Bexhill, November 15th, 2017

Wow, what a night! 🙂 But I’ll get to that in a bit LOL. Bexhill is a cute little city on the shore that I’d never been to. Didn’t remember OMD ever playing there either but couldn’t say 100%…but was pretty sure no. I had to say goodbye to Paula after we had had a lovely day off hanging and doing girl stuff and jumped on a couple trains to get out to the town. My hotel was wonderful and had a room ready for me even though it was only noon and it was a cute little B&B with a nice, bigger than room description bed. 🙂

Since I was early, I decided to finish the London blog but then go exploring. The town itself didn’t have a ton to see that I could find within walking distance but it was cute and the shore had a path to walk around so that was pretty. The venue was right on the shoreline so as I came by, I could see the tour buses and such. What a neat place to have a venue! And what a view to have from the room of the gig (though the curtains were pulled. Apparently you can see in as some people had tried to see sound check earlier but then the curtains got pulled. But imagine what it would look like for fans and the band if they were kept open the whole time! 😮 🙂 )

Well, I was happy to have Mark and Debbie with me, especially since it was my final gig! 🙂 They had Gold again so got in early but saved me a spot. We had been able to talk to Ed a bit and he said there had been quite a few people who had voted already for song choice so that’s a good sign! 🙂

We ended up on Mr. C.s side and the stage and venue itself was much smaller than the others I’d been to on this tour but to me, that would make it all the more special and intimate. 🙂 I saw Mark C. and his co-worker who was an OMD newbie and Mark said he was thinking tonight could be like Ipswich in that not many bands come
to Bexhill so the crowd could go mental and be great like it always is in Ipswich. 🙂 One final chance to see TMP and I really enjoyed it! From our angle, it was Paula’s turn to be reflected in Stuarts drum. 🙂 Mark and I had our shoulder movements down pat and Paula saw them and laughed, pointing to us saying “I see it!” 😀

Not too hard again to do our pit stop because the side sections I THOUGHT had seats but they didn’t. Just up a couple steps and a rail for front people to lean on but all standing. Only seats were the ones in the back balcony. But that allowed for an easy way back into the front standing area. Saw Irene as I was coming back down but she was a couple rows back. When the lights went down and the intro started, the lights were really blinding! I guess they weren’t just blinding to us in the front row because no one cheered when Mr. H. came out. I didn’t even SEE him come out, I just all of a sudden saw him standing at the keys waving! 😮 LOL I wonder how long he had stood there before he waved. 😀 I got a sense this could be a really good show when another round of cheers came out as Mr. M. turned around to walk to the mic for Ghost Star. Don’t remember hearing that before. I turned to the guy next to me and said “I apologize in advance if I bump you…I bounce.” to which HE said “oh so do I so it’s fine.” 😮 Well OK then! 😀

Once done, Mr. M. said hello and “we’ve NEVER played in Bexhill before!” to which a loud cheer erupted. Mark and I took off during Isotype and when it was done, the crowd cheered even louder. Mr. M. laughed and said “You’re an intellectual bunch, dancing to that song. I guess that’s the kind of people who live down here on the south shore then.” and Mr. H. laughed and said “maybe I should move here.” Mr. M. then said “I hope you can keep that up for this old one.” and Messages got going…and so did everyone else. Not as strong of a Yes yes yes for us today since it was just Mark and I but the No, no, no was a good one. 🙂

When it was done and Merve was coming out to meet Mr. M. and get his bass, a woman let out a scream…but it was a LOOOOONG scream. Mr. H.’s eyes widened and Stuart and Mr. M. laughed. I should mention that I was watching Mr. C. a lot, especially with being on his side and he was SO smiley right off the bat. I couldn’t help but keep smiling myself it was adorable! 😀 HoM found many following Mr. M.s lead and bouncing and when it was over, the crowd just kept cheering. The guys were all looking out at the crowd with big smiles and Mr. M. said “definitely better than LONDON!” to which Mr. H. agreed. I agree too. 😀

Democracy time gave us the song Mark, Debbie and I had wanted! The choices were She’s Leaving, Pandora’s Box and Genetic Engineering. Mr. M. walked out with SOMETHING…initially I couldn’t see if it was a bass or guitar, I just knew it knocked PB out of winning. But then he came out more and I saw it was a guitar…and realized it was going to be GE! Whoo hoo!!!! 😀 😀 😀 Mr. M. laughed and said “so you really ARE an intellectual bunch. You didn’t vote for the love song…you didn’t vote for the song about the old Hollywood star…you voted for the song about DNA” to which the rest of the band laughed and the crowd let out a big cheer. Lots of bopping around from everyone so it was obvious this song was the definite winner LOL. And unlike the first time it won in Reading, I decided to record it but watched it too. The lighting on it was actually pretty cool. 😀 SO happy I got to see it again! I love that song! 😀 😀 😀

I hadn’t noticed until Mr. M. pointed it out but the side sections were almost TOO far to the side because of how the stage was set up and the walls. Chicago has some venues like that and if you are on the side, a part of the stage on your side is hidden. So Mr. M. turned to Mr. H. and said “Paul, do you want to show yourself to that side over there and come out to sing?” Mr. H. laughed and said “yes of course”, came out and Mr. M. pointed to him and said “see, he DOES exist”. 😀 Then the side of the stage that’s “stage left”. cheered and Mr. H. laughed, waved and said “HELLO!” Quite a bit of singing along for this one which was fun to hear and then…head banging one final time. I had forgotten to mention it to the couple next to me so had turned to them a bit into the show. When Souvenir was about to start, I turned to the husband and told him again that it was a long story and I’d tell him later but it’s tradition now. He laughed and said OK but in the end, it was just Mark and I LOL but since we were not too far from center, Stuart laughed and pointed when the song was over. I swear, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to just WATCH that song again LOL. 😀

Lots of clapping, cheers and singing along for JoA/MoO and when it was over, the crowd was just mental. The band all stood there a bit dazed by it all really. Mark and I kept looking around to see because it was just a really good vibe. The set up of the venue with the sides and such…it just made the cheering seem all surrounding. The guys were thrilled and Mr. M. of course did his thank yous and said “one thing…dance like no one is watching”. 🙂 I could almost feel the crowds suspense and curiosity as the band got ready to do OAtTWM and it went down wonderfully. This was a crowd that REALLY appreciated getting to see that! Mr. H. came up to the front to do WHWD and someone part way back but on our side suddenly, in a musical way yelled “WE Looooooove You!” 😮 I cheered as I LOVE that song and would love to hear it! Mr. H. stopped a bit surprised and chuckled saying “thank you” and Mr. M. laughed saying “he’s got a good voice Paul, you have a back up.” LOL. 😀

When it was over, Mr. M. said “well, this is the part of the show I dread. I don’t know if you’ll like it because the intellectual part is done. Now it’s just a bunch of non-stop, mindless dancing.” But of course, we loved it! SiL went down well with Mr. M. pointing out Mr. C. letting loose on the sax and bows when it was done. The crowd was eating it up and Mr. M. said “I’m having fun!” then turned to Mr. H. and said “Paul, are you having fun?” to which Mr. H. smiled and said “I’m definitely having fun”. Glad to hear it boys. 🙂 Locomotion found a bit more playing between Mr. M. and Mr. H. and earlier Mr. M. had gone over to Mr. C. and couldn’t see exactly what went down but Mr. M. was dancing in Mr. C.s direction and Mr. C. laughed so… 😀 They all truly WERE having fun. 😀 The stage was set up as such that there was a big black box of some sort… I’m guessing monitors or speakers or somthing…but it allowed Mr. M. to come down closer to the crowd and he took full advantage of it through out the night.

Lots of hey hey heys for TPoL, and then Mr. M. asked if we were tired or wanted more. We of course chose the ‘more’ option and they did SotSS. Then it was time for Enola Gay. Everyone let loose, lots of bouncing around and singing and when it was over, the band kind of stood there a bit to look at the crowd. Mr. H. said “amazing!” and they all came down with massive smiles and waves to the crowd. Mr. M. started pointing to Mr. C. and then the other side of the venue and back and forth…basically showing them “look, THIS is Mr. C. that you’ve probably heard all night but not seen” LOL 😀 Hugs to each other and Mr. M. said they would for sure be back and then they left the stage with the crowd still cheering. Mark thought he could get the OMD chant going so he tried, the couple next to me joined in but it didn’t go down. Well we tried. 😉

When the band came back on stage, they were gleeming and Mr. M. said “I don’t know about you all but WE are having a great time!” Lots of cheers and then Mr. M. said “I know you may think bands say this all the time but seriously, we were all talking in the entryway back there and think THIS is the best show of the tour so far.” Massive cheering and then they went into WotMW. I have to say, the “hey hey” was SO distinctive and clear that I think it was definitely the best I’ve heard on the tour. 🙂 THEN, we got a suprise set list change. TBH, I like the original song better but…instead of Secret, we got SiL. 😮 The crowd seemed to not mind as a lot of singing came along. When it was time for Electricity, Mr. M. said ‘there comes a time when we DO have to go home.” Lots of “awww….” and someone yelled out “eeeeellectricittttyyyyy”. Mr. M. laughed and said “yes! FINALLY someone yells out a song we’re going to do.” 😀 😀 😀 Everyone bopped around one last time, Mark and I especially and then it was over. Though we couldn’t get the OMD chant going at the encore part, it got going NOW as the band stood on the stage one last time. Foot stomping too so the guys stayed there for a bit to soak it up. It was really wonderful! 😀 When they finally left, it took slightly longer as they all kept waving to us and clapping back..and then it was over. Dang! 🙂 Small post pic tonight of just Mark, Debbie and I, a little bit of talking to crew and then we went out. I said goodbye to TMP and then eventually had to say goodbye to Irene and shortly later Mark and Debbie. I couldn’t help but think back to Cambridge…my first gig and the START of the tour for me. Seems a long time ago now! 🙁

So…my highlight for tonight…Initialy I was thinking it would have to be the crowd and how the gig went. What a way to end things…go to the best show thus far. I would agree they and Leicester are my personally best crowds to my ear. I jokingly teased Debbie saying “good thing we don’t have any more shows because we’d be comparing them to this one. It’s nice to end on a great show!” 😀 But I’m going to say it’s that and seeing Mr. C. being especially smiley. NOT that he doesn’t smile a lot anyways. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but tonight was extra and a pure joy to see and watch! 😀

So that’s it then. 🙁 Not sure which USA dates I’m doing yet due to some personal loss putting me back in planning but…I will figure it out soon and it’s nice to know I’ll get to see them again in a few months. 😀