Darren Hayes – The Sage – Newcastle – 21 Sept 2012 - For those who came for the hits….

The day started off not so brilliantly. I'd got a chest infection and was still suffering quite badly. Between the cough and the excitement I had hardly slept. I felt like death but was so excited.

I met Nat and we hopped on the train ride to Newcastle (via Newark and Grantham). It seemed like ages until we got to Newcastle, knowing the girls were waiting it was so exciting! The tour was here! 6 months of planning came down to these coming 10 days.

We stopped off at O’Neil’s for a quick drink (best make mine a coke because of the damn antibiotics) and there was a highly entertaining stag do, outraged they don't do shots until 4pm.  After checking in to the Travelodge and glamming up (the pink and orange tailored dress was today's choice) we headed to the sage via tesco for a sneaky chicken and stuffing sandwich (reduced to £1.03) and a lucozade orange acai. Don’t ask me why I remember that. As we left the hotel and walked down, I caught a glimpse of the sage between the buildings. I squealed. I think the girls would have quite happily disowned me.

We walked across the millennium bridge, past the dodgy busker (hey people! come see some real music!) and up the million steps to the sage. I was so happy (and bloody knackered by the time I got to the top lol). The sage was absolutely beautiful and I always have such a pull to the water, the Tyne looked lovely in the afternoon sun.

   

Inside we waited for the VIP check in to open. Kelly done some investigative stealing of a promo poster and we chatted to friends new and old. Was lovely to see Chris and Darcy again. Thank you so much Darcy for bringing me my killers CD all the way from America with you. I appreciate it so much! 

   

I checked in for our VIP tickets and I stood with the girls as I opened my envelope "Hayley Muir x4". Kelly had already held it up to the light and decided it was row A. I was so excited when we opened the envelope and saw 4 row A tickets. I've never been row A at a concert hall for Darren before. Thank you so much FC! I got half way up the stairs and was jumping up and down with excitement. Probably not the best idea I ever had but I was soooo happy.

We were lead upstairs to sound check and told to form a line. I decided I needed the loo and sure enough the line started moving and the girls were shouting me. I thought it was a wind up at first! We made it into the concert hall near the back and I sat beside Chris in awe of such a gorgeous venue. It looked beautiful. 

Newcastle sound check:

1. To The Moon and Back (Without d)

bass! :D

2. Cruel Cruel world

omg! Last time I heard this song of the house/ipod I was at the lp. Memories came flooding back

3. So beautiful

awwwwwwww!

4. God walking into the room

:D

"hello everybody see you tonight, I will have my show face on”

5. Rhythm is a dancer / insatiable :D. that is all.

6. Stupid mistake
rehearsing the screen part. LOVED it.

7. Hot tub blues

"bitch I cant hardly read, don’t judge me Newcastle". Well that Newcastle comment proves D was not miming!

8.two beds / I don’t know you anymore

Awwwww two beds :) I was so excited! I don’t know you anymore killed me.

"have a good show, I’m gonna make you all leave now so I can practice my g-string bit"

Absolutely stunning sound check - so blessed. Such a stunning venue!

   

we came out the sound check and headed up to the VIP reception, the sage is gorgeous, you can just sit and look straight through it's glass walls. We talked about anything and nothing (mainly how exciting the sound check’s spoilers had been) and got given our VIP packs. They were gorgeous. We pawed through the tourbook deciding we had to decipher the code when we got time.

The VIP music:
California
I can't ever get enough of you
I forgive you
I need you
ending before I begin
tiny little flash lights
tougher than the rest
sexual healing
bots remix
god is in the room
strange relationship

It was so exciting. I LOVED IT! 
Was that the Demo of I cant ever get enough of you? It was slaying it. SQUEEEEEEEEE! I need it in my life. Like yesterday.

   

We watched the most amazing sunset come down across the Tyne through the glass. It was a really blessed moment. I felt so excited and yet so at peace. 

We headed down to the HUGE merch queue (I haven't seen anything like it, shows just how gorgeous the merch is) and I bought pretty much everything LOL. skint but happy.

Time for The Candle thieves! :D
we headed into the venue to take our seats and watch the candle thieves. I love these guys. Tonight I just sat and sang (ok I was miming as I can't sing a note) to every song on the set list. Unfortunately I didn't write the set list down so I'm not sure what they played and it varied night to night.

There was 'flowers for Peggy' in which Scott had a massive wind up party popper that just wouldn’t pop. So he just stood on it lol. I Think 'The Sunshine Song' was in there. And 'sharks and bears'. Glock handed the blow up shark on the stage to Kelly, who passed in to me, I didn't know what to do with it (or that they wanted it to crowd surf) so placed if back on the edge of the stage lol. Eventually the shark was crowd surfing, it was the funniest thing I'd seen in a while, and it would make it about 4 rows back, disappear and then reappear in the air another 4 rows back. Looking around at the gorgeous sage I was excited for what was to come.

I remember going mental to we won't ever be rich (but we could be happy) and Scott seeing me and giving me a smile and nod. awww he recognised me :)

Pre show.
The girls went off to the bar/toilet and I stayed to look after the bags and coats. I set about writing down the pre-show music on my iPhone note pad and thankfully the first few songs I knew. I swear the girl beside me thought I was mental sitting there singing Taylor swift. I was HYPED.

These were my notes LOL:
pre show songs:
1.Jessie ware - wildest moments
2. “mmmmm mad man. when I look back at all the crazy fights we had, like some can of madness was taking control”
3. madonna? “magic - addicted to your eyes/lies?”
4. taylor swift - never getting back together
5. Carly rae jepson - call me maybe
6. “say my name – illuminous”
7. “say, hey!, ....?”
8. “prince???? mj???? daylight????? get your daylight/day right”
9. movie song?

I had a go at 'guess the set list' and failed:

it wasn't long before the lights went down, I knew this piece of music but it couldn't place it.

on walked the band, followed at the end of the music by D, with his gorgeous purple umbrella, tossing it aside and the song being god walking into the room. nice one mister: walking on stage to god walking into the room. LOL.

newcastle setlist:
1. God Walking Into the Room 
2. I Like the Way 
3. To the Moon and Back 
4. Nearly Love 
----chat----
5. Cruel Cruel World /So Beautiful/ Truly Madly Deeply 
----chat----
6. Casey
7. The Animal Song 
8. Black Out the Sun 
9. Stupid Mistake 
10. Pop!ular 
11. Hot Tub Blues 
12. I Don't Know You Anymore 
13. Affirmation 
14. The Siren's Call 
Encore:
15. Insatiable 
16. Bloodstained Heart 


The show.

1. God Walking Into the Room

D walked onto the stage, complete with his umbrella and tossed it aside before he started to sing. I don’t know whether the umbrella was just an element of the 2011 tour that was kept for the entrance of whether the song was important. To me it was D saying, I’ve made it though the storm and now here I am, god walking onto the stage and into the room.

I can’t begin to describe what it was like being front row. The stage seemed huge to me. I’ve always loved this song; it’s got such energy. It was strange not standing up immediately when D walked onto the stage. The live version of this song had so much bass, it sounded so good live. D held the long note perfectly. It was just amazing.

“you bring me love, you lift me up”

2. I Like the Way 
A high energy song. D beckoned everyone to get up on their feet and that was it. There was no stopping the party then. The first image it created in my head was of the 18 year old me, stood watching D for the first time on dark/light. The years fell away. That night in 2004, it was also a song close to the start of the set and a similar arrangement. D still has those sexy moves just like he did then.

3. To the Moon and Back 
This song was so surreal. A glitter disco ball lit the stage up with its pattern whilst the backdrop turned blue. Darren joked that ‘For those who came for the hits - that was a hit just then’. LOL. I love that man. I’ve missed that sense of humour. D was on his knees hamming it up to Owen’s guitar solo. Amazing.

4. Nearly Love 
D joked “Now that I’m 40, I have tea on stage”. This song was a surprise! I loved it! I was never really a big fan of the song on the record but live it took on a whole new meaning. It had crossed my mind that this song might be added to the set list at the expense of don’t give up and I was right. I absolutely loved don’t give up live.

----chat----

“I wrote this next song for my husband but it was also about you, as you stuck by me when the world didn't. It's called cruel cruel world”.

5. Cruel Cruel World / So Beautiful / Truly Madly Deeply (acoustic Segment)

Cruel Cruel World /
SQUEEEEEEEE. Gonna die. OMG. I love this song, always have. Always will. I remember the very first day I heard it at the listening party. It floored me. Still does.
This acoustic version was just the most beautiful thing ever. Awww emotional!

“The ONES that get me”

/So Beautiful/
Loved it. Gorgeous. This song got under my skin tonight. So emotional. It sounded absolutely beautiful. Acoustic really is where D shines. The long note at the end, just HEAVEN.

“I FOUND MY dirty old shoe that fits”.

/Truly Madly Deeply.
Straight out of so beautiful and into this song. D spoke afterwards and said “Sometimes you write a song you think you are writing for yourself and people take it to their heart, this song doesn't belong to me any more - it belongs to you”.
The crowd singing along was beautiful. D looked like he was about to cry. I was also about to cry. An acoustic version of a beautiful song. The most amazing acoustic segment of a show. EVER.


6. Casey
Casey!!! Such a surprise. Right after an emotional acoustic segment I think I was going to die in that moment. It reminded me of TTMT. It also reminded me of Soho and how far we've come since the first outing of the song.

I was listening to it on my iPod live from side 2 before the tour and wondering if it ever had a place on a set list now. I thought probably not, so it was a lovely surprise.“she's my meteorite".
D then asked of the crowd: "don’t make me cry"

----chat----
Darren pulled a face, which I wont attempt to describe, and said “That was my sex face, I mainly do it to friends. Everyone has a sex face, Alice doesn't need one as she's sexy and shave is clever so that’s sexy…”

7. The Animal Song 
D messed up a lyric at the start which was quite funny but it was amazing. This song will never ever be seen in the same light again. D sang it with random crotch grabs and sex face. It was so funny. It made me so happy. Highly entertaining! It was just soooooo good!

8. Black Out the Sun 
Awwwwwww. Still one the crowd loves.

9. Stupid Mistake 
The bandage was a pink-purple shade of colour and D had already taken it off before stupid mistake. I still love the Silhouette bit. Genius.

10. Pop!ular 
D was back with his blue glasses and cane. I love this version mixed in with “when will I be famous” and “vogue”. (The 2011 tour had D’s own take on vogue but this time they are Madonna’s lyrics). D pointed the cane straight at me at beginning of the vogue bit “Greta Garbo, and Monroe”. I just smiled. Well, grinned really. :D. D was doing naughty things to the cane, holding it up to his crotch and wrapping his hands around it and sliding his hands on it. Naughty D! I LOVED it. ;) Great technique ;)

11. Hot Tub Blues 
Zero was back with his drunken routine. Amazing! and this time ‘zero’ has learnt some new tricks since the 2011 tour. I distinctly remember the word Motherf**ker being used. D then acted as if tearing a packet open with his teeth, put the line of coke out on his left arm and sniffed it up. I loved how zero took a minute, as it absorbing the ‘hit’. Very well acted.

“I don’t WANT a dui”

“I said bitch can’t hardly read (Don’t judge me Newcastle)". I loved that little bit added in.

12. I Don't Know You Anymore 
Awwww emotional. I love this song. I always have. And it’s ALWAYS makes me emotional. D once again kept the acoustic element sat at his dressing room mirror wiping away ‘zero’s’’ make-up. It looked and sounded so good. Amazing.

13. Affirmation 
This song makes me so blissfully happy and always will. Love love love. I was so happy to see the light up purple heart was still apart of the 2012 tour. It looks so good.

14. The Siren's Call 
Awwwwwww. I still love this song as much as in 2011. I didn't want it to end. So sad. :(

Encore:

15. Insatiable/ Rhythm is a Dancer
D was singing insatiable and Alice was singing Rhythm is a dancer. I love this mash up and I love Alice’s voice but I wanted to hear D singing a few lines of snap like at NYE. Rhythm is a dancer is one of my favourite songs ever.

16. Bloodstained Heart 
“This is the bit were I say I don’t want to leave and sing another song anyway but I don’t want to go....I’m gonna go but I’m going to do one more”

This song is just WOW. It’s the most beautiful thing ever. To hear the crowd singing it back at the end always amazes me.

   

…and with that D and the band took a bow and off they went. Then there was a really drunk lady who tried to rush up onto the stage and follow them. She didn't get very far, I think she was probably too drunk to stand never mind run after D lol.

I really want to know what that song was that was playing as we were walking out the venue. Anyone? Shazam didn't like it lol.

I struggled to manage words after the show. It was Just STUNNING. D belongs on the bigger stage of a concert hall, his voice projects so well. 
Two words: SEX. FACE.

After the show.
The sage really was a beautiful venue, it looked beautiful all lit up and I didn't want to leave. I done a casual spot of poster pinching (with help of the now expert kelly) and we headed back across the millennium bridge. As we walked alongside the Tyne to our hotel a meteor flashed across above us and burnt out. It seemed so fitting and I felt so blessed. Buzzing. It definitely meant something. I'm so pleased I was with the girls to witness it, albeit a few girls missing. Casey then seemed to be even more special. It was beautiful. 

   

We got back to the hotel to discover Kelly’s water bottle had leaked all over her VIP merch and vinyls :(. I was gutted for her. We waved goodbye to Kelly and hils and I ordered veggie pizza with garlic dip. The power of the blackberry playbook: pizza right from the web to the Travelodge reception LOL. It tasted Sooo good.

Bedtime called as we had to be up fairly early to head to Glasgow. Stupid 9:30 train! It looked like we were in for a rowdy night, Newcastle Travelodge on a Friday night could get interesting. Nat and I waved hils off to her room, with the promise if either room was noisy our doors we open for each other. I didn't sleep very well, damn cough, sorry Nat! 

Next stop: Glasgow.

My end of year list of amazing things 2012.

1. ALBUM THAT SURPASSED ALL OTHERS

Newton Faulkner – Write It On Your Skin.

I’ve loved Newton Faulkner since the beginning of 2008. He makes me laugh, inspires me, he just makes sense to me. He makes me happy. Makes me cry. But it’s important that music touches you. Never mind the fact he is an actual genius.

There is a song off this record called ‘soon’. Birmingham 3rd may 2012. I got home from the London show the night before at 2am and bought an e-ticket on ebay for the next day in Birmingham. I wont ever forget how ‘soon’ felt that night.

“Today will be different, that day is gone..
The darker the night
The brighter you burn
And when it comes, you will know
The weight will fall from your bones
It's coming
Soon, soon..

 For once in your life
It's gonna be alright”

2. ALBUM THAT MADE ME SMILE

The Killers – Battle born.

As a collective album I will never love it as much ‘hot fuss’ or ‘day and age’ but it has some beautiful moments that make me so blissfully happy. I love these boys.

There are two stand-out songs:

 ‘The way it was’ paints such a vivid picture of the Mojave desert in my head.

“I remember driving in my daddy's car to the airfield
Blanket on the hood, backs against the windshield”

The other song is ‘be still’. A song can mean anything to anybody. I take my own meaning from it. It means a lot to me.

“And may your limits be unknown
And may your efforts be your own
If you ever feel you can't take it anymore..
Be still
One day you'll leave
Fearlessness on your sleeve..
Don't break character
You've got a lot of heart”

3. MAN I'D LIKE TO BE BEST FRIENDS WITH

Scott McEwan of The Candle Thieves.

The man is a bit of a tortured soul. But a talented songwriter and he has this ability to convey emotion. He intrigues me… and he is genuinely such a nice guy.

4. THING YOU'RE MOST SICK OF

The exact same as last year (and the year before that): the conservatives. FULL STOP.

Sick of them fucking our country and the Lib Dems doing Sweet F*** All to stop them. They care only for themselves.

5. THING I MOST DESIRED BUT DIDN'T GET

To see the killers play Las Vegas for new year.

To go to Paris.

To see sunset on a beach somewhere.

Next year it has to happen. 

6. ALBUM THAT MOST STIRRED MY SOUL

The Candle Thieves – Balloons

These boys are so fun but also so so dark.

They connect to my soul. I can’t explain it.

‘The rock and The bug’ could be written about me.

It’s my 7th most played of 2012.

"I’m hoping that you’re happy because I’m not...

I really wonder what you see in me, when you could fly away happily..

 it’s a miracle you found me, I appreciate the company”

7. MOST STYLISH MAN

Brandon flowers. The man is god.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I think this man is HAWT. Stylish. Cute. Fit. Sexy. The lot.

8. FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO

The Script - Six Degrees of Separation.

Danny O'Donoghue is also FIT. squeeeee! *dies*

I love this video. Just perfection. I also love this song. It’s one of my favourite songs of 2012 and also one of my favourites from the album: #3.

9. FAVOURITE TELEVISION SHOW

Air crash investigation. 



Intriguing. The geek in me loves it. It makes me smile. Makes me cry. Amazes me. Makes me realise life is precious and when our time is up, it's up.

10. FAVOURITE CHARACTER SINCE E.T

Sid the Sloth.

Last year I said Sid from ice age, this year I have to say the same. Sid is my hero. 

"My parents said bad news was just good news in disguise... (Was this before they abandoned you?)... yes it was"

11. COOLEST ROCK STAR

Danny O'Donoghue. 


(my pic from the amazon london show).

I love that hawt man. He’s just so honest and raw and cheeky. Meeting him will go down as one of my favourite moments of the year. It was everything I’d dreamed of when he said ‘hello again, I saw you rocking out down the front’. Totally lost in my own little world with the song ‘if you ever come back’ and I looked up and he was looking at me. I almost died right then. This band mean so much to me. as does that song.

12. BEST PROTEST SIGN

THIS. The End.

13. THE THING THE HUMAN RACE WILL BE ASHAMED OF IN 30 YEARS

The hate that continues for LGBT people.

Russia, with their anti-gay propaganda law.

The list of 78 countries and 5 other political entities with laws against homosexuality.



As if that wasn’t disgusting enough, two more countries were ADDED this year when the list should be getting much shorter. Much shorter.

14. COOLEST STYLE AND DESIGN ICON

Darren Hayes. 



I said it last year and I will say it again, the man is a genius. His 2012 The Secret’s Out Tour was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. And the merch. I cant begin to even tell you how amazing September was. laughter. joy. tears. love. friends. memories.

15. BEST GIG of 2012.

Without hesitation, Darren Hayes – Birmingham Symphony Hall. 



One of the most beautiful nights to be alive on this earth.
very emotional.

16. FAVOURITE PICTURE(s) YOU TOOK THIS YEAR.

I could sit here forever, so I’m going to pick just one. 
This was what Darren Hayes had referred to as ‘Sex Face’:

17. MOST MEMORABLE NEWS EVENT(s) OF 2012.

The Costa Concordia disaster.

fabrice muamba’s brush from death and his miracle escape.

The Olympics.

Obama being re-elected.

Lance Armstrong being found to be a drugs cheat.

The Newtown shootings.

18. THE MOST EXCITING THING(s) OF 2012.

So many...

(my grin says it all really).

• Bringing in 2012 with Darren Hayes NYE 2011 party with the most amazing people I'm proud to call my friends.
• Darren Hayes hug fest.
• Meeting Darren at radio 2 with my girlie Anna. ‘For my hails, I love you more’. I wont ever forget his cover of 'like a prayer' that day, Anna and I, one earphone each, and afterwards we just hugged.
• Seeing Snow patrol play Nottingham Arena.
• The most amazing birthday in Ireland and my little roadtrips with my bestie in that week.
• The killers – Leeds academy with the girlie Hils. Both drunk as fuck. Meeting mark. No idea how we got home. ‘AMYYYYYY’ lol.
• Standing in a field in front of a castle in the pissing rain singing my heart out to scouting for girls.
• Blagging my way into Ed Sheeran’s itunes festival performance.
• The script in London. Danny looking at me while singing ‘for the first time’. Mark looking at me whilst I sang his lines from ‘six degrees’.
• Darren Hayes tour, followed by Newton Faulkner’s tour, and then The Killers tour.
• The killers – Sheffield. Worst chest infection ever, centre barrier, singing for my life, jumping like my life depended on it. Brandon flowers watching  me grin while singing ‘smile like you mean it’ back to him.
• Ronnie Vannucci calling me a little shit.
• Meeting drunk Dave.
• Kelly Clarkson with my girlies in London. Emotional night. demon’s laid to rest.
• The candle thieves tour with my girlies.
• An amazing friend’s wedding.
• The script live for radio 2. ticket 001. meeting the band. Amazing!
• The best ever xmas with my family.

19. FAVOURITE SINGLE OF 2012.

Kelly Clarkson – stronger. 



Soundtrack to my year.

‘what doesn't kill you makes stronger, stronger, just me, myself and I’

20. FAVOURITE FILM OF 2012.

Ice age 4. seriously. I’m a big kid. So what.

Closely followed by best exotic marigold hotel.

“Everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not yet the end”. Wise words to live by.

21. THING(S) YOU ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR.

Erm…..

Moving house.

Seizing life by the reins in Ireland.

The most gigs in one year yet?

Surviving the chest infection from hell. Lol.

I’m happier than last year.

Yeah that’s about it.

22. MOST EXCITING DISCOVERY THIS YEAR.

Monsters inc 2 is actually coming in 2013. SQUEEEEEEEEE.

….and you can pause live TV on sky. who knew. Lol.

23. THING YOU ARE MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2013.

The killers first stadium gig.

The script tour.

The feeling with the girlies.

Bill bailey.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS. Been a dream since ‘come undone’ in 2004.

kings of Leon. Been a dream of mine since 2008.

Seeing more of my friends and having epic times.

I still wanna go see sunset on a beach.

I wanna go paris. It has to happen.

13 is my lucky number. Something good has to happen this coming year. I will make it so.

That is all.