Walls Came Down Black Maria Open My eyes Lunatic Fringe I Saw The Light Mad Afraid Mercenary Gun Courage Weakness Strike Pissin Today Bardo Mountaintop Panic Manup
Couldn't I just Tell You
Review by SueW:
My main question about this gig was why on earth Todd was playing Norwich! Norwich is a nice enough (small) city but it's off the beaten track and really is known as a sleepy place - it has no music history. I did read the description on Wikipedia (more about that website later!) of Norwich that said "During the 11th century Norwich became the second largest city in England, after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom" so maybe the gig booker didn't realise that things have changed a lot since the 11th century!
The Waterfront also conjured up to me visions of a lovely venue in a classy area of the city surrounded by bars, clubs and cafes. Unfortunately the reality was far removed from this as it was in a waterfront area surrounded by derelict warehouses! The directions I was given was to turn even right by the pub that was all boarded up and there was nowhere near to get a pre-gig dinner! This venue also had a 10.00pm curfew (yes, 10.00pm on a Saturday night!)!
On the way up we hit a blizzard and it was bitterly cold there but thankfully the venue itself was pleasantly warm - Todd obviously found it hot in there as he wiped himself down with a towel a lot.
It was a wide stage and quite deep considering the size of the venue (the stage probably took a quarter of the space). Thankfully the lighting was decent enough although Rachel was obviously complaining as it was in her eyes. They also had these unusual television set sized lights that were used to good effect as they were lit in all different colours.
Unfortunately the sound wasn't very good (at least where I was standing) as it was slightly distorted and the vocals got lost sometimes in the music.
Eugene Francis Jr opened the set as usual. Tonight the Keane and Snow Patrol line was back in his last song but he omitted the derogatory English comment!
Todd came on stage at about 8.15pm and paid until 10.02pm. When Kasim walked on stage he was drinking a hot drink that he sipped through the first few songs.
It was the same set list as they've played at all the gigs. I'm still not over-impressed with the album but since the European leg of this tour has started, Courage has really grown on me a lot. I think the main problem I have with the album is that there are really only a couple of Arena Rock tracks on it IMHO.
When they came back for the two song encore, they brought on a paper-mache head of George W Bush that Todd obviously delighted into smashing into smithereens! (This was a Student Union venue after all!)
There were copies of Kasim's CD All Sides available at the merchandise stand for only £10 which is a bargain for a double CD!
The first part of the drive home wasn't much fun as we drove through a blizzard for about 40 miles!
The funniest comment I heard all evening was when another fan saw someone in Todd's party and he remarked that he was surprised as he'd read on Wikipedia that he was no longer alive!
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The die-hards who decided to brave the snow and icy winds at the end at the stage door were rewarded by Kasim, Todd and Jesse happily chatting and posing for pictures while the one thing they probably wanted to do was get in their bus and go to their hotel.
Aside from putting on a great show (just read the London Forum reviews for details) Todd, Jesse, Kasim, Prairie and Rachel enhanced the whole event by chatting with the die hards who hung around in the snow afterwards getting their albums and posters etc. signed. What great guys - clearly happy to chat even though it was freezing and the tour bus looked very warm. Couldn't have been a better night.
The courtesy, humour and generosity of Todd, Kasim, Jesse, Prairie P and Rachel was tremendous--don't believe the cliche that meeting one's idols in the flesh leads to disappointment, far from it in this instance!
And one final question - how does Kasim (a left hander) play guitar like a right hander but his bass like a left hander? What a clever chap he is.
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