Seattle, June 10th, 2025

So back to America it was for me today but not before having to run to a store for something I forgot at home and seeing some cool murals. I have always liked Vancouver. 🙂  I had plenty of time since Seattle was a seated venue and I’m not a fan of WD so no need to get to the venue until 8:30pm. Thank GOODNESS as the freaking border was INSANE!!! I’m not kidding, the line just stopped and we didn’t move forever. Many of us got out of our  cars, some walked around, one girl started playing fetch with her dog, another took his dog for a potty walk etc. It was ridiculous! Was told by an older lady who I guess had walked down the waiting line to see what was going on that there was only 1 lane open!😯 WHAT THE?!😠 I seriously worried I’d not get to the venue in time but after about an hour, we finally started moving. It was 2 hours before it was finally my turn and the guy didn’t know who OMD was either LOL. Asked almost as many questions as the Canadian guy but wasn’t as, er, crabby stern at least so that was good. And boy was I glad to be MOVING again once I left there!

So originally I had a second row seat because it was to have been the new ‘first show’ of the tour (having added a second Seattle show BEFORE Vancouver) but once things got moved around and it was now middle of the tour, I took the opportunity to turn in my original ticket to get the big money back and bought a balcony ticket thinking “eh, I won’t mind watching from up there for one night…give me a different perspective and I can take the saved money and put it towards the crazy priced DC close up ticket”. But then when talking to Bert and Jennifer in Orlando, I heard the balcony there was “horrible” and that most people don’t stand and security yells at you if you do and block those around you. SIT for an ENTIRE OMD show? I don’t THINK so!☹️ So I decided to look for a better seat and had been checking since getting back to my sisters after Atlanta. Some popped up in pairs but too much money or “limited visability”. Had hoped to get something the night before but nope, nothing in the morning too nor while in line at Border Control. Figured it was a wash as who would be listing HOURS before the show? But I looked again about 3:45 and 2 second row CLEAR VIEW seats popped up. I had hoped to only have to pay for a single ticket but these weren’t TOO horribly high so I decided to just grab them. I mean I knew I’d not be happy sitting for the whole show and second row clear was great so …can’t put a price on happiness, memories and experiences.😉 I then messaged Kim to see where her tickets were because if mine were better, I’d have her sit with me. She was 4 rows back and thought center but as it turned out, she was the aisle seats so way to the side. Hence we went and sat in mine and then there was a bit MORE musical chairs for 2 girls to sit together so we were only 1 seat off from the aisle and a great view! Plus, she’s in the same seats for Seattle #2 and has offered me the other seat since she too had to buy a pair so, YAY! 😀👍 (I offered Jennifer and Bert one of the sets of seats telling them most likely 4th row but never heard back tho apparently they were 5th row so already set)

Seattle had a hard act to follow from Vancouver but I will say their clapping to Anthropocene sounded about as loud.😀 The cheers for Messages were also great which got the gig going on the right track and Mr. M. smiling saying “Right then” to the massive sound. Poor Stuart had some drum issues prior to TG as Merve came running out to work on them. Mr. M joked “never give a drummer a drum set…he’ll break it” followed by “you can play without symbols” LOL.  Not as many people bouncing for HoM as last night but I still saw some. When it was over, Mr. M. said “now that the world has ended, Paul do you want to come down and sing?” Mr. H. laughed and said ‘well what’s the point? Is there even anyone left to sing to?”😂 But a lot of cheers from the crowd prior and after and I saw Mr. H. make the heart motion with his hands out to the crowd.❤️

The A&M trio went down without a hitch (Stuarts drums were in tip top shape by then LOL) and many people in the balcony stood up to cheer. I should say I had looked up a few times…not many up dancing and most that were were further back so I am sure I’d have been stuck sitting.😞  Plus it was great to be on Mr. C.s side since so many of my past gigs this year have been on Mr. H.s side. I like mixing it up and it was fun watching him as he’s so smiley.😀 Veruschka being one of those times watching Mr. C. LOL and when it was done Mr. M. said “it’s daring to put a new, slow song in the middle but we get to have that pretty woman up on the screen. But that’s it, it only gets faster from here.”

Strangely enough, floor guards weren’t really doing anything so, like in Vancouver, people came down to the front but I didn’t see any youngins tonight. However Mr. M. reached down to shake a woman’s hand during Don’t Go which made her night and many were taking selfies with him and the band behind them. Pandora’s Box was “speaking of pretty woman on the screen…”  SiL and Dreaming had some singing along and more dancing. There was a guy bopping and jumping so Mr. M. pointed at him and gave him a thumbs up. When done, he announced “I tried to get the city of Seattle to open their own McCluskey school of windmilling dance but I got turned down. Apparently they don’t have enough ambulances.” Kim and I looked at each and just laughed. 😯….😂

I should have recorded SotSS again since I had a perfect view of Mr. C. and Mr. M. has been doing the fist pump every night since that first night in DC LOL but didn’t think of it in time. When it was done though, Mr. M. said “you may think Stuart is a good drummer but he wrote that keyboard part and every night Martin curses him for it.” Mr. C. smiled and then he and Stuart exchanged smiles and Stuart laughed mouthing “sorry” and tilting his head to the side.😆 This meant we were down to EG and near the end. The crowd erupted when they heard it start and there were good cheers when it was over too. I have to say, from what I was told earlier from friends regarding the balcony and guards, I wasn’t expecting the crowd to be too loud or interactive but I think it ranked up there with earlier shows (tho for ME at least because this is only gig #5 but Vancouver is still the loudest) Lots of thank yous and the promise to come back “like tomorrow night” said Mr. H. LOL. Also, when the guys were hugging each other, there was a cute little 3 person hug from Mr. H. who hugged Mr. C. and then Stuart came from behind Mr. C. and gave him a hug and rubbed his belly for a second. Awww❤️

While we were waiting for the guys to come out, some girls snuck right up to the stage. There was a girl in row A in front of me sitting the whole time and they were blocking her. Despite her motioning them to move away and another guy also tapping them on the shoulder to show hey, you’re blocking her, they just moved a little bit and yet ANOTHER woman came up so I thought “oh COME on. 😠 When the guys came out this poor girl took her cane and got up to stand by the stage but I felt really bad for her. I know many do this but it is my pet peeve when people rush the stage or take over the aisle as you’re blocking people who paid good money to be up front with a CLEAR view!😠 Anyways, more thank yous and then the swaying of the arms to LaYN.  It suddenly reminded me of when they used to do TLaC as Mr. M. would call that their summer festival song and have us wave the arms back and forth. 🙂  Secret was great too and when it was over, Mr. M. looked at a couple in the front row and said “I love how you were holding hands the whole song. This your first date?” 🙂 It was time for Electricity and lots of dancing and cheers. I kept hoping Mr. M. would do something like give the woman with the cane a pick or something since she was having to suffer up by the stage to see. As it turned out, they were taking selfies and he came over, stuck his tongue out during one and smiled big to them for another, YAY!😀👍 (and saw them later walking to the garage….they got a drumstick and pick too so tho she said she was hurting, at least she got extras for  the pain). Final goodbyes and promises to see everyone again tomorrow and then they walked off. And unlike DC, I will be here for gig #2.😀

So…highlight of the night. Well, it’s an easy one…the switcheroo from balcony ALONE to second row WITH KIM. Made things all the more fun!😀👍🤗