Los Angeles-June 21st, 2025

So I was super excited for today because tho it was going to entail a super long wait in line for front row pit (aimed to get there by 2pm for 7pm doors), it also meant I was going to get to see a show with long time OMD friend and master bouncing partner Mark.😀 Last time we did an OMD show together was on the 2018 tour so it was LOOOONG overdue!!! Laura and I left the house, picked Mark up at a Park and Ride and headed in with the traffic being pretty nice to us and behaving LOL. I had booked a parking spot that was SUPPOSED to have been 1 mile walk away but it was 1.6 miles instead LOL. BUT, luckily it was uphill GOING to the venue plus the weather was beautiful for a late June day so none of us had any complaints as we hiked it up to the Greek doors.😀👍

Kim, Jennifer, Bert, Mali and Elva were there already plus a couple guys I didn’t know so that meant the three of us were guaranteed front row! More people arrived thru the hours including Stewart and Elizabeth and later Terra. Sadly Erin from the Portland show had hoped to make it out but couldn’t but there was a big gathering when doors finally opened at 6:30 (apparently they let you in 30 minutes early because you can shop merch and you also have to get a special wristband for the pit area). I have to say, the 5 hours went fast really. When they finally let us all in, we aimed for Mr. H.s side since Mark was the one who started the whole “yes, Yes, YES” to Tesla Girls. We wanted to be right in front of him to do it but were of a little to the side…still a good spot tho, worth the 5 hours wait!😀👍

As mentioned, weather was lovely so it was a perfect night and there was a lovely view looking back at the seated area with all the trees and brush on the sides and back. Laura and I laughed when we figured out where we were the night before…better spot tonight LOL. Shortly after, Marilyn arrived and ended up behind us which was great because I knew she’d be doing the little tongue rolling shrill to EG.😂  (Mark and Laura were brought into the loop and laughingly nodded to joining in) Marilyn went to tell Mark about the ‘yes, Yes, YES” and I informed her he already knew because he started it. She was like “you DID? Oh Wow!” We also decided to do the headbanging to Souvenir and Terra and her 3 friends also said they’d join in so there’d be a nice long line of us to hopefully catch Stuart’s eye. It was going to be a fun and FUNNY show for sure!😀😂👍

Mark and Marilyn’s friends weren’t really too thrilled with WD and when they were done, we were happy that it meant only 30 minutes until OMD. Mark was hoping they’d open with Evolution of Species so you can imagine how happy he was to see his wish come true. I didn’t give spoilers at the Thursday dinner but I knew a couple songs he was hoping to hear would be played. Once done with Anthropocene, Mr. M. said “well, last nights rehearsal went well…let’s see how tonight goes”. Mr. H. laughed and said “I think it’s going to be good” Messages had everyone dancing and Mark and I did the “do da do do do da dooooo” part. Once done Mr. M. looked at the crowd and said “oh yeah, this is going to be a great one, you guys are BONKERS down here”. Screams from the pit area and then it was TG. Mark is nice and loud and Laura, Marilyn and I shouted with him, too much fun!😂😀👍

HoM really got the bouncing together and Mark had started the fingers/hand up to the air bit way back in 2011 so he, Laura and I did it to the fullest over the rail for more room LOL. It was truly like old times, I was loving it and laughing so much!😀❤️  The guys seemed to be having a lot of fun too and when IYL came, everyone was singing along and bopping. Mr. C. got his solo and Mr. M. gave him a shout out as “Martin Cooper…SAX-man.” This led us to Souvenir and the headbanging. Mark looked to me and asked “are we starting to the left or right” I said “left” and we did but then the girls I think went the other way so then I tried to get on with them by pausing, then when I started Mark paused thinking OK he was off now and that repeated a couple rounds much to my laughter before we finally got in sync. I had hair in my eyes but would occasionally look up and at one point early on I saw Stuart laughing. Then I looked back at Marilyn and cracked up because she had hair in face and her ‘rock on’ fingers up, it was hilarioius!🤣🤣 (have I mentioned how much FUN and FUNNY this gig was?) JoA/MoO went down really well too and Mr. M. thanked everyone, mentioned his new knee and then said “just wait until I get the OTHER one fixed, then I’ll really be dancing like a dick”.

Mark had mentioned how he loved Veruschka on Thursday too so when they came down to the front, he was really curious and I remembered “oh yeah, he didn’t get to see the 2019 tour either so he’s never seen any of the down and front songs”. Yay for him they chose that song. When it was over, Mr. M. informed us it was non stop dancing now “we’re going strong all the way thru the end. I see you all back thereleaving, you can sell your seats.” Marilyn tapped me on the shoulder and said “why are people leaving?” but I remember people getting up to hit “the loo” or get drinks during Veruschka the night before, yet it was full and people up on their feet for all the hits so I don’t think they truly left. Don’t Go was fun and Mr. M. told everyone that he knew we’d be getting up early to go to church the next day “but don’t worry, we’ll make it in time, now it’s time to dance.” Mark, when Mr. M. mentioned church, yelled “Sister Marie”. Oh how that would have been awesome (and appropriate too for pre church service LOL😉).

The bopping and singing along continued for SiL and Mr. C. got another shout out…”Martin Cooper on sax…available for parties and bar mitzvahs”.😂  During Locomotion Mr. M. mixed things up a bit by going behind Mr. H. and singing then putting their mics together and singing more before going out to the side to do their usual antics plus there were lots of cheers for the various sections of venue. (many of us waving at the according sections…yes, the seats were full again). I watched the jumbotron a bit to see Mr. C.s solo on SotSS (showed to Mark too) and Stuart got his shout out for drums which got a huge cheer and he gave the hand heart before it was time for EG. Mark had said we’d link together for that one and OMG, he, Laura and I did good staying in sync so no one was getting jarred around LOL. We also did the tongue roll shrill at the start and end which sounded hilariously great with 4 of us doing it all together LOL. When it was over, the guys came by to thank all of us and tell us how great we were. It was definitely a great crowd tho tbh, to MY ears it wasn’t the BEST of this tour. But NONE of the shows I’ve ever seen of OMD thru all my years have been bad or even mediocre so…😀😉

I heard a faint OMD chant but it was SO cool to look back at the seated area and see just a sea of phone flashlights up for more OMD. When they came back out, Mr. H. said we looked amazing as did Mr. M. and then it was also cool to look back at the crowd while we were swaying…an awesome view for the guys to look out on that!😀👍❤️ More goofing around during Secret between Mr. M. and Mr. H. and singing along before it was time for the final bouncing sandwich and Electricity. It all went too fast when the guys came forward again. Stuart had given away one of his drumsticks, then came over on our side kind of holding like “who wants it? Who should I give it to” while holding it out and he then decided someone on the far side of us before everyone left the stage. SO FUN!!!!😀😀😀 Of course we got a bunch of post gig pictures since there were a lot of friends there and then it was the 1.6 mile walk BACK to the car but hey, downhill made it easy and again, more chat and visiting with Laura and Mark so it wasn’t a problem. And a couple that had been walking in front of us the whole time ended up parking in the same lot so we had company LOL.

So highlight of the night has to be the obvious of having Mark with me/us. I SO missed having him as a bouncing buddy and doing all the silly little things we do. I tried to convince him to come to Chicago (tho he’d only be with Laura and some others but not me up front due to I’m working so won’t get there until later) and staying for Detriot where Laura and I could both be up front with him but no luck.😞 So…I have to relish last nights goofy fun until the next US tour I guess.

Early rise up to get to the airport as I’m flying home after being gone 2 weeks…home 3 days before starting the Midwest part of the tour. My cats are going to start getting mad at my gone/home barely/gone/home briefly again LOL.🤪