{"id":1573,"date":"2013-03-21T02:39:27","date_gmt":"2013-03-21T02:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/omdculture.com\/?p=1573"},"modified":"2013-03-21T02:52:20","modified_gmt":"2013-03-21T02:52:20","slug":"austin-october-13th-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/?p=1573","title":{"rendered":"Austin October 13th, 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

OMD Tour Stop #20 \u2013 La Zona Rosa Austin TX, October 13th, 2011<\/h1>\n
\n

\"P1110556\"<\/a>LOL, today saw the earliest departure I had to do the whole trip, it wasn\u2019t even fully light yet. For me, this was the \u201cend of the road\u201d gig as I wasn\u2019t going to Mexico City so as Mark and I headed down for the 8+ hour drive, I had a lot of things swirling around my head. However, good talk and laughs made the time fly and though we hit a few snares getting to the venue, we made it in time after all.<\/p>\n

The plan was to meet my friend Lisa and her sister Angie, both who I\u2019d met and befriended back in March at SXSW. They had Platinum packages like me and Mark, along with Irene, had Gold so we were able to share one final soundcheck together. Except the poor guys had a lot of trouble with the sound system so we got let in quite late and they were still having issues as we watched. Mr. M made reference to the last time they were in Austin, not just thecamera falling\u00a0but also the\u00a0Mellow Johnny\u2019s Bike Shop gig\u2026.ahhhh, that was magical!<\/p>\n

Just like in March, I waited at the end of the line so I could say goodbye to the guys. It never gets any easier, in fact in many ways it was harder this time than before because it\u2019s truly over but I managed to keep it together and farewells all around. Once outside however, poor Mark and Stefan got us girl\u2019s emotions landed on them but they had been forewarned, LOL.<\/p>\n

\"\"So on top of the friends I had with me, Lee, Lisas husband joined us, Kevin, another SXSW friend came, and a pleasant surprise that Kiki and Rob were also making the drive, whoo hoo! This was going to be a great gathering time!<\/p>\n

As usual, Mark, Stefan and I got in line early as we wanted to be up front and there had been a good amount of packagers so we didn\u2019t want to take any chances! The set up of the venue was basically one large, circular room. There was no balcony, the sound booth was in the back as usual but the bar and bathrooms were off to one side. When Washington came on, the thoughts of \u201clast time\u201d came and I teased Mark to slap me if I started to cry during THEIR set but they seemed to have an extra something with this being the last gig and the crowd seemed to enjoy them.<\/p>\n

Well Mr. H had told us the night before that there was going to be a good crowd and by the time I made my usual pit stop before OMD, I saw that was a true prediction. What a sight to see after having more room the past few gigs!<\/p>\n

10pm came around and we could see some of the guys from outside the door that the staff kept opening behind the stage and also, LOL, ourselves in Mr. H#2\u2032s drum (that took a bit of getting used to\u2026basically having a mirror in front of me, especially since the stage was lower and not much of a barrier\u2026.hello, oh gosh) When the lights came down and DS started, I thought \u201cThis is it\u201d. Strangely, we heard some loud clicking noises initially but I believe that was what the guys had had problems with during sound check and it disappeared by the end of the song. Mr. M met the cheers with \u201cWe promised we\u2019d be back to play a proper gig in Austin\u201d. More cheers and he continued with a joke about how they spent a long time trying to get the PA to work right and they hope it holds out for the whole night, then ontoMessages\"\". There was a poor photographer who was behind Kiki and I trying to get pictures and I tried to bounce a bit lower and less so he could get some shots but not sure if I was fully successful. Thank goodness she and I are short!
\n\"\"<\/a>
\nTesla Girls\"\"\u00a0had strong clapping and was about the time I realized this was turning into an awesome crowd! Austin is quite the music city with not just SXSW but Austin City Limits and that love of music was focused on OMD tonight no doubt!\u00a0Radio Waves\"\"\u00a0found Lisa just freaking out as she earlier had said she hoped they did something off of\u00a0Dazzle Ships\"\"\u2026yep, they did! No tripod for tonight\u2019s performance of\u00a0History of Modern (Part I)\"\"\u00a0(in fact, aside from some quick pics I snapped during\u00a0Messages\"\"\u00a0for this blog, I didn\u2019t use my camera the whole night, I just wanted to live the moment!) With Mark and Kiki on my sides, I bounced like crazy and the crowd was singing along as if this song was a decade old!<\/p>\n

Mr. H\u2019s turn came next and he was happy to take the mic as the screams came out and more singing for\u00a0(Forever) Live And Die\"\".\u00a0If You Leave\"\", well what more can I say about this song but that it too was loved as it always is but then\u00a0Souvenir\"\"\u00a0began and the lights cast a nice hue on the whole band, it was sweet.<\/p>\n

Joan Of Arc\"\"\u00a0was next and being the first song I\u2019d ever heard of OMD way back when, it holds a special place in my heart so it, along with\u00a0Maid Of Orleans\"\", found me losing the battle of keeping it together but I also tried to relish in the final windmilling experience and once done, the crowd erupted and I just had to smile. What a gig to send the guys off with, not just because of their crummy experience in Austin last March, but to see the hands way in the back clapping like us up front, brilliant!<\/p>\n

Statues was wonderful but\u00a0Green\"\"\u00a0was a stand out for me as Mr. M. sang with an extra surge of emotion and the unison of his arm hits and Mr. H#2\u2032s drum beats really pounded in the feeling, no pun intended. During\u00a0Talking Loud And Clear\"\", Mr. M told everyone that it was the last slow song so all the older folks could rest a little longer, then he stood up to look over the crowd, noticed some teenagers a few rows back from me and said \u201cwell, YOU can dance to this one if you\u2019d like but I\u2019m going to sit down\u201d. He also asked a girl next to Kiki if she was enjoying her birthday and she elatedly said YES! She ended up getting his towel afterwards as he tossed it to her. A final birthday gift, sweet. =o)<\/p>\n

\"\"SiL brought out more singing and Mr. M. told us to be louder, so we sang even more. Huge smiles from the Mr. H\u2019s and Mr. C too, as he happily nodded his head back and forth to the beat. They were loving it all. Mark had recruited a few newbies to the congregation for\u00a0Sister Marie Says\"\"\u00a0but they only stuck around for the first part, forgetting later\u2026ah well, LOL. This was one of two songs I hadn\u2019t gotten recorded so before the gig, I had asked the girl behind me called Letty if she\u2019d mind taping it since she said she wouldn\u2019t be bouncing but she ended up having Kevin do it since he\u2019s taller and they worried about Mark and I getting in the way. Ha, can\u2019t wait to see that footage, tee hee. We weren\u2019t the only ones up and down though, like\u00a0History of Modern (Part I)\"\", the crowd went crazy. I gotta say, Austin was becoming one of the best gigs I\u2019d seen this tour and I couldn\u2019t be happier for the guys, their smiles, laughter and looks back and forth from us to each other a reminder of just how special the gigs can really be.<\/p>\n

The next few songs just flew by and before we knew it,\u00a0Enola Gay\"\"\u00a0was starting. Everyone was ready to let loose and the energy from both us and the band was at a max. When they finished and waved goodbye before walking off, cheers and hoots erupted and it wasn\u2019t long before the OMD chant began. Coming out for the encore, it was obvious they were thrilled with the way the night was going and when Mr. M asked for some \u201cGood old fashioned audience participation\u201d for\u00a0Walking On The Milky Way\"\", that\u2019s exactly what he got. Mark was one of the back up singers this time and when it came time to personalize the song, we got \u201cBut FIVE times in Austin, you can\u2026\u201d, HA!\u00a0Secret\"\", well that was another special one for me as I just savored it one more time, remembering back to Miami when it was debuted.. wow, Mr. H really does shine on that song! When the guys finally launched\u00a0Electricity\"\", Mark and I bounced our feet and hearts out one last time and when it was over, before the guys could even start their goodbye intros of each other, the crowd started chanting OMD again, it was awesome!! They did eventually say final goodbyes and, waving one last time, left the stage.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Once the lights came on and everyone started to disperse, Mark wanted a final group picture so I gathered everyone around while he found someone to take it. The venue security was motioning everyone out so we headed to the porch but not before I yelled to Roger about goodbye. I wanted to make sure to say it to the crew too but had only been able to do it with Merv earlier while he came by us to tape down Mr. M\u2019s set list. He said something abn really be.
\nout outside so figured he meant as they loaded the bus so we ended up heading towards the doors but not before seeing Andrew and Chicky\u00a0one last time, goodbyes ensuing. Once outside, I said goodbye to Kiki and Rob as they had a 3.5 hour drive back home, then Mark and I headed around to the tour bus\u2026except we couldn\u2019t get to it the way we came out. I\u2019m going to chalk the fact that we could have just gone around the other side of the bus vs. around the entire block as a sign we were both tired and not thinking straight (oops, ha) but we eventually ended up where we wanted to be\u00a0and Irene and Stefan came by shortly later. We laughed at how we weren\u2019t waiting for the guys this time, just the crew and kept partly hidden as we\u00a0didn\u2019t want them to think we WERE waiting for them\u2026ala OMD stalker style haha. But Roger and Co. didn\u2019t come out and as we kept waiting, suddenly Irene jumped back saying she saw Ryan coming out with luggage heading towards a van I had wondered was there to take the guys to their hotel. We all followed, now fully hidden by the building and stood their looking at each other, not knowing exactly what to do since we all had the same thoughts. We came to a mutual conclusion that we didn\u2019t want to be seen so decided to just forget it and walked back the way we came, though Mark and I giggled when Stefan was like \u201cif the band wants to stalk US, then that\u2019s OK but if not, no, we should leave.\u201d They had to turn the final corner in a different direction though so more goodbyes and teary eyes before we parted. When Mark and I made it to Lisa and her family (forgot that\u00a0Kevin and I said our goodbyes by the building corner) I glanced inside the venue one last time\u2026.and saw Stan finishing up at the merch booth! \u00a0I honestly didn\u2019t think I\u2019d be allowed back in but ran to the door, told the guy coming out of it with equipment (not sure if he\u2019s a venue man or what) that I just wanted to say goodbye and in I went. Mark followed and we hit Stan first, then saw Roger was still on stage so ran over there too and a final goodbye\u2026awww, yea! The night ended with dropping Mark off at his hotel (yeah, more tears, he\u2019s used to it by now I\u2019m sure) and then going home with Lisa as she was kind enough to invite me for the night.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So highlight of the night\u2026. well, as sad as it was, I have to say the goodbyes to the guys. Though the pre-gig meet and greet flew by and I didn\u2019t get to say all I had wanted (LOL, probably should have written thank you cards again but I just felt trying to do it fully in person was the right thing this time), it was a chance to have a final moment with them all and I was also able to say it in special ways during the gig. Hand holds\/kiss, smiles and laughs\u2026 and the joy of it all sent me out the door with the knowledge that even though it was over, I had yet another month of amazingly UNBELIEVABLE experiences! I never in a million years thought I\u2019d get to do this twice in a lifetime, not yet alone twice in one year! There\u2019s no words to express how grateful and lucky I feel to have had the opportunities and I now have another world of memories to add to my heart and soul.<\/p>\n

Like before, I have to say\u00a0thank you\u2019s because a lot are due. Of course the guys, not just for coming back to us Americans and taking yet another chance on us, but also for giving it their all, even when the crowds weren\u2019t to capacity. The smaller numbers didn\u2019t show me a lack of enthusiasm, neither from the band nor from the fans because I saw the same smiles on all their faces and heard the same things out of the mouths of people around me, things like how they couldn\u2019t believe they were getting to finally see them, how it was a dream come true, etc. SO precious, really! But also a thank you for being so graciously kind and sweet as they always are.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A round of thanks for the crew who were also wonderful, funny, and very accommodating with set lists for my friends, tee hee. Thank you to PaulB as, through some issues with the website, he still worked hard to get these blogs out. Shouts out to my friends back home and abroad who followed me on my journey and one final big thank you to everyone I had the pleasure and honor to see shows with. I had made a lot of new friends back in March and got to see almost all of you\u00a0again this time around but the difference being that now we were doing things together vs. just meeting. I also got to meet forum friends and enjoyed my time with all of you too! And among all that social time, I managed to make a few new friends, LOL, so thanks to each\u00a0and EVERY one of you for making my month so special. I\u2019m not afraid to admit that it\u2019s going to be hard once more to get off the OMD wagon and back to \u201cnormal\u201d life. SO much has happened in the past year and it won\u2019t be easy to turn it off for awhile but as Stefan said \u201cI don\u2019t see this as truly being a good\u00a0bye and over, just a time for them to rest and make new music, then we do it all over again\u201d. Here here to that! It\u2019s so true and I think it\u2019s safe to say everyone I met holds that same thought, hope and wish but no matter what the future holds, I won\u2019t ever forget any of this, or any of you! xo<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Previously posted at\u00a0omd-messages.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OMD Tour Stop #20 \u2013 La Zona Rosa Austin TX, October 13th, 2011 LOL, today saw the earliest departure I had to do the whole trip, it wasn\u2019t even fully light yet. For me, this was the \u201cend of the road\u201d gig as I wasn\u2019t going to Mexico City so as Mark and I headed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2011-omd-na-tour-part-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1573"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1583,"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1573\/revisions\/1583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/omdculture.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}