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Blonde
"I'm from English"
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Location: Nottingham
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 Posted: 20-11-2008 12:35 AM Post subject: Toronto 18th November Reviews |
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Found a couple:
Kaiser Chiefs Didn't Miss A Beat
4/5
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It's always a treat when a great live act shifts from its usual stadium setting to a smaller, more intimate club. When I heard the Kaiser Chiefs were going to play The Mod Club — to a sold-out crowd, no less — I knew things were going to get a little crazy. (I'll let you make your own "predicting a riot" jokes.)
Starting off the night were East York, Ont. experimental/indie/ambient mish-mash sextet, Still Life Still. I only caught two songs, but that was enough to conclude they were a complete mess. They finished their half-hour set with a bang — literally — by throwing instruments around the stage. But they weren't fun instruments to toss around, like guitars or drums or anything of value. Instead, they threw random stuff like cymbals. I was later told by some concertgoers that that was sadly the highlight of Still Life Still's set.
Luckily, these kids had a firsthand opportunity to learn from the masters. Kaiser Chiefs won the Q Award for best live band last month, and it's really no surprise why. The Leeds quintet looked incredibly comfortable as they strode on stage, but all eyes quickly diverted to singer Ricky Wilson when he approached the mic.
The charismatic and energetic frontman wasn't impressed with the audience after set opener "Spanish Metal," which is also the first track on their latest effort, the recently released Off With Their Heads. The crowd seemed pretty excited, especially for a Toronto audience, but I'm sure Wilson is used to British audiences going totally bum bums for them.
To rev everyone up during the second song, Wilson jumped into the crowd and walked right to the back of the venue, where he proceeded to get up on some dude's shoulders and was carried back to the stage, singing the whole way. And that was only the beginning.
Wilson worked his ass off to get The Mod Club moving. He bounced around the stage, elicited crowd singalongs and frantic hand-clapping, made multiple stage dives and crowd-surfed his way around the venue.
But he topped it all towards the end of the set. When he was visibly out of beer, the frontman made a sad face, jumped down from the stage and made his way to the bar. He then jumped on top and walked about halfway down until he finally got behind it and helped himself to a generous shot of booze. He climbed back on top of the bar, swigged the drink back in one gulp and dove into the crowd, surfing his way back to the stage. It was impressive.
Wilson's hard work paid off. The audience, which was littered with British ex-pats, jumped and danced around voraciously, and would do so with even more intensity when Wilson asked for it. (But there were also those who were oblivious to the whole affair, like the two 40-year-old Kaiser Chiefs cougars who were "dancing" — or should I say struggling to stay on their feet all night — in front of me, pounding Mike's Hard Lemonades like it was their job. They added a whole other level of entertainment to the night.)
The Kaiser Chiefs played a pretty even mixture of material from their three albums, though hits like "Ruby," "I Predict A Riot," closer "The Angry Mob" and the final encore song, "Oh My God," generated the biggest responses. It was a bit surprising, though, how the audience went mad for songs from their sophomore album, Yours Truly, Angry Mob, which I thought paled in comparison to their excellent Employment debut.
While they didn't get as large a response, the new songs from Off With Their Heads sounded great, especially "Half The Truth" and the danceable "Never Miss A Beat" and "You Want History." It'll be great to see the Chiefs again when people are a little more familiar with this album, because the latter track is definite hit material and begs to be danced to.
It was also great to hear drummer Nick Hodgson sing. His back-up and vocal interplay with Wilson on a few songs proved that the drummer and lead songwriter — who contributes whisper-quiet lead vocals on the boring Heads track, "Remember You're A Girl" — does, in fact, have a great voice.
It was impossible not to have a good time at this show. When the house lights finally came on, it almost seemed too soon. But while my adrenaline might've still been high, my sweaty clothes told me I'd danced enough for one night. |
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Only being shackled to the road could ever I be free.
Daaaaave
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Blonde
"I'm from English"
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 12:38 AM Post subject: |
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The Mod Club, Toronto - November 18, 2008
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The possible prediction of a riot was wrong, yet British pop band Kaiser Chiefs had a rowdy, boisterous lot in front of them Tuesday night at Toronto's sold-out Mod Club.
But enough about the band's lead singer Ricky Gervais, er, Ricky Wilson.
While his other four band mates were more than content to simply play their instruments like an inconspicuous well-oiled machine, Wilson hammed it up often while never missing a beat.
And it was that spark of showmanship which seemed to put the 16-song, 75-minute set well over the top.
Staging a brief North American trek before a more extensive run next year, and with the tightly packed horde eagerly awaiting them, Kaiser Chiefs opened with Spanish Metal, the spacey, Barrett-era Floydian opener from the band's latest album Off With Their Heads.
The song wasn't executed that well and it took a while for the group to finally come around. It was during Everything Is Average Nowadays where Wilson got his cheeky mojo working, walking deep into the audience and getting a fan to piggyback him to the stage.
"I wanna see you jumping higher and singing louder," Wilson said before falling over onto a monitor during the tight, punchy Everyday I Love You Less And Less.
Kaiser Chiefs brand of pop rarely goes out of style but will never be mistaken for artsy, avant-garde rock. A recent YouTube clip (Kaiser Chiefs Kailen) of a young boy singing and dancing to their new single Never Miss A Beat sums up the concert experience of most male fans perfectly: dancing and singing throughout but are left staggering around and continually pulling their trousers up by show's end.
That song also was the show's first real highlight, leading into another loud sing-along during the equally effective Ruby.
After coaxing the crowd to perform the opening line of Happy Birthday to their sound man, Kaiser Chiefs offered up Modern Way from 2005's Employment before You Want History with its Franz Ferdinand-like dance-rock leanings reared its crowd-pleasing head.
If there was one song from the new album that was sorely missed, it might have been Like It Too Much, which probably would've fared far better than the slower, somewhat hokey Good Days Bad Days. But Can't Say What I Mean during the two-song encore more than made up for that minor flaw.
With the end slowly coming into view, Wilson, who had the band autograph a soccer jersey for a fan who tossed it to him earlier in the show, dazzled the crowd with I Predict A Riot. Here he ended up crowd-surfing, caught a tossed microphone and performed the rest of the tune while literally being handed around.
And as if that wasn't enough, the singer went a step further during the party-rocker Take My Temperature. Wilson sauntered along the bar ledge before helping himself to a tall stiff drink halfway though the song, then once again crowd-surfed back to the stage.
Closing out with Oh My God, Kaiser Chiefs left fans knowing that while it wasn't at Massey Hall, they delivered a killer show.
Sun Rating: 4 out of 5 |
_________________
Only being shackled to the road could ever I be free.
Daaaaave
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monkeyboy2004
Mobster
Joined: 23 Dec 2004
Location: Usually York, Sometimes Sheffield (Hallam Uni) But Currently Toronto, Canada.
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 12:43 AM Post subject: |
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| With the end slowly coming into view, Wilson, who had the band autograph a soccer jersey for a fan who tossed it to him earlier in the show, dazzled the crowd with I Predict A Riot. |
MY LEEDS SHIRT 
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-Luke
KC@LeedsFest'06
KC@EllandRoad'08
KC@ModClubToronto'08 |
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Blonde
"I'm from English"
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 12:43 AM Post subject: |
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So come on then, wheres your review?
_________________
Only being shackled to the road could ever I be free.
Daaaaave
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monkeyboy2004
Mobster
Joined: 23 Dec 2004
Location: Usually York, Sometimes Sheffield (Hallam Uni) But Currently Toronto, Canada.
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 12:47 AM Post subject: My Review: |
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Haha...
Quite simply the best gig i have ever (and probably WILL ever) get chance to see. Setlist sheet, Signed Leeds shirt, and a picture with Ricky. Not to mention a quite outstanding performance from the lads. An absolutely incredible night!
Will that do lol?! Also dont suppose anyones got any pics? I'll post mine up soon!
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-Luke
KC@LeedsFest'06
KC@EllandRoad'08
KC@ModClubToronto'08 |
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ModFlower
Dipping my toes
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Location: In or around Fort Fun
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 04:28 AM Post subject: |
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Thank you for those reviews, Blonde. Entertaining read!
That's cool they signed your Leeds shirt!  Sounds like it was amazing!
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Immi_D
Mobster
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 09:53 AM Post subject: |
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Hi There! I'm a first time poster and a long time lurker but most importantly I was at the Toronto show the other night. I have a few pictures --although most of them are ruined due to the fact that a very, very drunk girl started leaning on me as if it was my job to hold her upright-- and I'll post them as soon as I get around to uploading them.
It was my first Kaiser gig (would've been my second but I won't get into that) and as far as my general concert experiences go it was probably the best concert I've been to …ever.
In defense of the opening act, their first two songs were pretty good... then out came the screamer and it all went downhill from there. |
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RiverIsis
Going round the bendy
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Location: t'over pond in FunKY town
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 02:08 PM Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the reviews!
And welcome to the board! (well everyone but you Blonde - you are more of the establishment!  )
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2009 Nick - "I don't know where I am today to be honest with you"
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schatzi
Administrator
Joined: 18 Feb 2006
Location: Munich
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 02:15 PM Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reviews.
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Kaiser Chiefs Fans - Myspace
Silence is Silver, but music is Gold. |
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RiverIsis
Going round the bendy
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Location: t'over pond in FunKY town
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 03:44 PM Post subject: |
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I have to ask.
What constitutes a cougar?
I actually feel insulted but I don't think I am a cougar - as I went as a family. And even if I didn't go as a family I would have gone and enjoyed myself.
Is this a sexist comment as the band are all in their thirties? They are closer in age to me than my kids.
I just don't get it because I have seen fans of all ages at their concerts on the net and even in person I was hardly the oldest person there by a long mile. I know I wasn't at THIS particular gig - but I just think it was meant to be derogatory to older female fans and wasn't necessary in the review.
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2009 Nick - "I don't know where I am today to be honest with you"
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noamjen
The Israeli Boardie
Joined: 29 Oct 2006
Location: Up here - shock!!
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 04:25 PM Post subject: |
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| RiverIsis wrote: |
I have to ask.
What constitutes a cougar?
I actually feel insulted but I don't think I am a cougar - as I went as a family. And even if I didn't go as a family I would have gone and enjoyed myself.
Is this a sexist comment as the band are all in their thirties? They are closer in age to me than my kids.
I just don't get it because I have seen fans of all ages at their concerts on the net and even in person I was hardly the oldest person there by a long mile. I know I wasn't at THIS particular gig - but I just think it was meant to be derogatory to older female fans and wasn't necessary in the review. |
I don't think it was derogatory against older females - not that particular word. The word cougar itself refers only to women in their 40's, so the fact the he mentioned '40-year-old cougars' make me thinks that he just wanted to use another word than groupies. He's not a very brilliant writer anyway, I thought it was poorly written over all.
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If you ask them, they will come!
TODA RABAH for Aug 20
V fest - Berlin - Munich - Cologne - Tel Aviv - Leeds |
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RiverIsis
Going round the bendy
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Location: t'over pond in FunKY town
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| Posted: 20-11-2008 07:55 PM Post subject: |
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| noamjen wrote: |
| I don't think it was derogatory against older females - not that particular word. The word cougar itself refers only to women in their 40's, so the fact the he mentioned '40-year-old cougars' make me thinks that he just wanted to use another word than groupies. He's not a very brilliant writer anyway, I thought it was poorly written over all. |
See I took it that it is a "saddo" 40 year old looking for "fresh meat" to pounce on. Maybe he was just trying to be "hip" and prove that he had watched Sex and the City 
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2009 Nick - "I don't know where I am today to be honest with you"
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i_s_toronto
Mobster
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: 21-11-2008 01:10 AM Post subject: |
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hey, one of those referred to as 'cougars' accidentally hit me on the head with her mike's hard (and hard it was), so i grabbed it from her and tried to down it, sort of to disarm her. couldn't do it though, it just didn't mix well with my beer.
as for my 2 cents on the whole 'cougar' terminology: it's not derogatory, but i believe it was misused here, as it generally applies to someone dressed racier than they can pull off, scouting for fresh meat- you know, the sort that you would normally find at places like 'brant house' or 'spice route', not a kaiser chiefs show. these were just your avg. drunk english gals at a rock gig.
AWESOME SHOW BTW!
peace everyone! |
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Immi_D
Mobster
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
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| Posted: 21-11-2008 05:59 AM Post subject: |
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Thanks for the welcome.
I've been trying to find a setlist somewhere but I can't seem to find one listed anywhere. Go figure, this is the first time in a long time that I didn't scribble a setlist on my arm. I figured someone would've posted a pic of one by now seeing as there's at least seven copies (that I know of) floating around. 
| RiverIsis wrote: |
I have to ask.
What constitutes a cougar? |
I've always considered a cougar to generally be a skanky looking older woman (usually 40 years of age or older) that tends to hit on men who are considerably younger than them, think fifteen year age gap or better. I consider it derogatory solely because there's no terminology for guys who do the exact same thing. I can't say I really ran into anyone fitting the description of a "cougar" at this gig.
I'll probably be attempting to post my photos sometime in the next couple of hours... wish me luck!  |
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MrsSloth
The Stitcher
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Location: It's all about brains, don't you know?
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| Posted: 21-11-2008 08:47 AM Post subject: |
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Thank you for explaining cougar, I hadn't heard that term before!
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Beanie
Predicting Riots
Joined: 17 Jan 2008
Location: In a Galaxy far far away... well, West Yorkshire really!
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| Posted: 21-11-2008 10:40 AM Post subject: |
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Thanks for those reviews
'Cougar' is not a term I've heard of before either !
It's typical though that there are all these words used by the media and people to degrade women, but no words to do the same about men 
Anyways... glad those that went had a great time
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kaiserslautern
Mobster
Joined: 21 Nov 2008
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| Posted: 21-11-2008 07:16 PM Post subject: |
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| i actually just posted a review on the show as well, noting the high number of women in their 40s and 50s ... i must have been close to the reviewer above because i too had two middle aged women STRUGGLING to stay upright by the time the kaisers even took the stage. they were basically being propped up throughout by random strangers. embarrassing!! |
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RiverIsis
Going round the bendy
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
Location: t'over pond in FunKY town
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| Posted: 21-11-2008 09:30 PM Post subject: |
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Thanks for confirming that cougar IS derogatory.
No excuses for the women's behaviour - I don't really tolerate over the top drunks, I don't see the point, if I have paid to see a show, I want to remember it.  If they had leant on me I would have moved and let them fall. Plus I don't feel they have the right to spoil a show for someone else. I'm not tea-total but I think there is a time and place. A drink of two if you can handle it - fine; but to get lairy, get over yourselves - you don't have the right to spoil my gig.
Rant over.
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2009 Nick - "I don't know where I am today to be honest with you"
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Immi_D
Mobster
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
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| Posted: 22-11-2008 08:15 AM Post subject: |
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I don't think I've ever had such a detailed discussion about non-feline cougars before!
When it comes to people leaning on me, normally my sister would trade places with me or step in to stop it if one of my concert neighbours got that physical. In this case, the spot I was in was way too good to be true so I toughed it out.
Besides, it wasn't all bad, I actually found it entertaining when she'd turn around to make out with her boyfriend then spin around again to try and flirt with Whitey. She was a real piece of work. |
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Immi_D
Mobster
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
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| Posted: 22-11-2008 09:34 AM Post subject: |
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Found another one... it actually mentions the board!
Kaiser Chiefs @ Mod Club Theatre
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Kaiser Chiefs brought sixty minutes of rowdy stadium-style British rock to Mod Club this past Wednesday night. I have to admit, it was a very weird audience that wasn't nearly as energetic as the show last year at Kool Haus (on April 18, 2007) and I'm pretty sure that it being 19+ had something to do with it. There's something about sweaty teenagers crammed into a venue to see their most adored British crushes of the moment. There was way more fist-pumping and crowd surfing at the 2007 show, but then again, Yours Truly, Angry Mob was a rowdier record than the newest one. I did notice that there were a LOT of 40-something made-up women at Mod Club. An odd collection of fans for sure, something that even the Kaiser Chiefs' fanboards took note of.
Kaiser Chiefs took the stage just after 10pm and performed for over an hour - a mix of hits from all three of their albums, including the newest one Off With Their Heads, which I loved in a live setting a lot more than on headphones. It's another album of call & response choruses and rowdy chants that begs to be enjoyed in person.
Frontman Ricky Wilson was his usual charming self, imploring the audience to sing along, shout back at him, hurl football scarves and flags his way and carry him through the venue on their fingertips. Yep, crowd surfing was in full force once again. Within two songs, Ricky was parting the crowd as he waded his way to the back of the room with mic in hand, and later, during Take My Temperature he crowd surfed to the side bar, poured himself a strong mixed drink, stood on the bar to sing a few verses before sailing back to the stage. When he came my way I caught a hold of his ankle, which I noticed for the first time was wrapped in a protective brace (likely still a reminder of his 2006 hit and run accident). Still, it's wild to think that even with an injured limb, he'd still be flailing about on stage and hurling himself into a crowd of strangers. Brave man - it was a wild ride!
I was busy shouting along to the set all night long, so to the best of my memory here's the setlist they performed:
Spanish Metal
Everything Is Average Nowadays
Everyday I Love You Less And Less
Heat Dies Down
Never Miss A Beat
Ruby
Modern Way
Half The Truth
You Want History
Good Days Bad Days
Na Na Na Na Naa
I Predict A Riot
Take My Temperature
The Angry Mob
Encore:
Can't Say What I Mean
Oh My God
Posted by Kat |
The setlist looks about right to me but I spent a couple of moments in a joy induced haze so I'm not sure enough about it to actually post it to the setlist thread. |
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noamjen
The Israeli Boardie
Joined: 29 Oct 2006
Location: Up here - shock!!
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| Posted: 23-11-2008 05:47 AM Post subject: |
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| Immi_D wrote: |
When it comes to people leaning on me, normally my sister would trade places with me or step in to stop it if one of my concert neighbours got that physical. In this case, the spot I was in was way too good to be true so I toughed it out.
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ohhhh, this reminds of Chiefs at V 08, it was last show and of course I was used to people leaning on me, and in return I would force them to support me when my legs hurt from jumping but there was this one girl right in front of me and her arse was right in my lap the entire show!!! And it wasn't just that we were standing too close and the height difference made it that way - she was actually leaning forward and pushing her arse backwards ( I guess to make sure no one pushes her but still....)
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If you ask them, they will come!
TODA RABAH for Aug 20
V fest - Berlin - Munich - Cologne - Tel Aviv - Leeds |
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