When I agreed to go to a Pet Shop Boys concert, I don't know what I was thinking. I'm really not much of a fan but it was a Greatest Hits tour and my wife liked them when they supported Take That so I thought I'd give it a go.
It turned out to be one of the worst gig experiences I've ever had. Sat in row P of section 006, I had a clear view of the stage - until the giants descended. Giants who liked to dance. Most of my night was spent looking through gaps or staring at the screen at the side of the stage, which unfortunately often displayed the same graphics as the stage backdrop rather than showing the band playing. The heavier dance numbers resurrected teenage memories of wanting to flee from nightclubs (often doing so) because the driving beats were doing nothing for me except inducing nausea.
To be fair, the sound was exceptional, the band were great and Neil Tennant's singing was far better than I expected. Lots of people around me (except those whose view was also blocked by the giants) were having a great time. The finger whistler was irritating especially as he thought he was adding to the music with his consistent shrill peep peeps, like an oystercatcher seeking a mate, but some strong words from the females in front of him eventually put paid to his accompaniment.
Highlights for me were Go West and It's a Sin, the numbers I knew best.
I left the venue feeling grumpy, cold and dissatisfied. Then the evening took an interesting turn.
I'd arranged to give a lift home to a work colleague and his friend. We'd pre-arranged where to rendevous as we were in separate parts of the building. After the venue emptied with no sign of them, I texted and phoned with no response. I called again and this time he picked up, triggering a continuous trail of apologies as the pair exited the seriously long taxi queue. He was a bit inebriated. I don't think I've ever heard someone repeat so often how much they love me as we walked back to the car. He'd had a great night he said, despite being evicted from the venue less than halfway through the show for "dancing". (It wasn't clear from the confusing conversation when/if the apologetic staff let them back in again later).
"You know what? It is what it is."
I think I'll be reminding him soon "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk". It's a shame I didn't record him.
Ticket Price: £115 each, plus £15.55 Service Charge.
Total £130.55 per ticket.
Setlist
Suburbia
Can You Forgive Her?
Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You)
Rent
I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More
So Hard
Left to My Own Devices
Single-Bilingual / Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)
Domino Dancing
Monkey Business
New York City Boy
You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk
Jealousy
Love Comes Quickly
Losing My Mind (Stephen Sondheim cover)
You Were Always on My Mind (Gwen McCrae cover)
Dreamland
Heart
What Have I Done to Deserve This? (restarted after Neil's mike failed)
It's Alright (Sterling Void cover)
Vocal
Go West (Village People cover)
It's a Sin
Encore:
West End Girls
Being Boring
Playout song: Spread a Little Happiness (The Cliff Adams Singers)
My view for most of the show
But there were a few good pics snatched
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