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Can you tell us more about your Paris experience?
Were you part of all these British people who seemed to be causing trouble on the first gig? What's that story exactly? Some people said that Barney and especially Hooky were exchanging a few words with people from the crowd who were British and were causing trouble...
S.
Don't think there was any 'trouble' per se, just handbags at 12 paces, with one Manc lad getting pushed about by a few French lads trying to goad him, and one of my lot stepping in to calm it down. I didn't notice anything till Barney called for calm from the stage. To be honest, it was an extremely good natured crowd the first night, despite being fairly frenetic, and on the 2nd night there wasn't a lot of movement down the front, though one young French lad was making a nuisance of himself, but was perhaps just a bit drunk.
As for the band, Barney was in fine spirits, and Hooky didn't seem to know where he was half the time!
Who posted the piccie then? There was some French lads taking shots, so perhaps one of them?
For the record, the line-up here is Caroline, then Neil, Johnny Giles (who posts here occasionally), Mr Disco / Mickey Way (who posts here a lot), Ewan, Gordie, Gary, Me and the Mrs (Paula), then Julie and Mad Darren. Only one who appears to be missing from our line-up is Mr Disco's partner, Tania.
Originally posted by Allen Jarvis For the record, the line-up here is Caroline, then Neil, Johnny Giles (who posts here occasionally), Mr Disco / Mickey Way (who posts here a lot), Ewan, Gordie, Gary, Me and the Mrs (Paula), then Julie and Mad Darren. Only one who appears to be missing from our line-up is Mr Disco's partner, Tania.
Sunday night, I saw a big bloke wearing a black 'Recycle' T-shirt in the front row of the mezzanine - er.. was it you ?
Nah, not me. I don't really 'do' band t-shirts, as a rule! I was downstairs anyways, then wandered towards the back of the theatre after about 60mph. Monday's crowd was a bit tame in comparison to Sunday's and I got a bit bored to be honest.
Seb asked me to write about my Paris experience, but I guess Buster, Pitch, etc must've written enough already nearer the time. Suffice to say, Monday was one of the best gigs I've attended this year, if not the best. Everything seemed to go right. The venue was a corker - lovely and intimate, and pitch black when the bands were on. And the crowd were as up for it as any I've witnessed in a long time. I went in with a full-length leather coat on (weight: about half a stone!), cos the cloakrooms were full, and I promised meself I'd hang back with the Mrs, and enjoy the gig from the sidelines. But as soon as you hear Crystal, there's nothing to do but crush in down the front and pogo like a loon. Then you turn round and realise all your mates have abandoned their partners too and joined you! Cracking! Seemed to be few quite a few Brits out for this one. About a dozen in our group, then a dozen more in the Manc group, and pockets of people who'd made their way over. Same set we've heard before, but I've (finally) learned to accept that now. Barney pointed out we had our flag upside down at one point, then Hooky took it off with me during KW1, but didn't seem to know what to do with it (what WAS he on at both gigs?!) then just gave it back. Seemed to be a bit of trouble around BLT but think it was little more than handbags at ten paces. Barney called for calm from the stage but I think everything was sorted by then. Lots of photo opportunities with bouncers at a minimum - one English lad (Alex) got past security by showing his after-show pass then they realised he wasn't a bona fide cameraman when he took out his disposable and started snapping Hooky! He gut chucked out by a side door but then walked round the front of the venue and they let him in again!
Second night though, what a difference. Crushed in down the front for Crystal ... and nothing. No movement whatsoever. Wandered out during 60mph, to find half the Manc lot all propping up walls, so wandered up to the back of the venue and hung around to watch the rest of the set from there. True Faith saw Barney's additional guitar totally drown out Hooky's bass (bad bit of mixing there), and Ruined had to be the worst I've ever heard it - when Barney's guitar clattered in I seriously thought we were gonna have another RTS situation with the song being stopped then ditched. And how can the sequencers misfire so badly - surely they're just pre-programmed. Only real downer was that we couldn't be arsed to try for access to the after-show party, as none of us really enjoyed the gig, so went on the ale in town instead, only to find out the next morning that the party had been in the club next door to our hotel. Free champagne all night, and the entire Manc contingent had gained entry and wondered where we'd got to! Doh!!
Fantastic trip away though. I work for the French so Paris to me usually means early morning planes, rush hour tubes and smokey offices, so it was nice to take it a bit easier for once. Only bizarre thing of note was that it was more expensive to sit upstairs at the Olympia, and bouncers were only on the upstairs doors to check tickets. It'll never catch on over here!!! Oh, and how can you justify 4 notes a beer?! Outrageous!
Yeah, the drinks were very expensive, as always in France.
(In Belgium, you would have paid half the price).
So, Allen, when you talk about a great gig, I guess you meant sunday's (you wrote monday but, later, you slag monday's off).
Originally posted by Sébastien Boisvert Can you tell us more about your Paris experience?Were you part of all these British people who seemed to be causing trouble on the first gig? What's that story exactly? Some people said that Barney and especially Hooky were exchanging a few words with people from the crowd who were British and were causing trouble...S.
There definately wasn't any 'trouble'. I was right behind a French guy and one of the MCR contingent who were slamming into each other quite agressively at one point but some big guy stepped in between them to cool it down - it just seemed a bit of over enthusiasm to me.
The crowd was a good natured and happy one from what I saw and I had a couple of sing-a-longs in the melee down the front with all sorts of people around me - definately the most enjoyable gig of the tour (I didn't stay around for Monday).
One of the best aspects about the gig was the reaction of the local crowd to some of the songs - I thought a guy behind me was going to burst when he heard the opening bars to Atmosphere!
Apart from Crystal the stuff from GR also seemed to go down better in Paris than it did at the UK shows.
Klumpy, judging by the radio broadcast on Monday, Regret seemed to be quite speeded up and much improved by being faster. Was that your sense from being there?
'Regret' was very good indeed. Although, sometimes it was so loud it was difficult totruly appreciate the songs for themselves, Patrick.
Originally posted by Buster Klumpy So, Allen, when you talk about a great gig, I guess you meant sunday's (you wrote monday but, later, you slag monday's off).
Indeed, sorry, Sunday was a great gig. Monday not so hot.
Forgot about something Mickey Way mentioned - the French crowed on Sunday seemed to have their own chants, much in the same that we Brits have our "Neworder! Neworder!" chant. Anyone know what these were?
Unfortunately, I missed a large part of the broadcast, but I did hear Regret and thought it was surprisingly good.
Originally posted by Patrick Unfortunately, I missed a large part of the broadcast, but I did hear Regret and thought it was surprisingly good.
Coming from you, Patrick, I guess Regret must be very happy with your comments ;)
Yes, Klumpy, after all the bad things I've said about that song, I wanted to say a good word when it deserved it.
Originally posted by Allen Jarvis Forgot about something Mickey Way mentioned - the French crowed on Sunday seemed to have their own chants, much in the same that we Brits have our "Neworder! Neworder!" chant. Anyone know what these were?
Do you mean these football supporter-like tunes? ;)
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Keep in mind, Huntsy, that I liked it better because it sounded faster, whereas I suspect you may like it better slow.
Originally posted by Patrick Keep in mind, Huntsy, that I liked it better because it sounded faster, whereas I suspect you may like it better slow.
no, faster is cool.
Anyway, Huntsy, on the subject of whether liking Regret is a moral test, just let me remind you that I cry whenever I listen to Leave Me Alone.
'Cause I did Booster... I always follow the Buster / Patty threads like children following beans laid as a trail on the forest floor in the popular nursing rhyme '3 little pigs'.
I'm a bit annoyed that I haven't given you a full and detailed report yet Busty on your music... its coming, and I've got the CD's in my bomber so any day yet. Its good to hear that a bit of egging on has egg'd you on to do more shit... keep going, there's no feeling like it (except eating snacks and getting a tug off the misses).
Hey Patty I've yet to listen to Leave Me A Loan since about 1997 as my record player went in the loft and I haven't got it on CD yet. Perhaps Santa will bring me the joyous fettler. It's difficult to not cry to that tune P bird... and I'm glad you have re-inforced that upon me. Two men crying across the atlantic... cue the song.
Take your time, Huntsy. I mean, there's a lot of songs on these CDs and I'm not sure it's easy to digest...
