Happy GOTR Memories

[PokerKitten]

I am blatantly ripping off this thread idea from MTS!

Enough with the gloom and doom, recriminations, whys and wherefores! Post us your happiest memories of GOTR in this thread, whether it be of a gig, moment in a gig, CD, pic.... whatever

As I said in another thread I was lucky enough to see the band live four times, three gigs were an absolute blast, one was okayish (first Scala gig, not their fault. And my opinion was coloured by the hair-raising, legs-in-the-air ascent up the many staircases!).

So, the first "moment" that sprang to mind was at this year's Coventry gig. Believe it or not, I am a very controlled (and yeah, okay, controlling! ) person. But at some point during this gig I just let my mind go off to play.... GOTR start up with Katie and I am totally lost in it, into it, grinning from ear to ear, chair dancing in the balcony, and on a sudden glance down at the stage (which was real close) and see Steve grinning up at me. Yeah yeah, he did it to lots of people, but he caught me at a truly happy moment.

Another lovely moment was the first time I played the "It's Nothing" CD, after buying it at Coventry. I had been giving them some critical hell for over-producing the shit out of the "New Man" single, and knowing three of these songs from gigs I was worried. No need! If this is the last CD afterall, it is a great way to go out! "This Town" has become many people's fave so fast, but all 5 tracks have "it" - pure GOTR like "It's Nothing" or experimental humorous bitterness (lol, there is such a thing!) like "She Likes Rap Grooves". I listen to the EP on repeat all the bleeding time, never tire of it, always moving to it, usually singing to it.

And seeing Kevin rock out all over the goddamn stage this last European tour, and step up to really help out with the vocals. Way cool!

And Willowwood's wonderful pic of James and Kevin on stage, which I use to head up the Musical James page at the main site.

Thanks lads

[Spike Addict]

well i've only seen them once at a gig last year and i gotta say i had the time of my life (even though i was squashed) as soon as they stepped on to the stage i swear every one and everything else around me just disappeared! it was sooooo great and i loved every minute of it, and i was on a high for the next month!

also after the gig it was great to meet and chat to Steve, and also do the little hand thing with James (and finger following with Aaron) SS people might remember what am on about!

also it was great to see them again last month at the FCUK station, they were all so nice, and it was amazing to chat to them on the phone, their voices and accents are gorgeous ;D and am still treasuring the badge i got from James, and i can still see his face and reaction from when i gave him the lolly

thank you for a great 2 years guys and i will carry on enjoying your CD's.

(great idea for the post PK )

[Cyrus]

I never got to see them in person, so my happy memories are reading and looking at other people's wonderful gig reports and photos. Also listening to the few snippets of songs I've found online. I wish they sold the CDs in stores here... ooops heading towards sadness, must stop that in this thread....

So a big THANK YOU and to everybody who's posted gig reports and pics for the less fortunate to enjoy!

[nightnurse]

Aww, actually found a pic with a little bit of the lovely Sean in it! This was the Forum, memorable for me cos of the scrap I nearly got into, and having such a wild time with my mosh pit sista I2! But also memorable because the boys were so tight that night (and not just James' jeans!) they truly ROCKED !
You can tell how far we were pushed into the seething mass here, because at the start, we were standing in the middle about 20 rows back from the stage
I may put the pic of I2 and me AFTER the experience in here....it's not pretty LOL

[Snow]

In absolutely no order:

- The very first time I went to see them in Frankfurt, when they started playing and I was like "Whoa, they're so much better live than on CD!"

- Charlie, Kevin and Aaron playing SLAPP at the second Scala gig

- "The End". I know lots of people don't like that song but it has a weird effect on me. Made me curl up on my couch and suddenly feel totally at ease when I first heard it

- "Vehicles shock me". Thank you, Aaron.

- Hearing "Over now" (in Frankfurt I think) and "Katie" for the first time. Plus "Bad" from this year's tour. - And the worst thing has only just registered with me: that's three songs that won't be released on CD. Ever.

- Frankfurt gig, the guys coming on stage a second time after their encores and bowing to the audience

- Kevin worrying about his Mom reading the boards at the Q&A in London ;D

- Charlie stage-diving in Berlin.

- Sean, the most mature 19-year-old I've seen in a long while. (Thanks honey, you give me back some faith in young people these days )

- Charlie having his picture taken with lots of you after the Forum gig. (And now I wish I had not been so stupid about having my own picture taken that night myself... I just thought there'd be more time, dammit!)

- James looking almost shocked at the Frankfurt concert when during "Valerie" people were singing along with the chorus ;D

- "Good night sweet girl" as the second encore in Berlin

- The whole gig at The Forum. I only wish we'd stood up to dance earlier than for the encores

There's more. I'll add it as I think about it.

I may put the pic of I2 and me AFTER the experience in here....it's not pretty LOL

Oh!!! Yes please! ;D

[PokerKitten]

Oh thanks for reminding me Snow - Good Night Sweet Girl at Coventry. Always was one of my faves, they had more or less given up playing it live, but with strong support on vocals from Kevin in particular and Charlie, it was sensational and made everything tingle (in a good way!) And Vehickles Shock Me, at the same gig. Another top five fave and they nailed it that night. So exhilarating!

[DeeDee]

The only one I went to the forum, sitting in balconey, with Snow watching james when he sat down and let was it steve or charlie front a little, watching when they swaped guitar for fake one and smashed it! when at Berlin James said they wernt the type of band that smashes equiptment up!! hearing this town for first time lovely song James lovely singer!! mmm...James ;D it will be a night I will never forget!!

[nightnurse]

OK Snow...you asked for it!
After the Moshing and Squashing, and the victory signs are for P, who called us a couple of geriatric rock chicks!

[JIG]

well i only saw them the once at the Cov gig in May and OMG that was one of the best nights of my life. I enjoyed myself so much! Me and my mum both got a wave from james which made my whole year lol I met Sean, Kevin and Steve and got their autos and briefly said Hey to Charlie as he was struggling with the equipment, would of offered to help but i have no strength so i wouldnt of really been helping lol Gig was fantastic, James' voice had really improved from live tracks i had heard and they really gelled as a band, they did such a great performance. It is definitely a night i will never forget and of course i met the lovely PK, ditto, daf, debs, Will and Twistie and some crazy girls who were dying to meet Charlie lol

[SpikesToy]

Love that picture NN ;D

Well obviously I got within a cats whisker of seeing GotR live but...... Hey ho, I'll survive. But I've loved reading all of your memories, it makes it all a little bit more real for me and I can use my imagination whilst listening to MB. Thanks for sharing

[Cyrus]

lol @ NN and I2 with her fanny bum bag and she's smoking again!

for being post "moshed and squashed", you two don't look too bad

[Ditto]

Lmao, that picture. ;D

Too many happy memories to pick out. Meeting all the gels is what I'll miss. Cons are just not the same. James was all relaxed when he was with the guys and very accessible.

The atmosphere at the entire Garage gig stands out for me, but especially the Cavern. Absolutely magical and I got to stalk weld myself next to James at the bar for ages before his ladyminderpeep with the funny coloured hair rescued him, then he nearly bumped noses with me. *sigh* Marvellous, for me if not for him.

All the music, all the guys and Steve at the Harvest with Marilyn telling him he was full of sh*t. ;D

Sean throwing his drumsticks at Berlin *shivers*

[Snow]

Lovely picture, NN ;D. Kudos to you and I2 for surviving the front rows.

Been there once. Never gonna try that again. Definitely NOT one of my happy GotR memories.

[Ditto]

Me and Sno after a GotR gig, see the smiles. ;D

Except you prolly won't, these things never work for me!



Ditto, that would only have worked as a link (without the image codes), so I have mended it - PK

[Pixie]

Only been to 2 gigs; Paris 2002, my first ever gig and what a way to start! Met up with Fluff and co the night before and had dinner... then the gig itself was soo cool, I was quite near the front, and got a couple of reasonable pics (must remember to post them some time - got one with James looking directly at me, always gives me the shivers!). And then drinks with Ditto and folks after...

Then the Forum... like Ditto says, half the fun is meeting up with people, and it was cool to meet up with Ditto and Snow and people in the queue - especially those I hadn't seen or spoked to for ages! Laura and I were on the front row of the balcony, so got a bird's eye view, which was really cool! I could barely keep still the entire time, but was bouncing around in my seat and probably annoying the hell out of everyone behind me! Would have liked to stay behind and talk to people, but had to get the last train home - Laura wanted to stay and meet peeps, too, despite not really knowing much about the band, or being a James fan! Lol.

But they were two great occasions, and GotR is still the only band I've seen live! Something that really impressed me both times was how nice everyone was in the queues - first time, a cute couple of French girls chatted to me (Buffy fans. Well, okay, Spike fans!). Can't even remember their names, but they were really friendly and saved my space while I went foraging for a baguette at lunchtime. Second time, I queued for a bit next to a librarian and friend - or sister, not sure which - who shared their sweets with me - how nice is that?! And a mother and son who I helped with their crossword, and who also gave me food... and then Ditto, and everyone, of course!

I like it when the fans are nice people - you can just get chatting to anyone, and feel really comfortable.