onsdag 16. november 2016
Intermission - The hows and whys
After a certain time - it can be after your third concert; your thirteenth; or even your thirtieth - people will start to ask you why you keep going to see Europe, surely you know their setlist by heart by now? My mum will sometimes comment on how I shouldn't really spend all that money on going to gigs. Well, this is a quick sum-up of my gigs so far, and the reasoning behind deciding to spend my hard-earned money.
2004
Stein-Vidar (October 6th, 2003): Happy birthday! Europe is back!
Me (June 11th): Oh my god, oh my god they're playing in NORWAY! I have only had my driver's license for 4 months, but I'm driving there!
After : Oh, I got a speeding ticket. Ooops. Guess you shouldn't drink and drive. Or in my case go-to-your-first-Europe-concert-and-then-drive.
Me (Summer 2004): Ooooooh, Europe is coming to Drammen! My hometown!
Life: Not so fast...You move away and start a new school that day (on a Saturday of all days), you can't go. And to make matters even worse, you're moving very close to that place you saw Europe play in June
Me: *Sad*
Classmate at new school: Hey, Tone Irene, Europe is going to play at Rockefeller, Oslo!
Stranger on the internet, shortly after: Hey, I see you like Europe, and live around here, would you like a ride down to see Europe?
Me: *Happy-go-lucky*
2005
Europetheband.com: Europe is coming to Norway, this time Bergen!
Me: Oh, that's far away
Girlfriend-at-the-time: We can make it a road trip, we will stay at my friend's step dad's place.
Me: Hooray!
2006
Internet: Europe is coming to Oslo
Me (having started college in Tromsø): Yay! That's only 1 789km from where I'm living now! And I'm afraid of flying. But I'll go!
2007
Internet: Europe is playing in Sandnes in May!
Me: I love that Europe shows me my home country. That'll be one flight to Oslo, then to Sandnes, then back to Oslo, then up to Tromsø. I'm a student, so that should be easy and affordable...
Internet: Welcome back from Sandnes, Europe is playing a festival in Mo i Rana on July 21st.
Me: *looks at map* *checks for flights* *checks for trains*: Hooray, I love trains, I'll just book this 15 hour train ride to Mo i Rana. I love that Europe shows me my home country!
2008
Camilla: Europe is coming to play in Lakselv on July 12th
Me: I love that Europe shows me my home country! That'll be one flight from Oslo to Alta, then one ride with a teeny-tiny-airplane to Lakselv. Still afraid of flying, but who cares?
Internet: Europe is playing in Kopervik on October 4th
Me: *checks map* I love that Europe shows me my home country! And it's so close to my birthday!
*goes to Germany for autumn break, takes 3 trains to the airport in Bremen, flies back to Oslo, gets on a bus, sleeps over at a friend's place, takes the plane to the closest airport*
2009
May
Internet: Europe plays in Norw...
Me: Gimme! I love that Europe shows me my home country!
December
Internet: Europe is doing two shows in Sweden during the Christmas holidays, when you're normally home with your fam-
Me: Wooohooo, I'm gonna see Europe in Sweden, their home country!
2010
Internet: Europe has a show in London
Me: Yaaaaay, everyone I know from the forum will be there, I must go!
Life: How are you feeling?
Me: Satisfied. I've been to 4 gigs in the past 10 months, now I can go a long time without seeing Europe again.
Internet: What if I told you that Europe is playing in Skien in June?
Me: Europe is playing in Norway, I must go! I love that Europe shows me my home country!
Me (after): Wow, this gig was soooo gooood, I crave another one, gimme!!
Life: Karlskoga, end of July Ok?
Me: Hooray! Wooohooo, I'm gonna see Europe in Sweden, their home country!
2011
Europetheband.com: Europe will be back in London to play on the same venue as last year, touring the same album as then. It's basically the same show again, but we call it Balls'n'Banners now
Me: Yaaaaay, everyone I know from the forum will be there, I must go!
Internet: It doesn't look as though Europe will be playing in Norway this year
Me: *finds and goes to the Swedish Europe gig that is closest to Norway*
Internet: Oh, looks as though I was wrong, Europe is playing in Trom-
Me:*books flight*
Internet: -sø
2012
Internet: Europe is playing in Langesund July 12th
Me: Oh my, that's the closest gig I've been to in 8 years! And it's on the same date as the one in Lakselv 2008. Dates are important!
Europe: We are going to play 3 dates in Norway in December
Me: Europe is playing in Norway, I must go! *books all 3 gigs, sadly the last one is cancelled*
2013
Europe: We are celebrating 30 years since we started by doing an anniversary gig at Sweden Rock
Me: A SPECIAL show! Take my money!
Internet: There's a gig in Norway, it's just a little over a month since you saw them last...
Me: And it's on the same date as the one in Lakselv 2008 and the one in Langesund 2012. Dates are important! In Tysnes you say? That's outside Bergen, is it? Europe is playing in Norway, I must go! Hooray, I love trains! *travels 6 hours by train*
2014
Europe: Now we are going to celebrate the 30th anniversary for Wings of tomorrow
Me: Another SPECIAL show! I'm going! Take my money! I can't go to Stockholm on Monday, so I'll just travel 640km to see them in a place I've never heard of. Wooohooo, I'm gonna see Europe in Sweden, their home country!
Internet: Europe is playing in Norway in June
Me: I can't go, I'll have to work :(
Internet: Europe is playing in Upplands Väsby
Me: Another SPECIAL show, in their hometown! Take my money!
Karoline/Atle/Ole: We're going to Glasgow to see Europe next March, do you want to come? It's two concerts two days in a row there
Me: I can't afford it, sadly. My economy is really bad
2015
Karoline: Hey, I can't go to Glasgow after all, do you want my Europe tickets for free?
Me: I'm going to Scotland. Yaaaay! I can't really afford it, but oh look, there are some really expensive VIP-tickets left. I wants it!
Me (after): Oh... I just got back from a VIP meet and two fantastic shows in Scotland, but now I can't pay for my car parked at the airport..... hey... STILL worth it!
Internet: Europe is playing in Norway in June.
Me: I can't go, I'll have to work :( In Spain. All expenses covered. *sad*
Internet: Europe is playing at Rockefeller!
Me: Oh my god, oh my god, it's just half an hour from home!
2016
Internet: Europe is playing in Halden
Me: Oh my god, oh my god, it's just an hour from home!
Internet: Europe is playing in Ålesund!
Me: I love that Europe shows me my home country! Hooray, I love trains!
Internet: Europe is celebrating their 30th anniversary for The Final Countdown
Me: Another SPECIAL show, in their "hometown"! I must go! Hooray I love trains! They're probably going to London as well. Yaaaaay, everyone I know from the forum will be there, I must go! Take my money!
fredag 4. november 2016
Europe gig no.20 - December 8th 2012 - Bergen, Norway
Date: December 8th
Venue: Grieghallen, Bergen
Have you ever been so fortunate to be able to sit down on a concert with your favorite band? Without the pushing from people behind you, without people chattering in your ear while your favorite song is being played, and without the fear of your neighbour accidentally pouring beer on you while staggering to a tune?
Yesterday I was in a venue meant for symphony orchestras, with fantastic acoustics, and very few really die hard fans present. During the first three songs I was sitting in my seat on 2nd row, taking in the fabulousness of 'Riches to rags', 'Not supposed to sing the blues' and 'Firebox'. Enjoying perfect view to the stage, having perfect sound in my ear undisturbed by screaming or whistling (save from my own, I know, I'm a horrible person ) noticing the little things you don't notice when you're standing squeezed between screaming girls craving Joeys attention. Like the PERFECT lighting.... and every beautiful perfect note from each member of the band alike.
Then came 'Superstitious', and some girls in the front row stood up with their beer glasses and sang in front of the stage, trying to recreate the feeling of an 80s gig as I supposed they remembered it, or imagined it.
By the way, the top of the stage reached a bit over my knees. The band was sitting a way into it, not out on the edge, but it was just so... close. No fence between us.
Kneehigh stage!
The girls went back to their seats after Superstitious; one of the few songs they knew, had been played. Then came Scream of Anger. I was sitting and bouncing in my seat, singing along. Also, looking behind me there was another guy singing along. Interesting I like that Europe's music has touched so many people, both inside and outside your group of die-hard fans.
The day before this gig I had been to another gig, in Stavanger, where the band, for the first time (for me) since releasing 'Last Look at Eden', DIDN'T play 'No Stone Unturned'. That was my first thought when 'The Final Countdown' intro announced the end of the Stavanger show. No 'No Stone Unturned'.
So in Bergen, when there came a keyboard interlude, after 'Scream of Anger' had ended, I was sitting on the edge of my seat (sitting in my seat for five songs, I know a certain someone is gonna be mightily impressed when she reads this), holding my mobile phone ready to record video... Some nice oriental feel to the solo.... then came the announcing drum taps from Ian, and I can hear myself screaming on the mobile recording for a little while during the intro to 'No Stone Unturned'.... Then the screen goes black, as I hurry as politely and quitely as I can past the people sitting in my row, hurrying to come closer to the stage, to
Sit down on my knees, leaning my arms on the stage and close my eyes, just feeling the melody, the rhythm, the bass through my body and head.
And no one was coming to take me away from there. I sat there during the whole song, just sitting, with stars in my eyes and a stupid grin on my face, and some urge to start crying or laughing, but ending up just.... moaning? I don't know. It was so epic on a completely FANTABULOUS epic-scale.
So.. how did the band react to this? Well, I was a little bit afraid of being looked upon weirdly. Or get told off by a guard, or one of the people in the front row (but why would they tell me, off, when I was sitting, and they still had perfect vision?)
Next came 'Girl from Lebanon'... and then 'Demon Head'. I can't remember if I was sitting down or standing up, or dancing.. Cause sometime during the gig I was more standing and dancing (not rocking, dancing!) than sitting and absorbing. Did plenty of absorbation anyway. The sound was just so high class. The fact that the venue didn't budge with die hard fans was just so brilliant. Once I realized no one was gonna tell me off for being there, I tested it out by moving from the right side of the stage over the left (bent, so I wouldn't annoy the ones on the first rows)... then I sat looking at the fantastic band from the left side of the stage. John L was looking at me, and I could tell he was amused, but I didn't feel he was mocking me. I like to think he showed some kind of gratitude toward an enthusiastic and respectful fan.
It wasn't until the acoustic set began that I pulled out my cellphone to film some videos. I didn't film entire songs, I think that's a violation of sorts.. I just did short clips, one verse and one chorus of a song...
I just had to capture the feeling. Sitting on the floor on your 20th concert, enjoying the perfect vision, perfect sound... yeah yeah yeah.. I know you've heard it a thousand times by now
While I remember.. I was AWESTRUCK by the cool intro to 'The Beast'. That song really is brilliant live. All of the 'Last look at Eden' songs and 'Bag of Bones' - song are no less than brilliant live. Europe is such a PRO live band.
During one song, I'm not sure which, I was standing directly in front of the stage (if someone had crashed into me from behind I would have buckled forwards and landed head-and-stomach-first onto the stage, luckily, no one did). I know I wasn't coming on as anomynous (d'uh!), so I wasn't so surprised when Joey finally walked towards me. I had tried to hint that I really wanted his plectrum on several occasions... Joey can look really casual. But it still turns out he has a plan. So, he was walking towards the edge of the stage on a whim (I thought), and I stuck out my arm, wanting him to touch my hand. He took my hand, held it, and left his plectrum. I had NO idea that plectrum was there. I was so happy I could cry. Now my collection of plectrums was complete!
....for a few hours. I must have lost it when I showed it to someone afterwards... but both my Levén plectrums where still in my pocket.
Funny story about those plectrums. John kept tossing them out after the Final Countdown. Starting from the left side of stage aiming right, and towards me, so I hoped to catch one. One fell on the stage before me and there was some hussle between me and another girl to get it, I had both by knees up on stage, almost on all fours just to get it (caught up in the moment). I know he must have seen it, I making such a spectacle of myself. So then he knew I had one, right?
But I told you I had two...
John L proceeded towards me, plectrum in hand, holding it tightly and putting it firmly and purposely between my boobs. I was such giggling and laughing, having got the attention.
The audience eventually did get on their feet. It started for real with 'Carrie', then 'Sign of the times', then 'Rock the night', and then... you know.. THAT song
My 20th gig was just one of the most marvellous ever. Wish you all had been there
other bits of my memory...
Mic looking questioningly at the audience while asking "What do you want??" during Rock the night
Joey tossing one of his plectrums toward where JL stood... JL later picking it up, looking at it, then looking at Joey with a look of "what the fuq?"
Oh, by the way.... The local newspaper did an interview..
Venue: Grieghallen, Bergen
Have you ever been so fortunate to be able to sit down on a concert with your favorite band? Without the pushing from people behind you, without people chattering in your ear while your favorite song is being played, and without the fear of your neighbour accidentally pouring beer on you while staggering to a tune?
Yesterday I was in a venue meant for symphony orchestras, with fantastic acoustics, and very few really die hard fans present. During the first three songs I was sitting in my seat on 2nd row, taking in the fabulousness of 'Riches to rags', 'Not supposed to sing the blues' and 'Firebox'. Enjoying perfect view to the stage, having perfect sound in my ear undisturbed by screaming or whistling (save from my own, I know, I'm a horrible person ) noticing the little things you don't notice when you're standing squeezed between screaming girls craving Joeys attention. Like the PERFECT lighting.... and every beautiful perfect note from each member of the band alike.
Then came 'Superstitious', and some girls in the front row stood up with their beer glasses and sang in front of the stage, trying to recreate the feeling of an 80s gig as I supposed they remembered it, or imagined it.
By the way, the top of the stage reached a bit over my knees. The band was sitting a way into it, not out on the edge, but it was just so... close. No fence between us.
Kneehigh stage!
The girls went back to their seats after Superstitious; one of the few songs they knew, had been played. Then came Scream of Anger. I was sitting and bouncing in my seat, singing along. Also, looking behind me there was another guy singing along. Interesting I like that Europe's music has touched so many people, both inside and outside your group of die-hard fans.
The day before this gig I had been to another gig, in Stavanger, where the band, for the first time (for me) since releasing 'Last Look at Eden', DIDN'T play 'No Stone Unturned'. That was my first thought when 'The Final Countdown' intro announced the end of the Stavanger show. No 'No Stone Unturned'.
So in Bergen, when there came a keyboard interlude, after 'Scream of Anger' had ended, I was sitting on the edge of my seat (sitting in my seat for five songs, I know a certain someone is gonna be mightily impressed when she reads this), holding my mobile phone ready to record video... Some nice oriental feel to the solo.... then came the announcing drum taps from Ian, and I can hear myself screaming on the mobile recording for a little while during the intro to 'No Stone Unturned'.... Then the screen goes black, as I hurry as politely and quitely as I can past the people sitting in my row, hurrying to come closer to the stage, to
Sit down on my knees, leaning my arms on the stage and close my eyes, just feeling the melody, the rhythm, the bass through my body and head.
And no one was coming to take me away from there. I sat there during the whole song, just sitting, with stars in my eyes and a stupid grin on my face, and some urge to start crying or laughing, but ending up just.... moaning? I don't know. It was so epic on a completely FANTABULOUS epic-scale.
So.. how did the band react to this? Well, I was a little bit afraid of being looked upon weirdly. Or get told off by a guard, or one of the people in the front row (but why would they tell me, off, when I was sitting, and they still had perfect vision?)
Next came 'Girl from Lebanon'... and then 'Demon Head'. I can't remember if I was sitting down or standing up, or dancing.. Cause sometime during the gig I was more standing and dancing (not rocking, dancing!) than sitting and absorbing. Did plenty of absorbation anyway. The sound was just so high class. The fact that the venue didn't budge with die hard fans was just so brilliant. Once I realized no one was gonna tell me off for being there, I tested it out by moving from the right side of the stage over the left (bent, so I wouldn't annoy the ones on the first rows)... then I sat looking at the fantastic band from the left side of the stage. John L was looking at me, and I could tell he was amused, but I didn't feel he was mocking me. I like to think he showed some kind of gratitude toward an enthusiastic and respectful fan.
It wasn't until the acoustic set began that I pulled out my cellphone to film some videos. I didn't film entire songs, I think that's a violation of sorts.. I just did short clips, one verse and one chorus of a song...
I just had to capture the feeling. Sitting on the floor on your 20th concert, enjoying the perfect vision, perfect sound... yeah yeah yeah.. I know you've heard it a thousand times by now
While I remember.. I was AWESTRUCK by the cool intro to 'The Beast'. That song really is brilliant live. All of the 'Last look at Eden' songs and 'Bag of Bones' - song are no less than brilliant live. Europe is such a PRO live band.
During one song, I'm not sure which, I was standing directly in front of the stage (if someone had crashed into me from behind I would have buckled forwards and landed head-and-stomach-first onto the stage, luckily, no one did). I know I wasn't coming on as anomynous (d'uh!), so I wasn't so surprised when Joey finally walked towards me. I had tried to hint that I really wanted his plectrum on several occasions... Joey can look really casual. But it still turns out he has a plan. So, he was walking towards the edge of the stage on a whim (I thought), and I stuck out my arm, wanting him to touch my hand. He took my hand, held it, and left his plectrum. I had NO idea that plectrum was there. I was so happy I could cry. Now my collection of plectrums was complete!
....for a few hours. I must have lost it when I showed it to someone afterwards... but both my Levén plectrums where still in my pocket.
Funny story about those plectrums. John kept tossing them out after the Final Countdown. Starting from the left side of stage aiming right, and towards me, so I hoped to catch one. One fell on the stage before me and there was some hussle between me and another girl to get it, I had both by knees up on stage, almost on all fours just to get it (caught up in the moment). I know he must have seen it, I making such a spectacle of myself. So then he knew I had one, right?
But I told you I had two...
John L proceeded towards me, plectrum in hand, holding it tightly and putting it firmly and purposely between my boobs. I was such giggling and laughing, having got the attention.
The audience eventually did get on their feet. It started for real with 'Carrie', then 'Sign of the times', then 'Rock the night', and then... you know.. THAT song
My 20th gig was just one of the most marvellous ever. Wish you all had been there
other bits of my memory...
Mic looking questioningly at the audience while asking "What do you want??" during Rock the night
Joey tossing one of his plectrums toward where JL stood... JL later picking it up, looking at it, then looking at Joey with a look of "what the fuq?"
Oh, by the way.... The local newspaper did an interview..
Europe gig no.20 - December 8th 2012 - Bergen, Norway
Date: December 8th
Venue: Grieghallen, Bergen
Have you ever been so fortunate to be able to sit down on a concert with your favorite band? Without the pushing from people behind you, without people chattering in your ear while your favorite song is being played, and without the fear of your neighbour accidentally pouring beer on you while staggering to a tune?
Yesterday I was in a venue meant for symphony orchestras, with fantastic acoustics, and very few really die hard fans present. During the first three songs I was sitting in my seat on 2nd row, taking in the fabulousness of 'Riches to rags', 'Not supposed to sing the blues' and 'Firebox'. Enjoying perfect view to the stage, having perfect sound in my ear undisturbed by screaming or whistling (save from my own. I know, I'm a horrible person) noticing the little things you don't notice when you're standing squeezed between screaming girls craving Joeys attention. Like the PERFECT lighting.... and every beautiful perfect note from each member of the band alike.
Then came 'Superstitious', and some girls in the front row stood up with their beer glasses and sang in front of the stage, trying to recreate the feeling of an 80s gig as I supposed they remembered it, or imagined it.
By the way, the top of the stage reached to a bit over my knees. The band was sitting a ways into it, not out on the edge, but it was just so... close. No fence between us.
Kneehigh stage!
The girls went back to their seats after Superstitious; one of the few songs they knew had now been played. Then came Scream of Anger. I was sitting and bouncing in my seat, singing along. Also, looking behind me there was another guy singing along. Interesting I like that Europe's music has touched so many people, both inside and outside your group of die-hard fans.
The day before this gig I had been to another Europe gig in Stavanger, where the band, for the first time (for me) since releasing 'Last Look at Eden', DIDN'T play 'No Stone Unturned'. That was my first thought when 'The Final Countdown' intro announced the end of the Stavanger show. No 'No Stone Unturned'.
So in Bergen, when there came a keyboard interlude, after 'Scream of Anger' had ended, I was sitting on the edge of my seat (sitting in my seat for five songs, I know a certain someone is gonna be mightily impressed when she reads this), holding my mobile phone ready to record video... Some nice oriental feel to the solo.... then came the announcing drum taps from Ian, and I can hear myself screaming on the mobile recording for a little while during the intro to 'No Stone Unturned'.... Then the screen goes black, as I hurry as politely and quitely as I can past the people sitting in my row, hurrying to come closer to the stage, to
Sit down on my knees, support my arms on the stage and close my eyes, just feeling the melody, the rhythm, the bass through my body and head.
And no one was coming to take me away from there. I sat there during the whole song, just sitting, with stars in my eyes and a stupid grin on my face, and some urge to start crying or laughing, but ending up just.... moaning? I don't know. It was so epic on a completely FANTABULOUS epic-scale.
So.. how did the band react to this? Well, I was a little bit afraid of being looked upon weirdly. Or get told off by a guard, or one of the people in the front row (but why would they tell me off when I was sitting and they still had perfect vision?)
Next came 'Girl from Lebanon'... and then 'Demon Head'. I can't remember if I was sitting down or standing up, or dancing.. Cause sometime during the gig I was more standing and dancing (not rocking, dancing!) than sitting and absorbing. Did plenty of absorption anyway. The sound was just so high class. The fact that the venue didn't budge with die hard fans was just so brilliant. Once I realized no one was gonna tell me off for being there, I tested it out by moving from the right side of the stage over the left (bent, so I wouldn't annoy the ones on the first rows)... then I sat looking at the fantastic band from the left side of the stage. John L was looking at me, and I could tell he was amused, but I didn't feel he was mocking me. I like to think he showed some kind of gratitude toward an enthusiastic and respectful fan.
It wasn't until the acoustic set began that I pulled out my cellphone to film some videos. I didn't film entire songs, I think that's a violation of sorts.. I just did short clips, one verse and one chorus of a song...
I just had to capture the feeling. Sitting on the floor on your 20th concert, enjoying the perfect vision, perfect sound... yeah yeah yeah.. I know you've heard it a thousand times by now
While I remember.. I was AWESTRUCK by the cool intro to 'The Beast'. That song really is brilliant live. All of the 'Last look at Eden' songs and 'Bag of Bones' - song are no less than brilliant live. Europe is such a PRO live band.
During one song, I'm not sure which, I was standing directly in front of the stage (if someone had crashed into me from behind I would have buckled forwards and landed head-and-stomach-first onto the stage. Luckily, no one did). I know I wasn't coming on as anonymous (d'uh!), so I wasn't that surprised when Joey finally walked towards me. I had tried to hint that I really wanted his plectrum on several occasions... Joey can look really casual. But it still turns out he has a plan. So, he was walking towards the edge of the stage on a whim (I thought), and I stuck out my arm, wanting him to touch my hand. He took my hand, held it, and left his plectrum. I had NO idea that plectrum was there. I was so happy I could cry. Now my collection of plectrums was complete!
....for a few hours. I must have lost it when I showed it to someone afterwards... but both my Levén plectrums where still in my pocket.
Funny story about those plectrums. John kept tossing them out after the Final Countdown. Starting from the left side of stage aiming right, and towards me, so I hoped to catch one. One fell on the stage before me and there was some hussle between me and another girl to get it, I had both by knees up on stage, almost on all fours just to get it (caught up in the moment). I know he must have seen it, me making such a spectacle of myself. So then he must know I had one, right?
But I told you I had two...
John L proceeded towards me, plectrum in hand, holding it tightly and putting it firmly and purposely between my boobs. I was just giggling and laughing, having got the attention.
The audience eventually did get on their feet. It started for real with 'Carrie', then 'Sign of the times', then 'Rock the night', and then... you know.. THAT song
My 20th gig was just one of the most marvellous ever. Wish you all had been there
other bits of my memory...
Mic looking questioningly at the audience while asking "What do you want??" during Rock the night
Joey tossing one of his plectrums toward where JL stood... JL later picking it up, looking at it, then looking at Joey with a look of "what the fuq?"
Oh, by the way.... The local newspaper did an interview. It's mostly about yours truly
Venue: Grieghallen, Bergen
Have you ever been so fortunate to be able to sit down on a concert with your favorite band? Without the pushing from people behind you, without people chattering in your ear while your favorite song is being played, and without the fear of your neighbour accidentally pouring beer on you while staggering to a tune?
Yesterday I was in a venue meant for symphony orchestras, with fantastic acoustics, and very few really die hard fans present. During the first three songs I was sitting in my seat on 2nd row, taking in the fabulousness of 'Riches to rags', 'Not supposed to sing the blues' and 'Firebox'. Enjoying perfect view to the stage, having perfect sound in my ear undisturbed by screaming or whistling (save from my own. I know, I'm a horrible person) noticing the little things you don't notice when you're standing squeezed between screaming girls craving Joeys attention. Like the PERFECT lighting.... and every beautiful perfect note from each member of the band alike.
Then came 'Superstitious', and some girls in the front row stood up with their beer glasses and sang in front of the stage, trying to recreate the feeling of an 80s gig as I supposed they remembered it, or imagined it.
By the way, the top of the stage reached to a bit over my knees. The band was sitting a ways into it, not out on the edge, but it was just so... close. No fence between us.
Kneehigh stage!
The girls went back to their seats after Superstitious; one of the few songs they knew had now been played. Then came Scream of Anger. I was sitting and bouncing in my seat, singing along. Also, looking behind me there was another guy singing along. Interesting I like that Europe's music has touched so many people, both inside and outside your group of die-hard fans.
The day before this gig I had been to another Europe gig in Stavanger, where the band, for the first time (for me) since releasing 'Last Look at Eden', DIDN'T play 'No Stone Unturned'. That was my first thought when 'The Final Countdown' intro announced the end of the Stavanger show. No 'No Stone Unturned'.
So in Bergen, when there came a keyboard interlude, after 'Scream of Anger' had ended, I was sitting on the edge of my seat (sitting in my seat for five songs, I know a certain someone is gonna be mightily impressed when she reads this), holding my mobile phone ready to record video... Some nice oriental feel to the solo.... then came the announcing drum taps from Ian, and I can hear myself screaming on the mobile recording for a little while during the intro to 'No Stone Unturned'.... Then the screen goes black, as I hurry as politely and quitely as I can past the people sitting in my row, hurrying to come closer to the stage, to
Sit down on my knees, support my arms on the stage and close my eyes, just feeling the melody, the rhythm, the bass through my body and head.
And no one was coming to take me away from there. I sat there during the whole song, just sitting, with stars in my eyes and a stupid grin on my face, and some urge to start crying or laughing, but ending up just.... moaning? I don't know. It was so epic on a completely FANTABULOUS epic-scale.
So.. how did the band react to this? Well, I was a little bit afraid of being looked upon weirdly. Or get told off by a guard, or one of the people in the front row (but why would they tell me off when I was sitting and they still had perfect vision?)
Next came 'Girl from Lebanon'... and then 'Demon Head'. I can't remember if I was sitting down or standing up, or dancing.. Cause sometime during the gig I was more standing and dancing (not rocking, dancing!) than sitting and absorbing. Did plenty of absorption anyway. The sound was just so high class. The fact that the venue didn't budge with die hard fans was just so brilliant. Once I realized no one was gonna tell me off for being there, I tested it out by moving from the right side of the stage over the left (bent, so I wouldn't annoy the ones on the first rows)... then I sat looking at the fantastic band from the left side of the stage. John L was looking at me, and I could tell he was amused, but I didn't feel he was mocking me. I like to think he showed some kind of gratitude toward an enthusiastic and respectful fan.
It wasn't until the acoustic set began that I pulled out my cellphone to film some videos. I didn't film entire songs, I think that's a violation of sorts.. I just did short clips, one verse and one chorus of a song...
I just had to capture the feeling. Sitting on the floor on your 20th concert, enjoying the perfect vision, perfect sound... yeah yeah yeah.. I know you've heard it a thousand times by now
While I remember.. I was AWESTRUCK by the cool intro to 'The Beast'. That song really is brilliant live. All of the 'Last look at Eden' songs and 'Bag of Bones' - song are no less than brilliant live. Europe is such a PRO live band.
During one song, I'm not sure which, I was standing directly in front of the stage (if someone had crashed into me from behind I would have buckled forwards and landed head-and-stomach-first onto the stage. Luckily, no one did). I know I wasn't coming on as anonymous (d'uh!), so I wasn't that surprised when Joey finally walked towards me. I had tried to hint that I really wanted his plectrum on several occasions... Joey can look really casual. But it still turns out he has a plan. So, he was walking towards the edge of the stage on a whim (I thought), and I stuck out my arm, wanting him to touch my hand. He took my hand, held it, and left his plectrum. I had NO idea that plectrum was there. I was so happy I could cry. Now my collection of plectrums was complete!
....for a few hours. I must have lost it when I showed it to someone afterwards... but both my Levén plectrums where still in my pocket.
Funny story about those plectrums. John kept tossing them out after the Final Countdown. Starting from the left side of stage aiming right, and towards me, so I hoped to catch one. One fell on the stage before me and there was some hussle between me and another girl to get it, I had both by knees up on stage, almost on all fours just to get it (caught up in the moment). I know he must have seen it, me making such a spectacle of myself. So then he must know I had one, right?
But I told you I had two...
John L proceeded towards me, plectrum in hand, holding it tightly and putting it firmly and purposely between my boobs. I was just giggling and laughing, having got the attention.
The audience eventually did get on their feet. It started for real with 'Carrie', then 'Sign of the times', then 'Rock the night', and then... you know.. THAT song
My 20th gig was just one of the most marvellous ever. Wish you all had been there
other bits of my memory...
Mic looking questioningly at the audience while asking "What do you want??" during Rock the night
Joey tossing one of his plectrums toward where JL stood... JL later picking it up, looking at it, then looking at Joey with a look of "what the fuq?"
Oh, by the way.... The local newspaper did an interview. It's mostly about yours truly
Europe gig no.18 - July 12th 2012 - Langesund, Norway
Authors note 2016: As I am uploading this post to the blog, I can't help but notice the lack of proof-reading in my posts. I am now studying English Grammar, and it sometimes hurt to read what I've written. However; the idea of my posts are to write as colloquial as possible, to convey how I would speak. So once again, I'm not going to edit too much before posting it to the blog. So, here we go:
It was a partly rainy day. The weather was shifting between cloudy, bits of sun, and rain. I had packed two suitcases, in order to go abroad the next day. One with everything I needed for the Europeconcert, and another with a week's worth of clothing for my trip to Germany.
I took my car to Asker, where I picked up Torild who'd come from Oslo. Then we headed to Thomas' place, where I placed my car. We took his roomy, spacious car, the three of us. The rain was pouring down outside at this point.
We picked up our last passenger in Drammen, that's nearly my hometown, and then our road trip could begin. The last passenger, Ina, is a friend of mine from outside the fan fold. This was her very first Europe concert, I was so happy for her.
The first album we listened to in the car was...Bag of Bones. Later we changed to Out of this world. It was a smooth 1.5 hour ride down to Langesund. The nature in Telemark (the county where Langesund is) is very beautiful. Looks a bit wild, lots of trees, hills, and blue-blue fjords/lakes. Langesund was a calm phate concert (edit 2016: I have no idea what I meant by calm phate...).
We were there pretty early in order to catch the soundcheck. Wrightegaarden is a concert/restaurant-establishment, it was a nice, old sort of classy two-storey house with a terrace providing a view to the venue, which was in a sort of open yard. It was enclosed so you couldn't enter without tickets, but it was still very open to the skies. At this terrace I saw another Europefan-friend of mine, Karoline, she'd gotten to know a nice fellow, Michael from Austria, who was also there for the concert. So me and my friends sat down there as well, to wait for a possible soundcheck.
At this point it was partly clouded, partly sunny. I had bought a cool t-shirt for the occasion: I'd found a top who was partly open in the back so my tattooed E was visible, and on the front there was the shape of a skull, made out of lots of skulls; my own Bag of Bones-t-shirt.
We sat chatting, looking down upon the band crew walking across the open yard to the sound-booth, back into the back of the stage, and sometimes up on stage. They played a bit themselves on our bands instruments, so I was for a bit worried that the band itself wouldn't do any soundcheck. But then the band members appeared in the yard (remember: we had perfect view to all of this), talking to the sound crew, going up on stage to play a bit on their instruments and so on.
Then the restaurant people told us that the band wanted a closed soundcheck, so we had to go inside the restaurant... we still had a perfect view (through dirty windows), and the sound was really good as well, when the band got up on stage and played through Riches to Rags and Superstitious. I filmed my friends during both, where we would mime the song and lyrics on both songs. I won't share those videos, mostly because I look really retarded in both of them.
After the soundcheck I decided to check the rest of the house to locate a bathroom. I went throught the restaurant (or actually, it was more like café/bar/catering-place) to look for it. On my way there I found a piano! Karoline was with me, so I just HAD to boast to her about my abilities to play Europesongs on the piano. (I didn't boast, I just asked that she waited while I played a bit for her). So I played Carrie, Tomorrow, bit of Coast to Coast and The final countdown. During one of the songs (I kept missing at some of the keys because I had to stand while playing, and I was unfamiliar with the piano) I saw in a flash that Ian was walking by. I stopped playing, and said the first thing that came to mind "I'm sorry for playing your songs!" (In english)... He said that was fine, he was just looking for some food. So apparently they were eating in that building. Ooops. I'm kinda thrilled, to have played some Europe stuff on the piano in earshot of a band member... not really sure if he was listening at all, or noticing...If I ever get that opportunity again, I'll continue playing, and play BETTER. That means more practise, I guess.
When I got back to the friends around the table, some of them were talking to Ian. So I wanted to say properly hi as well, and then I got to show him my tattoo (open back, you know)... then he showed me his- He had some photos with some norwegian fans I did not yet know, so I asked for one with him as well, was very hard to resist. i know I already have some pics with him... it's just... cooool, you know.
Then we went outside to stand in queue in order to get to the front row... No problem at all.. but while we stood there (approx. 15 people), I talked to a few people, among others Valeria... She said her name, didn't ring a bell to me, then I said my name, and she says "oh, you're on my facebook!", and at once I remembered her last name Was very nice to meet her, she's so sweet. I also chatted with the other norwegian fans I didn't know before that day, and one of the girls said she recognized me from Skien a couple of years ago (Europe played there... it was only 30 minutes from Langesund), she said we had talked then, which I couldn't remember, and that she recognized my tattoo. She also said that my tattoo had inspired her to get one, then showed me the E on her arm. That was the "new" E, the one with the ring around it. And she'd also written in small letters "no stone unturned" across it. It was soooo nice. There were also some people from Poland. They opened and let people enter, and then I got my first surprise: MERCHANDISE!! Tord the merch-man told me a couple of years ago that it's so hard with customs in Norway, so it's hardly worth bringing merch to Norway from Sweden. But this time they had I bought the over-the-shoulder-bag, and I simply LOVE it. The didn't bring Tord, though. There was a local man there instead. But I got my goods :)
I stationed myself front center, while my friends that I had traveled with took places elsewhere (but of course in the front), according to their preferences. Then we waited. I was beside Valeria, so I chatted more with her. Michael from Austria was so gentle as to hold on to my space while I was away for a little while... Wonderful fans, really. The outdoor venue filled up real slowly. Norwegians are a slow breed But it looked quite filled up when the boys finally hit the stage
Not very long before the concert started, Guesswhoo showed up just behind me. I had been looking for her during the entire day. She was soo sweet. Calm, which matched my energy buzz real nice. I hadn't seen Europe live since Tromsø in September, so I think my excitement was pouring over. But I didn't get any complaints or nasty looks...
I was so blasted away by the concert. I had deliberately tried not to catch any setlist spoilers from the BoB-tour, cause I wanted to be caught by surprise. So when Stein sent me the setlist on an SMS a week before the concert, I just deleted it The Bag of Bones-songs were awesome, and I have no doubt that when they're filling the shows with more BoB-songs in the fall, they will do so with as much success as they did in this concert. They blasted the audience away with Riches to Rags, then Firebox... then came Superstitious, and then Demon Head... I was IN AWE!!
The two front rows filled with fans, I could almost feel their joy, like mine. But there was a few fans also in the front row who didn't sing along to either BoB, LLAE or SS-songs... they had travelled all the way from Poland just for older songs, apparently. I was fascinated... But, at one point really annoyed.. Joey tossed me his plectrum (ok, it could have been aimed at anyone, but I had it in my grasp for some milliseconds before it slipped, and it fell to the ground). That's when the polish chick almost threw herself over the fence in order to pick it up, as Guesswhoo-mentioned... I got a bit irritated, both because that plectrum could have been mine, and because she acted so maniacly...
About the setlist.. It was almost perfect... Save for one thing: SFTD... The story is that... I was at the very first Europeconcert after the reunion. It took place in Norway on June 11th 2004, and Europe played there, for the very first time, Start from the Dark.... Since then, they've played it every single concert I've been to, except for this, my 18th concert... So in hindsight, I'm dissapointed for that... especially since I re-discovered the greatness of this song a couple of months ago.... I suddenly started listening more intently to the guitar-riff of the verse, and then I was really looking forward to digging it live again.
I was so happy with this concert, I managed to catch Mic's eye during the concert, and he waved at me, apparently recognizing me from earlier. John L did that too, I think, but I'm never sure, cause he smiles and looks at everyone in turn, or so it seems.
As always during a Europe concert, I was smiling like a maniac, jumping up and down, throwing my fist in the air at the right moments in beat with the music, and laughing/giggling when something funny occured. I was also screaming quite a bit, hope I wasn't too loud, it's a habit I'm trying to break. It's just hard to be cool and composed during such moments, where everything fits together. I was forming my fingers in the shape of a heart for John N to see, but he never saw it, so I was aiming my heart to JL, then JT... I guess that was me seeking attention, but I didn't get it. I'll try to avoid that in the future as well.. I do wanna appear as a 26 year old, instead of a 17 year old..
I managed to catch a JL plectrum from one of the guards after the show, and Karoline caught a JN-plectrum for me, my very first! I was sooo happy.
And so infuriated with myself a week later, when I had lost my JL-pic, and then the day after, I had decided to put the JN-pic in my wallet for safekeeping.. but now my wallet is stolen... Guess who's mad at herself atm!!
The total experience of the show was just fantastic The trip was great, the place was great, the crowd (where I stood at least) was great (no pushing at all where I stood), the band were on top form, the weather was nice, and the setlist was awesome
And the perfect ending? Seeing Mic in the hotel. Where, as I can recall, he approached me, not the other way around. He came from behind me, saying "Hey Tone-Iren, long time no see!" (But in swedish, so worded a bit different)
I chose this hotel because I'm a member of Choice Club hotels, and they had offered me half price of a room in one of their hotels this summer. The offer came in my e-mail inbox just after the concert was announced in April So it was lucky then, that that's where some band members where staying as well
Now I'm ready for a Norway/Sweden-Tour I'll try to be the best fan advertiser anyone has ever seen
Some ramblings about my 18th Europeconcert.
If you're not a Europefan, then some things in this note will seem weird to you, like mentioning of song- and albumtitles, bandmember names etc etc. But it's a way for me to write down my experiences from my various concerts. So please, refrain from teasing.
It was a partly rainy day. The weather was shifting between cloudy, bits of sun, and rain. I had packed two suitcases, in order to go abroad the next day. One with everything I needed for the Europeconcert, and another with a week's worth of clothing for my trip to Germany.
I took my car to Asker, where I picked up Torild who'd come from Oslo. Then we headed to Thomas' place, where I placed my car. We took his roomy, spacious car, the three of us. The rain was pouring down outside at this point.
We picked up our last passenger in Drammen, that's nearly my hometown, and then our road trip could begin. The last passenger, Ina, is a friend of mine from outside the fan fold. This was her very first Europe concert, I was so happy for her.
The first album we listened to in the car was...Bag of Bones. Later we changed to Out of this world. It was a smooth 1.5 hour ride down to Langesund. The nature in Telemark (the county where Langesund is) is very beautiful. Looks a bit wild, lots of trees, hills, and blue-blue fjords/lakes. Langesund was a calm phate concert (edit 2016: I have no idea what I meant by calm phate...).
We were there pretty early in order to catch the soundcheck. Wrightegaarden is a concert/restaurant-establishment, it was a nice, old sort of classy two-storey house with a terrace providing a view to the venue, which was in a sort of open yard. It was enclosed so you couldn't enter without tickets, but it was still very open to the skies. At this terrace I saw another Europefan-friend of mine, Karoline, she'd gotten to know a nice fellow, Michael from Austria, who was also there for the concert. So me and my friends sat down there as well, to wait for a possible soundcheck.
At this point it was partly clouded, partly sunny. I had bought a cool t-shirt for the occasion: I'd found a top who was partly open in the back so my tattooed E was visible, and on the front there was the shape of a skull, made out of lots of skulls; my own Bag of Bones-t-shirt.
We sat chatting, looking down upon the band crew walking across the open yard to the sound-booth, back into the back of the stage, and sometimes up on stage. They played a bit themselves on our bands instruments, so I was for a bit worried that the band itself wouldn't do any soundcheck. But then the band members appeared in the yard (remember: we had perfect view to all of this), talking to the sound crew, going up on stage to play a bit on their instruments and so on.
Then the restaurant people told us that the band wanted a closed soundcheck, so we had to go inside the restaurant... we still had a perfect view (through dirty windows), and the sound was really good as well, when the band got up on stage and played through Riches to Rags and Superstitious. I filmed my friends during both, where we would mime the song and lyrics on both songs. I won't share those videos, mostly because I look really retarded in both of them.
After the soundcheck I decided to check the rest of the house to locate a bathroom. I went throught the restaurant (or actually, it was more like café/bar/catering-place) to look for it. On my way there I found a piano! Karoline was with me, so I just HAD to boast to her about my abilities to play Europesongs on the piano. (I didn't boast, I just asked that she waited while I played a bit for her). So I played Carrie, Tomorrow, bit of Coast to Coast and The final countdown. During one of the songs (I kept missing at some of the keys because I had to stand while playing, and I was unfamiliar with the piano) I saw in a flash that Ian was walking by. I stopped playing, and said the first thing that came to mind "I'm sorry for playing your songs!" (In english)... He said that was fine, he was just looking for some food. So apparently they were eating in that building. Ooops. I'm kinda thrilled, to have played some Europe stuff on the piano in earshot of a band member... not really sure if he was listening at all, or noticing...If I ever get that opportunity again, I'll continue playing, and play BETTER. That means more practise, I guess.
When I got back to the friends around the table, some of them were talking to Ian. So I wanted to say properly hi as well, and then I got to show him my tattoo (open back, you know)... then he showed me his- He had some photos with some norwegian fans I did not yet know, so I asked for one with him as well, was very hard to resist. i know I already have some pics with him... it's just... cooool, you know.
Then we went outside to stand in queue in order to get to the front row... No problem at all.. but while we stood there (approx. 15 people), I talked to a few people, among others Valeria... She said her name, didn't ring a bell to me, then I said my name, and she says "oh, you're on my facebook!", and at once I remembered her last name Was very nice to meet her, she's so sweet. I also chatted with the other norwegian fans I didn't know before that day, and one of the girls said she recognized me from Skien a couple of years ago (Europe played there... it was only 30 minutes from Langesund), she said we had talked then, which I couldn't remember, and that she recognized my tattoo. She also said that my tattoo had inspired her to get one, then showed me the E on her arm. That was the "new" E, the one with the ring around it. And she'd also written in small letters "no stone unturned" across it. It was soooo nice. There were also some people from Poland. They opened and let people enter, and then I got my first surprise: MERCHANDISE!! Tord the merch-man told me a couple of years ago that it's so hard with customs in Norway, so it's hardly worth bringing merch to Norway from Sweden. But this time they had I bought the over-the-shoulder-bag, and I simply LOVE it. The didn't bring Tord, though. There was a local man there instead. But I got my goods :)
I stationed myself front center, while my friends that I had traveled with took places elsewhere (but of course in the front), according to their preferences. Then we waited. I was beside Valeria, so I chatted more with her. Michael from Austria was so gentle as to hold on to my space while I was away for a little while... Wonderful fans, really. The outdoor venue filled up real slowly. Norwegians are a slow breed But it looked quite filled up when the boys finally hit the stage
Not very long before the concert started, Guesswhoo showed up just behind me. I had been looking for her during the entire day. She was soo sweet. Calm, which matched my energy buzz real nice. I hadn't seen Europe live since Tromsø in September, so I think my excitement was pouring over. But I didn't get any complaints or nasty looks...
I was so blasted away by the concert. I had deliberately tried not to catch any setlist spoilers from the BoB-tour, cause I wanted to be caught by surprise. So when Stein sent me the setlist on an SMS a week before the concert, I just deleted it The Bag of Bones-songs were awesome, and I have no doubt that when they're filling the shows with more BoB-songs in the fall, they will do so with as much success as they did in this concert. They blasted the audience away with Riches to Rags, then Firebox... then came Superstitious, and then Demon Head... I was IN AWE!!
The two front rows filled with fans, I could almost feel their joy, like mine. But there was a few fans also in the front row who didn't sing along to either BoB, LLAE or SS-songs... they had travelled all the way from Poland just for older songs, apparently. I was fascinated... But, at one point really annoyed.. Joey tossed me his plectrum (ok, it could have been aimed at anyone, but I had it in my grasp for some milliseconds before it slipped, and it fell to the ground). That's when the polish chick almost threw herself over the fence in order to pick it up, as Guesswhoo-mentioned... I got a bit irritated, both because that plectrum could have been mine, and because she acted so maniacly...
About the setlist.. It was almost perfect... Save for one thing: SFTD... The story is that... I was at the very first Europeconcert after the reunion. It took place in Norway on June 11th 2004, and Europe played there, for the very first time, Start from the Dark.... Since then, they've played it every single concert I've been to, except for this, my 18th concert... So in hindsight, I'm dissapointed for that... especially since I re-discovered the greatness of this song a couple of months ago.... I suddenly started listening more intently to the guitar-riff of the verse, and then I was really looking forward to digging it live again.
I was so happy with this concert, I managed to catch Mic's eye during the concert, and he waved at me, apparently recognizing me from earlier. John L did that too, I think, but I'm never sure, cause he smiles and looks at everyone in turn, or so it seems.
As always during a Europe concert, I was smiling like a maniac, jumping up and down, throwing my fist in the air at the right moments in beat with the music, and laughing/giggling when something funny occured. I was also screaming quite a bit, hope I wasn't too loud, it's a habit I'm trying to break. It's just hard to be cool and composed during such moments, where everything fits together. I was forming my fingers in the shape of a heart for John N to see, but he never saw it, so I was aiming my heart to JL, then JT... I guess that was me seeking attention, but I didn't get it. I'll try to avoid that in the future as well.. I do wanna appear as a 26 year old, instead of a 17 year old..
I managed to catch a JL plectrum from one of the guards after the show, and Karoline caught a JN-plectrum for me, my very first! I was sooo happy.
And so infuriated with myself a week later, when I had lost my JL-pic, and then the day after, I had decided to put the JN-pic in my wallet for safekeeping.. but now my wallet is stolen... Guess who's mad at herself atm!!
The total experience of the show was just fantastic The trip was great, the place was great, the crowd (where I stood at least) was great (no pushing at all where I stood), the band were on top form, the weather was nice, and the setlist was awesome
And the perfect ending? Seeing Mic in the hotel. Where, as I can recall, he approached me, not the other way around. He came from behind me, saying "Hey Tone-Iren, long time no see!" (But in swedish, so worded a bit different)
I chose this hotel because I'm a member of Choice Club hotels, and they had offered me half price of a room in one of their hotels this summer. The offer came in my e-mail inbox just after the concert was announced in April So it was lucky then, that that's where some band members where staying as well
Now I'm ready for a Norway/Sweden-Tour I'll try to be the best fan advertiser anyone has ever seen
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