Well, here it goes...
Unfortunately, I don't have a set list. My roommate has one though, and I
can post it later. But it doesn't really matter, since they skipped three
songs in the encore. But, none-the-less it was one of the best Verve shows
I have ever seen.
What I felt was so special about it was the vibe from the audience.
Everyone knew that they were definitely seeing something special, and that
this wouldn't happen again (The Showbox was the smallest venue on the tour).
During Sonnet, the whole audience was singing the second vocal line - it was
really cool. I thought the sound was good from where I was standing, but
the guitar could of been a little more clearer. Every band member seemed in
full form. Richard was going crazy as usual. And when he put that hooded
sweatshirt on - you could of mistake him for a member of NWA. Everybody in
the front was shouting COME ON! to Richard and Simon, and they were doing
the same to the audience. All of the songs sounded brilliant. But one bad
thing did happen that kind of put a damper on the evening, and probably
resulted in them skipping those three songs.
The power went out! I can't remember what song. Richard and Simon just
turned right toward each other and walked off stage. A few minutes later,
everything was back to normal, and the band came on to huge screams and
cheers. And, amazingly to me, they picked up right where they left off,
with out even skipping a note.
I can't wait to see them in San Fran on Thursday.
Cheers,
Ryan
vervelings....
Well.....i'm back from a 9 day excursion into the realm of great art.
got a week off(paid:) from my werk, and thought i'd use the time to
expand my spirit a bit. it started in san jo', and quickly made it's way
up to seattle, where our host; the every friendly, and frequently
"elevated" ryan scott picked up myself, (the lovely)gina, miss megan
hug(of this wonderrful list), and my freak of a friend rob. as well as
ryan's bro from SF; matt(he was pleasant, too). we partied like madmen
at ryan's house that friday night. he had a wonderful suare' for all the
rolling people. met great ones from canada, especially the couple from
calgary, and mindy sue, and her husband michael from seattle..... more
on them later. our crew found a hotel room before we passed out, which
was across from a great 24 hour diner called the hurricane cafe. it was
so cool, i mean, how many restaurants have an employee bong?!? not to
mention the wickedest jukebox: featuring everything from sly and the
fam, to the melvins, to blur, to van morrison, to skinny puppy! we spent
quite a bit of money there...
next day brought some new friends....a rockin' gal from boise, idaho,
and my old friend, the guy who introduced me to the verve back in 93'.
we hung out in downtown seattle, and saw some great glass art. met up at
the croc for pre-party drinks, and meeting new friends. i was sporting
devin's t-shirt, and met JDK because of it. the vibe was alive in the
showbox. and yeah, i was lit:) someone posted that she thought the show
sucked....i must beg to differ(but it is only personal opinion). the gig
rocked! 3rd song; this is music, they blew the PA! but after a 5 min
deelay, picked it up from the very spot they crashed at. rich was pissed
off, and talked some shit to the club. they were amped to play, and
didn't like bein' cut off. the space and time acoustic, complete with
call and response was epic. met more great peeps, and walked on... saw
george and andrew, who were the film crew for the tour. we'll probably
be in the vid, or they were humoring us with 8 straight mins of
ramble-ia! very cool guys indeed. we went to the croc and hung like
rockstars, getting fucked up, and listening to the complete purple rain
album. the night ends with decadence. next stop, san jo'.....and then
LA!
....when last i wrote of the expedition to see the verve, we were comin'
back to san jo'. i was pretty sick(sinus infection, prolonged by
frequent substance abuse), and the plane ride was pretty uncomfortable,
but we were still on a high from the seattle experience. i meet up with
corey kilcullen, from the list at my house, which was great, as we'd
done quite a few trades in the past. he brought the glass pipe i made
for him, and i got to try it out for the first time....the "slug" werked
like a charm! the next morn, we (the LA crew was me, megan hug, cory,
gina, and my friend michael from berzerkley) rented a green mini-van for
the ride to LA, and stickered it for the road with lightning bolts, a
verve sticker, and one for my band creamsickle. we also had the wacky
idea of bringing a bowling ball that was rejected from my friends
art-piece. the idea was to lean out the cargo door at 70mph down the
grapevine, and "go for a strike"! but common sense took over, so we kept
the bowling ball inside;)
upon our arrival to the hotel in LA, we hotboxed the room, and
waited for gavin, misty, john ricci(all from the list), and john's
girlfriend aimee. the rendezvous was at hank's bar and grill, and lots
of verveling were there both nights: we met matt, rick, jenn, hina, and
the legendary ajay sharma, and proceded to get drunk. the barmaid was an
elderly woman who single-handedly ripped off, or tried to rip off at
least 3 of the verve posse. the 2nd night she got NO tips.
OK, the show. the mayan is a gorgeous place, and normally would have
been a top spot for a gig, but LA being LA, the vibe was very
un-verve-like. we saw mindy sue, and michael from seattle, and thus, our
bond grows stronger:) i met brian cannon at the t-shirt desk, as he
spotted me in my no come down shirt. he said that it was hella rare, and
that he designed it. nice fella, gave me some stickers:) the band kicked
ass that first night, but towards the end of the set, RA was ranting
about the industry crowd, and that he didn't seem too impressed. they
still killed. saw a very out-of-place marilyn manson, looking goofy as
ever. more hotel party-ing took place, and then slumber.
next day, kicking around the shops on melrose, and more hanging out
with friends. the 2nd night's show was terrible. i will never go down to
LA for a show, unless i'm performing in it, after that. richie said
almost nothing, and didn't even finish space and time! shorter set than
the previous. it made me think of the vibe in atlanta, and seattle, and
how fortunate i was to be at both.
so we hear about an after party from a fan we met at the pre-party.
it's at the opium den, and we hurried out to it. more LA guestlist
bullshit, and we're stuck outside watching that counting crows dude
swindle his way in. we gave up, but went looking for an alternate club,
supposedly around the corner. found no club, but cory found the back
door! we sneak in, expecting to get roughed up by security, but it
werked like a charm! so now we're at a private after party with an open
bar, and great music ala DJ wayne! i talked to james iha of the smashing
pumpkins, and he was pretty cool. we're drunk,stoned and dancing up a
storm as it gets nearer to 2am. i turn to see richard and kate walking
up, and next thing you know, we're all dancing together. wicked cool i
tell ya! talked to nick for a bit in the bathroom, and he was so
talkative that i finally told him that he could pee, and i'd talk to him
after. he was stoked that i gave them this glass sculpture of a hand in
the rock salute(ozzy style) back in atlanta:):):)STOKED! read: warm
fuzzy! we talked to simon jones, and he promises us a raging show in SF.
we say goodbye and walk toward the door, only to give the horns up to
the chemical bros, who just arrived from they're own gig. they were
pretty cool, too. drive back to hotel in bliss (except mike, who pukes
from 1 1/2 bottles of free red wine).
it's morning, and we head back up north for the final chapter in the
week of great ART.....the story continues....tommorrow;)
OK....last chapter. hit the bay riding on a high like no other. now it's
our turn;) we met before the show at hamburger mary's, a few blocks from
the warfield. gavin, misty, his friend tim from chi-town, john r and
aimee, me, gina, and one hella rude waiter were involved. we roled up 15
mins before the doors opened, and saw lots of friends in line. george
and andrew were walking around with their vid cam, and stopped with our
group as they recognized us from previous gigs. we got stoopid in front
of 'em for a bit, and then mindy sue, one half of the couple from
seattle, started telling the cam, of how she met jason pierce, and she
said that when she told a depressed jason that he was "da bomb" he got
really happy, and invited her to lunch, the show, and backstage. she had
many cool stories.
we got in and the vibe is kickin! we were down front between RA,
and nick. by the time they'd gone on, we'd already gotten the cocktail
waiter high, that was the kinda vibe it was! the boys were in rare form,
and seemed to be more into it than any of the other west coast
shows(although seattle was pretty close). we got the longest set they've
ever played i think. i was over 2 hours. same set as the first LA show,
and they added " a northern soul"-which KILLLED!, and an sweet acoustic
version of "on your own". i tried to throw a joint on stage for them,
but it bounced of the monitor, and he didn't see it. DOH! it's the
thought that counts, right?
over all, the gig in SF was one of the best concert experiences of
my life(and i've been to at least a thousand). and after it, we went to
popscene for an after party featuring an acoustic hurricane # 1(who
bored me, frankly....although the verve is a tough act to follow......
more on that later;) saw lots of friends(new and old) and danced to "the
rolling people". great time!
to finish off the 9 days, i saw jane's kill at enit, and my band
played to a packed house with marcy playground(who didn't really do it
fer me). after the verve, i thought i had seen it all, but the new
jane's pulled thru. i really didn't think i would like it that much, cuz
i'd seen the real thing several times, but they were amazing. awesome
sets, sexy dancers, and incredible music! saw steven perkins jam on a
drum set in a room, with mostly non-rythmic peeps pounding on various
drums. it was still cool though. and our gig went very well, which made
a wonderful 9 days of ART that much better.
i hope that this collection of stories wasn't too boring for you all,
but i thought that someone might like to hear it....at least there were
no flames from me;) i met alot of wonderful people from this band, and i
cannot ever forget the numerous great times i've had from everything
touched by that "verve-vibe".
thanx for rolling with me.... :)
verveluv ferever....
cole from san jo'
Hey Rolling People...
How's YOUR vibe today? Mine is pretty nice since I've spent the last week in
ecstacy...Detroit on Monday, Chicago on Thursday...today is Saturday and I'm
still buzzing.
DETROIT
My first thought when I woke up that morning was, I made it till
Monday...what an awesome show! Got some decent pictures of Simon and Richard
going into St. Andrew's before the show. I couldn't bring my camera in so
that's all I got on Monday. Plus a picture of me and Kate Radley. She
seemed a bit "distracted" and the picture wasn't all that great, but she
signed my ticket, so that's cool. While I was waiting outside, I heard the
boys play Velvet Morning as a sound check. But they didn't play it!!
Opening with Rolling People was a fantastic choice! The light show was
great! I was definately pumped to get crazy at that show. Loved the green
and blue lighting for Catching the Butterfly, and the red lighting for the
Drugs Don't Work. I was surprised that Rich played On Your Own. Still loved
it though. Lucky Man sounded awesome live. Richard was really talkative
during the show. You could tell he was happy to play there. I was so happy
that they played Slide Away. Nice tease there that Simon did with the bass
line for Gravity Grave. I was about ready to die when I heard that. Cheers
to the guy who threw that lit joint on stage. Simon picked it up and hit it
so fast, he was a blur of movement. Come On was incredible. I think
everyone on the floor surged forward about 6 feet when that song started. I
was happily crushed. Wish I could say more about the show but nothing comes
to mind at the moment. DID ANYONE GET A GOOD BOOT OF THIS SHOW?! I know of
three people who made a copy and they said that the bass was too much and
drowned out everything. I WOULD REALLY LIKE A COPY OF THIS SHOW. Please
write to me if you got a good copy.
CHICAGO
Well, I wanted to go to Toronto but I had to at least go to work/school one
day that week so I skipped that show and went to Chicago. Got there at about
4:30 and pulled up to our hotel which is right around the corner of the Vic.
When we pulled up to the hotel, a tour bus was right out front and I totally
started tripping out. When we checked in I asked the lady who was in the bus
out front and she said, "Some band that's playing here tonight. I've never
heard of them before." I asked her if it was a band called the Verve and she
said, "Yeah, I think that's who it is." and I started freaking out and then
she said, "Oh, no...it's a band called KDFM...or something like that."
Grrr...needless to say I was disappointed. Well, I grubbed out on some
Chicago Stuffed Pizza (I love eating in Chicago...best food in the States)
and then walked to the Vic. We moved up to the front of the venue and
waited...
Met Vicky & Doug...nice talking to you guys. Did you dig the show? I'm sure
you did. Good thing no fights broke out between my boyfriend and that one
chick that was all pushy-shovey. For a second I thought it was going to get
ugly. :)
Wow...this show was awesome as well! Though it seemed that Richard wasn't as
enthusiastic. He didn't talk to the crowd at all...and didn't really get
crazy except for Come On. But it was an excellent show and the only set list
difference was SPACE AND TIME ACOUSTIC! That was SO nice! What was up with
the "new song" they played at the end of...oh shit, I'm pretty sure it was
after Come On. Does anyone else know what I am talking about? They finished
a song and everyone started clapping and while we were clapping they broke
into this SWEET jam and Richard was doing some abstract vocal thing...it was
really fast and crazy...anybody remember that and can help me out in
describing it? It was almost like a reprise to Come On. It was a nice, nice
little psychadelic swirl at the end of the show.
I took mad pictures at this show cos I got to bring my camera in. Most of
them turned out pretty decent. I'll try to scan them later. I would also
like a boot of that show as well. And I'll try to scan some photos later.
Thanks for listening - Vervelove to all...
Sarah
november 10 st andrews hall review
To all true verve fans looking for concert reviews or getting an idea to what
the set list may be consisted of. If you are or are not familiar with St.
Andrews Hall it is arguably the best place to see a show in Detroit. The
show was sold out with many scragglers looking for tickets minutes before the
show. For one of my lads, he heard two girls talking about how they were on
the guest list. It turned out they had room for two more people, so my
friend jumped in and told the girl he would give her twenty bucks to get in.
Done deal. Now it was a matter of time before the verve took the stage. We
were packed like sardines in the place all jittery and anxiously awaiting.
Let me remind you that the last american show performed by the verve was in
detroit before there urban hymns tour. Thats a whole other story brother...
Anyway while waiting for the show to begin, the verve had two screens hanging
from the balcony and had pictures of various things on them, including a few
set lists of previous shows which definitely was a tease. Anyway lets get to
the point. Simon led the brigade on stage with Richard wearing winter coat
with a fury hood and wearing a Detroit, Michigan ringer t-shirt. The first
sound out of the Marshall stacks was a booming drum beat with corresponding
light flashes that exploded into the Rolling People. I have to admit that
this was one of the best of the night. After rolling people they went right
into Catching the Butterfly which also was phenominal. During these two
songs my group was about half way back from the stage to the exit of the
ballroom. The hall consists of a balcony over the entire floor overlooking
the stage and the hall consists of one main floor which holds about 1000
people. A local radio station sponsored or propaganded the show so some how
some way many people who maybe shouldn't have been there were. Either that
or they all took downers before the show and then felt like the dog just
died. I mean there wasn't much movement. Therefore when the next song after
C.T.B. came on which was THIS IS MUSIC I rushed toward the stage finding the
thinnest seam in a hookers jeans. I made it to about 5 rows of people from
the stage jumping up in down and when I looked in front of me and around me I
found I was surrounded by girls who didn't know what the fuck was up being
born with a silver spoon. There were a couple us generating some energy but
either people didn't the song or they were trippin their balls off to where
they couldn't move.
The reason I am going into detail about the crowd is because I believe
this influenced the verve's set list. Because of a more mellow crowd I think
Richard saw an opportunity to experiment with new songs to get a crowd
reaction. After this is music they played four a five new ones in a row not
in this particular order: Bitter Sweet Symphony, Sonnet, The Drugs Dont
Work, Weeping Willow. I know I'm being critical but I wish they would have
mixed it up a little more maybe playing She's a Superstar or A man called
sun. I definitely got the impression that at that point int time they were
going for a mellower mood so why not play something off the EP (except G/G).
Before Sonnet which I believe was the last one in that list of four songs
they did bust into slide away which once again defines the incredible sound
with Richard's clear sounding vocals. After the last U.H.song of that portion
of the show, Richard went for a drink of water and ther was a slight pause in
the show. Talking with Peter and Simon, Richards steps to the mic. and
states "Lifes an Ocean" and that baseline that gets me every time was blastin
on the speakers and it began. This and the next song which was STORMY CLOUDS
were drawn out intense version where McCabe magically created phsychedelic
and non-terestrial sounds that seemed like they were at a Million Decibals.
With the incredibal sounds and lights, Richard also was in his own infinite
dimension world. The band walked off leaving McCabe draining every last sound
out of his guitar into the air. These two songs were just incredible.
Richard then stepped out with his acoustic which he played previously on
SONET and THE DRUGS DONT WORK, and started into a solo ON YOUR OWN. This
caught me off guard, but when the first line was sung, it struck my on your
own times and my emotions were flowing. This song was a treat. You know
when you walk out of a show and you talk about all those songs that stick out
and then theres one that mostly everyone forgets in then one person says "You
what was good, On Your Own" and the response is , Yeah now that was awesome.
You know what Im talking about. Anyway after that, if my memory serves me
correctly the next song they played was HISTORY. Actually, with the
orchestra in the backing on the album version, and the live version with a
heavy bass and drums, it was pretty good but definitely not at its full
potential. Verve fans if you have noticed there has not been an incredibled
amount of full verve jams until Richard stepped to the mic after history and
said "Its time for a NEW DECADE and the radio play is the sonds we made. As
a few in the crowd erupted the movement in the crowd of 89xsers were weak but
I was not going to let this bring me down. Richard then stated to the crowd
how Detroit has been great all the times theyve played (compared to the
nothern soul tour and palooza the crowd sure in hell didn't show it) and that
he loved Detroit and promised to return. Then they did a rendition of LUCKY
MAN which was another great song. With a few in the crowd and even some
cheeseball holding up a cardboard sign wanting G/G Simon played the first six
notes in trickery just to tease the crowd. I must get to class so I have to
cut short in detail. The song after lucky man which would be there last was
a psychedelic wall of sound which had Richard using up every last bit of
energy to get the crowd to COME ON.
SET LIST:
1 ROLLING PEOPLE
2 CATCHING THE BUTTERFLY
3 THIS IS MUSIC
4 BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY
5 WEEPING WILLOW
6 SLIDE AWAY
7 THE DRUGS DONT WORK
8 SONNET
9 LIFES AN OCEAN
10 STORMY CLOUDS
ENCORE
11 ON YOUR OWN
12 HISTORY
13 A NEW DECADE
14 LUCKY MAN
15 COME ON
"Tell me what you've seen, was it a dream, was I in it?" -On your own
The following story is TRUE. The names have not been changed because
we're all guilty as sin. Don't deny it !! Thank god someone else
posted the setlists, because my pen ran dry at St Andrews and my Toronto
setlist looks like a grid of scribbles and scratches. So this account
of the shows has little accurate information about the music they
played, it's just full of details about the one thing I know about -
ME! After all, a self absorbed review is the precedent ;-)
First off, when I made my hotel reservations for D a month ago, the city
was booked up as far away as the airport. Some convention. I found a
co-pilot at the last minute, and knew my chances of exchanging my single
room for a double were slim. While checking in, the phone rings and
it's someone wishing to downsize their double to a single. From here on
I've got a really good feeling about this night, my first Verve show.
Got to the venue around 6:30, circled and found a parking spot on the
street, behind the hall. As we passed in front of St Andrews, a film
crew has just started interviewing some dude for the documentary. Glad
I wasn't the one they chose to have to choke out some wise words on the
spot, as I was a bit cold footed, but that was soon to change...
Walked inside Steve's Place and found Joe easily: He was wearing the
same shirt I was. Settled quickly into a few Labatts, shooting the shit
with Joe, his friend (owen?), and Mark, who spur of the moment came up
alone, and had scored a ticket already for $20. After a bit Devin
joined us (keep going bro! I think we're giving Kentucky a good name),
but since he was still looking for a ticket, he only stayed for one.
Round about 8:30 I've got my jungle noises working and it's time to get
irie, which we did Spiccoli-style in the van. Headed for the queue, I
see Devin just crossing into the pearly gates, "Nice Ticket!" I yell,
and he says William Stearns had one for him and generously kicked it
down. Well I'll be. That was one of the extra tickets I mailed to
William...
Gravitated up front-Left, in front of the speakers. The Deejay was
flexing the volume pretty well, ear plugs to the rescue, I can stand
where others dare not. By the time Wayne played 'Super Stupid' I was
mad for it, jumping hysterically; Security had to make me settle down,
as the show hadn't started yet. A few songs later the slide show put up
the words "Holy are You" and I shouted out "There is no God but YOU!!"
to which I recieved quite a few looks. Well the madman in me keeps
shouting and pointing to every pair of eves "And YOu, and you...."
Shortly after, the band came on, the lights went dark, and then
BOOM----BOOM
we're rolling! Fucking HUGE. deeply grroovey Catching, Willow
created such a strong tone and mood. Ever since I first _really_
wanted to see Verve I've wanted to hear This is Music, and it satisfied
that deep need. Sonnet was good, but there was no Wailing guitar
before the "dreaming bout the day when I can see you there by my side,
by my side" (2:22 into the track, I think) Finally by BSS the buzzcut
Gorrilla watching us got called away, and I fired up the 'Kentucky
Toothpick' I had squeezed into its wooden holder. Passed it around to
some strangers, and when the song ended it was very quiet, so I yelled
out "Hey Jonesey!" and held out the doob, like "you wanna hit this?" He
nodded emphatically and on my first attempt to throw it to him I dropped
it. Picked it up off the floor, and this time it landed at his feet
probably scorched the rug. He hit it, passed it to Richey, and hit it
again. There's a saying I like to use, instead of "Being on the same
page as someone," I say "Smoking from the same bag." So there you have
it. my five minutes.
I can see now why many folks say Reprise is a highlight... larger than
life. My biggest impression was Richard reminded me of one of those
rubber Gumby dolls, he had no bones, just a flexible wire as he
contorted himself into twists spaghetti would have a tough time with.
I think it was during History the cameraman pointed that thing at me, as
I stared into infinity mumbling the words... The sound was overextended,
esp. on On Your Own, when one guitar was all they could crank.
After the show I made my way to the car and was sucking down a couple
quarts of water when from behind me a bus passes by, and it honks.
Cheers Mates! I raised a toast to our rotten souls..
It was so loud, even with my earplugs, I was in my own bubble the next
morning as I sat eating breakfast, watching CNN run a story on people
who lose their hearing from loud music...
On to Toronto, an International border crossing, Loonies and Twoonies,
more dollars for the dollar, more potent beer, more km/h than mph and
more units of petrol per tank.
Mick E Finns was an ideal place, ordered some grub and greeted the
rolling people as they entered, aaron, eric, guy (thanks for the
skin-up), andrew, grable, and the latecomers, your names have slipped
me. Rebecca and crew (from Ottowa? that's a part of Canada, right?)
never showed up as they were waiting for the radio interview to be
broadcast. We got to the Phoenix at 9:00 and caught Wayne's set, this
time the slide screens were set up on adjacent walls and I could see
both at the same time. Saw a lot of different ones than before, was
this because I could see them all or because they had to show a whole
lot of slides...to the sounds of day tripper, jumping jack flash, love's
theme, can (or do you say kahn) and super stupid. I don't know if
anyone remembers the funeral songs thread, or if you bothered to read
it, but Flying by the Beatles was one I chose, the deejay played it and
I was ready to be scooped up then and there. Geeze, you don't think
someone's paying attention and played it . . . Nah. Tried to ask him
who does the song Holy Are You, but he wasn't talking to idiots.
I found my spot again at the foot of Nick, and waited. and waited. A
lovely nubile female named Lindsay was standing near me, she came up to
me and said her friends were being stodgy, not wanting to dance, I said
I was just looking to loosen up my boogie shoes, and we grooved like
freaks for a bit. I saw some activity in the doorway and looked up to
see Richard and Kate standing there, with Wayne. I closed my eyes and
centered myself. I swear I could feel a warmth emenating from them. I
called out it was as if I could feel the sun. Still another fifteen
minutes until the band finally came out at 11:00 (supposedly planned).
Richard announced they were glad to see some friends there, and
something about the wankers in the back. Tonight they fiddled around
and began A New Decade. "And it makes sense..."
Notable at this show was the sound, as crisp and clear as the cold
canadian air. Between songs 2 & 3 I think, someone threw a joint on
stage (not lit), someone else followed suit, then a couple more, then
suddenly it was raining joints, must've been a dozen in just a few
seconds. On one of the last songs Richard went off on a short This Time
rap, and Come On had the "if you don't like our sound, get up and turn
it down" ad lib. Seemed shorter than Detroit. but I was drunker.
Hooked back up with the rolling people afterward and dined at the
exclusive golden griddle. Who's sitting at the next booth, but
Rebecca!!?! A good thing nobody took me up on drinking the beer I
planned to bring home, as the next morning I knew my stomach wouldn't
have appreciated it. Walking back to the hotel I passed a few blatent
prostitutes, one of them giving me the fist-to-mouth
international-symbol-for-blowjob. More information than you need, I
know, but that visual image was one of the most comical I have ever
seen, and it still cracks me up.
"Never coming down now never coming down no more no more"
CHEERS ALL
-jason alex
Toronto Dream
Well vervies last night was the long-awaited in my mind and for so
many of us Torontonians the return of the "best band in the world" (RA
quote). I have never ever left a concert feeling so at peace, so filled with
this spirtual well being. I could hear the mumbles of so many others saying
it was the best show ever. I had not been having a good day, I had a
sleepless night, I was stressed out for school and other matters, it was
cold, and last night was the first of flurries. We also had to wait two
hours for the show to start, but I wanted to be early so I could be upfront.
All of it was soon forgotten. There were two screens showing slides of the
band, of quotes, and of other micellaneous pictures that must mean something
to the band. Finally the house lights when down, and as if I were in a dream
the band walked on the stage, Richard in some parka with fur, strutting like
he knew that he would affect us like never before. With his opening words "A
new decade, the radio plays the songs we made", the band in a wild
enthusiasm began to play, and I knew this night would be unforgettable. I
wish to post the whole set list, but I don't remember what order the songs
went. I can list them though: this is music, catching the butterfly,
(replacing man called sun I suppose), slide away(!!), rolling people,
sonnet, weeping willow, life's an ocean, the drugs don't work, stormy
clouds, reprise, on your own (I cried during this) bittersweet symphony,
lucky man, history, come on.
*Richard at one point thanked all the people who came to see them the last,
then he thanked all his new friends...see he exepts new fans, we should do
the same.
*Richard pointed to Nick several times during songs, it really showed an
unselfishness on his part.
*Richard quoted the verve as the "best band in the world", this made me
think of oasis and their claim to this...hmm am I sensing future tension? ;)
*I yelled out history about 5 times and then the next song was history, I
would like to believe I influenced them cos it didn't look like they were
going to...no? ok well just humour me :)
*the sound was extremely loud, and some security guy took pity on us and
gave my friend and I ear plugs.
*Richard yelled out "see you next year Toronto!" wooo I am so there.
Well that's all I can think of as far as highlights go, truthfully I
was happier to hear them play their older stuff since it dawned on me that I
might not be able to hear them again, but I was happy with their selections
of the album (although I wish they had played space and time rather than
weeping willow). The audience were not so called bittersweet heads, it was a
good mixture of fans. It was come on that made me shake and really got me
going at the end, I could not get over how hard Richard goes to that song. I
had to hold on to the speaker after the song, cos I thought my legs would
fail me if I walked. I left that show as if it were almost a spirtual
experience I took part in, and I just didn't want to look at anything as
negative. Despite my bad day, and bad week was worth it for that hour and
half of the verve, since I forgot everything. The best show of my life (and
I have been to dozens), I can't wait until they come back.
*andrea*
