Hamburg-May 21st

So today was a long day on two trains. Funny thing was, the first one was only about 2 hours ride but then when getting off, a friend who was on the train like Paula and I had a ticket showing we were to get the next train from platform 3 so we rushed over…only to find that it wasn’t being listed on the marquee above. 😯  As it turned out, it was on the original track we had just rushed from. Since the first train was late into the station, we already didn’t have much time so it was a mad dash BACK to the  first track to get onto the train before it left….for another ride that was longer…and longer still due to some delays. Ah well… 😆

More rain met us which was a shame because I purposely booked our hotel due to it being close enough to walk to but since we were getting in late and it was wet out, we decided to take a cab.  A quick fresh up and it was back into another cab to go to the venue.  There were a fair amount of people waiting in line and though there were the metal lining barriers set up under the marquee of the venue, for some reason, they made us wait away and out in the rain. Then, when they decided to open the doors, a crowd of people came from who knows where (somewhere off to the side of us) and the guards just let them push/rush in and actually stopped OUR line due to too many people getting in together so there we stood in the rain while others just shoved right in last minute! 😯  Needless to say, we were not happy campers! 😕  But, as it turned out, a stroke of luck for us found that some of those who cut went up for the stairs as there was an area on each side that was a couple steps up which allowed Paula and I to nab a second row center again…phew.  And it was also a night of new openers….Vile Electrodes from England.  They are opening for the entire 5 gig German run and both Paula and I really enjoyed them. No pics this time around as the stage was set fairly high so the guy was blocked completely but sound wise, they were very synth-pop and great fun. More on them from tomorrows gig I promise. 😉

So another strange start to the gig with Mr. H.#2 and Mr. C. coming on while the DJ’s stuff was still going but as soon as PRS began, that immediately stopped and the crowd cheered. LOTS of clapping right off and for the most part, many just kept clapping the entire song so that was kind of fun to see.  Messages had people excited too though no ‘singing’ to the musical part LOL.  It was starting off great and Mr. M. did his greeting in German and then said “it looks like it’s going to be a great night tonight.”  When he introduced Dresden, he first told everyone it was their new single, then said “if you don’t know it, just dance” and then joked that he’d probably get the words wrong. I thought “aww…nah….” but then he came in too early.  He laughed and looked over to see if Mr. H. was giving him a look but he wasn’t so Mr. M. just came in again proper and the song took off as usual from there. 😀

Once it was time for HoM, I saw a  few people bouncing but it didn’t feel as energetic as the past few nights (though LOL, I saw Gavin bopping to the beat and even the venue crew were moving back and forth a little :lol:). Mr. M. got daring and came down on the large, er, boxes that are often in front of the stage (the same ones he’s checked for security and stability in sound checks) and it was a chance for many to get their hands slapped.  I saw the girl in front to my left miss a chance as she was trying to get video or a pic but lucky for her, he came back in IYL….but not before Mr. H. came and did his thing on FLaD.  A lot of cheering for that one and some swaying, especially from these two in the front row in front and to my right. I’m not sure if they were brother and sister or mom and son but they swayed their arms back and forth the entire time and had clapped all through Metroland so it was cute to watch them. 😀

So as mentioned, Mr. M. came back to our side for IYL and the girl got her hand slap…then Paula took the moment to toss her knickers that landed smack into Mr. M.s left shoulder and he caught them before they fell down.  He then turned around and tossed them to Mr. C. 😆 Shortly after though, I saw a stuffed duck thrown his way…aww, I’ve never seen a stuffed animal tossed so I kept looking at it as it stayed on the stage floor the rest of the song.  At one point, Mr. M. came mighty close to stepping on it so I worried he’d trip but he ended up straddling it and then once done singing, picked it up and put it by Mr. C.s keyboard.

When it was time for Souvenir, Mr. H. got another cheer. I decided to try and grab JoA/MoO on video tonight since the stage was high and we were set back a bit.  For some reason, tonight the lack of flags and how the lighting happened, it looked like a big “T” and the video was coming out awesome…until my stupid camera just stopped for no apparent reason. I was absolutely gutted! 😥  But the response from the crowd was great! Funny thing though…overall, the crowd had kind of mellowed out…not nearly as much cheering and such as the past few European gigs…

Our System went down beautifully and it was swaying time for TLaC. I was going to nab it since the combo didn’t work out but the two front row swayers kept things going for awhile that I decided not to. It’s always a fun thing to do LOL.  A little girl who had managed to come into the front row (one of the swayers got behind her which was nice) was the recipient of Mr. M.s towel..and he made it very clear she was to get it by pointing at her twice before tossing it over. Sweet! 😀  Near the end of the song, someone handed Mr. M. a couple pieces of paper with big writing on it. I wondered if it was the lyrics to the song by the way it was written and Mr. M.s reaction when looking at it (kind of amused and nodding) but then he said “yeah, well I sang the right words, I just came in the wrong time” so I’m assuming it was Dresden words then.  Good old Mr. M. taking it all well, bless. 😀

Well, I decided to record SiL next as I still needed a song for the blog but instead of hearing the beginnings of it, I heard the start of Pandora’s Box instead. I almost died! Screams from both Paula and I with “OMG”s  following and I just had to stop recording so I could enjoy it for the first time. It’s been a long time since they’ve done it but I guess the rumor they’d be doing it for Germany was true…yay! 😀  Mr. H.#2 was Jesus again and he seemed quite comfortable LOL.  Sadly, I didn’t hear much of a sing-a-long to SotSS and by the time EG started, it seemed Paula and I were the only ones bouncing around….and eventually, she stopped near the end and it was just me from what I could see….strange considering the start of the gig. Maybe Mr. M. and Co. just wore them out. 😆 😉  When the guys said their goodbyes Mr. M. called everyone “Herr” (German for Mr.), and the chant of “encore” in German began. Paula and I tried to get the OMD…OMD…chant going to no luck….ah well, we tried. 😆

It was WotMW again and before we knew it, Electricity had come and gone.  There wasn’t a huge amount of cheering (or bouncing for that matter) but when the guys got done with final goodbyes and were walking away, one final cheer from the crowd as they waved to everyone.  Overall, I think it was a more tame crowd than what has been the past few nights  I don’t think it was due to fans not enjoying themselves, it just seemed many were maybe a bit more reserved or something but still a fun night and the guys seemed happy.

So highlight of the night…gotta be Paula’s and my bouncing as not only did she have to hold on to me for balance since we weren’t in the front row (I was closer so could hold the rail with one hand) but we had an inside joke running on that we kept going over and over (and it’s going to be one we’ll probably carry on til she goes home in a few days 😆 :wink:) which would then make us both crack up so it was a load of laughs tonight! 😆