Transcript from the Gigwise webchat on Wednesday 23.04.2008

volvic: Is it me, or have all the Delay’s got haircuts?
Zero: Isn’t there any European (or even US or Asian) tour planned for the new album?
Chips: Are you in London or Southampton?
delays: a picture of robin hood firing arrows into a kingfisher
volvic: yum
delays: southampton
betty: heloooooooo
betty: betty is here
ailsa: is it sunny there?
delays: the land of oppo#rtunity
betty: yes very sunny
chloe: sweet!
Zorez: i’m from Portsmouth, but i wont hold it against you
delays: its beating through our eyes. Fact
Emmi: yes rub it in - I know I’m in the wrong country
delays: Hi Emma
ailsa: nice. i take it that’s greg
delays: Where are you?
hooray!: hi there
amritethere: i’m here!
Emmi: me? Right now I’m in Cork but usually I’m in Holland
amritethere: soooooooooo
amritethere: whats ya fav trk?
Zorez: why the name Delays?
hooray!: are you going to do some skiffle tracks on the upcoming tour
hooray!: ?
amritethere: oooo goodun
delays: Hello everybody. We’ve just finished rehearsing and we’re sending wonderment straight to your faces…
Chips: What does Love Made Visible mean?
Zorez: what does Everything’s the Rush mean?!?!
amritethere: do u seriously like southampton?
delays: Favourite track right now is Friends Are False
delays: Fact
volvic: What does anything mean?
amritethere: does that mean uve been in fights?
Emmi: have you managed to agree on a setlist yet?
chloe: who’s your tip for the champs league this year?
lucy_jane: so many questions!
Kate: yeah…southampton footie club could be doin better…hehe!
Zero: Any Japanese release planned for this album?
delays: Delays is our love of all things shoegaze
delays: Fights??
ailsa: you also get some pretty nifty advertising on the clogged up motorways
amritethere: yep fights
delays: We’re arguing about the setlist as we type…
Kate: yeah and in airports!
Emmi: you can always get an import Zero
delays: thoughts…
delays: ?
hooray!: how is the new tour going to be different from the last one in smaller venues?
lucy_jane: panic attacks! hav to play panic attacks
ailsa: FSG, YSC, B-sides and Abba…. you know you wanna
chloe: broken lylons!
Emmi: panic attacks is good yes
delays: We’re going global so tell Japan to get ready
chloe: plyons even
Zero: Of course I get imports! But Japanese release=possibility of Japanese tour…you know…
Emmi: The tour Holland without a Dutch release So never fret
delays: More songs, bigger sound,bigger goosebumps
lucy_jane: when are you gonna come back to stoke?!
Dead_Passive: What was the best gig you played last year?
lucy_jane: goosbumos are always good
Kate: You and me…for the setlist that is…i love that song
chloe: my housemate says please play lillian at koko
Emmi: goosebumps are good
delays: Festivals next then we’re heading everywhere. Everywhere!
Abz: Lillian
volvic: Whata great tv show
Emmi: my livingroom?
Abz: or Over and Out
Abz: i lve those 2 they are always in my head
Chips: What’s your favourite snack to eat on tour?
Kate: No overlover and You and me…you must play them…or else!
delays: Hoxton bar and grill was pretty damn special
ailsa: guys… an idea for the mix tape thingy - dancing with myself by billy idol… classic!
delays: what say you?
lucy_jane: lost in the melody, always always should be played
delays: Billy Idol…ffs
chloe: lock tavern was awesome
chris: aaron remember donating me ur bottle of water?
delays: Thankyou millions Chloe,the acoustic gigs we lush and will return
chloe: yay! our front room is free
delays: Yes Chris,its a magic bottle so dont lose it pk? Ok.
lucy_jane: can u do some acoustic gigs round near me please?
lucy_jane: it wud be very much appreciated by me and my friends!
Emmi: cover a Beatles song
delays: We’re planning on doing lots of acoustic gigs so yes we will. Maybe even a live skiffle album. RAW
lucy_jane: awesome!
betty: hi delays
ailsa: nice one
Emmi: Just out of curiosity: how old are you guys actually?
lucy_jane: and r u single?
delays: Consider it done revolution number9 ah?
betty: are u big fans of the 1960’s style???
Emmi: excellent!
hooray! : what was your favourite date on the last tour?
Abz: that sounds awesome
hooray! : any good tour moments?
delays: We prefer the 1860s but then who doesnt?
Kate: this may sound a stupid question…but who is Mike Gilbert?
Emmi: Yes, Revolution #9 is an excellent choice
betty: hmmm this is trye Im a 1850’s fan myself
chloe: who’s your favourite muppet?
delays: Aberdeen was stuuning
delays: stunning
Zero: How do you explain your new album? (If you’re to explain what’s your new album is like, what would you answer?)
delays: sweetums I do decree
betty: do u like birmingham??
Zorez: is this still aaron answerting?
Kate: it’s gone quiet?!?
lucy_jane: very
delays: Our new album is stunning ,epic nand totally different to anything thats happening right now
chris: haha, be honest aaron, u cant remember…where was the gig u gave it to me at?
Zorez: who is the best band you’ve toured with?
Zero: Fantastic!
delays: obviously I meant and and noe ‘nand’
gigwise: modest lol
Emmi: you’ve always been different from everything else
lucy_jane: you’re always different tho, thats why your so good!
Abz: yeah nice question kate! who is Mike Gilbert? i can’t find out anywhere
chloe: natasha bedingplant - love or hate ? she seemed v annoying on the green room show
lucy_jane: didnt she!
delays: Who is this Mike Gilbert??
Kate: you know…we aint stupid
Emmi: family?
Kate: tell us…pleawse
Kate: i gathered family
Kate: who?
hooray! : which cities are you most looking forward to playing in?
delays: Its a 50 50 split in Delays camp on the Bedingfields
Abz: yeah pweez? who?
delays: Guess
Kate: hay u avoided the question
lucy_jane: no good avoiding it!
delays: Sorry Kate ask again please
delays: im shit at typing.
Abz: exactly!!! don’t avoid it
Kate: who is mike gilbert
delays: and I keep having to look down
Emmi: I still want to know how old you are too
delays: Ive never heard of this man. Why do you ask?
hooray! : Are you going to play any festivals?
Kate: he is on the back of your cd covers
lucy_jane: and u still havent answered if ur single!
Abz: yeah who is the eldest in the band???
Kate: nice try..now tell us
Kate: we are not gonna give up!
delays: We’re playing Isle of Wight,Wireless and millions more. Check the website there’s loads.
Abz: who is he???
delays: Mike Gilbert
Kate: yes
Kate: stop teasing
Emmi: very evasive
Zorez: who cares who he is!
delays: He’s the oldest
klair: hahahah
Zorez: I wanna know IF YOU’RE SINGLE
Chips: #Mike Gilbert is my dad
Zorez: and my dad
clarelovesmusic: hello i just fin work
delays: If who is single,Mike Gilbert?
Zorez: no YOU
lucy_jane: no u!!
delays: Hello Clare.
Zorez: but yeah him too, if he’s fit
Zorez: What’s the worst job you’re ever had Aaron?
chloe: whats happened to your fantastic hat? will it be making a return on the may tour?
delays: Ive never seen him but I think he would be stunning
chris: are u confused aaron cos i am
clarelovesmusic: i heard u interview on the beat
Kate: you lot are confusing…u don’t realise how blonde i am!
clarelovesmusic: long time coming,is ur best song,think that only song i know
Emmi: so I read you’re all gonna sing on the next album - how’s Rowly doing?
delays: Worst job was ‘motorway maintenance’,keeping Britain moving eh?
lucy_jane: haha! if u say so aaron
clarelovesmusic: whos who out a delays.i u all here
chloe: motorway maintenance - were there ‘delays expected’ ?
delays: The hat has gone because it seems to have been appropriated by many other guitar bands.
delays: Yes we’re all right here
clarelovesmusic: oasis rule
lucy_jane: but ur the original, make them give it up!
delays: Are you all there?
Zero: Does it matter??? “Age and realationship status”??? Which member is the one who comes down to the lobby on time? …And who’s the last one?
lucy_jane: almost
ailsa: not entirely
Emmi: how is that a reason to get rid of a hat?
chloe: aww but i like the hat
clarelovesmusic: wheres aaron
delays: In this order Delays enter the lobby…
Kate: who is speaking?
Zorez: hey Delays, can you make your type font BOLD so we can see it amongst all the other crap?
delays: In this order Delays enter the lobby…
Zero: Yes. I mean who’s the most punctual one?
clarelovesmusic: so delays is all 4 of u on a comp
delays: Fox first
Zero: And who’s not?
delays: Greg second
Chips: woohooo, Fox!
lucy_jane: i reckon ur last aaron
clarelovesmusic: how do we no who speakin
delays: Aaron and Rowly arm in arm last
Kate: and me
Zorez: hey Delays, can you make your type font BOLD so we can see it amongst all the other crap?
clarelovesmusic: i was last!
amritethere: whats r fav film?
delays: We’re all speaking
Zorez: are you actually one person?
clarelovesmusic: do u like oasis?
Emmi: my dad says drummers are always late
delays: I CAN DO CAPITALS
clarelovesmusic: change ur colour
amritethere: GOOD FOR YOU
Slow Burn: loved the lennon covers you did ages ago and your Neil Diamond one on the radio the other week - got any more lined up, maybe for B-Sides?
Zorez: Yesss capitals are good
delays: WE LOVE OASIS,A BIG INSPIRATION
Kate: be nice…aaron probably don’t know who to do Bold
amritethere: haha its like you’re shouting
clarelovesmusic: best band ever
Zorez: are any of you drinking beeer right now?
amritethere: its funny
Zero: Capitals are easy to spot
lucy_jane: i am!
amritethere: you funny funny people
clarelovesmusic: oi why dnt u ever come to the charlotte???u ssoooooooo gotta
Zorez: you just have to click on the (B) circle, right V there
delays: FARGO,STAND BY ME,A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH AND AMERICAN GRAFFITI
Abz: yeah bold would b nice
lucy_jane: does look like ur shouting
delays: YES WE’RE ALL DRINKING,ITS PIMMS O’CLOCK PPL
lucy_jane: pimms oclock rocks
chloe: can to share?
Emmi: Stand by me is great - as is the novel
Zero: Send me one to Tokyo!
Kate: What you guys having for tea?
chloe: last book you read?
ailsa: been takin any more random pix lately rowly?
delays: ITS VIRTUALLY ON ITS WAY TO YOUR FACE RIGHT NOW
Emmi: and the song
clarelovesmusic: want a donught
delays: CIGARETTES AND COFFEE
Kate: Okay!
Abz: ha
delays: DUBLINERS BY JAMES JOICE
Zero: Beer’s good for midnight! What’s your favorite kind of beer?(Brand?)
clarelovesmusic: shud i add u to myspace..is it u that realy does it or do u pay sum1 to do it for u?
Abz: i don’t think you can eat cigarettes
lucy_jane: are you going to do some more video footage of you r tours, that stuff was funny
Abz: either that or i ent living in this world
Chips: I study Dubliners at school
delays: YES I NEVER STOP TAKING RANDOM PICS,ITS ALMOST A CURSE…
Chips: what’s your favourite stort?
Chips: story?
delays: THERES SOME NEW TOUR FOOTAGE GOING UP OVER THE NEXT WEEK
lucy_jane: awesome
delays: STORT?
delays: STORY?
Zero: Sory
Chips: story! I can’t type1
Zero: Story
chloe: yay! man u or chelsea for the prem?
lucy_jane: man u!!!
Kate: by the way..Rowly you need to change the setting on your camera to help stop the red eye!
clarelovesmusic: whats the STORY morning glory
delays: THE TORTOISE AND THE HEDGEHOG
gigit: which city are you most excited to be playing on the new tour?
clarelovesmusic: cum to LEICESTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
delays: THE PEOPLE IN THE PHOTOS HAVE ACTUALLY GOT RED EYES
ailsa: *cough* the tortoise and the *hare* *cough*
lucy_jane: devil ppll
Kate: aww you’re cruel
delays: LEICESTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ROCKS
clarelovesmusic: well get u ass over here
chloe: other than your own, what new albums are you most looking forward to?
gigit: who’s going to be the support band?
Zero: How do you do warm-ups for the gig(anything you do always right before you go on stage)?
Emmi: Mmm I feel it is my duty to recommend Utrecht as the city to play in Holland! Forget Amsterdam, there’s only Americans there
ailsa: hahahah
delays: IM LOVING FRIGHTENED RABBIT AT THE MOMENT
delays: THANKYOU EMMI
gigit: or is it changing depending on where you’re playing
Slow Burn: you should come back to Hull, cause another ‘quake
clarelovesmusic: leicester leicester rocks,shame bout footie team
chris: delays if you could have ANY animal in the world for a pet what would you have?
delays: ITS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT EVERY NIGHT
delays: WE LIKE TO MIX IT UP
delays: RAT
chris: why?
chloe: what would you call it?
delays: BADGER (GREG)
clarelovesmusic: im bored
delays: PHIL
lucy_jane: wheres the one place you’ve never played but would love to?
clarelovesmusic: zzzzzzzzzz
Kate: Do you like Smurfs…?
delays: WHAT DO YOU WANT CLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARE
Abz: Greg where do you get your belts from?? i love them!!
chris: go to bed
Emmi: Rats are amazing, I had one called Luna
delays: HOW ON EARTH ARE YOU BORED?
chris: wouldnt*
clarelovesmusic: to play LEICESTER now, plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Kate: yeah greg…where do you get your belts from?
Emmi: Yes, they’re excellent belts
delays: MY BEST ELVIS BELT WAS BOUGHT IN MIAMI FILMING THE HIDEAWAY VIDEO
Emmi: Aaron has one too on Buzzcocks season 18
delays: WE CANT COME RIGHT NOW
chloe: whats each mmebers favourite type of biscuit?
Kate: the one you wore at gloucester and the bristol signing?
delays: HOBNOBS OF COURSE
chris: where are u guys right now?
clarelovesmusic: im looking at u myspace,.. on u nxt tour than..at the charlotte..
chris: there is nothing wrong with a custard cream!
chloe: hobnobs rock… but…. biscuits or cake?
lucy_jane: chocolat or normal hobnobs?
Kate: i love custard creams
Emmi: is the biscuits a typically British thing?
delays: WE’RE IN SOUTHAMPTON AT DELAYS HQ,PLANNING ‘STUFF’
delays: YES THATS THE KATE
lucy_jane: wot kinda ’stuff’?
delays: ONE KATE
Zero: I guess it’s typically British stuff…we don’t have one
delays: CHOCOLATE OF COURSE
clarelovesmusic: planning to come to leicester i hope,u missed it off u tour.
delays: ORIOS ARE FUCKING STUNNING THOUGH
chris: no kidding
Emmi: I don’t understand this obsession with biscuits
Zero: OREOS?
lucy_jane: split lick n dunk
Kate: custard creams
lucy_jane: always good!
chris: bit of cheese?
delays: WE’RE PLANNING TO DO LEICESTER ON THE NEXT TOUR
chloe: dominos do an oreo pizza. it looks weird
ailsa: eeew!
clarelovesmusic: good,as long as i can go..
Kate: custard creams
clarelovesmusic: what u fave CHEESE……
chris: kate ur lovely but have you not moved on?
lucy_jane: chocolate bourbons, now theres a biscuit
Kate: no
clarelovesmusic: i cnt eat wheat
delays: ITS BEEN A BLAST PEOPLE…OUR HELICOPTER AWAITS. SEE YOU IN MAY. SPREAD THE WORD! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Zero: No shows in June except for the 1st & the 15th?
chloe: bye bye, thanks guys! xx
ailsa: bye bye
lucy_jane: love you guys xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
gigwise: going so soon
chris: be carefull ducking under the blades
clarelovesmusic: bye..see u in leicester
gigwise: cheers Delays for coming and chatting
Zero: Thanks guys…Hope I can catch your shows in the UK
clarelovesmusic: only just turned up
Emmi: too soon
delays: THANKYOU MILLIO0NS GIGWISE LOVE IS SENT. XXX
Kate: bye
Emmi: love you and don’t fall out of the helicopter!
Kate: love you
Dead_Passive: later guys..see you in brum

Hooray Hooray, it’s not over we have got all day to recover…
courtesy of the lovely bods @ Delays HQ!

Gloucester Guildhall – 16.03.2008

So, I ummed and aahed about this one for a long time. It was never my intention to go, because it’s pretty far from home, but in the end I just couldn’t resist. Really glad I went now, because it was the perfect way to end the tour!
After a nightmare journey back down from Leeds (sodding M1 again!), Klair and I set off from my place at around 2pm. We were actually hoping to be in Gloucester by then, but hey, shit happens. We arrived soon enough and for once, we had a pretty easy city to navigate. We barely even got lost! It was just too damn easy. We found the venue and then met Beverly and Jim. Took a little walk round the back and saw Marshy on the phone, but had a chat with him when he finished. Before getting some munch from the lovely Wetherspoons, we thought we ought to do something ever so slightly touristy and cultural and go photograph the cathedral. I’m pretty sure I’ve been there before… way back in the day when I was a moody teenager without an interest in anything beautiful. Oh how things change…

With the munch well and truly eaten, we headed back to B & J’s hotel and enjoyed a little champagne toast (in coffee cups!). Seriously, it was actually the most perfect way to end the tour! We left them to get ready and headed back to the Guildhall.
Saw loads of familiar faces, Allie, Barbara & Leon, Liz & Joff, and of course B & J met us in there a little later. I know when we go touring its “all about the band”, but right now I’m really enjoying hanging out with some seriously cool people!

Beer? - check! Setlist? - check! LETS ROCK!

The show kicked ass, they played Earth Gave Me You (it’s now the International Bonus Track, y’know!) and we even got a little snippet of Hey Girl again.

what a difference some good lighting makes! LOL

Klair and I managed to bag a couple of the set lists (they are pure comedy, Michelle has drawn crazy pictures all over them, including a very chavvy owl which I showed Aaron afterwards!)

We stayed around for a few minutes after the show and had the chance to have a quick word with Aaron and Greg. I also *finally* found out who plays the instrumental on the “before the show” mix CD. Rowly is the genius behind the mix, if any of you were wondering, and the instrumental is by The Go! Team.

Greg and I in Gloucester

WORD!

Eventually the mob of angry looking people (guildhall staff) made us vacate the premises, so we said goodbye to the boys and made our way outside into the cold. Nice. We stayed there for a bit chatting randomly (mainly about the tour in May, and the Tiscali gig next week… surprise surprise!) and then headed home.

May is officially PARTY TIME. As soon as I get back from my holiday in NL (sooo can’t wait to go back there!) it’s tour time again.

Next stop:

Sohooooooo.

Scarlet Soho supporting Delays in Gloucester 2008.

Leeds Cockpit – 14.03.2008

Sodding M1… that is all I can say about the journey to Leeds! Ever so slightly panicking, we arrived and met Allie at the Cockpit. Awesome little venue. Soon we were accompanied by Klair and also saw Girl On Fire, Fudster & Bloke. No idea when Jon arrived, but he was there! I missed the start of Scarlet Soho’s set because when one is without a car, alcohol takes preference LOL. Armed with some pop, I made my way back to the front. Leeds was a bit of a wild one. The crowd seemed a lot younger and really up for a good time. I mean REALLY. The place turned into a bit of a mosh pit for a while, it was well funny!

i have no idea what he was doing, but Rowly found it rather amusing!!

The boys kicked royal ass, Greg bounced around the stage, Aaron really gave it some, and y’know what, it even looked like Colin was having a wicked time! I think in terms of best shows on the tour, this one is right up there with Dublin.

Rowly - sans shirt (schaaawing)

We all descended on the Cockpit bar for a while before being chucked into the club *shudder* how can one go from listening to the greatest band in the universe to disgustingly chavvy shite?! Answers on a postcard please…

spot the difference

Had a boogie and then decided that the torture was just too much for our poor ears so we left Allie and Jon, Liz and Joff (and probably many more people that we know!) behind to enjoy the er… atmosphere.
After going back to the hotel and drooling at the nights photo-efforts, we finally managed to get a decent nights sleep. Pheeew.

Camden Barfly – 12.03.2008

London. The curse of London. It seems that every time we go there, something tries to stop us! Today it was a road closure on the way home from work.
Meh! We made it in time!

quicksilver shirt stealing our thunder LOL!

Mes Memoirs were supporting this one. Hmmm. Nice lads and everything, but their music does nothing for me. Its just a bit… er… boring.

the new Everythings The Rush drumskin is unveiled!

The lads came on, and for what was probably the first time on tour, they actually had some decent lighting! As they were clambering onto the stage (you’d think they’d have steps or something!) Rowly fell over a box and almost smacked his head in… right in front of me. Needless to say, after a couple of seconds he bounced up, absolutely fine. Pheeew.
The show rocked, Camden loved them.

It was quite a tiny place… very much part of the toilet circuit. The toilets looked a little like the outside of the Tits & Ass studio in Halmstad LOL!

Post-show we found ourselves in the bar having a chat with many many people, Angela had me in fits of laughter with her “kebab theory” (never mind…) and Jon was merry as ever. Saw Colin strolling around, as well as Sarah Cawood of MTV fame… she is even shorter than me! Just before we had to leave for the last train, Klair and I went to go see if Rowly was ok. He said he was suitably numb from the alcohol… but he’d be feeling it in the morning! Poor boy…

With there being no sign of the Gilbert bros making an appearance, we made our way to the bus stop to investigate just how the hell we were going to get back to Euston and whaddaya know… Greg and Aaron turn up behind us and come to say hello. What lovely guys! We had a little chat, a nice hug and then said goodbye. Aaron was not too impressed that I wouldn’t be in Stoke the following night, but hey, some of us have gotta have day-jobs!

So… holding on to my new drum skin and LMV mugs, we found some chips and sat in a bus stop for a while. Made it back to Euston, caught the last train and arrived home at 3am absolutely knackered!

Camden Calling… the setlist.

Oxford Zodiac – 11.03.2008

Another day, another gig. Fresh back from a very windy Dublin, and after a day in the office I found myself bopping down the M40 to Oxford. This was quite a special one for me, because it was essentially where it all began. For me anyway.
I arrived and met Klair in a little coffee shop. We wandered over to the venue and met Phil and his buddy. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. In the cold. (Oxford always seems to be cold!) Eventually the doors opened and we made our way into the warm Zodiac… which looks a bit better than it did the last time I was there… We chatted amongst ourselves until Scarlet Soho came on… watched their uber-cool set, waited a bit more, boogied to Prince and the Rolling Stones and before we knew it, the boys were on stage bouncing around. Greg clearly loves being on a bigger stage… more room to shimmy! This was probably the biggest venue I’d been to on this tour. You could actually fit more than 10 people on the front row!

how tired do i look?! sigh!

Greg found it rather amusing that he could see himself on a little TV screen in the back of the room. Bless him. As per usual, the bastard smoke machine caused havoc with the pictures, however it didn’t stop me trying (actually got a few pretty good shots!)

We were treated to a little clip of Hey Girl while Robbie helped Rowly fix a wayward piece of his drum kit! The show ended, we had a little chat with Barbara & Leon, Allie, Mike, and went to say hi to Carol. We waited outside on the street for a while to see if the boys would come out. Aaron made an appearance and went back inside for some dinner a little while later - “Kebabylon!” – Aaron.

King Aaron of Gilbert

waiting waiting… cold girls on the street!

A bit later, Colin and Rowly strolled out with some of their gear. We said a quick hello and had some pics taken with them. Rowly was very eager to show us all his signed Man City t-shirt… boys and their football!

Rowly and his shirt… bless!

Colin - i never had him down as one to pout!

Greg ventured out and said a very speedy hello before being whisked away by Marshy, who I’m sure just wanted to get home! Us girls said our goodbyes and made our way back to the cars. What a night! When I got home at like 1:30am, I went straight online to book tickets for the Tiscali Showcase, which we only found out about during the show!

Dublin Sugar Club – 09.03.2008

So, the two poorly tour girls descended upon Dublin for the next instalment. OK, so we missed Belfast, but these things can’t be helped! We arrived on the Saturday morning… no, not to make sure that we were the first in the queue (c’mon, it was freezing outside!) but to take in some of the sights that merry ‘ol Dublin has to offer. It was my first time going over there, so I was very excited!!!!

well what else are you gonna do on a Sunday night?!

After strolling around town for a while, we walked down to the venue. It looked pretty cool from the outside, and believe me, it was every bit as cool from the inside! “Like a Vegas theatre” – Greg.

After a comical bus ride around the city and a very non-irish dinner, we made our way back to the Sugar Club… Klair and I not even feeling the cold anymore (we were either too high on the nurofen tablets or gig-mode was setting in… fast!). We waited outside for a while and Marshy came and greeted us. Of course with it being Ireland (lol), the door time on the ticket wasn’t the same as the door time at the club, so he told us to go and get some booze. We declined… who’d run to a nice warm pub when you can stand in the cold listening to the sound-check? Yeah… didn’t think so.

We got inside and ran to the bar for a much needed bevy before sitting on the stage waiting for the action to begin. Klair was cornered by someone who reads her blog LOL. Allie arrived soon after and we all got chatting. The support act dude was hmmn… I didn’t really “get” him…

After a while the boys came out, all smiling, obviously very happy to be there. Long Time Coming was amazing, though the crowd had to be encouraged by Greg (and again by Aaron walking through) to get off their asses and boogie! Us at the front… we need no encouragement, and for that hour that they were on stage, I think Klair and I completely forgot just how shitty we had been feeling. Everything just seemed perfect. They didn’t play the Earth Gave Me You… at least we got to hear them do it in sound-check hahaha! Greg made a couple of quips about people having a good time at the back, including the people at the bar… “both of them”.

AH?

Greg and Colin… concentration!

Rowly givin it some welly

Comedy moment of the night has to be when Robbie got a little over-excited with his duct tape and came bounding onto the stage to tape Greg’s arse. OK, so that’s not completely true…however Greg’s mic-pack kept falling out of his pocket, so Robbie very er… kindly, taped it to him. Heheh. I’m sure many young girls in the audience would have been more than happy to assist!

if all else fails - grab some duck tape!

As the show came to and end, you could see Marshy having a great time at the side of the stage. He must have enjoyed this one! It seemed like no time before the set was finished and the boys had disappeared back into the darkness, but one thing is for sure, Dublin well and truly rocked on Sunday.

With more pop in our mitts and a very happy Jon and Allie to talk to, the night was by no means over… we spent ages chatting about the most random things. Mostly to do with the band of course, but somehow we ended up on the subject of toothpicks… (never mind…). A moody man came and started shifting us all out into the pouring rain, however we did have a quick minute with Greg before we got the final boot. He told us to travel safely because the weather was going to be terrible coming home. As you can tell, we all got home fine, and no one was stranded at Dublin Airport. Sigh. I was quite looking forward to an impromptu busking session from the boys!

Monday was spent eating pancakes in an American Diner and visiting the Guinness Storehouse. Happy times!

Let the adventures continue…..

Next stop: Oxford.

Nottingham Bodega - 04.03.2008

Klair’s Birthday Fest.
Never one to miss out on the opportunity to *try* and embarrass Klair, I made some rather fetching stickers for myself, Klair and Allie to wear on the front row. If that wasn’t enough, I also made her wear a very pink Birthday Girl badge hahah!
Finally met a couple more people from the Forum in Nottingham (hellooo to Dips & buddy!). Had a quick hello from Marshy before we went to get some munch.

Chips in Nottingham are better than chips in Northampton. And that’s a fact!

the obligatory spazmo pic before the show

Scarlet Soho were supporting again, and I nearly got my head kicked in by Jim a couple of times (the stage was soooo close and very high!). Their set is really cool, I think they are possibly the only support band that I have ever really really liked. Programmed To Perfection was possibly one of my favourites, however the first song (I have no idea what it is called…) is just ace! 80s electro-pop rules yet again!

Delays came on…. Delays made the place shake. The show was brilliant, the boys were on top form and the night seemed to slip away in an instant. Before we knew it, they were leaving the stage and then coming back for the encore. Our blatant attempts to let them know it was Klair’s birthday seemed to work (she got a shout out on stage!) and then they finished with Panic Attacks and You and Me.

We stayed in the bar for a while, had a tiny chat with Carol (Kat the Merch Whizz) and then got kicked downstairs into the other bar.
I am now the proud owner of a signed Delays drumstick!! (oh and several Love Made Visible mugs…)

hmm wonder what i could do with this!

We saw Aaron briefly…. If you ever see him with pink hair, you know who to blame! After Klair almost poked his eye out, we also had a nice little chat with Colin, who was very much looking forward to playing Dublin. After a little while we got to talk to Greg, who found what I do for a living rather amusing (think international car club… think very posh cars… yeah.) He had great delight in showing us their mega-cool dressing room (I am joking here, it was a toilet with a couple of hangers in it.)

Greg and I by their classy dressing room

Poor Marshy was sat on what looked like a couple of beer crates making sandwiches at like 12am. Bless him. We spoke about the most random crap as usual, and we asked Greg if they’d confirmed to play Oxegen yet. YES. They have… thank god I booked tickets!
We said our goodbyes, had a quick hello/goodbye with Rowly in the bar and then after a short (but very cold) walk to the car park, Klair and I both speechless from the happenings of the evening, we made our way back home. I never thought I could make that long drive after a hectic day, but the adrenaline rush was so much that I was still wide awake when I arrived home at 2am. Awesome!

Northampton Soundhaus – 02.03.2008

First stop on the tour for me, and boy oh boy did I need this show to cheer me up. We’ve had a really sad time at home, so a night out “with the boys” was just what I needed!
After arriving in Northampton and spotting Klair reversing up a car park entrance ramp (don’t ask!) we eventually found somewhere to dump the cars. It seems that our new…er… “gig tradition” would be getting horribly lost in strange towns. Northampton was no exception. We pestered some lovely lady in McDonalds (just about the only place that is open in Northampton on a Sunday!) and she pointed us in the right direction. We made our way there (mission impossible styleee, haha!), had a quick hello from Aaron and Marshy and then went searching for some munch. Soon after that, Beverly and Jim joined us

It goes without saying that the show was absolutely amazing. They played their “UK Only” bonus track, Earth Gave Me You and it absolutely blew me away! Greg’s falsetto back in full swing!! Pure Delays sound. I also got to hear the epic Pieces again, what an amazing song… this one will turn a few heads for sure!

tired much!? lol


Greg before he ditched the skanky little jumper

Come the encore, Greg had ditched his skanky little jumper, and Beverly shouted out “where’s your cardie!?”… A slightly bemused Greg replied, “Oh, are you one of those people who’s been dissing my cardie on the forum?!” – at this point most of us on the front row were pointing at Klair! She did of course apologise profusely when we met him after the show!
Klair found herself in the possession of a very sexy drum skin from the merch stand, and after the show we asked Rowly if he had anything to hit it with (in other words: we want one of your drum sticks!!)…to which he replied: “They don’t grow on trees y’know!”… Umm…. I think you’ll find that they do in fact grow on trees!
The meeting with the guys was very short because they were driving back to Soton, but it was nice to just say hello.

BEST BIT - the setlist Iona managed to nab had some pretty interesting stuff on it… they attempted to hide it with a marker pen, but my eyes read straight through it so here you have it… the hilarity that was the setlist:

Long Time Coming
(there was an accident on the A1)

Touchdown
(The American word for TRY)

Hideaway
(was a bad early 90s dance act… maybe)

Hooray
(for boobies)

This Town’s Religion
(was Jedi until the last census)

Love Made Visible
(A.K.A Porn for deaf people)

Pieces
(of cake)

Nearer Than Heaven
(further from hell)

Earth Gave Me To You
(and God gave rock and roll to everyone else, seems like a fair choice)

Panic Attacks
(at the disco)

Valentine
(is above the obligatory encore line)
_____________________________

Lost In A Melody
(found in translation)

You & Me
(were working as waitresses in a cocktail bar)