Toronto-July 11th

So…because two tours of OMD wasn’t enough, I’m blogging one final leg that happens to be in NA again. 😀  I landed Wednesday night and my friend Sinead was to meet me as I was staying with her and we were doing both gigs together (she was with me during the Toronto 2011 gig too. Gotta say, this was another one of those “deja-vu” moments as the very first time I ever saw OMD in my country…well, OK, Canada first but it was the NA tour, was Toronto with her so….) Anyways, unlike in 2011, though I have the same phone now as I did then, for some reason, it wasn’t sending my text messages so finding Sinead wasn’t easy. I waited and after a bit when she hadn’t responded to the texts, I realized my darn phone was acting up (happened in Vancouver too despite my phone company telling me then, and again a few days ago “oh yes, you’ll have service in Canada, it’ll just be more expensive because you’re in a different country”). So I’m standing there looking for a friendly face that I could go and ask for usage of their phone to text Sinead and decide instead to ask for help at the Information Desk. The guy directed me to a phone that’s open for public assistance so I got a hold of Sinead and told her where I was. Except apparently as she was trying to find me, people were giving her some wrong information and then she couldn’t find the door I was at so about 30 minutes and a “I’m coming, wrong terminal” text (I could receive, just not send), I was at the Info Desk using the phone again. The same guy was there and gave me a look like “you’re still here?” but then he went on break and Sinead said she would be there shortly so I thought “hahaha, I’ll be gone by the time he gets back”…nope! He returns, sees me and is literally giving me this look like “OK, seriously, is this girl going to hook up with her friend?” and I was just waiting for someone to announce my name over the loud speaker like a little kid needing to be collected by their parents. 😆 😳 (and funny thing, Sinead said someone WAS going to do that til they found someone else who could help her better). By the time we finally connected, it was well over an hour later and I was so tempted to wave to the Info Desk guy but she and I were laughing too much and just started walking so I didn’t.  Ah well, I made it eventually.

Toronto had had horrible storms on Monday/Tuesday that resulted in Sinead losing power until Wednesday morning and the weather was predicting off and on rain for the day of gig but as it turned out, we were lucky and got a lovely day! 😀  We walked around the lake before heading to a delicious crepe’s place she had taken me to before last OMD’s gig (let’s just say I’m really glad I bounce and dance a lot as there were a lot of calories to get rid of! :lol:), then it was off to the gig. Brydon and his brother Phil who I’d met the first time round were doing VIP again and he had texted me about some technical issues. By the time we got to the venue, it was a bit later than planned but people were still coming out of the meet/greet which I thought was strange…until Brydon and Phil came out and explained that the sound check hadn’t gone so well and that they actually had to stop and do the meet/greet part, send everyone out, and planned on bringing them back in once sound check could resume. Well that’s a first….but I felt bad as the guys didn’t need the added stress, especially on the first night! 🙁

Kim and another friend were there too but since Sinead and I were ‘regulars’ tonight, I didn’t see them much until inside. A bit of confusion as the guards started letting our side in before the packagers side but that was quickly solved. However, once in, we couldn’t go anywhere past the lobby. Within a couple minutes we could hear the guys sound checking and that continued for maybe 15 or so minutes while the lobby filled up more and more. There were also 4 doors to get into the venue from the lobby so to clear up space the guards had everyone spread but not only did that mean we now had a ton more people in front of us but it made the lobby quite hot. Many of us were wondering why they hadn’t just let us stay outside until it was truly time to go in as it was nicer out there but eh..

We were eventually let in (around 7:45pm at this point…show was to start at 8) and thanks to Brydon and Phil saving us spots, we ended up front and center, 😯 yay! 😀   I had wondered about Diamond Rings and their sound check and quickly found that we were experiencing it. (good to be back with them and I’m sure they were excited, this being their home town) Johnny made a joke of welcoming us to the Diamond Rings sound check that would soon be followed by the Diamond Rings show. Unfortunately, as it ended up, OMD weren’t the only ones having technical issues as part way through the second song, the keyboard started cutting out and soon, it was just gone. Johnny handled it very professionally though and said he’d just play the very first DR song ever written accoustically. “I don’t have an accoustic guitar but….” and did it solo on his electric guitar. When things with the other members weren’t settled, he did another in that fashion as the drummer was slowly able to join in and after that, things were fixed so they jumped back into their set list…just having to end before they got to the end (bummer as their final song is one my two favs but ah well. Not what I’m sure they had planned but we were treated to a couple songs we wouldn’t normally hear so no complaints here and many others seemed happy, yelling out “keep going” and “do what makes you happy” so all ended well).

Stage changing time and a bit more running around checking things than normal but under the circumstances, I wasn’t surprised. I hadn’t checked the exact time of start but I want to say it was around 9:30 (schedule was 9) so not too bad. When PRS started, I thought “OK, please let things go well for them!” and…it did! VERY well as it turned out. 😀 Metroland was really well received as is no surprise since it’s an awesome start. When it was over and Mr. M. gave greetings he said, “we didn’t know if this was going to happen earlier today but it has” and more cheers. I forgot to mention that the stage was just over waist height for me and no barrier so as always, Mr. M. was all over but when he’d come and stand right in front of us, the first couple times Sinead and I couldn’t stop laughing. Last time there was a barrier and between the look on her face and an inside joke going on, I’d crack up which would get her cracking up, which would get me going even more and we were all giggles thru Tesla Girls. (which, as it turned out, after a couple times of “No No No” she looked at me and said “Yes, yes Yes” so I laughed, told her my friend Mark does that and said she should too…but she didn’t. I don’t blame her, I’d be too afraid too).

By Dresden, it was obvious this crowd was there to get into the OMD groove and though I had no one to join me in my dancing/bouncing on that one, when Mr. M. put Old Faithful down and HoM started, I had more bouncers. I chuckled as it seemed Mr. M. was slapping peoples hands to the beat/lyrics rhythm. Being back in NA meant a great reaction to “the song that killed our career” as we all sang along to IYL. But then it was time for FLaD. Mr. M. looked up at the guy doing the spotlight and joked “I’m guessing someone told you I move around a lot? I’m a bit hard to follow. Well, the one here (points to Mr. H.) is doing the next one so he’s easy. He’s slower but sexier.” Tons of cheers and Mr. H. seemed to really be feeling it as he reached out to slap various fans hands tonight (including Kim who got a quick squeeze…awww :D). When it was over, the crowd really let it out!

I couldn’t fully hear what Mr. M. said for Night Cafe other than something about Toronto’s Art Musuem…and then sway. When it was done, he headed up for Souvenir but not before stopping and giving Mr. H.#2 a brief shoulder massage, much to the “aaahhh” of Mr. H.#2 LOL. I suspect after the sounds ordeal (not to mention they had major delays even coming to Toronto) they could have all used a massage! Well, if the crowd loved FLaD, they literally ate up Souvenir because when it was over, we just kept going and going. Mr. H. didn’t know what to make of it and Mr. M. pointed at him as Mr. H. laughed and thanked us again. So you can guess how JoA/MoO went down. But I did something I’ve never done before…I focused 100% on Mr. H.#2. I’ve watched him before but this time I was curious if I could get a few good shots of his furious drumming since I was not only right in front but also at a good height in relation to him so while Mr. M. was doing his thing back and forth, I literally had my camera going non stop on high speed burst (100 pics in 20 seconds, then repeat again) seeing what I could get. Wow, he’s truly unbelievable! Cheers galore and the amazed smiles on the guys faces were wonderful to see! 😀

Our System was gorgeous and then it was the fun of KtM with Mr. M. making one of the girls to my left extremely happy as he bent down and sang right to her taking her hand briefly. 😀 Since I hadn’t gotten as many songs recorded back in April as I’d thought, I figured I’d snag SiL…until Mr.M. says “I’m gonna admit to something I’ve never admitted to before. I’m tired!” He proceeded to mention the long delays of their trip over and said he’d need a lot of help dancing. Well, I thought “oh heck with it (actually thought ‘sod it’ too as a UK buddy often says 😆 :wink:) I can’t keep recording, I’ve gotta bounce!” so down went the camera and up I went. A number of others joined in including Brydon and Phil and as SMS came on, I had told both Sinead and Brydon about the congregation pose along with reminding Kim so we had our little worshipping area going. 😀  Mr. H.#2 was “Jesus” as Mr. M. went back by him to point him out all “it’s HIM!” 😆

During SotSS, Mr. M. knelt down in front of Kim and two girls next to her and next thing ya know, there was some leg stroking and a shirt grab or two. 😯 When it was time for Enola Gay, the crowd was still going crazy and the guys were thrilled!  Mr. M. thanked us for making it an amazing night and I was SO glad things went the way they did! 😀  He joked saying “great, why don’t we do this all again next Friday?”  When EG was over and the sounds from us got thunderous, the guys just stood laughing and looking at each other before Mr. M. introduced each of the guys (full names this time).  When they walked off, Brydon and I started the OMD chant but it got going at a slightly off time from ours behind us shortly after so LOL, we just stopped ours and joined theirs. 😆

When the guys came back, they said more thanks before Mr. M. asked for audience participation of hand clapping and hey heys, then it was time for the song “we didn’t do last time we were here in Toronto so it’s been how many years? 25?” and Mr. H. said “yeah, 20 something yes” and then they launched into Secret which I’m sure made many a night. 😀  When it was over, before Mr. M. could lead into Electricity, the OMD chant started up again and really got going.  Mr. M. had stopped right in front of us, bent down, so when he heard it, he just shook his head and started laughing, dumbfounded like the rest of the band. Did my heart good! 😀  And as if there wasn’t enough love coming from us, in the midst of them saying final goodbyes before heading out, a woman came running up on stage to give Mr. M. a hug and kiss, then ran back off again. Mr. H.#2 saw it and gave a look like “huh…will ya look at that? Lucky guy.” 😆  When they all were done thanking us, laughing and clapping back and left the stage, the energy was still going from the crowd but it eventually died as people rushed to the stage to try and get set lists and such.

Once fully done and walking out, we (as in Brydon, Sinead, Phil, his girlfriend Paula and I) decided to go to the same bar for Karaoke that we had 2 years ago (and as luck had it, it wasn’t crowded so we were able to do 3 OMD songs. 😆 :wink:).  Toronto definitely got their dose of OMD tonight!

So, highlight of the night. Well, I think I have two really. One would just be all the laughing Sinead and I did during the gig but I also loved the fact we got to do the Karaoke after…there’s a lot to be said about deja-vu and reminiscing, nostalgia etc. It was so cool to be able to see the guys (and meet Paula) and have our fun…and hopefully we’ll all get to do it again next week! (minus the Karaoke part as Sinead and I both have really early mornings the next day.)