Aberdeen 2006

I got up and had breakfast at my B+B in Glasgow. Then I headed to Queen Street station and got on a train to Aberdeen for show number 2.

I arrived there early afternoon and had some time to kill as I couldn’t book into my B+B until 4pm. It was a lovely day so I took a wander around Aberdeen. I found the seaside! So I sat there, again like the bag lady, with my suitcase and bags around me gazing out to sea. I sat there for about an hour. Then I started to feel a bit chilly so I went to one of the little Cafes there and had a coffee. At 4pm I checked into my B+B, got ready and headed to the city centre to meet up with the lovely Lisalush from the Muse message board and her niece, Alison.

It was fantastic meeting Lisa. Its always good fun going to gigs by yourself but its much more fun with other people to share it with. Also, it was really nice to be able to talk about the band with someone who knows who I’m talking about. My friends, family and work colleagues do listen for a while, but then I see their eyes kind of glazing over and I know its time to stop!

We had a chat for a bit then got a bus to the AECC. The bus dropped us off in a lay-by on the wrong side of a duel carriageway a good walk from the venue. We took our lives in our hands trying to make it across the road there in one piece. But we all made it safely in the end.

There was a huge queue to get in again, so we joined the end of it. Then, one of the security people said there was another way in with no queue. So we went over there and got straight in. We stopped at the merch stall and I ended up buying another T-Shirt. Alison bought a belt and Lisa bought a bag after the show. We then made our way into the crowd.

We were stood on the right hand side of the stage, level with where Matt stands to sing Bliss. We were about 12 rows or so from the front, so fairly close. The Noisettes came on. I enjoyed them a bit more than in Belfast. Not something I would listen to by choice, but not too bad as a support band.

Then Muse came on. They surprised me straight away by opening with Knights Of Cydonia when I was totally expecting Take A Bow! There was a big surge forward during the first couple of songs but after that, things kind of calmed down a bit. The atmosphere was fantastic, much better than being in the seats. It was very hot and sweaty in there but I loved every minute of it. They played Feeling Good, which they didn’t play in Belfast. But all too soon again, it was all over!

We made our way outside after a brief stop for Lisa to buy her bag and to drink some water. When we got outside, we passed by the area where the buses were parked. I then had another dilemma. We knew we really should get the bus into the city, especially since Alison’s Uncle was picking her and Lisa up in the city, to drive them home to Dundee. I thought I should go with them or I’d be hanging around by myself and the guy at the B+B told me taxis are notoriously difficult to get in Aberdeen.

But we ended up waiting anyway. We waited there for about 2 hours. Then Lisa really had to go. So they phoned a taxi. It arrived and the band still hadn’t come out. I then had to make a quick decision. Should I stay or should I go? Little Miss Naughty won again, and I stayed. I thought it would be such a shame to have waited there all that time for nothing. As there were only 8 other people waiting, I thought the chances of meeting them were very good. I had 3 taxi numbers on me and Lisa’s taxi was quite quick arriving. So I stayed there.

By this time, we were all freezing. Jumping up and down, marching on the spot to keep warm. I thought of my lovely warm gloves in my suitcase back at the B+B. Why didn’t I bring them?

About 10 minutes after Lisa and Alison left, Chris and Matt came out. They were just about to get on the bus when someone shouted out to them. They came over to us.

They were both signing stuff and chatting to people. The guys next to me were getting their T-shirts signed and Matt was struggling a bit with the pen they provided him with. I had my marker pen in my hand. Matt saw it and said ‘That pen looks like its much more up to the job’ so I said ‘there you go then’ and handed it over. Again. Helen T, official marker pen provider for Muse!

The guys next to me then decided to get everything on their person signed, including their mobile phones!

He came along the line and I handed him my bit of paper. There was then that awkward moment. I knew that was my opportunity to speak to him. Could I think of a thing to say? No I couldn’t! So what came out to fill the silence? ‘Great show tonight!’ A little voice in my head said ‘Oh my god! How lame was that?’ Firstly, He’s probably had it said by a million different people after a million different shows. Secondly, just because I thought it was great, he might not have done! But it’s the first thing that popped into my head and it just came out! He didn’t say anything, just signed the paper. I noticed he signed his name with 3 kisses underneath. And I thought, ‘does he always sign like that, at least for the girls?’ I watched him sign for the girl next to me. One kiss. And the girl next to her? One kiss. Then he signed for the guy on the end (I didn’t see how many kisses he got!) Then he came back to me and handed the pen back. I found that highly amusing! 3 kisses for me! Matt loves me!! Lol!!

They went back on the bus and Chris told us Dom would be over soon. A few minutes later, Dom came out of the venue and was about to get on the bus when he was called over. He came over to us and I lent my pen out again for him to sign stuff. He came down the line and signed my bit of paper. Then I asked him for a photo, which would have been a really nice shot but I had the zoom on and it only got half of us in it! Never mind, maybe I’ll get another chance later on in the tour. He stayed for a bit signing stuff and having photos taken and chatting to everyone. Then he went back on the bus and that was it!
I was SO happy after that. The whole thing was wonderful, meeting Lisa, being in the standing area, the show itself and then meeting the band afterwards. And people wonder why I like to do this kind of thing as much as I do. Nothing can beat days like that, where everything just fits into place. Whatever else happens on the tour, Aberdeen will go down as one of the highlights in my book.