London O2 Arena - 28th March

Atane wrote:

We came from Paris to attend this gig. This was my wife's 40th birthday present..

What a wonderful gift for your wife.

I love reading these reviews. I hope I have an opportunity to see the guys in America this year.

Welcome welcome to all the new people!!

lucky with disease wrote:

one little niggle was that from where i was guy's voice on speaking(not on the singing) was echoing back from the back of the arena....bit like a bad telephone line. Hope thats remedied for tonight.

Unfortunately that's just the O2... as you've probably found out tonight. There has always been a prominent echo for all the shows that I've seen there.

Queen Ali wrote:

Fantastic night all round and absolutely can't wait for tonight now

Hope it was good tonight!!

kcdc230 wrote:

Kim, I think we were very close to where you were - just to the right of the 'B' stage. Looking at your profile pic, I think this could be you (and partner?) in this pic;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61151030@N03/5570400703/

Yep that's me, the shorty with my hand in front of my face, hehe. That's my mate Dave to my right in the red hoodie, and that's Queen Ali two people to my left. Were you at the barrier on the side there? I'd probably recognise you if I saw any pics, hehe.

Lynne wrote:

So where's the best spot then? We are off tonight and want to enjoy and get the best view. We usually stand to the right of Mark but the runway at the end of the stage sounds a better option!

I would definitely go for end of the runway. As well as having full view of the stage, the barriers are much closer there than at the very front. It's a shame being so far away from the rest of the band for most of the gig but it's ace when Guy and the lads get down to the end.

Mr_K wrote:

Oh, and the cocktail was Mandelson's Wigwam.

Cozzer wrote:

Hope they were freshly laundered

lucky with disease wrote:

I expect your knickers would be more tasteful!....the ones last night looked massive bridget jones from what i could see, guy quickly stuffed them in his pocket!

They were lacey white knickers, looked new rather than worn... probably for the best.

Kim wrote:

Yep that's me, the shorty with my hand in front of my face, hehe. That's my mate Dave to my right in the red hoodie, and that's Queen Ali two people to my left. Were you at the barrier on the side there? I'd probably recognise you if I saw any pics, hehe.

Yep, I was leaning against the barrier with my mate Andy. You may have spotted me as I am rather tall... I've changed my profile pic (hopefully!) to show a pic of me when the string quartet were playing. Being as tall as I am, I do always feel a bit guilty going near the front at concerts, and until a few years ago I always used to stand a lot further back, but then one day somebody pointed out that I pay the same money as everyone else, so I'm entitled to stand where I want! And if other people want to be near the front, then they should get there early like we do. I have to say though that Monday was the first time I've ever been right against the barrier, and it was brilliant! So if anybody who was behind me is reading this, then I do apologise - but you should have got to the O2 at 2pm like we did!! ha ha. Anyway, that's my defence m'lud.

Kim wrote:

They were lacey white knickers, looked new rather than worn... probably for the best.

They came from a 'lady' who was stood just behind me. I can't however vouch for how they actually made it in to the O2...

Hey hey ladies and gents.

Been buzzing around this forum for some time and thought it was about time I actually made an account. So hello all.


Saw both nights at the 02. Monday was far better, but the boys still kicked ass on the tuesday.

Was anyone to the right of the stage (if you're looking at it) on the monday night? Anyone see the crazy hippy chick waving her arms manically to every song?

Random thoughts about last night:

Elbow have now straddled the divide between "well-loved, and cherished little band" to global performers, yet retaining an intimacy with the audience.

The BARB songs get richer with repeated listens ........especially live (so thanks to the chap who uploaded Cambridge Junction show.....an aural reminder of the images I saw)

Guy Garvey could well be the finest front man ever. Some have awesome voices but don't connect with the audience. With many, it's t'other way round. He's got both. In spades.

The chord change in Tower Crane Driver is majestic on CD, but heart-stopping live. Whatever their future set list intentions (and yes, I too would like more dips into the back catalogue) they must never drop this.......please.

As a St. Helens lad, I love the band's Northern-ness! (if that's a word) and happily sang "With L u v v" rather than "With L a v v"

We were close to the mixing desk, and it was great to see the crew enjoying their work. I wonder was the toddler with his mum one's of the band member's families?

The sound was ok, better than Wembley but .......

.........short of being tweaked with an electric cattle prod, the herding of the audience on the way in was ridiculous and whilst I accept that a venue will always hike drinks prices, £6.90 for a bottle of Brothers Cider (small) and a bottle of water was really screwing the fans, and the above would make the difference between me going/not going to the O2 again if it were a band I MIGHT like to see versus one I was determined to see.

What a friendly forum this is :-)

Ste

MantraLuna wrote:

.........short of being tweaked with an electric cattle prod, the herding of the audience on the way in was ridiculous

Couldn't agree more - I did wonder at what point they were going to get the shears out!

Hello to all the new friendly faces!!

Can I just say with a raging hangover how cool did the clicking sound. I think we'll develop that into a 'ringphone'

McGreggor lives! wrote:

Monday was far better, but the boys still kicked ass on the tuesday.

Any reason why? I wondered how sets would compare. I was there Monday! Awesome! (Not a word i use a lot.)

McGreggor lives! wrote:

Hey hey ladies and gents.

Been buzzing around this forum for some time and thought it was about time I actually made an account. So hello all.


Saw both nights at the 02. Monday was far better, but the boys still kicked ass on the tuesday.

Was anyone to the right of the stage (if you're looking at it) on the monday night? Anyone see the crazy hippy chick waving her arms manically to every song?

Interesting you say monday was better, I suppose it depends who you are, where you are in the venue and who you are with.
I was there both nights and enjoyed tuesday much better.
Guy was more natural and relaxed and funny, and the crowd were so warm and responsive...but not 'hyper' that he didn't have to 'work' them...it just happened
the mass clicking of fingers and making a popping noise finger in cheek moments, where the arena was hushed except for those sounds, was priceless, not many arena crowds could do that for a band.

the set was exactly the same...it was the atmosphere, all the upper tier was curtained off too, so the the floor and lower tieir were full and even people in the highest lower tier were getting into it. I was in seats so had an overview. Where I was the speaking voice echo was not so obvious either.

lordlee wrote:

McGreggor lives! wrote:

Monday was far better, but the boys still kicked ass on the tuesday.

Any reason why? I wondered how sets would compare. I was there Monday! Awesome! (Not a word i use a lot.)

the set was exactly the same...
it was the atmosphere on tuesday, and what I have mentioned above, also all the upper tier was curtained off too, so the the floor and lower tieir were full and even people in the highest lower tier were getting into it.
I was in seats so had an overview. Where I was the speaking voice echo was not so obvious tues night either. Sound was good for the 02 arena.

We spoke to Conor, Villagers briefly after the gig, also Pete Jobson, Kloot, said hi to Romeo Magic Numbers and Kellie, and spoke to Jote strings who is hoping that they will bring out a string quartet cd for us

.

Hey all,

New around here but a long time elbow fan. Both nights were fantastic but Monday was definitely better. Guy was on form, more chatty and seemed more up for it. Also Tuesday had significiantly less people there as the whole upper tier was shut!

Slightly dissapointed there was no Newborn in the set; I heard a few people shouting for it both nights but what they did play was fantastic.

Highlights for me were:

The entrance
Mirrorball
Neat Little Rows
Weather To Fly

How good was their entrance?! I loved it... video here if you want it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm3X40sGiNg

Got a couple more on the way too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPRSR9GGdzw

Enjoy!

p.s. QueenAli... awesome to see you made it on here! Good job with the cocktail :-)

Queen Ali wrote:

I think you've got a fair point – the people who should be at the front are the people who got there first, regardless of height, imo of course. Even my friend Laure (who was at the Monday gig with me) agrees, and she's barely over 5 feet tall!

Ah, that's very kind of you to agree - I had a 'discussion' with a work colleague this morning and he said he didn't think tall people should go to the front, even if they are there first (he's short!), so it's nice that you agree with me! <--- Shame these aren't cocktail glasses!

hazio123 wrote:

Hey all,

New around here but a long time elbow fan. Both nights were fantastic but Monday was definitely better. Guy was on form, more chatty and seemed more up for it. Also Tuesday had significiantly less people there as the whole upper tier was shut!

I disagree.
there wasn't the gaps in seats like there was on the monday, the whole of the lower tier row where I was almost empty on Monday.
was more compact on tuesday, and more seat action too.
Guy seemed more like old Guy at gigs, on tuesday, witty, relaxed and genuinely enjoying the hush/click moments.

lucky with disease wrote:

hazio123 wrote:

Hey all,

New around here but a long time elbow fan. Both nights were fantastic but Monday was definitely better. Guy was on form, more chatty and seemed more up for it. Also Tuesday had significiantly less people there as the whole upper tier was shut!

I disagree.
there wasn't the gaps in seats like there was on the monday, the whole of the lower tier row where I was almost empty on Monday.
was more compact on tuesday, and more seat action too.
Guy seemed more like old Guy at gigs, on tuesday, witty, relaxed and genuinely enjoying the hush/click moments.

I guess it's a case of each to their own.

I can see that gaps in the seats where youre sitting could make a big difference. I was close-ish to the action both nights so neither were that different... I'd also had a few beers the first night but decided to withhold my bar participation on the second night which will make a difference I'm sure.

I just thought Guy was a little funnier the first night... the cocktail had a better name, the tentacles line was funny if not a little odd. As for Guy being more himself, I couldn't comment, I haven’t seen much of them... the last time being many many years ago supporting the Doves... and all I remember from that gig was the very loud bass line from Any Day Now. Also, I thought he made one small mistake when saying last nights audience were better… I heard a couple of ‘f*** offs’ get shouted which isn't that nice to hear get shouted at one of your favourites… hmmm

As QueenAli will tell you, Tuesday was DEFINITELY better... I'd go for Monday myself... each to their own :-)

Well what an amazing night last night was. So much enjoyed it more than Nottingham.

Guy seemed not to have wetted his appetite so, unlike Nottingham, maybe this was because the show was being filmed! However, Cambridge takes a lot of beating.

Can't believe how they make such a huge venue seem so intimate, we were at the runway 2nd row deep to the left of stage and were amongst a great crowd of folk. All were singing their hearts out to Guy's much appreciation. Got a smile from Guy and a point and wave which made my night!

Lovely to see LWD from afar on the phone to me and also to Gareth who bought a ticket from me (last minute) whom we may see on the Forum now. Lovely chap and I think he loved it as much as we did.

Highlights for me were The Birds, Great Expectations and Some Riot was extremely poignant. When Guy rested his hand on Craig's back during Puncture Repair I almost had tears. Made me appreciate what dear dear friends they are.

On leaving I was left wondering when I will get my next Elbow fix, festival tickets are virtually impossible to get your hands on so hopefully something will come up again before the year's out! Fingers crossed.

.....and no no knickers stayed firmly in my bag!!

Oh an something else I've just literally noticed whilst sticking a couple of vids up...

I'm pretty sure that Guy, during the first part of Weather To Fly, was not only singing, but also directing the cameras or at least making everyone aware of it. He looks up to the big screen, see's himself, then points to the other guys which is followed by a smile! Awesome! Looks like there is some kind of in joke going on...

Any ideas? Make it big and have a look! ha!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPRSR9GGdzw

Would like to thank Kim for selecting the end of the catwalk. We were very tempted to go to our usual spot but so glad to see Puncture Repair and Weather To Fly close up. I hope the guy in the velvet jacket makes himself known as I think he could become a forum legend.
It was a great gig but can't help feeling a little sad because that will probably be the last time I see them play live for the foreseeable future. Hoping they'll do an Autumn UK tour or maybe even a tour of smaller venue in Europe. Keeping my fingers crossed for last minute Glasto tickets but not building my hopes up.

Looking forward to the next album already

kcdc230 wrote:

Yep, I was leaning against the barrier with my mate Andy. You may have spotted me as I am rather tall... I've changed my profile pic (hopefully!) to show a pic of me when the string quartet were playing.

Ahh yep I remember you! Totally right that you deserve to be at the front if you've waited early.

Queen Ali wrote:

Guy handed the spare cocktail to me with the words "For no reason other than that you are absolutely beautiful" (or words to that effect, I think my brain wasn't quite engaging at the time). Absolutely made my night, that did - I couldn't stop grinning all the way home and the cocktail glass now has pride of place on my desk. Just a shame the cocktail was a bit grim!

Awesome!! Were you stood in the same place on the runway? If something like that ever happened to me I would go BRIGHT red.

evilpixie wrote:

Would like to thank Kim for selecting the end of the catwalk. We were very tempted to go to our usual spot but so glad to see Puncture Repair and Weather To Fly close up. I hope the guy in the velvet jacket makes himself known as I think he could become a forum legend.

I was a bit worried that Dave might be blocking your view, hope you could see ok!

We saw the guy in the velvet jacket afterwards at the merch stall and I was really tempted to headbang at him.

I personally felt Guy was funnier on the monday. Also he started singing late in a few places on the tuesday, which honestly doesn't bother me at all because he's simply too incredible.

I was shocked at the general lack of strong long term fans though. A lot of people around me on the tuesday didnt quite seem to know the words to some of the older stuff or even reconise it. And on the monday the people around me were taking forever to figure out which Elbow song the strings were playing. I literally wanted to scream the names of tracks at them haha.

Has anyone got a video of monday nights "The Night Will Always Win"? I blew Guy a kiss and I'm sure he noticed it.

Last night was absolutely incredible regardless what night was apparently better I was blown away. Some Riot left me speechless. First Elbow gig and I received a Guy Garvey point near enough straight away, always good. Not many fans can play in a venue as large as O2 and make it feel as small as a downtown jazz club and Elbow did just that. I cannot fault the gig, the crowd were brilliant also. Cannot wait to see them again in the future

Boney-Crisp wrote:

Last night was absolutely incredible regardless what night was apparently better I was blown away. Some Riot left me speechless. First Elbow gig and I received a Guy Garvey point near enough straight away, always good. Not many fans can play in a venue as large as O2 and make it feel as small as a downtown jazz club and Elbow did just that. I cannot fault the gig, the crowd were brilliant also. Cannot wait to see them again in the future

Some Riot actually made me weak in the knees. When the strings kicked in I nearly fainted. I just assumed they'd end the song early like they usually do in smaller gigs. But instead he brought the arena to its knees with a full on heavier sounding version of a stunning song. <3

McGreggor lives! wrote:

Boney-Crisp wrote:

Last night was absolutely incredible regardless what night was apparently better I was blown away. Some Riot left me speechless. First Elbow gig and I received a Guy Garvey point near enough straight away, always good. Not many fans can play in a venue as large as O2 and make it feel as small as a downtown jazz club and Elbow did just that. I cannot fault the gig, the crowd were brilliant also. Cannot wait to see them again in the future

Some Riot actually made me weak in the knees. When the strings kicked in I nearly fainted. I just assumed they'd end the song early like they usually do in smaller gigs. But instead he brought the arena to its knees with a full on heavier sounding version of a stunning song. <3

Now you've said that, i'm not afraid to say my eyes were watering

I was in the seats for both nights at the O2, i do usually stand at gigs but stood at Arcade Fire in december at O2 and didn't see a thing ! .... so i figured just at the sides in the seats would be good.

Yeah we had a good view both nights... but the folks around me ... particularly on the tuesday were about as lively snails ... even when Mr Garvey was getting the crowd involved.... I song along from beginiging to end but got a few funny looks at my over enthusiasm sorry but i love this lot completley and wasn't going to sit there like i was at a piano recital I also got annoyed when people started to shuffle around get beers etc during the more poignant songs ... Great Expectations for example ...

Anyway gripe over I loved loved loved both nighs and Mr Garvey was as gorgeous as ever ... faint a little