Elbow in Holland Nov 2008

Well folks, just came back from Holland last night where I've been to 4 of the gigs:
Haarlem, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Eindhoven.
I couldn't go to the Groningen one due to family commitments.
The gig in Haarlem was brilliant and I met John (Evil Pixie) and his friend Marianne there. It was really nice to meet them face to face and have a lovely chat with them.
The next day in Utrecht, as I was walking from the trainstation towards my hotel, I walked past the venue and I heard them rehearsing Any Day Now. I didn't really want to get too excited as I thought that maybe they just used it to sound-check or something, but that night: there it was in all it's glory!
Not sure if they played it in Groningen but they played it again in Rotterdam and Eindhoven.
As mentioned in the other thread, the Eindhoven gig was amazing. All the lads were in really good spirits and obviously delighted it was the last gig of the year and to be going home. Guy was in particularly good form: laughing and joking and jumping into to the audience twice to give somebody a hug!
If anyone's interested and I can post the full set lists of the 4 gigs, just let us know...

OMG, u lucky ******* (censored due to possibility of innocent young children (pah, yeah right))

Here's meself (in the middle) and John (Evil Pixie) and Marianne, before the Haarlem gig.

Jones wrote:

I met John (Evil Pixie) and his friend Marianne there. It was really nice to meet them face to face and have a lovely chat with them.

It was really nice to meet you too. Sounds like the last gigs of the tour were even better than the ones me and Marion went to. Hope you caught your train ok after the Haarlem gig.

yes, they did play Any Day Now in Groningen too. I was very happy they did. Did you hear a couple of people in Haarlem shouting out for that song? Perhaps that persuaded them to include it later on in the week? I'd only planned to go to the Haarlem gig, but their play was so solid, I wanted to go to another one. I chose Groningen as it was closer to home.
They looked at ease and happy there, like you say probably because they were closer to going home. I'd brought along a 7" of Grounds for Divorce and they were happy to sign it for me. (didn't see them, the tour manager was the go-between)

evilpixie wrote:

It was really nice to meet you too. Sounds like the last gigs of the tour were even better than the ones me and Marion went to. Hope you caught your train ok after the Haarlem gig.

Yes, after initially not being able to find my way out of the venue I had to run like mad but made it on the train with 5 mins to spare...pfew! Pity you weren't around for the other gigs, they were indeed fab!

Aw, you guys look great! How cool that you got to meet up.

Btw Jones, could you possibly be any cuter?? I think not!

Yeah, I did love that Eindhoven gig. I was particularly impressed by the 'George Lassoes the Moon' poster, a good laugh. (They used Dubya's face on a stick figure, which was kinda appropiate as they had just recently played Leaders of the Free World!)

Eeek Topaz... Stop that please...

I must be tad of a suck-up, and say that i agree with Topaz I apologise if that makes you feel uncomfortable, with me being quite a bit younger than you

Nice photo Jones. Shame John and Marianne are ruining it

But seriously, looks like you had a good time.

You are all OFF TOPIC !!!!!!


Ahem, yes, that night in Haarlem was particularly brilliant for me as I got a mention before "Weather To Fly" ( my fav song!!! ) with Guy thanking me for the bottle of Irish Whisky I'd brought them!
Wahey!!!

Just been looking around on the tubes, and I found a video of the poster of Dubya, also that mention of the taxi. Was a great moment, Guy is such a nice guy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQAEMy1a8po

Dabamash wrote:

Nice photo Jones. Shame John and Marianne are ruining it

How very dare you!!! It's only me ruining it Even Immigration had a word with me about my appearance because I don't look like my passport photo.

We were very nearly in the same position as those guys that had to get a taxi. Thankfully the train from Osnabruck to Amsterdam was running as late as the train from Hamburg. It would have been a 3 hour wait for the next one and we only just made it to the Haarlem gig as it was!

Well done Jones for getting a special mention before your favourite song. I think Guy had been checking out your pressie before the show if Jesca's comments are anything to go by

Aw, I'm sorry, Jones. I didn't mean to embarrass you.

Very cool that you got a mention from Guy!

evilpixie wrote:

Dabamash wrote:

Nice photo Jones. Shame John and Marianne are ruining it

How very dare you!!! It's only me ruining it Even Immigration had a word with me about my appearance because I don't look like my passport photo.

Sorry EP, I was just sucking up to Jones as usual, nothing personal.

evilpixie wrote:

Dabamash wrote:

Nice photo Jones. Shame John and Marianne are ruining it

How very dare you!!! It's only me ruining it Even Immigration had a word with me about my appearance because I don't look like my passport photo.

Mmm, I agree that was totally uncalled for! and don't mind those guys from immigration, they must have been bored or something.
As for getting to the gig on time, my situation was the complete opposite: I had called the venue to ask them what time the doors opened and they told me 7pm. I turned up at 6.30 and the place was in darkness. Turns out they don't open until 8!!!
There were absolutely no pubs/restaurants/cafes for miles around so I looked like a complete idiot skulking around the venue for so long. A very cold idiot indeed!
Still, it was worth it!

Jones wrote:

...........I got a mention before "Weather To Fly" ( my fav song!!! ) with Guy thanking me for the bottle of Irish Whisky

Gosh, Cute and supplying Whisky....

Really glad you all had a great concert, and what a bonus having a mention before Weather to Fly !

I aim to please!

and OMG! what a return I got for it!