Gateshead-May 13th

So today had a moment of culture on the way to Gateshead because we stopped at Hadrians Wall. Paula made a mention and Steph was all “ooo, can we go?” I was blogging so hadn’t see what they were talking about but when Steph said it again I was totally game as I had heard of it but never seen. The traffic had been a bit of a nightmare due to a lot of Lorries and also construction so in some ways, it was nice to turn off and get on country roads. As we pulled into a little car park and headed out, we found a small footpath. Unfortunately, I had on new white gym shoes (trainers) and Paula didn’t have a jacket (it was quite cold and very windy) so she ended up turning back but I thought “eh, the heck with it… I’ll just have to wash them I guess.” (and due to some careful stepping and straddling on the path, I managed to come out with the minimum of dirt to show for it :lol:) So off we went, baaa-ing to the sheep that were in the field. A couple hikers were coming down so we asked about how to get to the actual wall (because Steph really wanted to touch it but I saw there was a train going through between us and it so wasn’t sure), they told us where to go and before long, we were at the famous landmark. It was about 5 feet high at that point and after getting some pics, I suggested we go through the little man made gate and get a pic of each of us on different sides. Steph was game…until it started to rain…then we both simultaneously were like “um…no, let’s go.” So down the hill we went but then Steph saw a plaque of some sort on the other side of the footpath entrance so said she’d meet me at the car as she wanted to check it out. I said no worries, I’d go too but as we headed over, the rain turned to sleet (we had seen one spot on the way out of Scotland that actually had snow on the ground at the road border! :shock:) It was worth it though as there was a really cool section of the wall so more pics and then it was a dash to the car as we were getting drenched at that point. Poor Paula thought we had gotten lost but we made it back and happily headed back on our way. 😀

I’ve gotta say, I wish we had a free day after the Gasteshead gig because coming into the city, I right away noticed how lovely it was. LOTS of bridges of all sorts, the venue was a cool, silver glimmering shell of a building and the river crossing through, hills driving down to get to our hotel…it was just really lovely. But we just had time to check in, grab some food and then get ready. Paula was meeting up with her friends Shawn, Natasha and their adorable 18 month son James (who was wearing a custom made EE shirt…the little guy was in style! :wink:). However, Steph and I wanted to go see JF so we left them to visit and headed out to the venue.

As mentioned, the venue was quite unique…but quite high up…7 flights of stairs (broken up but still, sheesh :lol:). The idea was for Duncan and I to join Steph and sit in Paula and her friends seats for JF (they had box seats, Duncan and I were second row floor) so that Steph and I could do our JF moves but there was some confusion as to which seats belonged to us (ends up Paula’s friends were in the box opposite side so we would have been sitting in someone else’s seat :oops:) so we just went down and watched from ours. I teased Duncan “try and keep up with the moves” and in his defense, he did pretty well, doing Running Man, Catwalk etc. 😆 When JF was over, I saw a familiar face and as I was thinking “is that Mick?” 😯 he said “is that Lori….Lori from Chicago?” and I knew it was him. 😀 I had met him and his friend Ian (also here) in Glasgow for the HoM tour and had a lovely time with them. And as we were talking, previous Rewind friends Sue and Gavin also came up to say “hi” so it ended up being a great, unexpected reunion. 😀

When the lights went down and PRS started, I warned Duncan that I was going to get up right when Metroland started but I highly doubted I needed to as he jumped up at the same tme LOL. However, not too many others did….until Mr. M. came on stage and made the “stand up” motion with his hands, THEN people were on their feet. When the song was over, Mr. M. said “let’s see if we can have some fun in this nice, posh setting”…sounds good to me! 😀 Messages got a decent cheer, as did Tesla Girls but I quickly noticed it was a more, er, subdued crowd. I also heard something that made me think “what the???….someone actually yelled “Just Can’t Get Enough!” I’m sure it was a joke but I looked at Duncan, he said “er, wrong band” and I looked at Mr. M. as he stood there, it seemed trying to decide if he should say something or not…he didn’t and shortly after someone yelled out “Joan of Arc” and he said “yes, we’ll do THAT one.” I told Duncan Dresden is becoming another bouncing song (though it’s more of the ‘fake bounce’ rather than the ‘fly off the floor’ bounce of say HoM LOL) but I figured HoM would really get people moving….eh, not bad but not as much as the last couple of nights.

As mentioned earlier, the girls were in a box off to Mr. H.s side so when it was time for him to come out for FLaD, Mr. M. said “Paul….seeing as how the girls who throw the knickers on stage are sitting quite far back, I think it’s safe to come out tonight.” (I couldn’t help but think “I wonder if they gave Sue something to toss in their honor again” as she was front row center….nope.) IYL was introduced as the song they “sold our souls to the devil….well Paramount Pictures.  It made Mal a load of money”.  Mr. H#2 threw his arms up and nodded. 😆 He then did the “shame on you” finger shake when Mr. M. came up to play Old Faithful for Souvenir…all in jest as they then bopped fists and laughed.

Though the crowd was more mellow tonight, MoO got a wonderful response with a long lasting applause. Mr. M. joked that he’s almost got it down now, then I saw the fan again for Our System. And if I thought last nights gig had a cool fan moment, this was better because I actually saw someone wheel it out to place it right behind Mr. H.#2 and by the angle I had, I could actually see the motor that was between the two propellors. 😯 I found myself looking and musing over it more than I watched Mr. M. (but it’s not like I won’t see Mr. M. sing the song again..when will I get an awesome view of the fan like that eh? 😆 :wink:) When the song was over, out ran someone and it got wheeled back to the side and that’s when I noticed it was casting a moving shadow on part of the balcony…neat. During TLaC, there were a lot of people taking their pics with or of Mr. M. since he sat down on the speaker (this venue had a stage that was low and even a bit closer to front row than Glasgow so it was easy for fans to take advantage of that).

Well, after those plus KtM, it was the end of the “intellectual part of the gig” and on to SiL which found a guy in front of me being told by Mr. M. “I was so impressed by you”. He looked like “really?” and he and his friend (along with Duncan and I and Mr. M. himself) all laughed. 😆 A different guy in front of me on the other side was “Jesus” tonight and, being a good sport and shaking his shoulders like “yeah sure, why not, OK” Mr. M. laughed and shook his hand. It was a birthday dedication in Locomotion but sadly, where SotSS has been a stand out song for the crowd response, I didn’t hear as much singing coming from the fans. I should say that it wasn’t a case of people not enjoying themselves. I looked around and saw all smiles, I just think it was a more mellow crowd is all. And having come out of 2 standing gigs of Leeds and Manchester plus the strong presence of Glasgow fans, it just stood out more than had this been the first gig of the tour…if that makes sense.

Well, a big cheer for EG and I saw more people moving around and when the guys said their goodbyes, a good portion of the balcony was up which was nice to see but no real chanting. Duncan and I tried to get the OMD…OMD…going but it fell flat. 🙁 However, I DID hear singing for WotMW and when Electricity started, I saw a guy behind me doing the same bounce on the beat so it made me smile. 😀 When it was time for the guys to leave for good, it was thank yous and waves before they were gone.  Like I said, everyone seemed to have really enjoyed it, they just enjoyed it in a quieter manner. 😉 It was hugs and goodbyes to all my friends including Duncan as he had to get going for work the next day, then the girls and I walked back to our hotel….and what a lovely walk back it was. Seven flights of stairs just allowed us to enjoy the now lit up bridge that we were heading towards as it was our way across the river to our hotel. The lights would change colors, at times causing a rainbow! 😯 Have I mentioned how much I really like this city yet? 😀

So, highlight of the night. Well, I would have to say the surprise of seeing old friends on top of the friends I already had with me. It reminded me of how music can bring people together. Yes, it’s not really possible to keep constant contact with EVERYONE you meet, but yet when you see people again, you immediately jump back together because you all have the special passion and joy of the bands music to share so that’s all an added bonus to the gig itself and it happening when you weren’t expecting it is great! 😀