17/12/11 - 02 Arena, London Gig News - Page 37 - Forever Delayed

Takk · #**541** 19-12-2011, 00:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scout Finch

Oh yeah, Nina can't sing. Yowl yowl love alone won't save the meeeeowww

Yeah...

Refresher · #**542** 19-12-2011, 00:03

As someone so young I thought you would be able to multitask

Oh yes you so RAWK

franny · #**543** 19-12-2011, 00:05

I only have two eyes and they like to jam on the same object

Refresher · #**544** 19-12-2011, 00:10

Good job you did not walk into the Sky 3D TV exhibition at the 02 as that would still look like 2D to you

franny · #**545** 19-12-2011, 00:14

Nah I can see 3D, though 3D in 2D is a mindfuck I must say.

Sky 3D TV exhibition while waiting for the Manics? INWRWHW

Refresher · #**546** 19-12-2011, 00:27

Yeah we got there early so had time to kill. Morning coffee at the 02 and then visted the SKY stands after lunch. You are so right 3D in 2D is a mindfuck! The 3D effect did look better from a distance

Not only I want a release of the 02 gig on DVD I want it released in 3D

The Franny Rock pose in 3D

Scout Finch · #**547** 19-12-2011, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Takk

Yeah...

Well,she was pants.

Scarecrow · #**548** 19-12-2011, 00:28

She sang fine.

Abstract Unknown Girl · #**549** 19-12-2011, 00:29

Well, they pulled it off

It's weird because obviously I'd known about this gig for several months and knew I was going, but it didn't seem real until it was actually happening; it just seemed like this far away event that was never really going to materialise for some reason. But I thoroughly enjoyed it all, even the songs I don't normally care for seemed more bearable this time.

Particular highlights for me were TBTGOG, TLORN, Revol and well, it was nice to hear the few tracks I'd never heard live before, including So Why So Sad and Love's Sweet Exile (even though I don't really like LSE under normal circumstances). TBTGOG sounded massive; I really don't know why the band don't rate that song and TLORN sounded better this time around than on the Lifeblood tour. The duet with Gruff Rhys on Let Robeson Sing was better than I thought it'd be and Nina on YLAINE was nice too. I thought there should have been more special guests overall though, but oh well, it's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

The second half was much better than the first; they definitely saved the best for last and seemed like they were trying to get certain songs out the way as quick as possible (LSE at least, anyway

). So Why So Sad was....weird (not altogether bad, just a bit odd, especially the Rolf Harris stylophone part). I loved James' comment saying something like "Yeah, I'm still not sure if you like that one or not" afterwards.

Still not a fan of certain backing vocals, especially on Slash N Burn...not only does it sound horrible, they also were the wrong lines (I definitely heard 'Live to kill, kill for kicks', instead of 'Kill to live, kill for kicks'). And cowbells should be banned from Manics gigs.

Loved James' sailor top and I must say I had a bit of a moment when he came out in that

I wasn't expecting him to wear anything other than a plain, black shirt (although he did default back to that after the interval, but still I commend him for making the effort). I liked the Star Wars patch on one of Nicky's jackets too and the stage looked very pretty. It was a shame some of the videos on the screen were out of sync slightly at times (especially during Faster), but overall they were a nice touch...although not during Autumnsong, when all it did was remind me what an horrendously embarrassing video that was

I also found myself getting really emotional at unexpected moments, during songs that don't really usually get to me. I don't know if it was just the occasion, or nostalgia about my time as a Manics fan over the years, or just the fact that I've been through all sorts of various life stuff in that time, but I teared up a few times. I thought I might be like that for ADFL, but that was just euphoric really, especially with the confetti raining down, doing extreme shouty pointy and Nicky's bass trashing. I know people wanted them to end on something different, but ADFL seemed very fitting to me.

I'd also like to echo Nicky's praise of James for remembering all the words. I felt so proud of him and the man is just a legend as far as I'm concerned. His voice held up well too and sounded much better than it has done on recent tours. I know he missed out a few more lines than usual, but that's to be expected given the length of the setlist and the crowd were in strong voice to sing instead anyway. It was quite something hearing the entire arena shout "Why don't you just FUCK OFF?!!!" all at once. There was some great banter between James and Nicky too. I overheard someone complaining afterwards on the way out that there wasn't enough crowd interaction, but I thought there was enough, especially considering how many songs they had to get through by 11pm.

I was absolutely KNACKERED afterwards and not sure how I made it back to the hotel on the tube/DLR, as I felt like a walking zombie by that point, but it was all worth it. I'm glad the band are going to take a bit of a break, but this was a great way to draw a line under things for the time being. I just hope they come back with something bold and different in a couple of years' time, as there definitely still seems to be a lot of love for them, more than they probably thought when they set out to do this gig.

Not sure why so many are convinced the gig was being filmed for a DVD...it just seemed to be filmed for the big screens as far as I could see. Yeah there were cameras on all band members and one or two on the crowd, but there were no crane cameras and barely any cameras lingering over the front of the crowd. I've been at other gigs that have been filmed and there was definitely far more equipment in place than there was last night. It is a missed opportunity if they have no official footage of it to put out there in some format though.

Don't want to dwell on the negative too much, but I'd also like to dedicate a particular line from Stay Beautiful to the O2 security staff for basically accusing me of stealing my boyfriend's wallet (not going to clog this thread up with that story, but I've already ranted about it here). Absolute fucking CUNTFACES and make no mistake, I will be writing a very strongly worded letter of complaint to them tomorrow.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gallafield

Arena staff taking tickets away. This really pisses me off. I, like many others, am a nostalgic person, and I like to keep mementos of events like gigs. This is partly why I always buy a t-shirt, not so much to wear it, but so I can remember the gig. Tickets are a part of this nostalgia. So what good is it for them to take my ticket away, drop it into a fucking bin bag, and then give me a shitty generic plastic wristband.

You should have pestered security afterwards for stubs. We came out afterwards near entrance B, but got told to go all the way round to F to get stubs, at F we got told to go back to B! Once back at B, they tried to tell us they'd all gone again, but another woman was complaining saying how all 5,000 stubs can't possibly have gone and that they said before doors we could have them back afterwards, so after a bit of faffing around, they magically found some more stubs from somewhere. Considering how the O2 put on gigs all the time, I still find it staggering how thick and shit they are when it comes to things like this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by srhgrg

there were some right nobbers in the queue attempting to sing. no idea what that was all about.

There were some right knobbers in the queue full stop...specifically the ones who pushed in, then one of the girls who let them all in threw a massive hissy fit just before doors opened raving about others who had pushed in, and she was apparently going to punch people (but didn't). We went in front of them all early in the day, because there must have been about 15 odd people who just appeared part way through the morning. Some of them had seats and pissed off before doors, but there were definitely plenty of queue jumpers still there. I don't really care about the odd person here or there, as that's bound to happen, but this was a significant amount of people and I wasn't going to let them get away with it. So, if any of these aforementioned people are reading this, if you let all your mates queue jump, don't be surprised when those who've been there longer don't take kindly to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Littlesue

I saw Simon Price with his ridiculous horns, does he have a new even younger girlfriend?

We saw him after the gig as well, by that music experience thing outside the arena. I've somehow managed to never see him at Manics gigs before, even though he's apparently always there (yes, I realise he's hard to miss).

Scout Finch · #**550** 19-12-2011, 00:30

Also sorry if I didn't say hello to anyone who saw me at the queue,I don't know what half of you look like and I was also very nervous. It was really lovely to meet Shug and magicalbertie and others though

Scarecrow · #**551** 19-12-2011, 00:33

I'm inclined to agree with most of that, Abstract. Had same highlights and thoughts on the whole.

Also saw bush dodging Simon after, had a brief chat with him about some club night he's doing next month.

Scout Finch · #**552** 19-12-2011, 00:34

Also (part 2) I was expecting way more from them. Why bill something as going to be completely amazing then basically just have a big screen like any other band, and a bit of ticker tape? That's not an extravaganza or whatever they said it would be.

franny · #**553** 19-12-2011, 00:35

Echoing what Laura said, far far too many queue jumpers in that group of teenagers in particular and a few others, when 7 people join a group of four that's just wrong. Kudos to Manic Street Mike off here for being conscientious and not skipping the queue as I saw him doing. It was a jolly old queue though, sorry if our singing was actually annoying anyone

Scarecrow · #**554** 19-12-2011, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by franny

It was a jolly old queue though

Finding fun in one of the World's most hated things. What a Brit!

Midlands_Junk · #**555** 19-12-2011, 00:40

Also, I'm 99 per cent certain I saw Ray Winstone wandering around the O2.