First off, I'd like to say a big
THANK YOU to
Rorie for the setlist. Trying to get as much info I can about the show. You know as a souvenir of a great show. Sorry you couldn't make it with ClyCly to the Montreal show. Unfortunately life throws us a bunch of curve balls when we least expect it. Hope both your mom and ClyCly are doing well.
I did not read any posts on the forum or look at any info for the show. Wanted this to be a complete surprise. It would have been great to finally meet a lot of the GTA members from this board. Perhaps next time around.
The show was a blast and it went by too fast. Excuse the rhyme
The things I most enjoyed about the show...
(1) The stage. Thought this was way better than Zaha Hadid's design for the Nightlife tour. I couldn't stop being amazed at how they used that cube for many different ways on all the songs. Especially loved the guys in the jumpsuits adjusting the cube. Remind me of nuclear scientists, which I believe wasn't too far off from the theme of album. Even the neon lights on teh cube down to Chris' keyboard!
These were the best projections I ever saw. From
Minimal, to
Shopping. Showing the video for
Numb and I swear it was 1997 again when they showed
Dreaming of the Queen.
(2) Whipping out some unheard classics. Speaking of
Dreaming of the Queen. It was such a delight to hear that song.
Not only that, but I would never expect to hear
Shopping. I loved the way they brought that after
Minimal. Even hearing
Heart was a great surprise. Especially how it came after
Rent.
(3) Transitions. As I mentioned
Minimal and
Shopping. The way that
Heart came after
Rent reminded me of how it first was getting into the Boys and listening to
Discography over and over. When that came on, me and a another fan whom I talked to at the intermission, chuckled at how that song lead to one another just like that album had. Another great transition was from
Se A Vida É (Thats The Way Life Is) to
Domino Dancing. Love that latin flavour
(4) After the encore. Loved how the backing singers and Sylvia Mason James recapped the entire show. Just like the Interlude from
Performance.
A quick note before I continue on the negatives. It was great to see and hear the audience react when Sylvia Mason James first comes out on to the stage. It showed me that she's a beloved member in the Pet Shop Boys family.
Now to the negatives.
(1) Hummingbird Centre. I first saw the Boys during the Nightlife Tour in 1999. Back then the concert was at the Warehouse which is now the Koolhaus. It was genral admission. If my view point was lousy I had only myself to blame for not showing up early. Any ways, I danced my ass of at that conert and loved every moment of it.
This year. I must have been sitting in the
greatest hits section. One guy asked me to sit back in my sit because he couldn't see and all he can see is me. The one and only time I stood up was when he and everyone else did for
Go West. The last song! A couple of girls sat next to me a few songs into the show. During the intermission they asked me which songs they missed and I rattled off the names. They said, "Oh, new stuff."
Seeing the Boys at Massey Hall in 2002 wasn't that bad. It was also seated, but I remember people getting up every now and then. I was also in the balcony then.
Other than that, my seats at Hummingbird was in the centre of the balcony. It was a great view from up there.
(2) T-shirts. Not a big issue. It just seemed as they were left overs from Europe. Wasn't North America planned? I bought one. Not the one I really wanted because they ran out of the regular T-shirts in the design I was hoping for. Made up for the past two concerts not buying any of their shirts.
So a couple cons. These were certainly not deal breakers. As I said, it was a blast.
I know I said I was in the greatest hits section, but I must tell you it was great to see some Pet Shop Boys fans. Before the concert I was at the Flatiron and Firkin having dinner. I overheard a couple of guys talking about the concert. Then meeting the girl and her guy friend. We were discussing the past shows they went to and the new stuff. I don't often get to do that.
I'm glad you guys were able to meet Neil and Chris. If it was a nice winter's day, I'd definitely be out with you guys. Being wet (no umbrella), windy as it was and not knowing the venue, I decided to call it a night.
What an amazing night it was.
