Glasgow-October 31st, 2019
Happy Halloween! 😀 It’s pretty cool that UK celebrates it well now too. It’s huge back in the states. 😀 Well, Maria and I had gotten up with the PLAN to go have a little bite to eat at a café before I headed off to look for a few gems at the BaB store that weren’t in the states but as it turned out, nothing was open! 😮 ☹ We tried 2 different places but one showed 10am opening, the other we were told by the next door neighbor “9:20” so we killed a bit of time but once back to it, still not open so Maria went back to hotel to get some coffee and I carried on out to city center and hit Greggs for some munchies before the store LOL. It was a MUCH easier trip back to the station as Maria showed me the way HER Google maps had taken her (only thing I can think of is that since I mapped things out while still in America, maybe Google maps couldn’t get a good enough idea of a route and just took me on what they THOUGHT was the best but wasn’t LOL) and then a goodbye and see ya Sunday before I headed off to board my train to Glasgow. I even lucked out on the train because mine was terminating in Glasgow Central. Original ticket was for Queens Street station with a connection but hotel was just as close to Central and when I asked the ticket guy if I could just stay on, he looked and said yes, my ticket was an open transfer so…yay, I didn’t move til I got to Glasgow. 😀
A lot of friends coming to this show but I actually didn’t meet up with any of them until after the gig as I had a Glasvegas friend to meet up with. 😊 We had a lovely chat and then I headed over to the venue. Funny enough, I got the strangest “ticket”. SEE hadn’t mailed them out to me in time so I had to ask for box office pick up. When I went there with my friend, the lady said they had no tickets! 😮 I showed her a screen shot of SEE email and then she asked if I remembered which seat. I knew row L but nothing else and was pulling up confirmation email when she said she found me. I THOUGHT that meant she found my ticket but nope, see took a tablet out, filled in some stuff and handed it to me. It was a slip of paper that had date, name of gig, seat number and her signature. 😮 ☹ Um….oookkkk…. But she assured me it “will get you in” so I took it and once I returned later after my friend and I said goodbye, I hesitantly gave to the guard but it worked. Weird but alrighty then LOL.
I arrived during the first song of MiG15 and ran into Ed as I was going in. He asked if I had seen what James, Mr. M.s son, was wearing. I said no, just arriving and he replied “He’s dressed up as ANDY!” I got to my seat, looked up and the whole band was dressed up. James like Mr. M. with big fuzzy black wig, white shirt and black pants with suspenders. Lead singer was dressed like Freddy Mercury, lead guitarist was er, well looking like a scary dude with his make up design and from MY seat, the drummer looked like he had on Mickey Mouse ears but later I found out it was a Russian fuzzy hat thing LOL. I love Halloween! I had a headband with springy skulls that were reminiscent of SiL Day of the Dead skulls but took them off once at my seat so as not to obstruct peoples view. 😉
Right…a bit about my seat tonight. Row L, fairly centered tho not directly. For MiG15, it was fine as there was a seat empty to my right and everyone was sitting. I saw Canadian friends and also figured out where Marilyn was in row B all decked out in what she said was to be Danish Joan of Arc but I originally thought a super hero girl which she said many thought LOL. Neal and Martin were there too but hadn’t seen them, just messages to all meet up at merch after. Just before OMD were to start, seats filled up but I was happy that no one stood for their first song because it allowed me to get it recorded with full stage and lighting view. Once everyone was up for Isotype…oh my goodness….my seat was PERFECT! OK, obviously further away but this venue had the seats a bit staggered so no one was RIGHT in front of you and the 2 guys in front had one with broad shoulders so I had a perfect view of all 4 guys that fit right between the frame the 2 guys shoulders made! Whoo hoo! 😀
But anyway, back to OMD and start of show. Glasgow always gets good crowds as this is my 3rd time seeing them here and the first 2 were great so I wasn’t surprised when the crowd let out a massive cheer after Stanlow. The guys immediately lit up and Isotype went down well too. When Mr. M. got his bass, he joked “now the bass playing starts. Tho you’ve already seen the better bass player of the family….dressed like ME the little bastard.” Everyone laughed and then massive cheers for Messages and it continued for TG too. I looked around and saw that most of the balcony was standing which is always a good sign. 😊
When HoM came on, I had to refrain which wasn’t easy, but figured I’d take advantage of being further back and record it. But the woman next to me was bouncing as were quite a few others in the crowd and lots of clapping along at the appropriate moments. Mr. M. praised us once done, then got ready to introduce Mr. H. by calling him “Super Humphreys. It’s Halloween after all”. It would have been funny to see the guys in costume but OK, we’ll just imagine Mr. H. with a super hero mask LOL. Everyone loved FLaD and when it was done, the cheers were so loud that Mr. H. was just thrilled and grinning from ear to ear. He looked out at us and said “ah…wow, we should play here again tomorrow” which elicited more cheers and he said “Or we could just take you with us…we can make room on the bus.” Mr. M. laughed and patted Mr. H. on the back and shoulder as they switched spots, then suddenly got all serious and said “Now I’m pissed! You like him better than me and this is the city my dad was born in”. Some laughed and cheered but then when he continued with “FINE, go on and sing another song then” and started to walk to side of stage, some people actually thought he was SERIOUS and started to boo! 😮 Until they saw he was just walking to meet Merve and get his bass. Mr. M. laughed so not sure if he heard it or not and realized but…oops LOL.
So no need to say there was just an enormous reaction to the A&M trio…but I’ll say it anyways as the guys were just blown away. They all looked out at us, at each other, shook their heads and multiple thank yous back to us. When things finally settled down, Mr. M. jokingly said “That was the first but NOT the last time I have danced like that since I turned 60.” The crowd cheered and he continued by saying “I’d say dance like your kids aren’t watching but the little bastard is right over there” and pointed to Mr. H. side of crowd then said “I love you James.” Aww. 😀
A number of people around me sat for the next 2 “weird” songs but quite a few around me still stood. I took advantage of the “shoulder window” view and being further back to record Statues (FINALLY LOL) as I got all 4 guys in so could see the lights and such. But then it was back to bouncing for Don’t Go and more dancing to SiL. The crowd didn’t let up and I even heard singing along to Dreaming which I found entertaining since it’s more an American hit. Once done and everyone was just going on and on, Mr. M. just looked up at the balcony and then to Mr. H. who was looking at him and shaking his head. They both then pointed to the crowd and back at each other like “LISTEN to that!”. Mr. C. and Stuart were looking around with wide smiles of amazement too, it was sweet!
Bopping around, clapping and singing along continued, as did the cheers. I watched Mr. H. again during Locomotion and tried to capture his cute wavings LOL, then, as the crowd cheered and cheered, Stuart was soaked up in it all when Mr. M. called his name. It was funny because he suddenly snapped out of it like “oh…yes, what?” LOL 😀 He got asked if he was “ready” to which he smiled and nodded, then immediately went into SotSS. My goodness, the singing along was just great! 😀 When it was over, Mr. M. put his hands to his chest and then gave us a massively heart felt thank you. This was for sure the best crowd that I’ve seen thus far. 😊
Needless to say everyone loved EG and the guys took a bit longer to come down to the front as they stood and soaked up the crowd’s reactions. When they finally did, Mr. C. came down and was slapping peoples hands. 😮 😀 They repeatedly thanked us for being “just amazing!” and then left the stage while the crowd cheered on. I’ve got to say, I was really hoping they’d mix things up a bit and change the encore songs as IYL is SO over played in the states but…nope. ☹ Ah well then, I guess it’s a treat for people outside the states to hear. Pandora’s box flew by and then it was their last moment of Electricity which had quite a few people bouncing. When the guys came back down for their final waves and thank yous, everyone kept cheering so Mr. M. was bouncing around, waving and all 4 guys took their time again looking around and soaking it all in. For sure a stellar gig! 😀
Afterwards, I went down front as I had seen my friend Irene in the side balcony so wanted to say hello. Also found Marilyn so we walked out together and headed to the merch table where Neal had said to meet. Found Martin (and a guy I forgot the name of who I didn’t know, sorry) and then Neal came up too so lots of hellos. Marilyn wanted a pic with MiG15 since they were in costume and I had put my skull headband back on (tho no one told me it was on backwards at first) so we went over and ended up finding Duncan who was there waiting for Dee. He took the pic, then Jennifer and hubby came up and that’s when I was told the headband was on backwards. UGH! ☹ So ANOTHER pic with MiG15 LOL, then we all headed out as the plan was to go for a drink and chat. I was saying goodbye to Jennifer so somehow lost the rest of the gang but luckily Martin eventually saw my message and told me where they were. Katja was there too now and we were able to visit a bit but strangely enough, many of the bars including the one we were at closed at midnight and tho we tried not 1 but 3 more places, we weren’t successful. The first was too loud so no chance to visit, second was closing also so couldn’t even stay in and chat (as personally I didn’t want a drink, I just wanted to chat with everyone) and third was also too loud. It was raining at this point too so we all just decided to call it a night. I was going to see Marilyn and Martin in Manchester next day but not Neal and Katja so extra big goodbye hugs to them and then off to my hotel I went.
So…highlight tonight. Well, originally I was going to say being able to see the band so well and from a distance so as to enjoy the full effect of lighting and such. But the post gig was fun too and funny that we kept walking around and going into places to try and visit, only to be turned away or turned off by he noise. 😮 ☹ 😀 So tough decision but…oh, forgot to mention Martin bought all us girls roses too and funny pic with him and them so…I think I’ll say the post gig bit wins out. 😉