Eventually it was time to leave and catch a cab to the casino.  Unfortunately, we hit major traffic and the cab  driver didn’t stick to his set price (that we were told it would cost as the hotel conceirge called around to get the best price for us, URGH!) so umpteen Rand (SA dollar) later, we arrived.Seems SA was missing their OMD. So first thing was walking in and seeing such a big venue. Not that the guys haven’t played arenas, they obviously have, it’s just been a couple years since I’ve seen them in one that it felt a bit strange….but exciting too. (though LOL, I was super excited before I even set foot in the bldg so 🙄 😆 😉 ) Anyhoo, big arena also meant big stage, more booming speakers…and, as I quickly noticed the big screen behind them…graphics.  When the lights went down and DS started, I was about to jump up but no one else was up. 😕 I thought “OK, I’m sure when NB:NT starts, they’ll get up…and if not, oh well cause I’m standing.”  But NB:NT didn’t start….Messages did. 😯 OK then…up for Messages, I’m not fussy. 😆 Though others got up too, Mr. M. had to do a bit of coaxing to get more but many followed and then even more for Tesla Girls. I wasn’t sure what the setlist would be like so was happy to see they kept Radio Waves in and Mr. M., er, kind of warned the crowd by saying “we’re doing 22 songs…18 of them are hits….this isn’t one of them. It’s for the diehards.” 😆  Well, darn if I can remember whether HoM1 or a pleasant suprise… Pandora’s Box…came next but both were AWESOME because I started to bounce for HoM1 and thrilled for PB, haven’t heard that one for ages! 😀 :DA bit more coaxing from Mr. M. to the crowd (gave one of the side balconies the ol yawning sign) but everyone was starting to get into it…including fans on the aisles. Originally only a few people had come down to be by us….by the end of Pandora’s Box, make that a couple dozen. I even saw an older lady in a neck brace bopping around (though not with her head but her body…bless her!)

Well, before FLaD, Mr. M. said the last time he was in SA it was with what’s now known as the “b-band…this is the A-Band” and to prove it, Mr. H. came and did FLaD. Hahahaha, people had sat down while Mr. M. was talking but as soon as the first cords were played, BOING, up went the bodies..and the cheers. 😆  Then was of course the “hollywood” moment and that also got a great cheer…along with I believe the first fan to go up to the stage. I should have mentioned that there was a huge gap between the front row and the stage….I’d say about 15ish feet. She kind of half danced, half walked up and got sung to and then her hand kissed….I’ve got video proof. 😆

A&M songs came next and I had to chuckle during Souvenir….not only was Mr. M. playing Old Faithful (which was a great relief as I was wondering after seeing him play his 69 on the footage of Claudia’s gig :sad:) but there was his finger picking LOL. 😳 A big stage meant plenty of room for windmilling and it was splendid! I think the graphics for the JoA/MoO double hitter are some of the most striking of the gig and I was just in awe watching it all! Fans seemed to really love it too and at this point, things had really started to get going. More fans were coming down to get their hands slapped, the aisles were filled up as far as I could see (about a dozen rows up) and even though it was now time for the slow songs and a few sat down, the mood was still great.

Sadly, no Green tonight either so the ‘break’ was a shorter one but that just meant back to more bouncing/dancing sooner. Oh, but before that…TLaC….hahahaha, a little boy was there in the center front row with his parents and Mr. M. asked him something (didn’t quite make it out) but then when he was done singing the first part, he handed out the water bottle…..and handed it out….and I started laughing thinking “ok, SOMEONE take it” but then realized it was meant for the little boy as he eventually, shyly walked up to take it. Awww.

SiL had another lucky fan get a kiss and then it was on to the goofing off song….Locomotion. Loved the Mr. M./ Mr. H. moment! I think Mr M. actually finally got to truly touch Mr. H.s keys cause he turned around the opposite way and stayed there too long that Mr. M. got around the other side. But THEN, a hair toss to Mr. H.! Too cute! 😆 😀 SMS went down well too (Mark, I did the prayer stance…and so did Greg, bless his heart. 😆 ) but then SotSS came on…boy oh boy, you’d think that was a hit in SA or something. 🙄 😆 (though sadly, something must have been going wrong with Mr. H.#2s drums because Mr. M. made a comment about them breaking. I hadn’t noticed anything …infact, his playing was surperb as always, but there was a pause/moment where he was doing something and Mr. M. said “I’m not kidding”. Awww, poor Mr. H.#2 🙁 . But once it started, the crowd went crazy and that was the first true sing-a-long I could hear from my seat. I laughed too as I saw Mr. H., er, how do I describe this….well OK, after the first line of the song, there’s that “do da da doom doom” part…well Mr. C. plays it so Mr. H. turned to him and stuck his arm out to him as Mr. C. played it. Then after the second line of the song, there’s that same synth part and Mr. C. plays it again….Mr. H. leaned back, turned to Mr. C. and pointed out to him again, doing the tune with his hands. It was just adorable and of course Mr. C. did a great job later on too when he had his solo moment. I should mention the guys really seemed to be loving this. The crowd had stepped it up well and it was seen and appreciated, proven by the massive smiles on the guys faces by this point.

Well, of course they finished with Enola Gay and there was the usual “awww” when Mr. M. announced it was the last song. Once over, the guys said their goodbye and thanked us all for “being fab”. I saw as they were all walking off, Mr. M. go up to Mr. H. as they were leaving and both patted each other on the back and put their arms around each others shoulders….it was so sweet! 😀 😀 The crowd started pounding the ground and, though I tried to get the OMD, OMD chant going to no avail, I thought I heard a couple different, muffled versions of “we want more..we want more”. And that’s what we got….when the guys came out to do WotMW. By this time, more people had come down and were starting to creep up to the stage so bless the guards hearts, they just motioned us to go up so up we went. But just like San Diego last fall, the stage was super high so I felt like Kilroy looking over the wall…er….not sure if he made it over to the UK….this 😆 ….. but it was great fun and as usual, the mic was handed over for crowd participation. Thrilled to see they kept Secret in then of course…the last but not least song of
Electricity. LOL, Mr. M. teased Mr. H.#2 by saying he now knew why Mr. H.#2 was trying to break the drums…”cause we end with the oldest but FASTEST song..and he doesn’t like playing it.” 😆 But luckily, everything went well and before we knew it, the song…and the show….was over. 😯 🙁 Dang…way too fast! But that’s the story of most OMD gigs…can’t get enough. 😆

So night one is down…two more to go. Joburg is also in a casino and assigned seats but not sure if the layout will be the same. No matter though as I’m sure Joburg will welcome the guys like Cape Town did…can’t wait! 😀  (btw, my plan is to upload the vids to YouTube while I sleep and throw them up here quickly in the morning before heading out…..if all goes well…. 😆 😉 )