Paris, May 18th

Ah…Paris…I’ve never been so though I was quite nervous about not knowing French, I was also really excited to see The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame etc! 😀  AND…it was actually sunny and nice when I  arrived so I wandered around and had lunch outside at a cafe while I waited for check in time at my hotel.  When I was able to finally check in, I finished the Utrecht blog, then got ready as I wanted to queue early and I was walking to the venue (very convenient hotel location this time…near the train AND venue so no expensive cab rides, yay! :lol:)

Well, when I arrived, though I was over an hour early for doors, there were about double the amount of people than were in line same time in Utrecht…good sign. I was also one of the lucky ones to be close enough in line to be under the awning as it started to rain.  After a bit, J-F (Minerva93 on the forum) came up as we had communicated via the forum but never met yet. I had no idea what he looked like, just that we were going to meet up as he had been nice enough to pick up my copy of the 10″ RSD from the Brussels store when he got his. (thanks again to Mousekitator for posting the store lady’s email!) but he found me and we had a nice visit outside the venue before they finally opened the doors.  We headed up the flight of stairs and stopped at the guard as he was checking tickets….then realized it was for balcony and the floor itself was right behind us…oops. :oops:.  But it wasn’t too crowded yet so I nabbed a spot second row on Mr. H.s side and J-F was a little behind and to my left as he had some other friends who were also at the gig.

But here’s where the night changes.  In a nutshell, I had PM’d DJStew a while back after he posted the news Waiting for Words were going to open but also that, though he manages them, he wasn’t going to be able to make the gig. I told him I’d be there and would he like me to take some pics and vids for him. He said yes, then in Portland thought maybe set me up with a pass of some sort.  I was then contacted by Zen, WfW’s lead singer, who was trying to work things out and make sure I was on the list but when I left the hotel for the venue, I still hadn’t heard final info so I just assumed it fell through and got in the crowd like any other night.  It wasn’t until I checked my phone (borrowed a ‘global phone’ from a co-worker) to see what time it was and how much time til starting that I saw Zen’s text…to get the passes at the invitation desk. 😯  So I franticly texted him back to see if it was too late (it was past 7pm and originally he said to make sure I was there by 7pm…I was…but as a fan, not a photographer LOL so…) There was also the whole “sorry, I don’t speak French” issue as the first two people I asked about the invitation area couldn’t speak English. By the time I got it all sorted out, the floor had filled in more so I figured I’d toggle between the floor and balcony, ending in balcony for OMD (which I could do now that I had a photo pass…otherwise you needed a special ticket for balcony).  Lucky for me, though it had filled in upstairs too (doors had opened about 45 minutes ago by now), I first nabbed a second row seat on Mr. H.s side but when looking across, I saw a single empty seat on the other side. I knew it could be someone’s who mabye just ran to the toilet or something but decided to chance it so left my current seat, went over to the other side, and whoo hoo, it was free…front row almost center…YES! 😀

So Waiting For Words….I really enjoyed them! They are a little harder, they’re not what I would call ‘synth-pop’ (though they DID do a Heaven 17 cover)  but the crowd really got into them also. From the moment they walked on stage, everyone was up for it. It’s a threesome…Zen on lead vocals, Soe on keys, Mac and  backing vocals and Peter on keys and occasional backing vocals. (newest member…I spoke with him briefly after the gig and he said he’d only been with them for a few months but you couldn’t tell on stage, he fit in fine and Zen went over to him a number of times, even giving him a quick hug late in the gig so I assumed he’d been in for awhile LOL.)  Their opener, Pain, set the tone for their set…think a combo of VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk and maybe even Depeche only with a female back up.  Each track had a pounding beat that would often warrant a clap along…Zen would start and we all quickly followed.  Great electronic, dancing music.  The earlier mentioned cover of “Let Me Go” was also a pleasant surprise and they did it well! 😀  At times they were a bit haunting, like in “Cause I Do Believe”, Soe’s “ahh ah aaaahhhh’s” creeping through the air and Zen definitely had front man moves, dancing around and dropping to his knees a couple times.  Too bad they aren’t opening up for a few more gigs on the tour as they were great fun and the crowd really responded well. (which made me wonder what was in store for OMD! :wink:)

Making my usual toilet stop between bands, I ran into Melissa. I’d forgotten her and Mark were going to be at this gig but it ened up being a case of men on the floor, woman in the balcony since she gave her floor ticket to Mark and she was coming into the balcony to be with the wife of the couple they were with.

So being in the balcony allowed me to see the entire crowd and I’ll just say now, tonight had one of the most lively front areas I’ve seen in awhile (funny I wasn’t part of it…figures…the one night I’m in the balcony…:roll: :lol:).  A bunch of bouncers, hands all over the air, etc. But I’ll get to that.  PRS starts and right away there were huge  cheers.  And it just got louder as the guys came out.  When it was done, Mr. M. said some stuff in French (sorry, again, don’t know the language but it was a bit longer this time so more than just good evening LOL).  Then Old Faithful came out and Messages found more dancing. I had to chuckle as I looked around…there were pockets.  A lot in the center front, then some scattered around and a bunch at the back pretty much right below me…I had fun looking down and watching them. 😀

Well, I was able to pretty much contain myself for Dresden since I was front row and no one right behind me was standing (third row had a  few on my side but no one in the front couple rows so…) but when HoM came on, I literally started hopping up and down in my seat, doing E’s keyboard move, much to the surprise of the guy on my left (though the guy on my right I think found it amusing because he’d smile every time I’d look over LOL).  I think  the band could tell this wasn’t a mellow, reserved crowd because Mr. M. had a ton of eager hands to slap (which he earnestly did) and when it was over, he and Mr. H. did the “hey check it out”…”yeah I know, brilliant” motions to us and each other.  I think this might have been the first time I heard the “hey oh oh aay aay…” start to get chanted…and it was coming from my side of the balcony…cool! 😀

Mr. M. called Mr. H.” Monsieur Humphreys” when he called him out to do FLaD and even from the balcony, I could see he was having a great time,  all smiles. And fans were thrilled, many reaching out towards him.  Another big cheer at the very first keys of Souvenir, as soon as people realized, it was whoooooo!  I guess I was thinking this wasn’t going to be as good a crowd because I had heard the sales weren’t originally good but it seemed near full on the floor, our balcony was filled (couldn’t tell how many were in the second balcony but it definitely had fans) and the enthusiasm was for sure there.  JoA and MoA were awesome! I kept trying to soak it in as being further back, I got a different perspective of MoA especially, the flashing lights and Mr. M. going back and forth was amazing and seeing Mr.H.#2’s drumming with the lights blaring behind him….WOW! And the crowd reaction was also wow!  Mr. M. laughed, Mr. H.#2 and Mr. C. had huge grins on their faces and Mr. H. joined in the thanking.

So, sadly, no fans again tonight for Our System but that’s OK, it just makes it more special when we do have them. TLaC found Mr. M. joking about how we lost the summer and it was now nearly winter but they’d do a summer song (and he’s not joking about summer gone. Seriously, the rain in the various cities just isn’t letting up 🙁 Then again, it was OK walking to and from the venue so I guess I shouldn’t complain too much :wink:).  I couldn’t see who the lucky recipient was tonight but someone got a kiss on their hand during KtM and  I heard a bunch of people around her cheer and clap so I’m guessing it was a great moment for her and her friends. 😀

When it was dancing time again, Mr. M. looked up at the balcony and said “do you want to wake him up now?” 😯  Apparently someone fell asleep!  The girls had seen some guy laying across a couple seats back in Gateshead but they also said he had gone in and out a lot and seemed to be there more for someone else  so they figured he got drunk and fell asleep but this time Mr. M. was pointing to the close side balcony area.  He said something like “he was awake earlier…” and Mr. H. said “maybe he’s been kissing too many machines” LOL. Mr. M. waited a second and then joked “nah, just let him sleep them.” 😆  I wasn’t about to let my  balcony spot stop me from enjoying SMS so prayer stance and more hopping in my seat…and this time Mr. H.#2 not only was “Jesus” but Mr. M. paused, then said “sure” to letting him in. Mr. H.#2 played along by bopping his head to the beat and smiled a casual “yeah, sure, I can be Jesus” smile, then he and Mr. M. had a laughing moment.  The “hey oh oh aaay ay” started again after it too.  Goofying around tonight….Mr. H. got his sweat wiped off by Mr. M. (he used Mr. H.s towel) and then a friendly swat to the shoulder as Mr. M. laughingly walked off. 😆

As previously mentioned, no one around me was standing except someone in the back row…until EG. Then it was time to get up…well for most of us. I think we all had the same idea as Mr. M. announced it was their last one…heck with it, let’s dance!! 😀  The floor was moving a lot too and the front middle was going crazy.  When they got done, the chant that had come off and on through out really took off as we all did the “hey oh oh aay aay” over and over. Mr. M. introduced each guy with the Monsieur intro again and Mr. H. ended up doing it for Mr. M. too and a lot of thank yous and waves before they walked off.  Not only did everyone keep cheering and chanting  but feet stomping  began…nice! 😀  When the guys came back out, Mr. M. announced that they were going to have to hurry it up. “The promoter told us we could only do one more song….we’re going to do two.” Cheers to that and then Mr. M. said “and if they pull the plug on us..well….”  I thought “please no!” and thought about SXSW.  So…WotMW right?  I heard Mr. H. say “gosh, we haven’t done this song in a long time ” and I’m thinking “huh? He must mean haven’t done it in France right?” but then they launch into SECRET! 😯 I wasn’t expecting it and even though they do it in America, I have only seen it done abroad once…last year at the Brussels outdoor gig so I just freaked out. I think half of Paris heard me scream. 😳 😆  Part way through, Mr. M. went over to Mr. H. and gave him a “hurry up, hurry up” arm circular motion and Mr. H. kept singing with a “yeah, OK, I’ll do that” look and grin on his face. 😆  AND…they got to do Electricity! No power shut off, phew! It was so much  fun (though gotta say, couldn’t bounce fully due to not having too much room between my seat and the balcony rail LOL but I tried. It felt good to be up!)  When it was all over and the guys said their final goodbyes, everyone was on their feet (well, hopefully everyone..couldn’t tell if the sleeper was up but he’d have to be comatose not to be with the noise we were all making :wink:). Waves to all and then they were gone. Great gig!

Once I made my way down to the floor level, I found Mark and Melissa and found out it was forumer Caveman and his wife who were with them…small world. 😀  We said a hi/bye (I’ll be getting to see them again in July for the Minneapolis gig), then found J-F and also Miochoco.  I didn’t recognize her so I was glad he introduced us as it’s lovely to put a face to a name since we both post on the forum.   I’ll be seeing both of them again in Brussels, along with Paula so that’ll be fun! 😀

So, highlight of the night. I think I’m gonna say being able to see Mr. H. and Mr. C.s keyboard playing.  Being upstairs put me in a position where I could see things clearer so among other things, I got to watch as Mr. H. rapidly tinkered his Locomotion part and as Mr. C. grooved his SotSS part .  WAY cool to see! 😀