore. It means a lot to me.
"Ain't that the way that it's always been?, Standin' at the water's edge waiting for the fog to clear"

'Only the young'. Awww the snap dance. I love it. And another grin from Brandon. "Only the young can break away, break away. Lost when the wind blows, on your own"

The Mr Brightside Jacques Lu Cont Remix was fun but it dawned on me that the 'I never' part is missing in parts of the remix he's playing on this tour. Kinda felt a bit lacking. The crowd was singing the words over the melody. I was still bouncing though, even though those around me didn't seem to wanna bounce with me. Fuck it, carried on ;) I really wanna get 'Human' in Birmingham though.

The encore. They brought out a second microphone and Brandon came out and said we might have noticed the second microphone and that he sill remembers living in a small town in Utah back when MTV was still relevant and played music videos. He was about to go on a rant I think and stopped himself LOL. He said he could remember the room and the kind of day it was when he saw new order on the TV and that years later the band would have still have an impact on him. He said he didn't wanna take up anymore more of our time before bringing him out and out came Bernard Sumner himself to do 'bizarre love triangle'. Brandon's little happy face was adorable. You could see on his face he was singing with an idol and it meant a lot to him. After Bernard left the stage Brandon said 'that was about as good as it gets'. Awww.

Then 'I can change'. I love it. Such a little dance number.
"I can bend, I can break, I can shift
I can shake, Place the trail through the drive of rain. Girl I can change for you. I can change for you"

Then the last song "still want you". Brandon sung it with such conviction last night, you could tell he was thinking about his family in that moment. It was adorable.

Then we went outside to the stage door. Jake was on the balcony and he said if we were quiet he had a treat for us. Out came Brandon singing 'The Way It's Always Been' acoustic with just one guitar. He sounded INCREDIBLE. I was floored. He's just done 17 songs inside and he still sounded amazing. A crowd of about 100 just connecting, singing along with Brandon, a mutual respect. It was so beautiful.

He came out afterwards and was doing selfies and signing stuff. I said hi but didn't get a chance to get a selfie as we were too far along and behind the fence. Damn. He's such a beautiful kind, humble human being. And a little shy. I just adore him.

Roll on Birmingham on Thursday. I WANNA DO THE ENTIRE TOUR. *stamps feet*.