I’m warning you, this is REALLY long. I’ve tried breaking it up with photos to make it a bit easier to read. (this is basically what I've posted on my blog, just a little edited)
I guess I’ll start from the morning of the gig…
On my way to the Hordern I actually had a car accident! My first accident ever. It was totally my fault I wasn’t concentrating (how could I concentrate, I was on my way to see one of my most favourite bands ever) and I ran into the back of the car in front of me. Oops! Luckily we are both insured, and there is very little damage to both cars, so I guess I’ll let the insurance companies look after from here. I was just hoping that this wasn’t the first indication of a bad day, let me assure you, it wasn’t.
I parked my car and headed over to the queuing area, thinking I was the first to arrive, but I wasn’t, Sarah had arrived about an hour before me and we introduced ourselves and discovered who we each were on tumblr and we hung out for the day. Jess and Mary arrived an hour so so after me (I had not met Jess and Mary before, we had just chatted over Facebook a bit). They didn’t hang around in the line for too long because Jess had actually won a meet and greet competition and had to meet the Sony rep at the merch desk at 7:45pm and I told them that I’d try to save them a spot at the barrier. A few others arrived a fair few hours after us and we were all chatting and getting to know each other. There was a really lovely girl named Kayla, I didn’t ask if she had tumblr, but if you do and you’re reading this, Hi KAYLA! You are really lovely and funny and pleasure to queue with!
This is what our view was for most of the day…
At about 4pm, Sarah and I headed around to the stage door at the back of the Hordern to wait for the boys to arrive for sound check. We waited and chatted and joked that maybe Serge would arrive by bicycle. Not long after saying that, someone came out of the stage door with bike and we laughed. What are the chances of that happening? lol Just before 5pm, a white van drove down the driveway, and who should be inside? Why KASABIAN of course! Ian jumped out first followed by Ben then Serge. We called out “Hi guys! ” and Ian waved and Ben looked over and nodded then Serge made his way over to us. I was discretely losing my shit. He strode towards us like the beautiful lanky beanstalk that he is and said hello and we told him that it was nice to meet him and just had a bit of general chit chat. He then said “Do you want a photo?” and we were like “Yes please!” and I said “how are we going to do this?” then decided it would be best to have just face clear and mine covered by bars so I handed the phone to him and he turned it to the selfie camera (I don’t know what else to call it?! lol) and took a photo of us I said thanks and he had this photo with Sarah. Then I looked at the pic he snapped and I said “Aww Serge, it’s blurry” and he said “Okay we’ll do another” so I handed him my phone again and as he was lining it up he said “It’s going to look like one of us is in jail” then his face came super close to my face and said “Which one of us is it?” and I said “Me of course” and we both laughed. He said “fair enough” and took the other photo. Then as we were saying goodbye, we told him how amazing his work on Luxury Comedy is and he was pretty chuffed that he mentioned it! He then headed inside where the rest of the band were and they did their sound check.
Here’s my pic with Serge, which I’m sure you’ve all seen already…
Sarah and I headed back and joined the queue. I think we heard them sound check “bow” 4 or 5 times. We had a good chat and laugh with a couple of security guards. One of them thought I was under 18 and when I told him uuuhhh no, I’m 33 everyone around me was like “NO WAY!! you don’t look 33” hahaha thanks guys!
Aaaaanyways, finally the roller door went up and they took the barricade away from in front of us and we went in. We weren’t allowed to run so much power walking and skip-walk-running was done. We made it to the front and I was positioned right in front of Ian’s bass drum. Absolute prime position. I was stoked. Then it was time to wait again. We were all chatting with each other and to security. I’m glad security were so chill, like coolest security guys ever.
8pm came and The Delta Riggs came on and I was SO impressed. They were fantastic and I’m really looking forward to seeing them again.
Halfway through their set I felt a tap on my shoulder and it was Jess and Mary! They did the meet and greet and had made it to the front! So we all squished together so they could fit in. YAY!
So yeah, The Delta Riggs did a great job of warming up the crowd and if you haven’t listened to them, I highly suggest you do *thumbs up*
Here’s a couple of pics I snapped of The Delta Riggs
Finally it was Kasabian time and everyone was getting excited. “(shiva)” started as they walked out on stage and then they launched straight into “bumblebeee”. Everyone was singing along and there was great energy from both the band and the audience.
Serge’s shirt read k-y. I can only think of the lube when I think of ky.. lol I should’ve asked him whether it was a reference to that or something else? Tom wore the shroom shirt. He must have about 20 of them because he wore the shroom shirt in Melbourne (which was the night before) too didn’t he?
Not long into “bumblebeee” a cup full of drink was thrown at the stage and almost got Tom. I honestly don’t know WHY people do that shit? Anyway Tom stepped to the front of the stage and said “COME ON MOTHER FUCKER” (not into the mic) and I just had the biggest grin on my face.
I know I’ve said it before but I’m going to say it again, Kasabian are one of the best bands live. They just own it every time and this gig was no different. They had us wrapped around their little fingers.
During “Empire” Tom pointed to me, sang a line then smiled. He was very smiley all night and it was lovely. Serge and Ben were laughing at each other quite a bit too and it was so freaking cute!
Holy shit, I have to mention how much I LOVE the Black Skinhead intro to “Shoot the Runner”. It works so fucking well.
"treat" live is SO ridiculously good. Serge dancing around the stage is something to behold and he just gets so into it.
"bow" is SO beautiful, I can’t even explain it and none of the videos that have been uploaded will do it justice. You have to experience it in person.
During the gig I had Zoe and Hannah tap me on the shoulder and say hi.
Tom introduced Tim after… I can’t remember which song… It might’ve been Rewired and Tim had just done an amazing solo. He absolutely slays on guitar, he’s ridiculously good and he seems to fit into the band really well (AND HE’S LOVELY but we’ll get to that later)
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They ended the main set with LSF and during the break we were all singing waiting for them to come back out when suddenly the synths from Switchblade Smiles boomed through the speakers and we all screamed. They did the usual encore of Switchblade, Vlad and Fire, which never fails to impress. Such a killer encore.
Here’s the setlist that Jess got. Unfortunately I didn’t get any clear shots of Kasabian, but the pro shots would be way better anyway.
I ended up getting a tshirt with the boys on the front and tour dates on the back and one of the pink wristbands.
After buying the merch I went to where I had met Serge earlier and there were a few people who were there from when we were queuing. I was asked if I was on tumblr and if I was Cassabian and when I answered yes, I found out that it was a few more people from tumblr. So that was cool! So we all hung out watching the roadies load the trucks while we waited for the band. At one stage Rick started yelling at one of the guys and called him something like an “incompetent git” and I yelled out “yeah you tell him, Rick!” and then the guy he had been yelling at came out of the truck and Rick said something like “Oh here he is!” so we all cheered and clapped for him and then the guy goes “and what about Rick?” and we were all like “Woo yeah! Rick!!!”
After about an hour or so, they moved the van a little closer to the door. About 15 minutes later, Chris was the first one to emerge from the stage door so I called out “DIBS!!!” and then everyone else was calling out to him and came over to us. He was all apologetic like “hey guys I’m going to start at one end of the line and work my way over” and we were all like “yeah cool man, we understand”. Ben came out not long after Chris and I called out to him, but he went straight to the van. Bummer, because I really like Ben. Oh well maybe next time!
Tom came out and came straight towards me. One of their crew handed him a sharpie to sign stuff with and as he was walking towards me he was saying something like “sorry about the pen it’s like a Michael Jackson one” and I was like huh? Okay Tom… lol Tom Meighan is standing in front of me and I touched his hand and we had a photo but it didn’t turn out very well but AHHHHH. He was a sweetheart. And when he moved on to the next person I said “see you on Tuesday, Tom , I’m going to Brisbane to see you guys again” and he said “okay see you then darling” in its beautiful Leicester accent and I could’ve died! God he’s so beautiful.. I cannot explain it.
Here’s my picture with Tom. I don’t know WTF the guy who took it was doing.. LOL
By the time I’d had my internal Tom-Meighan-Induced-fangirling-incident Serge had come out and was talking to other people and signing stuff.
Someone said to him “is there anything interesting you can tell us about Noel Fielding?” and he uhmed and ahhed for a bit then I jumped in and said “Noel is just interesting as he is” and Serge was like “Yes! Exactly right!” I think I saved him from a potentially awkward situation.
By the time Serge had moved Tim had come out and was signing stuff for the person to my right, then he came to me and I said “Hi Tim! Welcome to the band!” and handed him my ticket to sign. He looked up at me and said “Thank you!” and he did sort of a double-take and said “What’s your name?” and I said “Cassie” and he said “Oh Cassie, you’re Cassabian, right?!” I was shocked and dumbfounded and I said excitedly “YES!! how do you know that?” and he went on to say that he has a niece called Cassie and he relates it back that way.. BUT Tim, my sweet, that doesn’t explain HOW you knew I am Cassabian… lol if I get to speak to him again I’m going to have to ask him to clarify.. Tim had to move onto the next person and he held out his hand and said “nice to meet you” so I shook his hand and he bent down and gave my hand a kiss and it was SO sweet. I could feel his stubble. Ahhh!! *takes a deep breath*
After my Tim encounter I walked over to where Ian was and said hello and he was lovely and wow he’s amazing looking too he was with Gary signing some of his drum skins for a fan (long story) and once Gary had signed them he didn’t stick around. So Ian was done with the drum skins and the guy handed over his 48:13 cd insert and that’s when Ian went on his rant about having to sign 1000 of them which was so cute and funny. He signed my ticket and at that stage he was being asked to hurry up and get into the van because they were waiting for him a hahha he had a couple of pics with one of the guys and then had to run.
I waited he the gate and waved goodbye to them. Not sure if anyone waved back but whatever…lol
I am just so happy that I finally met them and that they were all so lovely and took the time out for each person that had waited for them. What a beautiful and amazingly talented bunch of people.
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