Melanie C -- Live at the Astoria London

Well, What can I say about this concert that Chris or Kaz hasent already
said? For a start, to say that it was fantastically amazingly
unforgettably inexpliccable(etc...etc) would be the greatest understatement
known to humanity. Just to note, if you haven't read the reviews by Chris
and Kaz, then do, and by the time I'm through, you should have a good gist
of the entire day.

Just a few things that will make relevance throughout this piece. I am from
Ireland, I am 6ft 4in. I brought a standard camera and a yashica 108 with a
30 - 70mm zoom lens. (not that great but good none the less.) Think about
it. I I am travelling on a bus for 14 hours to see Melanie for one hour,
then I am gonna make it worth my while...

I arrived at the Astoria at about 3 p.m. (It would have been earlier only 
the fact that I walked straight past the venue looking at the other side
of the street.) Once I reached the venue I started to do what everyone
else (15 - 20 people) was dong at the time. I started dreaming of seeing
the woman that I love in the flesh and up on stage. At about 3:15 I met
two people named Debbie and Dean. (*hello*) We got talking and I mentioned
Chris Coulson (the creator of this site) whom I had spotted earlier in
front of the queue.

Suddenly there came a rumour that a silver Mercedes had pulled up out the
back. Well I deliberated with myself for about ooh... a half of a
milisecond before promptly trying to do four things at once (grab my stuff,
run, take out my standard camera and take out my piece of paper) I got
around the back, and, Snap Snap Snap.(I'm starting to shake just writing
and remembering this) Of course, given my height advantage, I stuck my
lengthy arm in and got the most coveted of all things to be treasured - an
autograph (OH MY GOD!!!!!) then after that, before she left, there was
quite fittingly another Snap Snap Snap.

Going back to my place in the queue, I was on such a buzz and a high that
I could not stop shaking for at least an hour. I coulden't believe what
had happenned to me, and to be quite honest, after looking at the photo's,
I still dont think I do.

The doors were 10 mins late opening and that 10 mins felt like 10 hours
compared to the four I had spend waiting. So in the door, quick bag search
(camera cleverly hidden away) and (in the words of Chris) Vrrrooooo...
Yikes where the hell am I? I had managed to get lost (again) So, with about
two minutes lost, I managed to get to within three to four feet of the
barrier (making it a total of around 10 feet to the stage) I proceeded to
tear my bag open and assemble my good camera (Yashica 108) all in the space
of about 10 seconds.

Now I was going to be cute and not use it until Melanie came on stage, BUT
moronically, I decided to take a snap while that poor excuse for a band
played out. BIG MISTAKE! Boucer intervenes and proceeds to take it off me
until the end of the gig. (pissed me off really because I only bought the
damned thing for these type of concerts) Was I dis-heartened? of course
not. I, like the cub scout (dib - dib) was prepared and duly whipped out my
standard camera, and this time, I was going to be disercete (as if).  So,
excitment was everywhere and anticipation had to be locked away or else it
was going to suffocate someone. Nothing else to do except wait, dream and
fall in love all over again. WHAM!!!! Miss moneypenny herself exploded onto
stage with what can only be described as a cross between a nuclear
explosion and a rush of musical power that could only be experienced at
that moment.

The gig started with something's gonna happen, my favourite of all the
b-sides, featring Melanie sporting (great pun) the tattered yet sexy jeans
and a motorhead t-shirt. No let-up and straight into independance day. I
love the rythim that this song gives off - Fantastic. Giving all us moshers
(headbangers) a break, she proceeded to go into Northern Star. One of the
better songs of the night, considering the fact that I think that she is
Our Northern Star. Be the one was next. I loved that thing she does with
her finger, yet I am truly and utterly convinced that she was singing it to
me (well... a guy can dream can't he?) Ga Ga. Guess what the crowd did
during this song, yes it was time for us moshers to get back into full
swing and prove the point that white men CAN jump, all the time trying to
mix in the odd Snap Snap Snap every here and there. Suddenly Monday. Longer
than the album version with an extra verse of na na na's in there. - 
Excellent! I always thought the album version was a bit short at two and a
half mins long. Next up, I turn to you, closely followed by Feel the sun.
My favourite Melanie solo song by far and nothing comes close to it by any
ways or means (for now). Now, when she smiles, I go weak at the knees and
find it hard to stay vertical. Imagine how I felt when she lifted up her
top while singing "This angel's my salvation". I can best describe this
feeling as nnyyueeeeeaaaaallllllllhhhh. While I tried to re-gaine my
composure (and verticalness) if that were me was next. I felt that there
was more emotion conveyed throught this song than there was words and
music. Going Down. Moshers pay attention here. the energy that came off
this song was unbelievable. It came from the speakers and filtered through
my entire body before being absorbed. Truly better that any other
perfotmance of Goin' Down that I have seen, and one never to be forgotten.
Wannabe seemed pretty much like the version that she did with the Spice
Girls althogh it was a great achivement to sing the lines of five girls all
at once. She even squeezed in the dance that she does during it. :-) I
wonder what it would be like was fanastic, helped along by the fact that I
was full sure she was singing it about me again (still dreaming....) Go.
Destined to be the finale (makes sense really considering it's title) was
unbelievable and was the grand finale......as if. Off goes Melanie, que
Chanting "We want Melanie" or somethiing to that effect. Quick change of a
few things on stage and que the encore :-)
Closer. Love the live version of this song basically consisting of her
singing and a guitar backing :-). Album contains too many un-necessary
effects and suchlike. Goin' Down acoustic style. A very soft version of
the original. Nice for a change but still lacked that certain OMPH that 
the rock versions posesses. 

Overall, an un-forgettable gig which will remain in my memory for at least
the rest of my existence, and, if given the chance, I would travel all that
way again tomorrow to see her. It still has to hit me the fact that I got
her autograph. I still can't believe it. So if you missed out on this gig,
you don't know what you missed. Gig of the year BAH! Gig of the Milenum is
more like it.