Birmingham 2006
I was supposed to have an early night on Monday, to catch up on some sleep. But I still didn’t get to sleep until gone 5am
So it was a still very blurry eyed Helen T who set off for her 2 hour drive to Birmingham for gig number 6, the halfway point of the tour.
I got there around 5ish. It was dark and raining. I had parked the car in the car park furthest away from the venue and it was too early for the shuttle buses. Luckily, I had my umbrella with me so I didn’t get too wet on my hike for what seemed like miles to the arena.
There was already a long queue to get in. I decided to take a walk around the back, just to kill some time really. Muse were doing their sound check. I could hear them as I was walking along, big grin on my face. It’s amazing. After all these shows, I still get really excited about each and every one.
I stood around by the buses for a few minutes. I got bored of that and thought I may as well join the queue to go in.
As the doors opened and I slowly made my way down the line and into the venue, I got that nervous feeling that you always get if you really want to be as far to the front as possible. Its that ‘get out of the way, let me through!’ feeling. It was because I wanted to stand on the left hand side. I’ve always stood on the right before. But I knew the left side is usually a lot busier than the right, and more difficult to get to the front of.
Once I got through the doors I almost ran into the standing area. Everyone was sat down. I ran to the left hand side and sat down too.
I sat there for a few minutes. Then I started to feel bored again and I knew it was ages before anything was going to happen. My stomach growled and reminded me I hadn’t eaten anything. Again.
So I had a change of plan. I decided I’d experience Muse from the back this time. So I got up and walked back out into the food area. I got a hotdog and a coke and just wandered around for a bit, killing some time.
Just before The Noisettes came on, I wandered back into the standing area. It didn’t look to busy at the front/left. I changed my mind again, and decided I HAD to be in there!
At just after 9, Muse came on stage. I then realised I was a bit too far to the left. I couldn’t see Dom. The crowd surged forwards. I went with it, and ended up 3 people back, directly in front of Dom, with a fantastic view of both Dom and Matt!
I was so happy with that position, that was like a celebration in itself!
Another fantastic set followed. I think I caught both Matt and Dom’s eye on a couple of occasions. But when that happens, you can never be completely sure it is you they are looking at. It could be someone in front of you, behind you or beside you. It’s hard to tell. The most notable occasion was during starlight. I had my hands in the air ready to start the clappy bit in the middle and Matt looked my way and smiled!
Bliss provided two of my highlights. It was the balloons. First highlight was when the balloons were released and one made its way onto the stage by where Matt was. He popped it with his guitar. I just looked up in time to see Matt standing in a shower of confetti with a big grin on his face. I wish I’d been able to capture that on camera!
Shortly after that, a balloon came our way and popped right in front of me. I reached up and grabbed it, wanting to take it home as a souvenir. So did the guy just in front of me. He grabbed one end and I had the other. I found myself in a Tug Of War over this balloon. I was like a dog with a bone. No way was I letting go. He was looking just as determined as me. This went on for a few minutes. Then I decided the fairest thing to do was to split it in half. I tried to break it with my fingers. It wasn’t working. So I stood there, pulling it apart with my teeth! It worked, and we both got a piece. The funniest thing was, it later turns out that this guy was someone I know from the message board. Sorry again Chris, if your reading!
There was an incident where these two stupid little girls pushed their way through, trying to get to the barrier. I wasn’t going to let the first girl through but I was directly behind a tall person who was blocking my view of Matt. I figured if I gave up and let her through, she could stand behind him instead. It worked and I could see perfectly again. Her friend, however, was more violent. My legs are covered in bruised where she was kicking me to get past. I’m sure hers are black and blue too. I don’t give up easily! She managed to get in front of me and was leaning up against another girl to oust her out of the way to get even further forward. Lots of pushing and shoving followed, but then the girl that was pushing in, either bit or pinched the other girl and left a mark on her arm. She showed it to the security guy and the annoying little girls got pulled out and ejected from the building. Result!
At the end the people in front of me almost made my night. They threw a Teddy Bear up onto the stage as the band were leaving. Dom picked it up. The absolute delight on their faces was a picture. It almost made me cry. They just looked so happy!
So that was another fantastic show over. The girl in front me summed it up perfectly when she said at the end ‘best shag of me life!’ Indeed.
I got outside and considered waiting around for a bit. But it was raining yet again and I knew my car was parked miles away. I also knew I had a 2 hour drive back and I’d have to be up at 6am for work. So, Little Miss Sensible won and I went back to the car and drove home. I was SO tired. Thank god for Red Bull!
So it was a still very blurry eyed Helen T who set off for her 2 hour drive to Birmingham for gig number 6, the halfway point of the tour.
I got there around 5ish. It was dark and raining. I had parked the car in the car park furthest away from the venue and it was too early for the shuttle buses. Luckily, I had my umbrella with me so I didn’t get too wet on my hike for what seemed like miles to the arena.
There was already a long queue to get in. I decided to take a walk around the back, just to kill some time really. Muse were doing their sound check. I could hear them as I was walking along, big grin on my face. It’s amazing. After all these shows, I still get really excited about each and every one.
I stood around by the buses for a few minutes. I got bored of that and thought I may as well join the queue to go in.
As the doors opened and I slowly made my way down the line and into the venue, I got that nervous feeling that you always get if you really want to be as far to the front as possible. Its that ‘get out of the way, let me through!’ feeling. It was because I wanted to stand on the left hand side. I’ve always stood on the right before. But I knew the left side is usually a lot busier than the right, and more difficult to get to the front of.
Once I got through the doors I almost ran into the standing area. Everyone was sat down. I ran to the left hand side and sat down too.
I sat there for a few minutes. Then I started to feel bored again and I knew it was ages before anything was going to happen. My stomach growled and reminded me I hadn’t eaten anything. Again.
So I had a change of plan. I decided I’d experience Muse from the back this time. So I got up and walked back out into the food area. I got a hotdog and a coke and just wandered around for a bit, killing some time.
Just before The Noisettes came on, I wandered back into the standing area. It didn’t look to busy at the front/left. I changed my mind again, and decided I HAD to be in there!
At just after 9, Muse came on stage. I then realised I was a bit too far to the left. I couldn’t see Dom. The crowd surged forwards. I went with it, and ended up 3 people back, directly in front of Dom, with a fantastic view of both Dom and Matt!
I was so happy with that position, that was like a celebration in itself!
Another fantastic set followed. I think I caught both Matt and Dom’s eye on a couple of occasions. But when that happens, you can never be completely sure it is you they are looking at. It could be someone in front of you, behind you or beside you. It’s hard to tell. The most notable occasion was during starlight. I had my hands in the air ready to start the clappy bit in the middle and Matt looked my way and smiled!
Bliss provided two of my highlights. It was the balloons. First highlight was when the balloons were released and one made its way onto the stage by where Matt was. He popped it with his guitar. I just looked up in time to see Matt standing in a shower of confetti with a big grin on his face. I wish I’d been able to capture that on camera!
Shortly after that, a balloon came our way and popped right in front of me. I reached up and grabbed it, wanting to take it home as a souvenir. So did the guy just in front of me. He grabbed one end and I had the other. I found myself in a Tug Of War over this balloon. I was like a dog with a bone. No way was I letting go. He was looking just as determined as me. This went on for a few minutes. Then I decided the fairest thing to do was to split it in half. I tried to break it with my fingers. It wasn’t working. So I stood there, pulling it apart with my teeth! It worked, and we both got a piece. The funniest thing was, it later turns out that this guy was someone I know from the message board. Sorry again Chris, if your reading!
There was an incident where these two stupid little girls pushed their way through, trying to get to the barrier. I wasn’t going to let the first girl through but I was directly behind a tall person who was blocking my view of Matt. I figured if I gave up and let her through, she could stand behind him instead. It worked and I could see perfectly again. Her friend, however, was more violent. My legs are covered in bruised where she was kicking me to get past. I’m sure hers are black and blue too. I don’t give up easily! She managed to get in front of me and was leaning up against another girl to oust her out of the way to get even further forward. Lots of pushing and shoving followed, but then the girl that was pushing in, either bit or pinched the other girl and left a mark on her arm. She showed it to the security guy and the annoying little girls got pulled out and ejected from the building. Result!
At the end the people in front of me almost made my night. They threw a Teddy Bear up onto the stage as the band were leaving. Dom picked it up. The absolute delight on their faces was a picture. It almost made me cry. They just looked so happy!
So that was another fantastic show over. The girl in front me summed it up perfectly when she said at the end ‘best shag of me life!’ Indeed.
I got outside and considered waiting around for a bit. But it was raining yet again and I knew my car was parked miles away. I also knew I had a 2 hour drive back and I’d have to be up at 6am for work. So, Little Miss Sensible won and I went back to the car and drove home. I was SO tired. Thank god for Red Bull!
posted by Helen T On Tour at 4:27 PM
7 Comments:
Good stuff so far Helen =) Keep the stamina going hehe and I'm really sorry about the tug of war! And I was the one who threw the bear! Couldn't get rid of me on tuesday night could you?! Good luck with the rest of the tour and maybe see you in Sheffield if i can get a ticket! (Hopefully not fighting over a balloon this time!!)
Love reading your stuff here, Helen. Keep up the good work and enjoy the shows for all us Musers who haven't yet mahaged to see them this year yet. Wembley here we come! :)
Oh my god! You must of been so so close to me!
I was three rows from the front! And i was just about oppisite Matt for most of it.. swaying back and forth with the crowd, you know.
Plus like you said, im sure Matt looked at me. Chances are he looked at someone behind me, but still.. he might of done! I'll never know *sighs* :)
Plus i dont know who did this, but someone did nip me on the side (left) it was so painful! I didnt see who did it, but it might of been those stupid little girls trying to get to the front.
There was a wee boy who appeared next to me, and i happened to look at him, and my god, I swear he was the shade of pure white. He was all sweaty and looked really ill. So i asked if he wanted to get out, and he nodded frantically. But because the crowd were so loud it was hard to catch the stewards attention. I managed to get the steward, but by then the boy had been sick on someone.. ughh I felt so sorry for him though, cause it was absolute hell in there. My entire body was being held up by everyone else lol. And suprisingly my body didnt hurt as much as the previous gigs! Maybe cause, when everyone else jumped, they took me with them.. so i didnt have to do any of the jumping haha.
Brilliant night overall. Beats any gig ive ever been too... Just Ahhhh! So badly want/need to see them again! lol :) xx
Hi Helen
Glad to see you're having so much fun. We were stood just under Matt's left hand podium on Tuesday so must have been close to you. Sorry I missed you.
I've done 5 this week and am knackered, but know that if I didn't teach and could take the time off I'd be right there with you.
Have fun at Wembley (bet you can't keep away on the middle night!)
Take care
Alx
It seems you had another good gig. I'm so excited that in less than 2 days I'll be under the same roof with Muse- as I'm seating I wonder if Matt's face will be bigger than a dot to me, so jealouse of you that can see them so clearly.
It was funny how you had a tug of war with Chris, you are very brave.
BTW arnica cream is really good for bruises.
If you should see an older woman with her 6-footer 17 years old son do say hello to them.
Oh my God! The girl who was bitten and also said 'that was like the best shag of my life' was me! I remember you. It was such a great gig and trying to get Dom to 'pick up the f*king bear!!!!' was hilarious. I remember Chris saying hello to me too when he went off-stage.
Wish we could do it all again.....
Louise
curious_orange from the forum
Just reading through your blogs, having a Muse moment in my mind.
It's been nearly a year since this gig, and I STILL remember exactly how I felt when Dom picked up that bear. I still see it in slow motion, and I still feel the same joy I did the moment I saw him scoop it up.
I've got tears in my eyes now. What fantastic memories.
Hope you are well xxx
Post a Comment
<< Home