Ok. I can’t write. True story, we all know that. Nonetheless, just read a sum up of a Nine Inch nails concert in Nîmes by Sandrine (lady i’ve never met in my life, friend of someone who saw her on one of my pic in a Eagle Of Death Metal. How cool is social web sometimes?? ahah), and now, I wanna share why this report touched me. Taking the exemple of the 24hours trip to Manchester last month just for a gig, for one simple gig, but that was a perfect sum up of what’s making my life right now. Starting point is actually February. Wasn’t sure if I had to go there. But from this own simple nite. A lot, i mean a LOT of good things came out. Things that will brought me to Manchester last month as previously said, and hopefully to Dublin in the next…. and to many more as well *crossing fingers*

In February. Main act was the Script, in Brussels, not my hometown, just the one i’m in for work. Yes, the script… girlie thing some might say nonetheless, Irish, talented, fun, well written wasn’t asking for more. Support Act was Gary Go, English, talented, fun, well written, wasn’t asking for more either. Took some snaps.

Put them on Flickr as usual, even wrote a blog post about it (and you know how many times i blog per year.. not that many ahah). I think that in first arrived a message from Gary Go asking for the permission to use the photos on his FB page. Sure thing, help yourself

Then, via Twitter, RCA,record label from the script asked for an email address of mine. Got to confess, I had sparkle in the eyes when I received the first mail from @sonymusic.com ahah.. who thought that someday something like that would happen. They asked for the pics too, with me gladly allowing to spread the clichés.

At some point, i’ll also ask for a photo pass for their concert in Luxembourg, gladly approved as well i went there, had another blast. Long story short, at some point, I  had Gary Go on the phone « hey Kmeron, would you like to come to Manchester to take some snaps while we’re opening for the Take That Circus Tour? ».

Went straight to the train station, from Brussels, train was easier than 36hours before leaving overpriced flight. Called back. « Yup, i’ll be there ». The day before being there (Take That was on for 5 nights there, 5 time 60 000 people!), I saw a webcam that was taking a snap every 10minuts. Ok… now there’s a lot people i’m officially stuck with fear.

Can’t think. Can’t do anythink (see, there’s jokes even in english, how deadly is dat). Following day, here we go for the whole shabang. Brussels to London by Eurostar (easy part, used to it, loving it). In the meantime, I wonder what was my life 3 years ago, and that’s where I realised I didn’t thought more than half a second of not going to live this Journey….

Weird to see sometimes life’s made of step, and ur climbing one after the other even without really noticing. Just at some point you stop, you look forward, and see how high you are, and you didn’t expected that. I mean, i’m a nobody photographicaly wise, and here I am, invited by someone who will play in front of 50 000 people. How insane is that? Especially when it’s been only 2 years that i’m making some pics just for fun, and here we’re asking me because I have « a good eye ».. ahahah….

So tryin’ to keep the flow and still trying to go up on the steps, one at the time, not on a clockwork agenda.. Just keep going forward. « Don’t worry, life is easy » as some might say.. The good thing about Brussels is that talented artists are coming in here, for cheap prices usually, allowing lads like me to do like tons of concerts. Should check, but i’m probably around 160 since the 1st of January… Yes.. might be a lot, but festivals are helping increasing the number you know.

Anyway. I know I can be seen by some as a concert addict. Might be true. Even if i’m always going to see artists I wanna see anyway, (not artists that are totally on the other side of my musical tastes e.g. : hardcore rap etc). But the fact are here. Sometimes, going to concert is good for your health (mentally and physically).

I know while changing from train station between St Pancras and Euston, it will be tiring, and that my body, hurting on a daily basis with my inflammated back spine, will not like. I fuckin’ don’t care. i’ll like it. I know that in the rush, i will not think or feel it anymore, and that is also one of the most remarkable things about it, for 90 minutes, I do not care anymore that I won’t be able to walk afterwards, that i’m not really sure where i’ll sleep after the gig, that those emotions are way over things that « just going to a concert ».

Feel free, feel painless, enjoying as long as it’s lasting. Even if it’ll be a one night stand. Who cares, i’ll be able to tell my grand children that when I was young, I was living a fully 120% over the limit life, going around Europe (for the moment at least ahah, who knows), and was happy about it, because I was able to see and experience things that are beyond the understanding of so many people.

Being in front of a 20 000 people crowd in Belgium in a Festival, in front of Arno, a Belgian Singing Icon, with everyone raising their arms. It’s just absolutely breathtaking… and that’s exactly that kind of experience i mean. I’m 27, but sometimes feels like a kid in a candy store..

Arrived in Manchester, took a cab Me : « to old trafford cricket ground? » Mr. Cab Driver : « oww, the Take That thing, ur going to see the concert? » Me : « yup, something like that..  *slight smile* ». Arrived there, called, « yeah, just meet that one there, he’ll have the pass ». walking, actually at the exact oposite flow of people it seemed ahah, but here I was, given a backstage pass for this concert, and going there as well to meet Gary. And there, those small minutes that are just not running fastly enough… stressed as hell, can barely breath, can barely realise how everything’s happening so quickly, that in the time of a lighting strike, I have other people that have faith in me and in my « talent ». True that one of my closest friend is always telling me « you’ve got something, trust me ». I never trusted her fully, I’m like that, can’t take a step backward to realise if what i’m doing is nice or not. So thank you also to you, the little angel that poke me everytime remembering me that what i’m doing is actually nice and everyone is liking it. Ta présence m’est importante, même qd tu t’enflammes pr une histoire de litterie et de girafe

The whole crew was welcoming and friendly, me i was like « i’m not here, act normally, i’ll just take some snaps when i’ll be cooled down and realising truely ». Everything went smoothly, enjoying the moment, even called the little angel for a surprise worth loosing a kidney to pay the bill bc she was not feeling well ahah. It was the script. supporting as well the Take That Tour on this date. Security couldn’t let me take proper snaps.

No biggie, wasn’t planning to anyway, the call was the most important. Meeting one of the irish lads afterwards was also very rewarding, especially when they recognise you « yeah, you were also to luxembourg right, you know that one of ur pic from brussels was my desktop picture until like 2 weeks ago, you’ve got something man, really ». And those that are icons of thousands are now human, telling you, poor fatty french 27 years old boy that they love ur pics, when ur leitmotiv is that « everyone can be a photographer »… Life’s funny sometimes True moments, other talks as well, no need to write about it here, but nice moment, for me who was shy to introduce myself.. asked Gary if he thought I could go and say hi « sure, go on, don’t be afraid vince come on » will he answer.. ahah… little did he know how much his smile and friendship meant.

But well, once again, living the dream, especially when it’s not my job, and just a pure hobby, that will give me strength to deal with the daily problems I’ll encounter. Burned memories in a brain that has issues letting go souvenirs or moments that could have been so much more. Ready to go and do the exact same thing anytime soon, crossing fingers for end of August in Dublin, could be nice to come back to the town that build me as a man and is so present in my heart (see how happy i was when the irish flag appeared in Snow Patrol’s gig last week!).

Everything seems like a roller coaster that will just not stop even for a minute. Watch out not to be screaming anymore in the big downhill, that would mean i’m not liking it anymore, and that will not have to happen anytime soon trust me ahah.

Boring stuff to read, I swear i’ll do better next time. But this trip to Manchester, just for 20 hours was intense, and full of hope. Hope that is allowing me to keep going, dreaming, desiring, living, experiencing, sharing, loving, on a daily basis, still in this incredible rollercoaster.

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In my ears : Nine Inch Nail -Hurt- ♫ « I hurt myself today/ To see if I still feel/ I focus on the pain/ The only thing that’s real/ The needle tears a hole/ The old familiar sting/ Try to kill it all away/But I remember everything« ♫

Of course i’m not objective on this one. They are irish, they are talented, they have published my pictures from their brussels gig on their official website, and i’m having a photo pass for their concert in Luxembourg Tonite. After driving their through the nite (4 til 6.30 am yup, after a very nice evening in Liège in belgium actually), wandering around the city during the day, it was time to reach « Den Atelier », the venue of Tonite, and prepare for what would once again be a very nice moment.

Went there with 3 friends, that didn’t saw the gig in Brussels I saw. « How are they live? » would ask one « honestly? a lot of fun, energy, passionnate by what they are doing and singing, why do ya think i’m here once again ^^ « . And that would sum up perfectly the mood of the nite. Support Act was SpLeeN, a luxemburgish act. Nice, not as was Gary Go though (once again twas one of the best support act i’ve seen so well). But let’s move on to the St James Street Natives we all want to see. This time, i’ll be ready to shoot Glen (the drummer), because on stage, the drums are on the right and not « as used to » on the dead center back of the stage, so i barely saw him the first time, a shame considering that he’s a good drummer!

Fade to black, crowd (not sold out though   ) screams, Glen is coming on Stage and style in the dark starts the show, Mark (guitar is coming as well), obviously when Danny (lead singer) arrives, I lost my right ear once again ahah, but damn this feels good to have a crowd that responsive! The piano of « before the worst » starts all.. and then i became an Irish again… I remember why this country changed me, changed my life, and still haunts me from time to time, the exact place where I change to fall from teen to a man that will handle is life. Remembering the spire, the pubs, the people I met, and it feels damn good. And Grafton street, sweet grafton street with his BK, HMV and so on … *dream face*(tickle me everytime i look at the movie « once » as well don’t worry).
♫ « It was Dublin city on a Friday Night/ You were Vodkas and Coke, I was Guinness all Nite/ […it was grafton street on a friday nite/ I was down on one knee and you were mine for life« ♫

« Talk you down » gives a little bit uptempo (love the drums on this one), the voice of the singer seems more calm than in Brussels even if they were tired : (you should hear the cute irish accent) « Man, we litterally just came out of the plane, we’re like so exhausted… and we’re surprised, we were expecting like ten people here ya’ know » *crowd shouting* then the guitar of « Break even » splits the venue in a nice mood, and the crowd -young yes, but nonetheless- jumping, claping and singing. <3 those moments, the exact reason why i like concert, why i like photography concert, ’cause in those kind of moments, we see how good people can be, how they can be passionnate and be there for stuff that others can not understand.
♫ « I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing,/ Just prayed to a god that I don’t believe in,/ ‘Coz I got time while she got freedom,/’Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even.« ♫

« The end where i begin » will remember us how much his voice can go high pitch (there we can see a little bit of pushing for the high notes but no biggie), and will just be the opening for « This is the reason why we are here, it’s called We Cry ». And yes, it’s good for radio, but the lyrics are just so much more. Talking about James Street, the neighborhood where the Guinness brewery is. When i used to live in dublin, i was south side, next to Rathmines in the Griffith College (17 2B, the number of the flat, numbers that will always be with me), where as James Street is more north compared to where i was. How i remember walking in this city, loving it, so many nationalities, accent in the language, attitude even under the influence of booze, ahah, i’m back there just with a song
♫ « Sometimes we don’t learn / from our Mistakes/ Sometimes we’ve no choice/ But to walk away, away« ♫

« If u c kay », « fall for anything » and « man who can’t be moved » seal the deal… This is some artist we’re having in this small venue, and everyone is loving every single note coming from those leprechauns « rusty halo » with his hip hop accent and rythm (the bass ahhhhh) will close the flow of this very tight main set. They will be back with 2 awesome encore « i’m yours » and « we can be heroes ». Security tried to pull me out around this time (they’re just doing they’re job, i agree… nonetheless… keep your head on ur shoulder will you?), and once they cleared the fact that i had a photo pass and everyone was ok for me to take picture, i was able to come back in the place, of course behind and way too far to take the slightest good clichés grrrrr :/
♫ « Yeah I’m looking for the right type of pleasure but all I find is pain/ Now there’s no light to guide me on my way home/ now there’s no time to shine my rusty halo« .♫

The time to come out, happy once again of a fairly consistent set (i’m now willing to hear some new songs, dunno what we can expect actually). Big up for the « i’m yours » intro when Danny explains « this song has been wrote after a nite we had a lot of wine… we’ve all been there you know what i mean » ahah when i think about it and this song is just *sigh*
♫ « I may not have the safest touch/ I may not say the words as such/ And though I may not look like much/ I’m yours« ♫

Eveyrone loved it as usual, i took the time to bought buttons (yeah, i’m like that, even with a photo pass i got to get something, just like that when i love the concert i saw.. might sounds stupid, but don’t feel ashamed at all to show artists i like how much we like them) that i will offer to my friends that were there time to hit back the road after 40 hours, 3 countries and a memory full of nice moments. But before, i’ll wait for them to come out, just to take some clichés out of stage, to show how much they actually are human you know, they are loving what they’re doing, they’ll thank everyone that stayed an hour after the end to see them, they’ll sign, take pictures, smile, talk.

Gave a moo card to Glen and to Danny « do you want me to sign it or are you giving it to me » they will both say actually « don’t really know, the thing is that i don’t have anything to make you sign, but once again, impressive gig, thanks a lot ». Danny to wrote « to vince then right » when i said i was the photographer from the brussels gig.. But i suspect he just remembered from the card with my name on it I just gave him hehe I truly and sincerely hope to be able to see them again, even if they are touring in some festival this summer, but on dates that i’m already booked by other artists elsewhere (eg  while i’ll shoot peaches in july :/ ). Farewell in the meantime, and once again, thanks to Mark who saw the pics from brussels, Tom who contacted me to put them on the site and gave me with Quinner a photo pass

Exhausted, but worth it every second of the way. Now having red bull instead of blood in my veins… Slainte!

 All the pictures can be seen in Hi Res on Flickr as usual

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In my ears : Snow Patrol -Chasing Cars- « If I lay Here/ If I just Lay Here/ Woud you lie with me/ And just forget the world? »

The Script, 3 piece Irish Band, who just came out with a self titled album (i.e. « The script » what a surprise yaaaaayyyyy). 12€ in one of my favorite venue in Town, for something really different from what I’ve seen this last couple of weeks, between Noise sound of Parts & Labor, Mcing Puppets of Puppetmastaz, Sweetness of Woodpigeon, Pure inflammable Rock from Bloc Party, Electro from Delphic, beeps from Metronomy and so on. Here.. pop.. but like.. pop… I arrived early as usual, it wasn’t soldout, but the venue was let’s say 80% full (which is 1500ish personn I’d say right..?). I was one of the few with no bracelets on the teeth, one head above everybody, a beard… yeah.. You got that right.. I was trapped in a girlie concert, and I actually didn’t see that coming honestly… (but to spoil, in the end, it was a lot of fun, I swear).

What was going to happen is oddly enough why I love going to gigs like that. Yes. At some point I’d say… Am I old enough to go on the 1st floor like this mid-40’s couple I see? Naaaa… C’mon, just turned 27… which is 10 years more that all the people directly surrounding me, but I just don’t care, I heard at the album, I liked it, why not give it a shot afterall. « The Script » blanket are on the drums and so on… I barely see the set that is already here, a speaker allowing me only to see a part of the illustration on the drum. As a waiting music.. Coldplay.. Weird.. it gives me goose bump.. being in a gig place listening to some Coldplay, just memories like that.. what can I say *remembering the butterflies.. sigh*

And another surrealist moments arrives, just some notes, everyone recognize « chasing car » by Snow Patrol. Everyone starts whispering at first, then singin’.. but like.. singin’.. unreal I’m telling you. Sometimes I wonder why the crowd here makes me love going to venues that have that kind of spirit. So far away from what I’ve seen abroad. Not always perfect of course, but usually a lot, I mean, a lot, of fun. Then will arrive as a supporting act : Gary Go : Brit, hype glasses, Beckham hair style (dunno the year, he changed so much over the year you know… hehe), but don’t stop to that, this guy got talent, catch phrases, and a nice attitude that makes everyone move, sing, shout.

I don’t blog often since a year now let’s say. I don’t often talk about the many concerts I’m going to (65 last year my lucky guess would be). I don’t often (meaning never), talk about the supporting act I’m going to see. My post are already way too long « as is » (et non « azziz » lumière.. french humour.. ). But here. I can recall the really good supporting act I’ve seen, randomly I’d say Delphic (bloc party gig), Luciole (Camille gig), Krystl Warren (Rodrigo y gabriela gig) or Pepper (Floggin Molly, 1st out of 3time last year). I can recall bad ones as well (for many and oftenly unrelated reasons), the Luxemburgish Group before PWT’s, the « I don’t give a crap and I don’t recall ur name » (Cat Power gig).. and so on. Here. It will go on the « damn good side, cya back on the road very soon! ».

Gary Go, Self titled album to come out (somewhere around May I think), but damn, happy to be here, smiling, a thousand people in front of him, clapping, singing, just happy. And happiness, right now, it’s really a nice feeling to share. Thought I could share a little piece of my joy with who wants to, so here it is. The last track was « wonderful ». Careful, might be the thing that will last in ur mind. Gary taking the time to learn us the chorus (might be wrong, but the track is unknown in Belgium, whereas nicely going up in the charts in UK). ♫ Say “I am”/Say “I am”/Say “I am wonderful”/Oh you are/ Cause we are all miracles/wrapped up in chemicals/We are incredible/Don’t take it for granted, no/We are all miracles/Oh we are » ♫ -Wonderful-

I definitely know some people I could call « miracle » in my life, I never tell them enough how much they are important to me… Even if the person reads this, doesn’t mean the person will know I’m talking about him/her, but well… part of the deal.. the people I’m like coding stuff in here never understands what I can’t say face to face anyway.. i’m used to it know hehe ^^. Back to Gary, « Filming is life » as he said, welcome to Brussels, which is not my Hometown, not my Country, I always said i’ll ever feel more Irish than Belgium, but tonite, I’m welcoming you with everybody, and discovering some nice lyrics, arrangement, everything is not perfect, but we just don’t give a 2nd thought to it, Arms in the air, waving, ♫ « It took some time to realise/ But it just occured to me/ That what we have, is what we choose to see/ There’s nothing to stop us/ To lose it all » ♫ -Hearts and soul-

Already, this is a night well spent, I’ve discovered an Artist, now waiting for the album, but it’s always special when you first see someone live then hear the album. But you’ve got the whole deal hear, nice musicians, changes in the rythm/tempo, produced well with loads of nice arrangements/settings.. really good stuff… I finish also sharing a « Say I ammmm wonderfffullll…. »… and will arrive on stage The Script.

First the scene… A huge speaker, keyboard on it, I’m guessing it will be Danny O’Donaghue (yes, Irish Band I said), on the left, guitar, somewhere on the far right of the scene (opposite of me) a drum set, I might see bits of the drummer, but that would be all, and a bassist behind the keyboard, the same, way to close, huge speaker in sight, not sure i’ll even take a picture of him..

And the room goes dark.. I lost 8/10th of my  hearing capabilities.. Think I’m actually at a Michael Jackson, a Spice Girls or a Tokio Hotel (choose depending on ur generation hehe) concert, surrounded by groupies (and no, I see you who wanna ask if I screamed, no, I didn’t, commmmme on!).

They are all coming on stage.. one by one… And will start « Before the worst »… arrfff.. got to say that those lyrics are just talking to me. Replace Coke by Red Bull, and Vodka, Guinness, Grafton Street, love was a part of my life Back in Dublin.. And hearing Grafton Street echoing in the AB I was just.. woowwww… Sound is ok… He has wayyy to much reverb on the voice (even I could hear that, and I’m not THAT of a melomane.. ). But damn a nice start!  ♫ « It’s been a while since the two of us talked/About a week since the day that you walked/Knowing things would never be the same/With your empty heart and mine full of pain/So explain to me, how it came to this/Take it back to the night we kissed/It was Dublin City on a Friday night/You were vodkas and coke, I was Guinness all night [...] It was Grafton Street on a rainy night /I was down on one knee and you were mine for life » ♫

Then « Talk  you down », nice, chorus of course sang by everybody, « Break even » is next.. and ok guys… stop making come back memories ok… I’m all over that period of my life now… Weird to see how sometimes lyrics are just talking to you, doesn’t matter the time or the place… And yes, gosh I didn’t believe it, but she was right (as usual I might say, but she knows it), a blog is personnal, I’m talking too much about myself, shouldn’t, but well, that’s just how I am… and I definitely don’t say all what I want to, that’s a fact  ♫ « What am I suppose to do when the best part of me was always you/ what am I suppose to say when i’m all choked up and you’re OK/ I’m falling to pieces« ♫

« The end » is almost anecdotic compared to the « We Cry » they will sing. « this is a song that starts everything back home », I can imagine why, definitely   And a song that says that we are all equals in pain, but it’s just a better place when you know that not far from you, someone can help you, eventhough that person is also dealing with problem. Sharing is making everything possible. « if you see kay » is more ballad like, and with a strange different tempo, the guitarist making some of the back voice, but quieting the crowd (a nice idea after the mayhem from the previous tracks)

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

« fall for anything », more piano like, be he’s actually pushing a lot of his voice (or so it’s what his veins on his throat are making us believe), still in tunes though ^^ « the man who can’t be moved » will then ignite once again the place. And raise a good question. If I know someone would be looking for me, would I know where to go for sure so that this perso will find me? nice question.. very nice… Might have an answer, but it probably actually depends on which person would be lookin’ for me… But I god an idea hehe ^^ (ok, I’m the only one wandering is that it, I’m sure no one else here knows where they would go.. honestly…?!?!?!?) ♫ « Cos if one day you wake up and find that you’re missing me, /And your heart starts to wonder where on this earth I can be, /Thinking maybe you’ll come back here to the place that we’d meet, /And you’d see me waiting for you on the corner of the street./So I’m not moving… » ♫

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

« Rusty Halo » is entertaining, but gotta confess that the g string written « rusty halo » on the merchandise stuff kinda disturbed me  :[  but well, they politely say goodbye, the audience is going crazy (I should have recorded that, I swear, wow scream and everything you want, but damn good audience).

They'll come back, just with a guitar and sat down for Danny to sing. And damn, Damien Rice style (voice being way different), it's just a very nice, quiet stuff to finish the gig, and here, I just love the voice he's having, more calm, more present, maybe even more sincere because of that... it sound like 90's take that lover's time track, but it's just sweet  ♫ "I may not have the softest touch/I may not say the words as such/And though I may not look like much/I'm yours."♫

Cliquer ici pour voir la vidéo.

It wasn’t the last track actually, they had a cover of « we can be heroes » on their luggage… and it’s quiet something gotta say, ok. Damn it, I started not that into it at all, and 2 grand bands made me happy to be here. Quiet sum-uping (and yeah, this word doesn’t exist.. so wha? :p ) me right now, an irish band with sweet lyrics and general mood, me taking pictures in a venue I like, and discovering some new stuff.. yeah.. it’s really a nice sum up (including the issues lyrics brought, but that I won’t discuss here obviously).

Gary go, cya soon, and will look for your cd, The Script, way to go, Slainte, and cya in a couple of years! And if u went all the way down to this long post, just congrats to you, cya on the next post ^^

All the pictures are on Flickr as usual/ Note to self : gigs fullfilled with youngs are way better for the stats on Flickr and youtube ^^.
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In my hears : James Blunt -Love, Love, Love-  ♫ « love love love/I can’t take your love love love/ and so I say I don’t love you,/ though it kills me./ It’s a lie that sets you free »