I can pack ridiculously lightly for a two week tour but 3 days at the beginning of summer equals suncream, kagool, fleece, suntop, thermal vest, shorts, jeans, scarf, body-warmer, spare towel and sunglasses... trying to prepare for every possible meteorological combination, from hailstones to tropical storm... any weather can happen in June!
So, Erasure are embarking on a series of summer concerts in beautiful Forestry Commission land around the UK.
forestry.gov.uk
The first of which, was Thetford in Suffolk. The woodland itself was a stunning setting, the staff incredibly friendly and helpful and had the cutest smart car/coffee shop combo!!!
Corinna and I met up with our German friends, who had flown over specially from Dresden (Janet), Munich (André), Köln (Jens) and Berlin (Heiko). Dr Janet from Dresden, is one of Erasure's most devoted fans and was so nervous about the gig she could barely sleep or eat the night before...sounds familiar! She really wanted a spot down the front, so we were there nice and early, when the heavens opened and the raincloud that had followed us from London burst open, saturating us with big heavy splashes. I had raindrops dripping from my false eyelases and the end of my nose. Not a good look. I have done emergancy eyelash repairs in some odd places but never in the rain, on the front row of a concert with a helpful fan holding the mirror... thanks Shaun!! All delusions of Festival chic down the pan... thank goodness for my amazing Hagloff kagool is all I can say... when they mean waterproof they really do mean it... I was shocked to see the rain rolling right off... poor Janet was saturated in her parka but wouldn't move as she didn't want to lose her space. Such devotion... me and Corinna went for a cup of tea and some chips to warm up and luckily the stall had a canopy to shelter under, which was a
massive bonus.
By the time the beautiful Sophie Ellis came on I was on the front row looking like a drowned rat. She on the other hand looked spectacular like a Norman Parkinson model from a bygone era in a white lace dress that made her porcelain complexion look luminous, black opaque tights elongating her already endless looking legs topped off with the coolest neon pink Hunter wellies... only she could pull that off and still look timelessly elegant.
She sounded amazing bouncing through "Bittersweet", "Murder On the Dance Floor" and "Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)" and a little Ibiza mega mix of "Lady-Groovejet-Moloko" tempted out the sun, one last time before it set.
Then it was time for Andy and Vince. Andy had on his lovely sparkly jacket he wore for the Mute festival and the coolest "sex Pistols" sleeveless Tshirt... right up my strasse... perfect amalgamation of punk and electro.
Andy is looking very trim too and kept teasing us all with glimpses of his super toned biceps. His voice was incredible too. At the moment he is appearing on "Pop star to Opera star" and everyone was commenting on how amazing he sounded.
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The tour, entitled "Total Pop" is a showcase of their many hits... I had forgotten just how many!! I was pleasantly surprised by how many songs I didn't know I knew and could happily sing along to... and it has been years since I have been down the front at a concert... I was terrified, expecting stage diving, fainting and broken ribs against the crash barrier but it was all very civilised, a nice sedate re-introduction. I really enjoyed the show. The focus was the songs; no costume changes or stage show gimmicks necessary; the hits just spoke for themselves. The stage set was just simple white plinths for the backing singers and Vince and his gadgets, simple lighting dramatic against the evening sky. Not many bands can do such a minimal show, playing hit after relentless hit, sing along melody after soaring chorus the soulful harmonies of the backing singers complementing Andy's rich voice perfectly. Andy and Vince have a lovely chemistry too, sometimes giggling like a pair of naughty schoolboys and Vince's computer boffin in contrast with Andy's sweet sparkly flamboyance, all genuine concern that we get home safely and have a bag of chips to warm ourselves up. Bless.
Next stop Bedgebury.... Another day, another gig and another outfit... Ms Ellis-Bextor swapped white for black lace and abandoned the neon wellies for high high heels which she proceeded to pogo up and down in like a pair of addidas without losing her vocal pitching. Most impressive!
Andy was sparkling in red and made a grand entrance in sunglasses, appeared more relaxed and was very chatty and adorably charming, which was impressive considering the live showing of Pop Star to Opera Star is looming. I am so impressed with his vocal stamina... he sounded amazing again even though he was apologizing because they had had to fractionally lower the key of some songs because his voice had got deeper with age... not age honey... just more mature and characterful like a fine wine or a posh cheese....
Vince had a woolly hat on... he must have been freezing because he was blowing on his fingers to warm them before he began the guitar part in "Sometimes", "Victim of Love" and "A Little Respect". Even though his recent tweets promised a 10 minute breakdancing routine (he didn't!) It may have been an unusual way to keep himself warm! However he did crack a lovely smile at the end of the show. Captured beautifully by Janet.
Lovely weekend had by all. We got to see Tonbridge castle, carnival and summer fayre and after having sampled enough cold, damp, drizzle, relocated to the nearby village of Penshurst for a traditional English clotted cream scone in a 16th century tea room. Corinna got to sample lots of other British delicacies too such as cheese and onion pasties, full English breakfast and roast beef and horsradish sandwiches. I learned some more German swear words, my mother will be so proud!... and I got to hear two words I never thought I would in the same sentence; "Autobahn" and "Marks and Spencers'" ...how perfectly appropriate for a girly road trip!
