Manchester UK 12/3/10

[Orthography Enthusiast]

No topic for this yet? Or maybe I just need new glasses.
Anyway, I thought it was interesting to see how this was publicized. Child of the 50's? Mmm... just BARELY.

[scottidog]

Yanky? Is that a play on his name or nationality? But the author gets plus points for Belvedere Cruising.

[ludovica64]

It was hellish cold and was snowing before we got in. I was the first person in of course and took my favourite seat at the foot of the steps from the stage. It was NOT fantastically full up and all the people we spoke to (They recognized me from my Twitter ava) managed to get first row The temperature took a MAJOR dive just as the show started almost as if someone took the roof right off. My friend went off and scored me some merch.. Craigslist shirt with Euro dates to go with my US dates one and an AP (brown)
Lots of chatting and that with front row peeps, some of whom were asking about WoWAY.
YDLMA & Frank. People were genuinely SHOCKED at the guitar smashing, and it looked like an especially sturdy one as well. Spontaneous cheering and applause for Leslie Nielsen clip. I got some very full on WBUL treatment so I was grinning like a Cheshire cat the whole time. Some people were shouting out for Albuquerque and others shouted out that there was not enough music and too many costumes, but I guess someone murdered them somewhere along the line. Big cheers were for SLN, YP, (unicorn shirt & AR still sucks) EBAY got the biggest cheer of all as I think its the most well known song here now, tho still good recognition for Eat It and Fat. CNR's video sound effects rather drowned the song.. It wasn't until the medley that I felt everyone was really getting into it. I sensed a lot of bemusement before that, but after, Al really had everyone on board. The snotty barista was from some Manchester (I presume) coffee house. Everything went well as far as I could tell. The Yoda Chant BLEW THEM AWAY.. ...
My friend and I were the only aftershow guests and Al didn't come down (didn't really expect him to tbh) My friend plays bass and was thrilled to meet the band (even though he'd have rather been in Manchester Cathedral watching I Am Kloot.. for which he wasn't able to get tickets)
It was great to catch up with the lads who all seemed on good form and jolly pleased to see a familiar face I think. They had to go on to Minehead directly for the ATP festival and conditions were diabolical, so it was a brief but pleasurable chat. Then it was a bus for us, back to my friends, and a bus for them to Minehead. Chatted to Jay Levey and to Jim's wife Diana, whom I met @ OC fair in 09. Lovely lady You may recall she was one of the "vox pops" in "Al's Brain"
Great show.. as always.. many very positive reactions, some people were gobsmacked by the quality of the show. (we're very used to gigs often being rough and ready here) I think WoWAY might have some newbies in the next few days
There was no physical ticket waiting for us. I gave a guy my name and we just walked straight in... strange

[Orthography Enthusiast]

I've been a little surprised by the lack of reviews. Maybe the local music writers/bloggers will stop sitting on their hands and mention Al in a review of ATP?

[minnick27]

Oh wait, please tell me we have pictures of British SLN cheerleaders. Please? Please? Please?

[Alinite27]

There are two pics from Birmingham that were from Sarah's pics that were posted over in that show topic. Pretty good shots of the cheerleaders, since she was so close to the stage.

[ludovica64]

As a bit of a post script. At the London gig I was told I should have stuck around after the Manchester gig,as Al was into coming down after all.
I explained why we went.. (ie that we were told he wouldn't) and said that because he was not 100%well and as I was someone else's guest, that I hadn't expected him to . Kicking myself now of course, but didn't want to linger and be a nuisance. Probably did the right thing I think, never mind the subsequent info. Had an awesome time in London so never mind, and my friend wasn't that bothered anyway

[Dafty]

It's a shame this gig wasn't very well advertised, I know a number of people who would have wanted to go (although I'm not sure they would have paid the £25!) I only noticed at the end of November - as Al has never toured the UK before, I never thought to check!
It was odd to be sat down in a gig, I supposed that was so children could see - but I didn't see many kids.
I ventured out of snow bound Sheffield to see this gig and it was well worth it. I see from other posts that Al wasn't very well, but I couldn't tell.
I loved the "Polka Face" polka - I can see how Al couldn't resist doing that!
I'm gutted I forgot my camera as I was in the third row! Particularly as I didn't realise how much better looking Al is in the flesh as opposed to pictures *drools*

[Orthography Enthusiast]

I'm gutted I forgot my camera as I was in the third row! Particularly as I didn't realise how much better looking Al is in the flesh as opposed to pictures *drools*

And you saw him sick! Yes, for a guy photographed as much as Al is, it's amazing how much better he looks "live".

[Dafty]

I realise I'm getting old when I am drooling over middle aged men! Not too young is half your age plus 7, right? That makes 32.5 - almost my age to the day

Sorry - Newbie going off topic, all go back to talking about the Manchester gig...