Re: The Blue Aeroplanes 1990-2007

[Abi Marchant <abi_rock_chick@ya...co.uk>]

Soooo.  I set off on Friday morning with my MP3 full all the 'Planes 
material I have (which seems to have grown into quite a collection).  The 
trip was long but all connections were spot on time so a fairly relaxed 
journey too.
   
  Was picked up by a long lost friend who was kindly letting me use his 
floor and got back to the flat with an hour to spare to catch up and get 
changed.  I had been far too organised an got directions from his flat to 
the Fiddlers (a lovely venue akin to the Adephi in Hull, only bigger and 
less slimy).  I had arrived.
   
  I bought a couple of drinks while listening to the sound check.  I asked 
a couple of people 'Are you from The List?' but didn't manage to find 
anyone so became a little more shy and retiring (for the time being) and 
went and stood around the bar.  The reaction I got from people upon asking 
this question may have had something to do with the sinister raspy way I 
said 'The List'.  Oh well, I'm quirky :)
   
  At one point, I went outside to the hallway for a bit to take pictures 
of the poster.Who did I see?  Gerard Langley, the man whose voice has 
dominated the vibrations in my various speakers for the past couple of 
years.  I have other music (I love A Flock of Seagulls, The Cure, The 
Pixies, Echo and the BM and various other bands spanning the 
decades...also *insert some embarrassing music here at your prerogative*) 
but play lists just aren't the same without the BAs.  I surprised myself 
with not being all wobbly.  I just waited until he headed past and 
said...'Ah, hello, I was wondering if you would mind signing a CD for me'. 
 He was very gracious, took me to where the band were chilling out and 
kindly obliged (Swagger Deluxe sleeve...my first BA listening experience a 
few years ago and I have never looked back, it seemed fitting).  What a 
nice guy.  And I didn't embarrass myself.  Score.
   
  And so the music started.  The first guys were quite good, clever lyrics 
and charismatic singer (who later told me he didn't need to join the List 
(now said in the conventional way) as he was Gerard's good friend and sees 
him every week, fair enough).  Gerard Starkie was great, might go for his 
My Space download.  It was nice to be able to see John doing his thing.  
Rita was brilliant, I really enjoyed listening to her a lot.  Somewhere in 
the in the middle of these three things I met Gerard and Johns mum, who 
was in the crowd.  We had a chat about train journeys and her sons.  And I 
met Chris Sharp too.  Lovely fella who was really friendly.  We had a nice 
chat about things too.  He ran off for a while and came back with a fully 
signed poster.  You, sir, are an absolute star.
   
  I will have to apologise if I muddle up which names go with which faces 
(I won't forget faces!).  One of me, lots of you!  Suffice to say, meeting 
you lot was a treat.  You made me feel very welcome and even more excited 
than already I was because I knew I would have somewhere to send this 
SUPER LONG EMAIL to.  Crossing paths in the hall at the end summed it up 
nicely too.  
   
  Have I missed anything?  Didn't something else happen in the middle?
   
  Yes.  An amazing, fantastic, sublime mix of awesome music from one of 
the greatest bands of all time.  The lineup - I had been through my CD 
booklets when Sharpy put up the lineup and realised how special this gig 
was going to be - was great.  Seeing them all come on like that (and the 
request for 'a drummer') is up there with my unforgettable moments.  
(Rodney looking so young, that time machine must be working).  Broken and 
mended - brilliant start even though I fully expected Jacket Hangs, which 
came later but sent the hairs standing up on the back of my neck as the 
first words I ever heard of a BA song were 'Pick a card, any 
card....wrong!'  Lover and Confidante, one of my all time favourites and 
it would have been that, Tolerance and Ups I would have chosen from the 
Tolerance LP.  Police could never be a disappointment in my eyes and 
wasn't ('...dizzy hyenas moaning aerial laughter' - genius)  
   
  Tree Full of Starlings was a nice quiet one with Dave on the mandolin.  
It sounded beautiful.  And Fun, one of my fave Rodney Allen (along with 
Streamers).  Warhol's 15 - lovely song, beautifully written and delivered. 
 25 Kinds Of Love is something I could fall in love with certainly, whens 
that coming?!  Yr Own World always makes me smile thinking of the various 
actions by Gerard and insane dancing by Wojteck in the video.  Breaking In 
My Heart with Chris up there too was a treat and didn't last nearly enough 
time (I hadn't collapsed of an asthma attack yet!).
   
  I loved every minute.  I loved dancing, I loved watching the band do the 
thing that they do so well, I loved being jostled during the various 
swells in dancing, I loved meeting people.  I even likes the squeal 
leading into ...And Stones as a sort of 'I was there that time' moment.  
Amazing. 
   
  Paul Vallis, thank you again for sorting me out a ticket for this 
fantastic evening.    
   
  Rather a long account of the gig but I wanted to do it justice and 
really get across what a great night it was.  Well done for reading this 
far :)
   
  Goodnight all,
  Abi
   
  :)

       
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