06/10/10 - O2 Academy, Sheffield

[Abstract Unknown Girl]

I had a brilliant time last night As I’ve said before, it’s a completely different experience being there yourself to watching the setlist roll in on here. Obviously there are tracks I would have preferred to have heard, but I still enjoyed what they did play.

I wasn’t expecting Peeled Apples, so that was great, as I prefer that to Jackie Collins. Opening with You Love Us works and it’s not the first time I’ve seen it either. Everyone seemed pretty into it right from the get-go. I loved Roses, although agree with the less than complimentary comments from other gigs about Wayne doing the backing vocals. This Is Yesterday seemed to be played at a ridiculously slow tempo until the drums/guitar kick in half way through, but it was lovely to hear that song again. I didn’t mind EMG (but would have preferred NSAF, but not too bothered about that as I’ve heard that plenty of times before anyway) and I was just glad it wasn’t Kevin Carter tbh I don’t think I can ever dislike Ocean Spray as much as KC, mainly because of the sentiment behind the lyrics. It seems an odd place in the setlist though.

Acoustic You Stole The Sun was better than I was expecting, mainly because of the audience participation. Everyone still managed to get into it despite it being a calmer affair. Acoustic LBN I could have taken or left really and I hate how bad the crowd always sounds doing the high-pitched oooooh’s. Sorry, but it just sounds awful and I didn’t join in with that bit I would rather Stay Beautiful had stayed in that section, but never mind. I still have several more opportunities.

I also enjoyed Suicide Is Painless, mainly because I personally hadn’t heard it live before; although if they’re doing non-album singles, I would rather they brought back Masses. I haven’t heard that in what feels like aaages.

As for the new songs, I really enjoyed PFAYM and GP, especially the latter And I enjoyed Nicky’s dig at Nick Clegg too, complete with comedy booing from the crowd. I hope they start playing All We Make Is Entertainment at some point later in the tour; that’s really the only other song from PFAYM I’m interested in hearing live. I think I actually preferred SKON live than on record. James singing it by himself works fine and there’s less of the Lion King-esque OTT choir at the end, which tbh grates on me slightly on record.

James was on top pirouetting form and he had another shirt button malfunction, which even he laughed at (well it was more of a “Heh heh heh”) once he’d noticed and a few people (including me) had wooed and giggled I wasn’t sure of Nicky’s leopard print leggings, but really I find leggings of any kind quite disturbing, let alone on a 6ft something 40 year old man

We didn’t hang around afterwards, seen as we hitched a lift from my parents due to having unforeseen car problems, but I have 7 other gigs on the tour, so I’m sure I’ll have another chance. Plus I had to be on the 7:41 train to work this morning and was knackered enough as it was.

It took me a long time to get excited about this tour, but just before they came on stage last night something suddenly clicked and I’m well and truly looking forward to the other gigs I’m going to, so roll on Leeds!

Oh and I have some photos (mainly of James, surprise surprise), which I will upload at some point between now and the weekend.