Ok so here is my report of the Coventry gig. I know it’s late and you’ve all probably lost interest by now, but I was waiting for my pics to come back. We borrowed my brother-in-laws digital camera because it was a 100 times better than ours, and I’ve been waiting for him to transfer them to disc. Only got them back this morning.
Anyway I’ll start from the beginning so if you wanna skip a few paragraphs please feel free. Oh and I apologise now because you know how I waffle on, and this could take forever.
So we got the train to Coventry about 3 pm, confident in the fact that we would find the Colloseum easy. Armed with our trusty map which we downloaded of the net it was only a 2 min walk to the venue. Ha!! Don’t believe a word of it. We couldn’t find one road that was on that map, so we tackled a nice postman who sent us on our way and told us that when we got to Lady Godiva to ask again. Oh he also said that he’d heard about the gig on the radio earlier.So after getting lost again somewhere behind Coventry cathedral and ending up in a cobble stone alley. We finally found a street that coincided with the map, after asking a lovely couple who turns out had just come from the Colloseum because they were going as well, we eventually got there.
There were about 20 people already there when we made it about 4.30. It was freezing cold but we waited around happily for PK, Ditto, Debs and Daph who’d we’d arranged to meet earlier. Wil toddled of at one point because she said she was dying of starvation and came back later with a pizza and a bag of chips. Met some really nice people most of who I can’t remember there names.
PK, Ditto and sisters arrived about 5.30pm and safely if not precariously manoeuvred the wheelchair up the very steep ramp.
While Ditto, Debs and Daph went of in search of food a familiar face suddenly came walking around the corner. Charlie emerged, camera in hand intending to take pics of the waiting fans. He came up the ramp and climbed on to the top of a metal barrier that was stopping people falling down to the pavement below. Balancing precariously he took a photo telling us all to look at least a bit more enthusiastic. I couldn’t believe we just stood there and never said or did anything, we didn’t even take his pic and he was so close gahhhhh. Then he jumped of the bars, sort of tripped nearly doing himself an injury and ran of in the direction he had come from. I went to the edge of the barrier and peaked round the corner where the rest of Ghost, except James were all standing. Steve then came closer taking a look at the strange contingent. I waved to him, and he waved back.
Later Steve went over the road and stood watching us, then later still he came back again with a man and a video camera. Filming the fans standing outside, also a brave lady asked him for an autograph and he happily stopped and signed.
They finally allowed us into the venue at 7.30pm, where we all crammed into the foyer waiting for another set of doors to be opened. This was where they were selling Ghost merchandise.Some really nice photos, new t-shirts, new cds and new badges in lots of different colours.
They let us into the main auditorium at 8.00pm there was a bit of pushing and shoving but a nice girl stood and held the doors for us and let us through. If she gets to read this I would like to say thank you.
Wil then ran in to get near the front, she was a couple of rows behind. I opted for the safer version because I’m not altogether comfy with being surrounded by people. So I went and stood to the left of the stage right next to the metal barricade. It was quite a good view of the centre stage and I could see where James would be singing easy, so I was happy. I shouted for Wil to come and join me there because it seemed a good place for pics. The only problem was the humungous speakers that cut off our view of Charlie and Sean, hence the lack of pics of these guys.
The support group Lazy Eye came on and I’ve gotta say I really liked them, especially the lead guitarist who looked a lot like Heath Ledger to me only older.
While we were watching them, a young lad was asked to stand to the side of us and not let anyone past that point. Putting two and two together I said to this lad who was really nice btw. “Has James and Ghost gotta come through those doors” he said “Yeah I think so” Of course by then I was getting more excited knowing James had got to pass by us and the gap he had to go through was quite tight.
Anyway Lazy Eye finished and Steve and Charlie came on to set up there equipment, Kevin and Sean followed them shortly. They didn’t come through the pink door that time but came from somewhere behind us. When Charlie came through he was covered all over in Fruitilicious stickers. As he went past me I asked him what it was all about but he didn’t hear me. As I pointed to the stickers I accidently knocked one off, so Wil is now the proud owner of a sticker that actually came off Charlies body.
A few minutes later they all left the stage and more Colloseum staff came to stand in our corner. The young lad who I spoke to was told to hold his arms out and hold back the crowd. I was laughing and joking with him about being James’ bodyguard now, and was he getting paid for putting his life on the line. The band then came out of a pink fire door James being last, they did have to pass very close to me and I had to fight back the urge to grab James. At one point Daph said “I dare you” I shook my head I couldn’t do it I’m not that brave or stupid.
James held hands with some girls as he went past he was looking very relaxed and happy. His hair looks really good and he had on tight black jeans and a black t-shirt tucked in.
I can’t remember the set list but I do know they started with New Man and finished with German Jewish. I really like some of the new songs especially This Town and Bad. He said Bad was about his experiences when he was last over here. I was thinking hmmm tell us more James but he didn’t.
He was laughing and joking throughout the gig mouthing “I love you” to people and waving to others on the balcony. He looked over in our direction a few times. Wil said that at one point while singing Goodnight Sweet Girl he was staring straight at her which made her knees weak.
As this was our first concert we didn’t have anything to compare it to. I was very impressed and thought they were really Rockin. James did a great job on vocals and the only mistake I heard was a deliberate one on the song Call 911. When he sang “I’m just a little boy with an untrained voice” his voice dipped on purpose and he started laughing. Sean was brilliant on drums, Steve was being very professional as usual, Charlie was incredible on lead guitar. That boy is very talented and I really liked his solo song The Bosses Daughter. I’ve gotta say though I was most impressed with Kevin he was great on bass guitar and I loved the way he joined in the vocals with James on GSG and Blocking Brainwaves.
Anyway the gig came to an end and Ghost left the stage James had some trouble getting by with people grabbing his hand and trying to talk to him.
We then started shouting and stamping our feet for an encore. We waited a while but not in vain as the pink door was opened again and the boys came back. I held my hand out hoping that one of them would touch it I wasn’t fussy who. Imagine my shock as James squeezed past me and my hand slid along his arm and he grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze. I was in seventh heaven by then and vowed never to wash that hand again. I lied.
James jumped on the stage laughing, saying that they loved to make us guys wait for there encore. They sang two more songs and then they were done.
At one point James was saying that Charlie was unconscious 2 mins before they came on and he thought they would have to carry him on stage. Charlie said he was just asleep. When they finished singing Charlie collapsed on the floor shattered, so James preceded to carry Charlie of the stage. It was only because of the small space that he then put him down because he wouldn’t of got through.
Oh I forgot to mention that as James left the stage for the last time he stopped to give this girl a kiss. I think it was the girl who put all the stuff for them on the stage earlier.
Lucky, lucky lady.
Steve, Charlie, Kevin and Sean came back out to pack up and signed some autographs and chatted to a few people. They were very nice.
Well we then had a drink and headed of home, brought some stuff on the way out. We both had a new t-shirt with all the song titles on the back. I brought a pic of the band which I hope to get signed in London and Wil brought a pic of James singing and a yellow badge.
All in all it was another really great day.
Sorry for the long, long report but I did warn you.
Also heres the link to the pictures, these are the best of the bunch cause Wil can't store them all on her MSN account cause there isn't enough room.
groups.msn.com/BaAAS/coventrygotr.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=316
You've gotta be kidding right 
I hate my hair.......just can't be bothered to cut it.
