barenakedfi
09-28-2010, 12:13 AM
I've seen BNL on every UK tour except the BN for the Holidays (when it clashed with a trip to India) since I first saw them support Beautiful South in 1999 (quick mental arithmatic makes that 4 shows before this tour). I've always had pre-booked seats in the past, mainly because those I was going with were just not quite as obsessive as myself and wanted comfort, and poor health before now has prevented standing for so long.
I have long envied those standing at the front, not only because they are so much more a part of the show, but because the atmosphere is greater close to the stage. I would be singing my heart out amongst a rather conservative crowd, many of whom didn't know the lyrics anyway. I also expected people to get up and dance, but no... not even during the encore (British reservation, perhaps?).
This tour, I had won tickets (seated) & meet & greet at Manchester and bought tickets for myself and partner to Edinburgh & Glasgow. As my chap likes them, but isn't quite as obsessed as myself, I was working on the assumption that we would be seated again. Edinburgh was simple general admission for the whole venue, Glasgow general admission for the various sections, so I chose the balcony for his sake.
After the meet & greet in Manchester, I was determined I wanted to be at the stage for Edinburgh, so we queued really early and got a place in front of Kev. It was a completely different experience! Jim recognised us from the previous Saturday and gave me a wink, Kev spotted us early on. He'd asked us at Manchester if we had any requests, and I asked for Am I The Only One or For You, he said he'd try to work one of them into a Scottish gig for us. When For You started, my chap gave him the thumbs up and he leaned forward and gave us a grin (which I have on video). Ed spotted us singing along and smirked a couple of times. It was amazing to be interacting with the band and having them recognise us.
During the show, I got a Kev pick and afterwards one of the crew gave me another, plus a setlist from the stage!!! I also got a few fantastic photos during the show, despite having to use a cheap camera (my SLR had been confiscated at Manchester, so I couldn't risk being held up handing my camera in again)
At Glasgow, we thought we might be able to just go anywhere when we got into the venue and could get to the stage again, despite benig booked onto the balcony, but staff sent us upstairs. Although the atmosphere was amazing, it couldn't beat the experience of being at the stage in Edinburgh.
After the Glasgow gig, we went to the stage door to meet them one last time. Ed, Kev, Jim & Boothby all did a little bit to video, though I was gutted to find I'd lost a great video that Ed did for me, goofing around.... but he did a shorter replacement.
I am never going to book seats for a BNL gig again.... I have to have the stage-side experience every time now. Forget drugs, nothing could beat that high!
I have long envied those standing at the front, not only because they are so much more a part of the show, but because the atmosphere is greater close to the stage. I would be singing my heart out amongst a rather conservative crowd, many of whom didn't know the lyrics anyway. I also expected people to get up and dance, but no... not even during the encore (British reservation, perhaps?).
This tour, I had won tickets (seated) & meet & greet at Manchester and bought tickets for myself and partner to Edinburgh & Glasgow. As my chap likes them, but isn't quite as obsessed as myself, I was working on the assumption that we would be seated again. Edinburgh was simple general admission for the whole venue, Glasgow general admission for the various sections, so I chose the balcony for his sake.
After the meet & greet in Manchester, I was determined I wanted to be at the stage for Edinburgh, so we queued really early and got a place in front of Kev. It was a completely different experience! Jim recognised us from the previous Saturday and gave me a wink, Kev spotted us early on. He'd asked us at Manchester if we had any requests, and I asked for Am I The Only One or For You, he said he'd try to work one of them into a Scottish gig for us. When For You started, my chap gave him the thumbs up and he leaned forward and gave us a grin (which I have on video). Ed spotted us singing along and smirked a couple of times. It was amazing to be interacting with the band and having them recognise us.
During the show, I got a Kev pick and afterwards one of the crew gave me another, plus a setlist from the stage!!! I also got a few fantastic photos during the show, despite having to use a cheap camera (my SLR had been confiscated at Manchester, so I couldn't risk being held up handing my camera in again)
At Glasgow, we thought we might be able to just go anywhere when we got into the venue and could get to the stage again, despite benig booked onto the balcony, but staff sent us upstairs. Although the atmosphere was amazing, it couldn't beat the experience of being at the stage in Edinburgh.
After the Glasgow gig, we went to the stage door to meet them one last time. Ed, Kev, Jim & Boothby all did a little bit to video, though I was gutted to find I'd lost a great video that Ed did for me, goofing around.... but he did a shorter replacement.
I am never going to book seats for a BNL gig again.... I have to have the stage-side experience every time now. Forget drugs, nothing could beat that high!