The Arlene Ball.
Birmingham
After I met up with Laura and Light, we went to the venue for about half 10, which is kinda late for us. Of course, I was stupidly ill from Kitacon, and tired from staying up late the night previously so I could write the longest blog post ever about Kitacon.
In this time, we froze half to death, Light nearly got into a fight with a fan who had attempted to push in the line, we renamed Light (he's now called Morag - because it is the most ridiculous name I've ever heard in my life), and me and Laura ended up wondering around Birmingham for a while in search of warmth, food, and tea.
Also, we saw Mateo, and Morag did a very
Dramatic Chipmunk style turn. It was hilarious.
Then there was a huge mess with the queue, Morag nearly got into a fight with the security, but eventually, we were the first five to be let in. I dislike O2 priority.
The first band were Hill Valley High, from Telford, which is rather exciting, seeing as I used to pass through Telford quite a lot, and I've been there a couple of times. They weren't bad either.
Then there was Mayday Parade, who were absolutely fantastic. I've had Black Cat in my head since I saw them for the first time, but I just about know the lyrics 'You're like a black cat with black back pack full of fireworks/ And you're gonna burn the city down right now.' Definitely a band I'd see again, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. And I knew most of the lyrics to 'Three Cheers for Five Years.'
Then was We Are The Ocean. I do like their music, I'll give them that, but making up a song of the lyrics 'I'm writing these confessions to you' and not much else barely counts as a song. I've seen them a lot before, and I used to enjoy it, a lot, but they never really offered anything else for me. I'd only see them again if they supported another band that I really wanted to see.
Then was the band I was there for - Madina Lake. It had been a long time since I had seen them front row, and knew I was going to get a long set out of them, and I remember this feeling welling up inside of me that was far better than any excitement than I'd ever experienced before. It seemed like an age before Nathan leapt onto the stage and tore into Never Take Us Alive. My heart honestly felt like it was going to explode.
I don't remember which songs they played, or when, but I cried during One Last Kiss, rather loudly. These sobs that I could not control were just rising out of my throat, one after the other, and that song is kind of out of bounds for me at the minute. For people who haven't really heard Madina Lake before, some of the lyrics are as follows:
She walked away and I could hardly breathe,
I turned around and fell down to my knees,
Shivering as the truth is settling,
Her tomorrow has nothing to do with me.
With everything that had been going off with me and Cam, I think it's rather expected that One Last Kiss would absolutely break my heart. Funnily enough though, I was fine with True Love.
After that song had finished, they played Now or Never, which is the song where Nathan jumps into the crowd and gives high fives everyone he can reach. When he got to where we were standing, his hand clamped onto mine as he screamed these lyrics out. And he didn't let go for the next minute while he looked into my eyes (which were still tearing slightly after One Last Kiss) and sang these words to me, like I was the only person in the room to hear those few words.
Those are the only things I can really remember from the Birmingham gig. It was an amazing night, and maybe the second best night of the tour.
Leeds
While I've grown to hate trains, the train to Leeds was by far one of the worst train rides I'd ever had. I was exhausted, because I've been a bit of an insomniac lately, but I managed to fall asleep on the train. So much so, I almost missed my change over in Sheffield.
Livi was waiting in the train station for me, and we took the two minute walk to the Cockpit in this tired daze. It was really, really great to see Livi. I hadn't seen her since August 2008, when we went to Sheffield to see Lostprophets. So it's safe to say, this was actually ages ago. And we have kept in touch, but I think we really needed to see each other because internet-only-contact is very hard to maintain, and I'm proud to say that I think I've managed to keep my friendship with Livi since Summer 2007, mostly over the internet, and I love her so much.
We had a laugh through the whole day. I had a few laughs with her and the River People who I'd met before, like Heather, Brit, Kiya and Rachel, and met another few people, like Jess and Ant. Though Ant isn't technically a River Person. But that's okay, just go with it.
I managed to catch a glimpse of Nathan around the back when he was going into the venue, but that's about as close as I got to meeting him through the entire weekend. I got to spend quite a lot of time with Brit as well on Saturday which was nice, because I got to confide in her about everything that was going off with Cam, and my failure of being a girlfriend apparently. And it was nice because we managed to bond a little over that, and all this time, Livi was still there. And that was when I realised that sitting outside venues from the early hours of the morning until doors is my actual favourite thing to do, ever.
I get to meet so many amazing people, and see so many of my awesome friends that I can't feel like my world is a broken biscuit for very long, because these people who I see once or twice a year are fantastic friends who are there for me when I need them. Of course, they're friends that I forget I have, unlike Claky, Simon and Laura. But they are there for me, like I'm there for them to confide in.
When the doors opened, me and Livi made a dash for the front, and managed to get a spot near Rachel, and right on the stage, because, you know, Leeds Cockpit has no barriers, and no security. Whatsoever.
Inside, there's not much different stuff to tell. Hill Valley High were replaced by We Don't Dance to Love Songs, who were alreet. And when I cried to One Last Kiss, Livi almost cried along with me. Afterwards, we hung around, and we managed to see Mateo for a little while. We got hugs, and he said thank you for coming, and then we had to run for the last train.
I got to spend an awesome night with Livi too. We got in, grabbed bags of Popcorn, and then made a dash for her attic room where we watched The Big Bang Theory, and we started watching some of Heroes Season 1, but I'd fallen asleep by the time that Charlie told Hiro she loved him.
Sheffield
Another early start, another long, tedious train ride to Leeds from Harrogate, and then another train from Leeds to Sheffield, where I met Laura. When I left Harrogate, I promised Livi it wouldn't be another 20 months before I saw her again. I am so going to keep that promise, because and Livi had a lovely time together.
We weren't that far down the line considering that we were there for half 12. I got to hang out with pretty much the same people as Leeds, plus Laura, minus Livi. And it was a fucking phenomenal day. Sheffield is the place that I always seem to bond with Rachel at. I fucking love Rachel, she's an awesome person, and was so hilarious on Sunday.
So masses of queuing again I met some more amazing people, and I had a sweet time.
Gig wise, The Rookie League replaced We Don't Dance to Love Songs, we weren't front row, the sound made me dizzy, but the gig was still so fucking awesome. Matthew also hit me in the face with a full bottle of water. My lip is cut on the inside >>
We didn't get to meet them, but Brit passed on my message to Nathan, and he sent his well wishes. I love that man, seriously.
And that was it. Weekend over. I loved every second of it, even the moments when I cried to One Last Kiss, because it showed that Madina Lake still have that effect on me. You know, the same one they had when I was 16, and I first saw Nathan put his heart into that half an hour set they had. I love those four men more than I can even understand, and I'm grateful that they manage to save me again. I can't wait to do it all again.
So I look up to the stars
And wonder out loud
Why everything I had in life has fallen from my arms
Can you even hear this song?
I'm screaming at the clouds
Screaming to a galaxy that never cared at all
That I need you here.
