And finally, mi third review, maybe you already got bored with my other two
It's just as well there was a day off between Leeds and Newcastle, because I spent all day in bed recovering from my cold. And it sorted - on Sunday I was feeling right and full of energy for the gig. YAY! BTW, Newcastle is a very nice city, wish I could have seen it properly. Cold and windy tho, close to Scotland hehe
Met Alan and his friends Claire and Adam before the gig, and we could chat a bit. Collected my tickets and all was ok, so all four of us went into the venue and had a drink at the bar in there. The venue was nice, stalls and balcony, not to small, not too big. Before it started, we met Richard (Daniel's Grandad) and wife. Recognized each other from the photos
Nice to meet you friends!
Alan and me had row N, stalls. Also saw our american friend Julianna who had the same row, what a coincidence. It was the first time I wasn't near the front at a Procs gig, and I thought it wouldn't be fun to be so far away from the stage, but I discovered there's also a point to it. If you are in the middle of the crowd, you get more from the atmosphere and you feel a part of it. You can see (and photograph) all the stage at the same time, instead of having to look left or right. And also, if you are not so close to the amplifiers, you can hear yourself when you sing along! LOL. So it was not so bad. (But if I can choose... I still prefer the front!! I missed Charlie's winks
)
The crowd was fantastic. They were already rocking with Miles and Erica, and more than ready when N&R started.
It was cool to sit next to Alan, it's great to have somebody next to you with such energy and enthusiasm, and singing along to everything the same as me
. At my other side, there was a boy with his dad and they were having lots of fun. And just in front of us, almost the whole row was a bunch of friends, men and women, who were all the time dancing, whether standing or on the chair. The transversal aisle was right in front of them, so they could stretch all kinds of arms and legs, LOL, or even get up and dance around there. Great fun, but sometimes I wished I was taller, cos I couldn't see anything
There was no problem to take photos and videos. And here too, we had the nice effect with the lights, casting a silhouette of C or C on the side walls. I couldn't get a photo tho. (Alan, could you?) I'm sorry folks but I'm not able to take videos. A pic is just a moment, but I can't spend a whole song holding a camera. LOL. (I did with Miles and Erica tho, I can upload it, but the sound quality is crap).
More singalong than in any other place I've seen. I'd say the lads and the band were enjoying it too, clearly a two way thing. Some random comments about some of the songs:
Born Innocent: At the start of this, I heard Charlie say "For Neila, if she is there". OH YES I WAS!! I don't know if I will ever get used to this, but it gets me really emotional, to hear Charlie say my name in front of a crowd. This is my third dedication, after Dublin and Leeds
Letter From America: When I saw the reaction of the crowd to this, I knew this would be a great gig
LFA always gets an enthusiastic reaction, but this was even more.
Let's get married: Here the row of dancers in front of us went nuts. I guess some of them wanted to marry some other, and maybe some of them wanted to marry Charlie. LOL.
I Know: The crowd liked this. But they started clapping and cheering at the wrong time, and then realized the song went on. LOL.
On my way: Dedicated to the boy who was next to me with his dad! Craig said he was 11 and it was his first gig. The boy was in awe!
At the very first chord of the song, the crowd stood up at once. That was it! Everybody went nuts, and it was still the middle of the set. After that, many of us remained standing for
Sean, which got also a lot of sing along.
On Causewayside: Everybody listening attentively. Really fine voices. I heard it live for the first time, and with this, I've listened live to almost all the new album (let me see: N&R, LCMM, 3 more days, Just look now, Sing all our cares away, I know, Shadows fall, WOS and On Causewayside)
SOL: Fantastic again with Erica, she got lots of cheering. Everybody sang along. There was a guy standing near the front, wearing a Hibs top and scarf, and holding the scarf up during all the song. I think he was the same guy that later got his top signed.
After SOL,
There's a Touch got the crowd instantly standing again. Isn't it wonderful when everybody recognizes all the songs at the first chord?
LWY: Everybody standing again and totally rocking.
I'm Gonna Be: If people went mad with the other songs, can you imagine what was I'm Gonna Be there?!?!?
BURSTING with enthusiasm!!! LOL !!!
Wages of Sin. People were sitting, just after My Old Friend the Blues, and many people didn't know the song, but I think they got into it. I have to say Craig's voice was ABSOLUTELY SUPERB here. At some point, he did a kind of gravelly sound that had me in awe, I even had to stop clapping.You'll see the photos, with Zac, Craig, Erica, Garry John and Charlie at the front of the stage. The whole thing was incredible, with very special energy from all of them. Craig himself seemed quite pleased with it, cos at the end of the song he had a very broad grin he doesn't usually show on stage I think. He even tossed his tambo up spinning in the air to catch it again.
Killie Blues: Standing again and incredible energy. LOL.
(Now that I think of it: OMG, if Newcastle is like this, what can it be in Scotland??)
I was still all wet with sweat and my heart beating fast, when I stepped over the seats in front of me to run to the stage and try to get a setlist. And I got it, Buddy said hi and handed it to me
Couldn't imagine a better end to my little trip. But in this occasion there was more, because we were lucky enough to say hi to C&C and the band. It's soooo great to talk to them. They signed my stuff and took pics once again. Also chatted to the rest of the band, and I had the chance to meet Kenny, their manager, very nice guy, and as tall as C&C! LOL. I also talked to Erica again.
I am glad I could chat with C&C a bit, cos I wanted to tell them how wonderful the show had been, thank them for everything and tell them my little trip had been well worth it. Also thank Charlie for my dedications at Leeds and Newcastle
Maybe I'll get used to this someday too, but by now, I am still impressed that I can talk to them as I talk to any other person
I don't think most "rock stars" are like this. And I'm chuffed with every little thing C or C say to me, for example if Craig says he likes my Scotland teeshirt and if later Charlie says the same, LOL! And I love their sense of humour. May I give you a sample? At some point, I was struggling to understand what Alan was saying (LOL, Alan, thanks for your patience with my bad ear!) and I told Charlie I could understand him better, maybe because I am getting used to his accent. He looked at me very seriously and said: "We don't have accent". I said, you're right, it's the rest of the world that has accent. LOL, big laugh of course.
Then it was time to say goodbye, sad moment but with the heart full of unforgettable moments. C&C said they hope to see me again soon (shouldn't it be the other way round?? LOL)
Now my photos of all three gigs are ready but I am having problems with the program I use to upload to Flickr! Hope to get it sorted asap and I'll show them to you
I love Rock n Roll, it took my hand and it touched my soul
