Ok here goes! Ready for a bit of a read? Hope it makes you feel like you're sharing it with us...
They were absolutely utterly fantastic in Castlebar. We thought the first night might be a bit off in places, but any mistakes were just swallowed up in the awesomeness of it. Costume changes for nearly every song but done cleverly and quickly, some great song choices, great at talking between songs, turned into proper little popstars!
We got there quite late but first thing to hit us was the small children. It was like being at school assembly, lol. Squillions of little uns, no wonder Louis is always going on about the kids liking them, totally different to the UK shows.
We went straight to the dressing room to drop of the card and messages and presents etc, thanks to Anto for letting us in, and to everyone for helping us put it together.
Then checked the merch. I know the foam fingers are daft, but the kids love them! I actually really liked all the rest of the merch. The shopping bag with them in pink and purple on toes is so mine tomorrow. Looked like they were selling lots of everything. Diarmuid on the merch was quite baffled by it all.
I then went to the bar as Liam McKenna started his DJ spot. And this is where kids gigs are a total win. Not one person at the bar, get served instantly, yay! He played half a dozen top tunes, and all the kids had to dance to try and win signed jed t-shirts. I had a ‘wtf am I doing here?’ moment at that point.
Then we had the Ghetto Fab girls dancing. They were fine if you like watching girls dancing, and seem like nice girls. They do some backing dancing for the guys in a few songs too.
Then J&E times. I spent the night grinning ear to ear, laughing, and dancing on my seat. You could tell after the first 2 songs they were just gonna nail it all.
They come on to the Rocky theme, and run down the side or the aisle dressed in silk boxing robes with their names on surrounded by security!
Setlist we think
I got a feeling
Rock DJ
Oops
SOS
Break my stride
We will rock you
Under Pressure
Shake it
I’m your man
Pop Music
I want candy
All the small things
Bye Bye Baby
--- encore---
Ghostbusters
Under Pressure again
Rock DJ saw them add silly shades. At the end they fell off stage… on purpose, to land on mats behind the stage etc so they could have a quick top change and come back in the red pvc jackets for Oops.
We will rock you the long leather coats were on. I want candy saw a major outfit change to tight red trousers with glitter down the sides and white t-shirts with silver stripes on, look great.
They played for an hour, but fitted lots in!
The guys went to bed afterwards cos they were pretty shattered by it all. Their dad told us that they would be leaving at midday at the hotel though so we waited for them this morning. Picked up the Irish papers to read whilst waiting, all had pretty good write ups in.
They kept peeking out of their room and waving at us, as did their dad. They told us they’d be down in 5 at one point, and then their dad came down to chat to us and took us in to meet their mum and see the guys. Susannah knew who we were to cos the boys had told her she had to meet us, bless ‘em.
We had lots of time to chat to their folks, who are so proud of them, whilst the boys did loads of signings and pics with all the kids that were staying at the hotel. Lovely atmosphere, everyone chilled and relaxed, sooooo very very different to the end of the X Factor dates, Darren made sure all the kids got time with the boys. Lots of very happy faces everywhere.
Chatted to both a bit. John said that they thought the card and pressies from the UK fans were awesome. Told him I thought the Blink song was best in the set. Lots of us told them they should do Pop. He said they’ve also been rehearsing a Sum41 song too I think. Thy both laughed a lot and were chuffed when we told them we had tickets for the panto ;D
Awesome to have Darren back, (get gone john swan, do one), Anto’s gone off somewhere for a few days so Shane is driving at the mo. Black people carrier if anyone wants it. The crew are in a tour bus, but the boys in the car. Susannah and John snr off to Galway too, we arranged to meet them there, they are utter darlings.
Drive to Galway was so beautiful and scenic. So much hills and lakes.
Had an awesome time meeting up with Hayleigh and Ben.
Lauren, sorry we missed you again!! Hope you and your mum had a great time?
And so lovely to spend some time with Sarah and Ashley too. Irish fans ftw.
Ok, so Galway. Suzannah and John senior told us to meet up at 5.30 and they were totally awesome again and got 6 passes from Aiken for us so we could go to the meet and greet.
Don’t ask us how to get in to them otherwise, we don’t know! It’s all a bit odd! Aiken Promotions, the tour company, seem to give some out to some kids. Somehow! We went in and stood at the back and filmed etc and it was so funny. I’ll post some vids of all the kids singing and screaming. When the boys came in they all ran at them, lol. Darren and Jim got them all sorted in a line and the boys worked it. Very funny. Edward went off at one point to do the peace sign through the window and peek and set off all the fans outside on purpose. All good fun and we are so grateful to the boys and their parents for letting us spend so much time with them today.
Gig was awesome, loads of little kids with their mums etc again, awesome atmosphere, I loved it. Everyone had quiffs tonight as the new merch are card headband quiffs for £3! During the gigs I can see over all the little uns heads! Uploading a couple of vids at the moment but you know how slow YouTube is!
Nice to meet Carina and friend after the show.
No glasses in rock DJ, red pvc for 3 songs. Jumped on the front barrier a lot, John fell into the pit once. One handed cartwheel from Edward. Air guitaring on his knees from Edward.
John didn't costume change fast enough at one point! Missing his tie and his top 2 shirt buttons were undone, looked great. Then another button went when he went in the pit. Then another button, there was a lot of swooning from the older girls in the crowd with the flashes of naked chest!
Ok, Blink video times….
www.youtube.com/user/Akka69?feature=mhw5Me, Jane, Jade, Julie, Hayleigh and Ben...
Quiffs!
An awesome day today, brilliant tour so far, loving the set, the happy crowds and the crew, and the country and the lovely friendly Irish. Having a blast More tomorrow, need sleep!