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Post by Pluto7077 on Feb 28, 2009 22:18:50 GMT
I love the black and white shots Rosie. You should do more, I find them very atmospheric
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Post by nightnurse on Mar 1, 2009 1:13:18 GMT
Fabulous pics Rosie , and yup, those B&W one's are stunning ;D
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Post by wrigglerosie on Mar 1, 2009 11:02:41 GMT
I can make any of the shots B and W - thats the beauty of Paintshop! Not all of them look good like that, but its does lovely for the gig pictures!
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Post by bangel on Mar 1, 2009 20:54:57 GMT
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Post by PokerKitten on Mar 3, 2009 15:07:32 GMT
Lovely shots Sylvie
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Post by wrigglerosie on Mar 3, 2009 23:18:33 GMT
Heres the final part of my Valentines weekend report - Rosie's Ramble! (sorry its been a while, but as some of you know, theres been a lot going on at at this end. Thank you for your ptaience!
PART 5 (In which Rosie comes over all emotional, experiences the worst kind of service and the best red-hot rocking concert)
It was a short gap until the theatrical performance. Steve had not said anything about it, what it would be or anything. There was nothing on the stage but a table and 2 chairs.
Steve came out to say that James and actress Beth Thompson would perform A R Gurneys “Love Letters” to fit in with the Valentines theme. There were some pleased noises from various parts of the audience. It’s not a play I knew at all, but I’ve always liked theatre, so I didn’t mind what it was – I was just looking forward to seeing James on stage.
James and Beth came out and took a seat each at the table – James the gentleman holding Beth’s chair out for her and seating her first. They both had scripts and actually read the play, so it wasn’t hugely rehearsed and had a few misreads – but it didn’t matter – the whole performance was stunning.
It’s a lovely play – telling the story of Andy and Melissa through their letters to one another over 50 years. As ever, I could not take my eyes of James. Even when he wasn’t doing anything. If Beth was reading, he would just be sitting still, not moving at all and yet your eyes were drawn back to him all the time. Maybe I am a bit biased, but he has such presence on stage, even when he’s not acting – you cannot take your eyes off him!!
There are some lovely funny moments in the play -. James’s character Andy becomes a Republican Senator during the course of the play, so you know he was acting – on a list of things that James will never be – Republican Senator has to be near the top!! - But it gets darker and more emotional towards the end and eventually becomes totally heartbreaking. Beautifully handled by both James and Beth – I had a big lump in my throat at their performances - the last letter, read by James was enough to bring tears to my eyes; I’m not ashamed to admit! James was again ever the gentleman again, seeing Beth out of her chair. They got a standing ovation, deservedly as it was a wonderful performance – so perfect for Valentines, with the drama and angst and humour. I just wish Steve had given us a few moments longer to get it back together before coming on to tell us what would happen next. I needed a few minutes to absorb and process what I’d seen. I was wiping my eyes whilst everyone was starting to move thinking “Bloody hell Steve! – give us a minute!” So I wasn’t very communicative for a bit. It was time to break for something to eat and come back for the concert at 8pm. Steve said Froggy had the photos ready in the foyer and we were all getting a Dragonball poster too.
I didn’t rush out as I was still gathering myself together so stayed and talked to a few people before trying to get out into the foyer. There was a crush as everyone was trying to look at the photos and pass them back to people and collect the posters. I gave up as it was too crazy, so went to the loo instead! When I came out again, I was standing at the top of the steps looking down on all the milling people and I could see a few photos on a stool off to the side of the main table and even from right up there, I could see one of them was me! It was my cheesy grin pic. And then I could see the other three of mine on the end of the table, so they were passed across. Much hilarity at the first sight of the ‘pleading’ pic – everyone thought it was great!
Quite a few of us ended up in a group with Magie who had had the foresight to book a table at one of the local restaurants (“table for 150 please!” I think there was 10 of us actually) so we had to walk just a block or so. As we were walking round the theatre, James, Steve and Beth came out of the stage door a bit in front of us, walking across the car park. I was farther back than some because I was waiting for Sylvie who couldn’t walk very fast in her high heels (you see? I always knew high heels were bad for you – they stop you getting near James! Like him, I prefer trainers….!) I wasn’t within talking distance but Amy Sue called out what a great job they had done, and James said thank you.
I had better gloss over dinner – the food was nice but the service was dire! They really didn’t want to know at all – poor Amy Sue never even got hers and ended up sharing. Magie was getting more and more pissed off with the staff and their attitude – this was probably the lowest point of the day. Needless to say, their tip was non-existent!
Back at the theatre (after Magie nearly got stuck in the ATM vestibule!) it seemed like pretty much a full house for the concert which was great. I got back to my seat and got the camera set up again – and even now I was thinking – ‘oh no, it’s almost over already, I don’t want it to be over!’ – even before James came on stage.
Only one way to say this – James was smoking hot on stage!! Looking like a rock star, having changed into the sleeveless black shirt, showing off his very nicely muscled arms and the theatre lighting making him look stunning. And the glow was still there.
It was great to hear him sing some old songs – ones I’ve not seen him do live before. ‘Katie’ was up first, followed by ‘Looking at You’ and then ‘Bad’ – which I was really pleased about as I really like that song and its one of the ones I hadn’t heard him do. He said it was about a fan, a girl called Nicky that he met at an event “just like this one!” – big grin!
About this point, one of the theatre stewards came down the aisle saying to everyone “no photography!” Most of us just looked at him and then carried on as we knew we were OK – he didn’t come back so must have been told it was allowed – no one much did use flash after the first 2 songs.
Stephen asked what the name of James’s guitar was – “ Chow – he’s from Korea and is reliable” – a lovely blue green coloured guitar – it turned out that Squirl had given him that guitar – she was floating about all happy afterwards – she thought he had probably just stuck it in a cupboard!
Next up was ‘Smile’ followed by ‘Layabout’ – 2 verses in and James stepped on the guitar lead and pulled it straight out (I’d noticed he had been in danger of doing that earlier – he didn’t have it hooked round like normal) Much laughter and James, looking a bit shamefaced joked” you thought I was a pro up until now” and then added “I never said I knew what I was doing!” he plugged Chow back in and said “the third verse is the best so I’m gonna carry on” and practically the first line he sung was “ I hope my fake gun doesn’t fall apart” which just struck me as hilariously funny after that!
We had ‘fall of Night’ and then ‘Don’t Worry Son’ – James said his son is now playing the guitar – “ he’s better than me – he can do Hendrix!” they have started jamming together a bit – he was asked if he’d recorded any of the two of them together and he said yes, but only on the computer.
Then it was ‘Patricia’ – especially for Stephen who had asked for it earlier as he had never heard James sing it live, followed by ‘Dangerous’ which was also a request. James said it was about Michelle Trachenburg (and Deni shouted out – “we kinda guessed!”) and then he looked at us all aghast and said “that wont go on the internet will it???” – but then he was grinning!
‘Finer than Gold’ followed by my all time favourite ‘For What I Need’ – and it was as good as ever (James flirting with the audience in the middle bit “Was it good for you baby?!!”) –then ‘Poor Robyn’ (HappyMeals request) and then ‘Civilised Man’ (“about a man who made me mad” confirms James and went on to say a little about the guy in Toronto – “Toronto apologises” shouted Magie!
‘Too Fast’ up next and James admitted quietly that it was about Eliza Dushku – he said it so quickly that lot of people didn’t catch it and both Dina on one side and Mariah on the other turned to in synch and both said “ what did he say??”
Several people shouted out for ‘Chocolate Jesus’ – including me! – and we got it. I love that song. I know it’s not James’s own but he does it so well – always makes me smile.
And still James was going strong. I was taking pictures throughout and again, because the lighting was excellent, I got some really good shots of James playing – nice moody black and white ones! ‘All That She Wanted’, ‘Goodbye’ (audience request) ‘Angel’ (his niece’s favourite song “don’t tell her I wrote it about a porn star!”) ‘Up On Me’ and ‘No Promises’ – all sounding great, James giving it his all and was every inch a star.
The final song was one he first played at the DragonCon party – now called “I’m Falling Down” and its lovely – very heartfelt. It makes me fairly certain that he adores his girlfriend and really loves her.
Then he did his “I’ll pretend I’m finished and go off and then you cheer and I’ll come back on”. So we did – and he quickly came back on again, still very much in rock star mode.
We had 3 encores (so a total of 24 songs!) ‘Vandals’, ‘London City’ and finished on ‘Birth of the Blues’ which is not one of my favourites, but it does sound a heck of a lot better sung live. James’s voice really suits the ballsy blues sound – he sounds great when he really lets rip in those. I love his ballads and love songs, but the stronger, meatier stuff just sounds so good!
We were all on our feet and James shouts “I have gifts” and starts chucking his guitar picks into the crowd – none came my way at all. And then he threw the towel that Steve had chucked him earlier, after wiping his face with it. And it landed right on Sylvie’s chest – so she got it (and wore it round her neck for the rest of the evening!) he threw the set list too – again on the other side of the room. And then he was gone – off the stage with a final bow and a wave. And it was all over.
Not a lot else to say – except what a brilliant, amazing and delightful weekend it was. James looking absolutely gorgeous, like the star he is – so very pretty! - and seemingly as happy to see us as we were him. Brilliant organisation from Steve and the team and SOPAC – everyone helping to keep it running smoothly. I liked it when Steve treated us all like one big family, him sitting on the stage telling us the best places to eat and did anyone have any questions about anything – its was so much fun and so friendly. So great meeting people for the first time or again – you could attach yourself to pretty well any group and be drawn in the conversation before you knew it, whoever they were. We all had the one thing in common – James!
I could tell you more – about Patti and Wendi unconsciously stalking James across the car park; how I tried to steal the James towel off Sylvie later and didn’t get away with it; and how at the airport, we decided that there was an entrance to an alternative dimension in Jude’s handbag (we were pretty tired by then!!) but – enough!
A great event. Getting to look at and photograph the most gorgeous man on earth for ages at a time. I still can’t get over how good he looked – that glow that gives him that special edge. The way you cannot take your eyes off of him, even when he’s not doing or saying anything. He just has that really special something. And for me, he always will have.
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Post by bangel on Mar 7, 2009 19:55:40 GMT
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Post by Rainbow on Mar 8, 2009 20:23:49 GMT
fabulous report Rosie and great piccies as always B'angel
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Post by bangel on Mar 22, 2009 20:04:09 GMT
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Post by Ditto on Mar 22, 2009 22:52:52 GMT
Verrry nice.
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Post by Rainbow on Mar 23, 2009 17:51:56 GMT
;D like your new avi B'angel
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