Braxton - final
Better late than never, here's the next Brixton part.
You're warned, it is loooong.
After finally leaving Brixton Academy on Monday night, we made it back to our hostel. Karolien had decided to just take a shower and go right back to queue. The rest of us decided to sleep for a couple of hours. Somehow I managed to calm myself down after that little.. rendez vous with Nick and fell asleep. We all got up around 7 again and got ready to go queue again (after a little visit at MacDonalds). I remember queue-ing on Tuesday was one of the funniest ever. Me, Kitty and Tanita laughed so much and so hard, my tummy started to hurt. We have so many inside jokes, that we just need one word (sometimes that word was the whole joke) to totally crack up. Or we'd talk in MSN-language.... haha!
At some point Dani and I went to go to the toilet, but decided to check the back first. When we just turned the corner she saw Nick so she poked me, but sadly, all I saw was a flash of blue. Bummer.
Later on he walked by the queue again, like he'd done on Monday. This time I behaved myself and just watched him walking. I should've taken a picture of him, but at that moment I just fixed my eyes on him and my brain was kinda dead so yeh. Forgive me? He wore the same outfit as Monday, as far as I could see.
When it was finally time to get in, it turned out they'd learned from Monday, they let us inside in little groups, so it all went a lot smoother. I lost everybody, but ended up behind Tanita and Karolien and Kitty right next to me. We got right in front of Stefan, so I was pretty good with that spot.
Again I couldn't see Brian very well, but I think I had my eyes on Nick for at least 80 % anyway.
The show was pretty much the same as the one on Monday, except this time the panels on stage got pulled up quicker, and not like, halfway Nancy Boy. I'd really been afraid that Nick would be hidden behind those panels for the whole show.
In my former review I forgot to mention that the management AND the crew were dressed up as THH clowns. Management looked cool (they wore suits and all as well) and the crew just looked funny. Brandon and his Placebo beanie.. wearing it inside out so the tag was like a little flag on his had. Silly.
I wasn't as into it as on Monday, or simply, I couldn't really move at all, so I guess that made a big difference. The Tuesday's crowd was far more pushy etc but I was still alright. And I still soaked in everything that happened on stage. So many smiles and happy people. <3
This night they'd film for the dvd, and don't get me wrong, I'll be uber happy with the live recording of this night. But I do hope they'll put material on it from other shows. Like Paris in October. They actually DID film there, and to me those nights were still better than Brixton. Just little changes and stuff that I missed now, and I think it's due to being on the road for so long..
Anyway, after the show we hung out at the backdoor and Christian from Evaline came out for a smoke and a chat, and he's sweeeet!! ^_^ this Courtney Love look a like was talking to him and she asked "what do you do" and he answered "I play the guitar". And we just totally cracked up! I mean, she'd just seen him onstage with his band right?! But his dry answer was so hilarious! I won't forget that anytime soon hahaha! He took pics with whoever wanted, and now I kinda regret I didnt ask for a pic too. But oh well. Ah, right. I really loved his reaction when Dani asked about The Used. Quinn, their guitarist, discovered them, and Dani is a major Used fan! He was just really sweet about it and genuinly surprised that somebody brought up the subject. When he left or went back inside we went to the other backentrance where they were busy with loading the trucks. Brian came out and said goodbye to people from the crew or whoever they were and some hugs, very sweet. After that I had a quick chat&pic with Sam (whom I'd ran into earlier while queue-ing). And then we talked to some other people from the crew, getting the DVD-thing confirmed. I also asked what all the hugs were about (Mick and Nick hugging = <3) But I didn't really get an answer to that.
A bit later Nick came out, and I dunno, when he's close I gotta touch him yeh? So I immediatly put my arm around his waist/tummy. *hides far far away* But he just passed by and went around the corner, I pretended to follow right after him going "walk like an egyptian!!" lol inside joke... but it was a good laugh haha! He just went there for a smoke and a phonecall. So I let him be. But when he was done I got the courage to go up to him and ask if he'd be there again next tour. Which he didn't understand. He started to give me directions to the afterparty location! haha! I had to repeat it for like, 3 times. And let me tell you, if you try to articulate as best as you can, it just starts to sound more stupid. But luckily after all those tries he understood me, and said he really like working with Placebo and we'd just have to cross our fingers for him being there. So guess what I'm doing 24/7. While talking to him I noticed I was putting my hand on his arm or elbow, all.the.time. I just can't help but touch him.
He went back inside, and we were about to go to the afterparty, but we could still hear the guys (Bill, Nick and most likely, Stevie) as well. So we weren't sure what to do, but after some.. uh discussion we decided to go to the afterparty. Not being 100% sure where it was, but we ran into Charlie, so we just followed him. The place was called "Plan B" and when Anthony had told us, we thought like something went wrong so now that's plan b. We did not realise it was actually the place itself!
We checked out the whole place (apparantly there was a VIP-room downstairs) and we saw Hotel Persona play for a while. They played that Placebo/Rihanna mash up which I love.The DJ before Hotel Persona played THH, apparantly the redux mix, but I haven't got the redux (still nothing..). So I can't say if I liked or not. ;)
Me and Kitty went downstairs for a bit to check whatever we could (nothing but a door) from the VIP and just when I was standing at the bottom of the stairs, Sam came downstairs as well! I had planned to give him Dutch stroopwafels, but had forgotten to give them to himi with taking the pic and stuff! So Kitty told him I'd give them right away so I pressed them in his hands and he just pulled me into this tight mega hug and a cheek kiss. I couldn't help but hug him back tightly as well and just bury my head on his shoulder. Aww writing this, and thinking back of that and all the other times I've met him, make me miss him. But this was just the best goodbye for me, it still makes me smile. I dunno if we were still there at the stairs, or there again, but all of a sudden Nick was there, and I watched him handing out 2 VIP passes to some girls. Kitty, being the sweetheart that she is, poked him to give one to me as well, but he gestured that he was out of VIP passes. Which made me decide to tickle him. WTF is wrong with me!?! Like, honestly, while he was going back up the stairs, I had my right hand on his side and wriggling my fingers about. That classifies as tickling right?! *hides far far far away*
Anyway, at some point I go for a picture with him, Kitty being the one taking it. But some random girl motions she'll take the pic and Nick is all yeh yeh join the photo to kitty as well lol so we sandwich Nick, gah! And yeh I got my hand on his tummy and I look like crap, but what's new? For a brief moment I thought "See? It's true, they're all into big boobs and blonde" and ugh. So I was a bit down for a bit. The fact that Nick was walking around, without me being able to really get to him frustrated me to the max. I really didn't know what to do with myself. So, I decided to just down my beer and try to enjoy, which I did. Got pulled on the dancefloor. But I cannot dance. I mean, I wish I could, but my body just doesn't. So I was .. just pretending to know what I was doing in the meantime hoping Nick wouldn't see me (though I was pretty much right in his view). After a bit I stopped and just stood behind this pole thing to hide myself and perv on Nick.
Stevie appeared upstairs for a quickie too. Or well, it did feel like a quickie, about two min, but looking back on it, loads of people got pics with him, so maybe longer than 2 min. Anyway, I joined Tanita to go see him and stuff, like, enjoying him being there. But he pulled me into a hug! No lie. So I quickly whispered a belated happy bday in his ear. ^_^ Mr. Forrest was with his girlfriend though, so some people weren't amused, but I thought they looked cute.
Word has it that Bill DJ'd after Hotel Persona, but I don't remember seeing him at the DJ booth. Might be cause I was outside for a bit with Kitty for a smoke (she, not me and had stalked Nick some more) or I've just been blind and/or deaf or most likely, distracted. Don't have the feeling I missed anything really.
Anyway, then it was Nick's turn. LOL I have no clue about DJ-ing, or what music is in now, but I did recognise some songs. The later it got, the better he DJ'd. I remember Arctic Monkeys... hm and Rammstein. Oh right, and Kaiserchiefs. Yup, could be worse right?
I took a few pics of him while DJ-ing, but didn't wanna be a stupid.. uh well yeh. Some polish girl took pics of him ALL the time, so sometimes I joined her to snap a few quickly, so I wouldn't be noticed.
Talking of photos. I got a cool picture with Mick. His hand was a liiiiiiiiiiiittle low on my back(better say ass) but it amused me.
The lights went on a bit after 03.00 but Nick continued DJ-ing, so we stayed a little while longer, but just a few shows. Then we were about to leave, while Tanita and Karolien were downstairs to get their coats. I went by the DJ booth to wave goodbye to Nick and.. he blew me a kiss. No lie. I migh've blown one back, probably looking like a lunatic cause I was a bit shocked about the situation. Maybe I've just smiled at him. Who knows.
We had said goodbye to Michael and Karen (who were at the party as well) already, but we ran into them at the MacDonalds again. Then we all made it to our hostel again, and said goodbye to the people who'd leave early morning. Karolien was gonna catch the tube about 2 hours later, so she just gathered her stuff and went to wait in the lounge. So Dani got her bed (she'd been in the room with Karen and Michael previous night) and we (Dani, Kitty, Tanita and myself) got into our bed at some point after 4.35. Woah. All having these mixed feelings, happy about what had happened, but sad that it was all over. I woke up to Tanita packing less than 4 hours later. While brushing my teeth in the bathroom this girl walked in. The polish girl who'd been drooling all over MY Nick! Though she either didn't recognise me, or just ignored me. Good. I wasn't really up for a early morning chat with so called rival. Cause it really feels like I'm the only one who's into him, but now that he was being a DJ and all, people started to notice him as well. BACK OFF, I saw him first!
Tanita left too, while Kitty and Dani were still asleep. So I got myself ready, waiting for them to wake up. Later we checked out and got some stuff at Sainsbury's and Starbucks. Just before catching the tube back to King's Cross, I bought me some All Stars which I hapilly put on when we were waiting for the Eurostar. But not before saying goodbye to Dani just before arriving at King's Cross. We killed some time with buying Belgian White Chocolate Cookies at Tesco. (4 for 1 pound!!).
Then it was really time to go back to St. Pancras and board the Eurostar back home. We'd watch Rock Am Ring 2009 on Kitty's phone but I could barely keep my eyes open.
I'd see Karolien again on the next Monday, to go to the show in Madrid, and probably Tanita would come as well. If it wasn't that all the other upcoming gigs were cancelled.
Such a bummer. I really was sad about it, but also knew I've had a great great year again in 2010. So it might as well have been the perfect goodbye, without knowing that it was a goodbye, those 2 gigs in London.
The only thought that kept coming into my head was "I just wanted to see him again one last time."
You're warned, it is loooong.
After finally leaving Brixton Academy on Monday night, we made it back to our hostel. Karolien had decided to just take a shower and go right back to queue. The rest of us decided to sleep for a couple of hours. Somehow I managed to calm myself down after that little.. rendez vous with Nick and fell asleep. We all got up around 7 again and got ready to go queue again (after a little visit at MacDonalds). I remember queue-ing on Tuesday was one of the funniest ever. Me, Kitty and Tanita laughed so much and so hard, my tummy started to hurt. We have so many inside jokes, that we just need one word (sometimes that word was the whole joke) to totally crack up. Or we'd talk in MSN-language.... haha!
At some point Dani and I went to go to the toilet, but decided to check the back first. When we just turned the corner she saw Nick so she poked me, but sadly, all I saw was a flash of blue. Bummer.
Later on he walked by the queue again, like he'd done on Monday. This time I behaved myself and just watched him walking. I should've taken a picture of him, but at that moment I just fixed my eyes on him and my brain was kinda dead so yeh. Forgive me? He wore the same outfit as Monday, as far as I could see.
When it was finally time to get in, it turned out they'd learned from Monday, they let us inside in little groups, so it all went a lot smoother. I lost everybody, but ended up behind Tanita and Karolien and Kitty right next to me. We got right in front of Stefan, so I was pretty good with that spot.
Again I couldn't see Brian very well, but I think I had my eyes on Nick for at least 80 % anyway.
The show was pretty much the same as the one on Monday, except this time the panels on stage got pulled up quicker, and not like, halfway Nancy Boy. I'd really been afraid that Nick would be hidden behind those panels for the whole show.
In my former review I forgot to mention that the management AND the crew were dressed up as THH clowns. Management looked cool (they wore suits and all as well) and the crew just looked funny. Brandon and his Placebo beanie.. wearing it inside out so the tag was like a little flag on his had. Silly.
I wasn't as into it as on Monday, or simply, I couldn't really move at all, so I guess that made a big difference. The Tuesday's crowd was far more pushy etc but I was still alright. And I still soaked in everything that happened on stage. So many smiles and happy people. <3
This night they'd film for the dvd, and don't get me wrong, I'll be uber happy with the live recording of this night. But I do hope they'll put material on it from other shows. Like Paris in October. They actually DID film there, and to me those nights were still better than Brixton. Just little changes and stuff that I missed now, and I think it's due to being on the road for so long..
Anyway, after the show we hung out at the backdoor and Christian from Evaline came out for a smoke and a chat, and he's sweeeet!! ^_^ this Courtney Love look a like was talking to him and she asked "what do you do" and he answered "I play the guitar". And we just totally cracked up! I mean, she'd just seen him onstage with his band right?! But his dry answer was so hilarious! I won't forget that anytime soon hahaha! He took pics with whoever wanted, and now I kinda regret I didnt ask for a pic too. But oh well. Ah, right. I really loved his reaction when Dani asked about The Used. Quinn, their guitarist, discovered them, and Dani is a major Used fan! He was just really sweet about it and genuinly surprised that somebody brought up the subject. When he left or went back inside we went to the other backentrance where they were busy with loading the trucks. Brian came out and said goodbye to people from the crew or whoever they were and some hugs, very sweet. After that I had a quick chat&pic with Sam (whom I'd ran into earlier while queue-ing). And then we talked to some other people from the crew, getting the DVD-thing confirmed. I also asked what all the hugs were about (Mick and Nick hugging = <3) But I didn't really get an answer to that.
A bit later Nick came out, and I dunno, when he's close I gotta touch him yeh? So I immediatly put my arm around his waist/tummy. *hides far far away* But he just passed by and went around the corner, I pretended to follow right after him going "walk like an egyptian!!" lol inside joke... but it was a good laugh haha! He just went there for a smoke and a phonecall. So I let him be. But when he was done I got the courage to go up to him and ask if he'd be there again next tour. Which he didn't understand. He started to give me directions to the afterparty location! haha! I had to repeat it for like, 3 times. And let me tell you, if you try to articulate as best as you can, it just starts to sound more stupid. But luckily after all those tries he understood me, and said he really like working with Placebo and we'd just have to cross our fingers for him being there. So guess what I'm doing 24/7. While talking to him I noticed I was putting my hand on his arm or elbow, all.the.time. I just can't help but touch him.
He went back inside, and we were about to go to the afterparty, but we could still hear the guys (Bill, Nick and most likely, Stevie) as well. So we weren't sure what to do, but after some.. uh discussion we decided to go to the afterparty. Not being 100% sure where it was, but we ran into Charlie, so we just followed him. The place was called "Plan B" and when Anthony had told us, we thought like something went wrong so now that's plan b. We did not realise it was actually the place itself!
We checked out the whole place (apparantly there was a VIP-room downstairs) and we saw Hotel Persona play for a while. They played that Placebo/Rihanna mash up which I love.The DJ before Hotel Persona played THH, apparantly the redux mix, but I haven't got the redux (still nothing..). So I can't say if I liked or not. ;)
Me and Kitty went downstairs for a bit to check whatever we could (nothing but a door) from the VIP and just when I was standing at the bottom of the stairs, Sam came downstairs as well! I had planned to give him Dutch stroopwafels, but had forgotten to give them to himi with taking the pic and stuff! So Kitty told him I'd give them right away so I pressed them in his hands and he just pulled me into this tight mega hug and a cheek kiss. I couldn't help but hug him back tightly as well and just bury my head on his shoulder. Aww writing this, and thinking back of that and all the other times I've met him, make me miss him. But this was just the best goodbye for me, it still makes me smile. I dunno if we were still there at the stairs, or there again, but all of a sudden Nick was there, and I watched him handing out 2 VIP passes to some girls. Kitty, being the sweetheart that she is, poked him to give one to me as well, but he gestured that he was out of VIP passes. Which made me decide to tickle him. WTF is wrong with me!?! Like, honestly, while he was going back up the stairs, I had my right hand on his side and wriggling my fingers about. That classifies as tickling right?! *hides far far far away*
Anyway, at some point I go for a picture with him, Kitty being the one taking it. But some random girl motions she'll take the pic and Nick is all yeh yeh join the photo to kitty as well lol so we sandwich Nick, gah! And yeh I got my hand on his tummy and I look like crap, but what's new? For a brief moment I thought "See? It's true, they're all into big boobs and blonde" and ugh. So I was a bit down for a bit. The fact that Nick was walking around, without me being able to really get to him frustrated me to the max. I really didn't know what to do with myself. So, I decided to just down my beer and try to enjoy, which I did. Got pulled on the dancefloor. But I cannot dance. I mean, I wish I could, but my body just doesn't. So I was .. just pretending to know what I was doing in the meantime hoping Nick wouldn't see me (though I was pretty much right in his view). After a bit I stopped and just stood behind this pole thing to hide myself and perv on Nick.
Stevie appeared upstairs for a quickie too. Or well, it did feel like a quickie, about two min, but looking back on it, loads of people got pics with him, so maybe longer than 2 min. Anyway, I joined Tanita to go see him and stuff, like, enjoying him being there. But he pulled me into a hug! No lie. So I quickly whispered a belated happy bday in his ear. ^_^ Mr. Forrest was with his girlfriend though, so some people weren't amused, but I thought they looked cute.
Word has it that Bill DJ'd after Hotel Persona, but I don't remember seeing him at the DJ booth. Might be cause I was outside for a bit with Kitty for a smoke (she, not me and had stalked Nick some more) or I've just been blind and/or deaf or most likely, distracted. Don't have the feeling I missed anything really.
Anyway, then it was Nick's turn. LOL I have no clue about DJ-ing, or what music is in now, but I did recognise some songs. The later it got, the better he DJ'd. I remember Arctic Monkeys... hm and Rammstein. Oh right, and Kaiserchiefs. Yup, could be worse right?
I took a few pics of him while DJ-ing, but didn't wanna be a stupid.. uh well yeh. Some polish girl took pics of him ALL the time, so sometimes I joined her to snap a few quickly, so I wouldn't be noticed.
Talking of photos. I got a cool picture with Mick. His hand was a liiiiiiiiiiiittle low on my back(better say ass) but it amused me.
The lights went on a bit after 03.00 but Nick continued DJ-ing, so we stayed a little while longer, but just a few shows. Then we were about to leave, while Tanita and Karolien were downstairs to get their coats. I went by the DJ booth to wave goodbye to Nick and.. he blew me a kiss. No lie. I migh've blown one back, probably looking like a lunatic cause I was a bit shocked about the situation. Maybe I've just smiled at him. Who knows.
We had said goodbye to Michael and Karen (who were at the party as well) already, but we ran into them at the MacDonalds again. Then we all made it to our hostel again, and said goodbye to the people who'd leave early morning. Karolien was gonna catch the tube about 2 hours later, so she just gathered her stuff and went to wait in the lounge. So Dani got her bed (she'd been in the room with Karen and Michael previous night) and we (Dani, Kitty, Tanita and myself) got into our bed at some point after 4.35. Woah. All having these mixed feelings, happy about what had happened, but sad that it was all over. I woke up to Tanita packing less than 4 hours later. While brushing my teeth in the bathroom this girl walked in. The polish girl who'd been drooling all over MY Nick! Though she either didn't recognise me, or just ignored me. Good. I wasn't really up for a early morning chat with so called rival. Cause it really feels like I'm the only one who's into him, but now that he was being a DJ and all, people started to notice him as well. BACK OFF, I saw him first!
Tanita left too, while Kitty and Dani were still asleep. So I got myself ready, waiting for them to wake up. Later we checked out and got some stuff at Sainsbury's and Starbucks. Just before catching the tube back to King's Cross, I bought me some All Stars which I hapilly put on when we were waiting for the Eurostar. But not before saying goodbye to Dani just before arriving at King's Cross. We killed some time with buying Belgian White Chocolate Cookies at Tesco. (4 for 1 pound!!).
Then it was really time to go back to St. Pancras and board the Eurostar back home. We'd watch Rock Am Ring 2009 on Kitty's phone but I could barely keep my eyes open.
I'd see Karolien again on the next Monday, to go to the show in Madrid, and probably Tanita would come as well. If it wasn't that all the other upcoming gigs were cancelled.
Such a bummer. I really was sad about it, but also knew I've had a great great year again in 2010. So it might as well have been the perfect goodbye, without knowing that it was a goodbye, those 2 gigs in London.
The only thought that kept coming into my head was "I just wanted to see him again one last time."