My first Birmingham Review

[Gypsy-Rhiannon]

Birmingham NEC 25th November 2003


I’m pretty crap at writing reviews but I’ll do the best I can. The show was so awesome… well no, awesome isn’t a big enough word!!

Having bugged my husband to leave early because if the traffic we actually arrived at the venue at around 5.30pm. As none of the other Fireflies had arrived I made my hubby trek with me round the back of the venue to try to find where the band would arrive. I later found out they had arrived at around 3pm. Heard some of the soundcheck from the back and saw a huge limo but that was about it.

Went to check out the merchandise and it was very expensive IMO. I really wanted a teddy but couldn’t afford £20!!! Headed back to the front of the NEC to meet up with the gaggle of very excited Fireflies. Had a quick chat with Bob Brunning who had arrived to try to blag his way backstage… not sure if he succeeded! We headed into the venue around 7pm after the last few stray Fireflies arrived. We were all extremely excited. Even though we had been told cameras were allowed there were signs everywhere saying cameras prohibited so mine was hidden in a pocket. They checked in my bag but the cameras wasn’t discovered 

Once inside the reality hit me that I was sitting front row. My seat was dead in front of Stevie’s mic!! OMG!! We were then ecstatic to hear from the stewards that the band had requested the first few rows stand at the stage! They had been annoyed that people had been told to return to their seats in Newcastle!! Yay! So I marked my spot in between the monitors at Stevie’s feet slightly to her left as she looked down at me.
More Fireflies started to gather and I was stood in between Jenni and Louise.

The band kept us waiting until about 8.15 and then the lights went down and the crowd erupted!!! I can’t tell you how felt when they walked on stage!! I didn’t know which one to look at first but Stevie was initially who I was focused on! She looked fantastic. She is looking older now but she is definitely growing old gracefully. She didn’t seem to be focusing on anyone in the crowd to begin with but did start to later on.

Lindsey was a different story. I caught his eye during 2nd hand news as I was bopping and singing away. Got a rather nice smile from him! Be still my beating heart! LOL! Got a few more smiles and I got cheeky and blew him a kiss and he made a kiss with his mouth back to me… hubba hubba! LOL! So when Come started it seemed clear he was focusing on our little area of the crowd. Was doing all the pointing and beckoning with his finger and so was I back at him! LOL! Truly amazing. He then made his way over and played the guitar solo right above my head. This man is fantastic… he used to be my number 2 stud muffin but he has now been crowned number 1!! Sorry George (Clooney) Hehehe

This is going to be a long review… sorry but so much to say!!! I’ll not go through all the set list (which remains the same) I have a few special moments though.
As I said Stevie took a while to even notice us but I was rewarded a nice smile and nod of the head pretty early on in the show… can’t remember what song, everything seems to be a blur!
Song highlights for me were:

Eyes of The World – This was totally rocking! I love this live!

Second Hand News – This was when the interaction began with Lindsey .. hehe. I love this song live! Both Stevie and Lindsey were enjoying it!

Say You Will – Stevie was really getting into it now and of course we joined in the dance which made her smile 

Rhiannon – Well I love this song (hence my daughters name) and Stevie did not disappoint me during this. Ok so she doesn’t belt it out anymore but I didn’t care one bit! It was totally fantastic!

Come – This is truly amazing live. ‘Nuff said

Gypsy – I love the long coat Stevie put on for this… me want one!!

Landslide – This was beautiful (I admit to a few tears!)

Say Goodbye – Now I always adored this song and now I do even more! This sounds so amazing live!! Stevie’s voice was beautiful and they didn’t take there eyes off each other at all

Beautiful Child – More tears from me. And Lindsey was so funny during this one. When Stevie sings ‘I’m not a child anymore’ he was looking at me and kind’ve raised his eyebrow as if to say ‘you’re not kidding’ hehe!!

Gold Dust Woman – Love how Stevie lowered her shawl at the end to the beat of the drum

So Afraid – More Lindsey attention with him playing right over my head.

Silver Springs – Well I finally got to hear Stevie sing this live. Almost makes up for missing the Dance tour ;-)

Tusk – Lindsey is mental in this! The fighting bit was cute and then the hug! Lindsey gave a thumbs up behind Stevie’s back and I got an awesome picture!

Stand Back – Possibly my favourite of the night. Stevie was totally on fire and our little section was going wild! Didn’t count the twirls but there were a lot. Her hair was quite a mess at the end of this that her wardrobe mistress had to sort it out!


World Turning – The highlight of this for me was Lindsey sitting cross legged on the floor. He was quite a distance from me but I gave him a wave. Then he held up his towel as if to say do you want this and of course I nodded! LOL! When the song finished I was ready and he walked across and flung it in my direction! It was mine! LOL! Quite what I will do with it I don’t know!!
Somewhere during the show I noticed Stephen and Jean behind us holding a dancing penguin and I put it on the speaker for them! Stevie got such a kick out of this! She was laughing and when the song finished went to tell John! She came back and said ‘That’s sooo cute!’
As they went to leave the stage after Don’t Stop Jenni tried to hand Stevie some flowers and Stevie looked at her and said ‘I’ll be back’. LOL!

All too quickly it was over and I held aloft my gift for Stevie not thinking for a minute she would take it. She took one to my left and then took mine! Yay! Then she said thank you in general to everyone and then looked right at me and said ‘And Thank You’ OMG! What a perfect end to a fantastic show!

Well as they started kicking us out Louise and I decided to head round he back to see if we could see them leaving. My husband was not amused!! We saw Stevie get into a car and saw the flurry of cars leave but no windows were wound down and no waves. Nevermind though… I was still on a high from the show!

Well sorry to ramble for so long. I have to start writing about last night’s show now. Think I better have a cup of coffee first!