View Full Version : First major gig since Covid, at Utilita arena Birmingham!
The princess WANTED to see Erasure, one of her fav bands from the 80s, and also taken shopping of course lol, so we booked up and stayed overnight in the UK's second largest city (down early Sat morning on the train, back teatime on Sunday), which beforehand we'd only just passed through - a great time was had!:)
I have to say we were both very impressed with Birmingham city centre, which had all-manner of interesting shops, pubs and eateries (and the people were very friendly), including some rather nice architecture, both old and modern. It also had a very cool, chilled out vibe and nightlife, down by the canal:
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Some different shots:
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Chinese quarter, where we had lunch:
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Arena rom the outside:
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We arrived early, in order to avoid queuing for long to get in (with Covid checks, etc), and just chilled out to some choons the resident DJ was playing (all pretty cool mixes of classic 80s tracks)... At 6.30pm, the arena looked like this:
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And by 7.30pm it was like this:
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...and continued to get more and more rammed (approx 25,000 people in total) until the gig started just after 8pm. Although I'm not a massive Erasure fan, Del LURVES them and was like a kid in a sweet shop, dancing about and having fun some other girls sat beside us she'd been chatting to, so if she's happy, I'm happy - and it was a good night:cool:
Even at the rip old ages of 57 and 61, respectively, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke still had their mojo! And the stage set was superb... Sound was LOUD as fuck!!:eek: And pretty decent quality too, with bass that rattled your ribcage! Del took some vids on her phone, which she's still to send me, so will take a few screen grabs from those and post them later.
Marco.
Looks like you had a great time! Used to stay in Birmingham city centre a lot 25+ years ago, seems like it has improved dramatically in that time!
only part of birmingham ive been really was Solihul, and that was an auful long time ago. 50 years i guess, staying overnight for a flight.
good pics. glad u both had a good time
Ali Tait
18-10-2021, 09:34
Great to get back to some live music, my first was Elbow in Leeds with my daughter a few weeks ago. Great gig and we went out after and got shitfaced lol. A great weekend.
Great to get back to some live music, my first was Elbow in Leeds with my daughter a few weeks ago. Great gig and we went out after and got shitfaced lol. A great weekend.
this is setting a good example? ;) well yeah i suppose it is really lol
rmcin626
18-10-2021, 09:47
25,000 people far too big a gig crowd for me, stopped going to the big gigs many years ago, went to see Dylan at Earls Court, we so far from the stage you needed binoculars to see the stage, could have been anyone up there. Of course the big screens help now but I have a big Telly if I want to watch someone on a screen.
Looks like you had a great time! Used to stay in Birmingham city centre a lot 25+ years ago, seems like it has improved dramatically in that time!
Churz, dude. All in all, it was good weekend. Found a couple of superb (and very authentic) Chinese restaurants in Brum's version of Chinatown, but forgot to take pics of the food:doh: Was just chatting away and having a laugh with Del, and it skipped my mind. Even grabbed some provisions from the local Chinese markets, so will be doing a bit of oriental cooking soon!:)
But yes, the city seems to have changed and improved over the years, which is the case for most in the UK. I'd thoroughly recommend spending a long weekend there, as there's a cool cosmopolitan vibe going on and plenty to see and do:cool:
We're fortunate in that we can get s train there (to New St) direct from Wrexham, so no changes, and the journey takes less than a couple of hours, Hotel was within walking distance from the station, as was the gig! Defo wouldn't entertain taking a car there, as there's emission/congestion charges in force, same as London, and like most major cities, in general it's a nightmare to park.
Marco.
Great to get back to some live music, my first was Elbow in Leeds with my daughter a few weeks ago. Great gig and we went out after and got shitfaced lol. A great weekend.
Nice one, mate. You can't beat it, can you? Your daughter must think her dad's cool, as for teenagers that would normally be a strict no-no! Hope you didn't embarrass her, lol!:comatose::D
Jeez, even Del wouldn't want me anywhere near her on a night out with her (much younger pals):eek::eyebrows:
Marco.
25,000 people far too big a gig crowd for me, stopped going to the big gigs many years ago, went to see Dylan at Earls Court, we so far from the stage you needed binoculars to see the stage, could have been anyone up there. Of course the big screens help now but I have a big Telly if I want to watch someone on a screen.
Lol, showing yer age now, Robin!:wheniwasaboy: ;)
The arena was absolutely rocking when it was full, but not a patch on the AO in Manchester, similarly so, a few years back when we went to see Rammsetein!! Fuck, that was something else... You know how we talk about 'trouser-flapping' bass? Well, that's *exactly* what happened at one point with the legs of my jeans!!:lol:
Marco.
rmcin626
18-10-2021, 11:33
Lol, showing yer age now, Robin!:wheniwasaboy: ;)
The arena was absolutely rocking when it was full, but not a patch on the AO in Manchester, similarly so, a few years back when we went to see Rammsetein!! Fuck, that was something else... You know how we talk about 'trouser-flapping' bass? Well, that's *exactly* what happened at one point with my jeans!!:lol:
Marco.
Definitely getting old, the Hydro holds just over 14,000 which is also to large for me, have been to the Armadillo a few times, which was ok
Lol... TBH, we also prefer smaller gigs, especially intimate ones in jazz bars, etc. However, when it's a major band playing, that's impossible:)
Marco.
Looks like you had a great time! Used to stay in Birmingham city centre a lot 25+ years ago, seems like it has improved dramatically in that time!
I used to have friends that lived there, on the A34, Sparkbrook I think from memory. Last time I was there was 1993
Does look like they have given it a scrub down and a lick of paint since then.
I remember we went out to eat at some Indian place on the street below their flat, no-one in the place spoke English but we managed to order anyway. The food was not the sort of UK/Indian food we're used to, it was properly ethnic, but was perfectly edible.
When I got the bill it was £7.50 for the four of us, so no complaints there.
Yeah, Sparkbrook is essentially the Rusholme of Manchester! Great place for a proper (as you say authentic) curry - and yes, MORE than 'perfectly edible'!:D Much better than the bastardised UK crap (in comparison) served in mainstream curry houses.
We went there last time, but it's out with of the city centre quite a bit... Del also loves some of the Indian fabric shops, which line the streets there:)
Marco.
Firebottle
18-10-2021, 11:55
Around Brindley Place and the canals is a great area. Have been there a couple of times in the past.
rmcin626
18-10-2021, 12:10
Lol... TBH, we also prefer smaller gigs, especially intimate ones in jazz bars, etc. However, when it's a major band playing, that's impossible:)
Marco.
I agree, small clubs are much better, but the big stadium type gigs are where the major Bands make their money these days, why do think the Stones are dragging their asses round the States at the moment.
only part of birmingham ive been really was Solihul, and that was an auful long time ago. 50 years i guess, staying overnight for a flight.
good pics. glad u both had a good time
Cheers, mate. Del's been WANTING to go for some time... Next up is Manchester's northern quarter, but my aim is to keep her WELL away from the designer boutiques!:eek:
I suspect I'll fail miserably, eh?:D
Marco.
Cheers, mate. Del's been WANTING to go for some time... Next up is Manchester's northern quarter, but my aim is to keep her WELL away from the designer boutiques!:eek:
I suspect I'll fail miserably, eh?:D
Marco.
fat chance and no chance at all...:D
Lol... You know her too well:lol:
I've got two hopes: Bob Hope and No Hope! *BUT - here's my cunning plan... Maybe if I tell her she's got 'enough' shoes already, she'll agree?:hmm:
Marco.
Lol... You know her too well:lol:
I've got two hopes: Bob Hope and No Hope! But, here's my cunning plan... Maybe if I tell her she's got 'enough' shoes already, she'll agree?:hmm:
Marco.
do you really think that would wash with a princess? enough isnt in their vocab mate:lol:
:lolsign:
Guess not, then. What was I thinking?:D
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
18-10-2021, 20:53
Lol, showing yer age now, Robin!:wheniwasaboy: ;)
The arena was absolutely rocking when it was full, but not a patch on the AO in Manchester, similarly so, a few years back when we went to see Rammsetein!! Fuck, that was something else... You know how we talk about 'trouser-crapping' bass? Well, that's *exactly* what happened at one point down the legs of my jeans!!:lol:
Marco.
You did what in yer pants? Oh dear...
I remember a work colleague from years ago who was a massive Erasure fan - he saw them live in Manchester, where he took loads of pictures of Andy Bell, then went home to his sewing machine and knocked up a copy of Andy's outfit. Which he then wore for Erasure's Liverpool gig a few days later. Did I mention he was a fan? :)
Birmingham looks like a nice place, but the people of Tipton are nicer... always a warm welcome there :)
You did what in yer pants? Oh dear...
Yesh [nice edit], and subsequently two, beautifully formed, fat-assed specimens of turdiculum logus caramel popped out onto the floor, as I wasn't wearing any scants!:D
I remember a work colleague from years ago who was a massive Erasure fan - he saw them live in Manchester, where he took loads of pictures of Andy Bell, then went home to his sewing machine and knocked up a copy of Andy's outfit.
Lol - well on Saturday night AB was wearing a bright blue corset (low-slung, to show off his nipples), a pair of tartan kegs and bright sparkly blue and purple high-heeled boots, an outfit I think you'd have looked rather splendid in dahling...:eyebrows:
Marco.
Anyway, some screen grabs (unfortunately not the best quality) of one of the vids taken on Del's phone:
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You can see Andy's lurvely corset, lol!:D
Marco.
You know how we talk about 'trouser-flapping' bass? Well, that's *exactly* what happened at one point with the legs of my jeans!!:lol:
If your jeans had enough excess material to flap you're wearing the wrong jeans :D
Looked like a good 'do'.
Boot cut, mate, so there was room for some 'flappage'... Handly for allowing fart gas to escape, too. The only area of my jeans where there's no 'excess material', as things are rather tightly packed, is at the crotch!:eyebrows:
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
19-10-2021, 06:30
Yesh [nice edit], and subsequently two, beautifully formed, fat-assed specimens of turdiculum logus caramel popped out onto the floor, as I wasn't wearing any scants!:D
Lol - well on Saturday night AB was wearing a bright blue corset (low-slung, to show off his nipples), a pair of tartan kegs and bright sparkly blue and purple high-heeled boots, an outfit I think you'd have looked rather splendid in dahling...:eyebrows:
Marco.
You can get all that at Primark
Vince is looking dapper :)
You can get all that at Primark
Excellent, and do you still get a good discount with your loyalty card?
Marco.
Ali Tait
19-10-2021, 11:38
Nice one, mate. You can't beat it, can you? Your daughter must think her dad's cool, as for teenagers that would normally be a strict no-no! Hope you didn't embarrass her, lol!:comatose::D
Jeez, even Del wouldn't want me anywhere near her on a night out with her (much younger pals):eek::eyebrows:
Marco.
Teenager? She’ll be thirty in a couple of years lol. Yes I’m getting old..
Ali Tait
19-10-2021, 11:40
this is setting a good example? ;) well yeah i suppose it is really lol
Takes after her dad lol.
Teenager? She’ll be thirty in a couple of years lol. Yes I’m getting old..
Lol... Bloody hell, time flies, eh mate?:D
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
19-10-2021, 19:20
Excellent, and do you still get a good discount with your loyalty card?
Marco.
They confiscated my loyalty card after I insisted they put my purchases in my TK Maxx 'bag for life'.
turdiculum logus caramel
Methinks that should be:
pallide-brunneis coloratum stercoris, or maybe pallide brunneis-coloris faecis. :eyebrows:
:lolsign:
Or... Dura scabella excrementorum, putidus maximus.
Marco.
Pigmy Pony
20-10-2021, 06:04
Methinks that should be:
pallide-brunneis coloratum stercoris, or maybe pallide brunneis-coloris faecis. :eyebrows:
I remember watching that as a kid, Sunday Night at the London Pallide Brunneis-Coloris Faecis :)
Well, certainly many of the acts were a lot of shit!:D
Marco.
They confiscated my loyalty card after I insisted they put my purchases in my TK Maxx 'bag for life'.
Ah well, I guess you can console yourself in the knowledge that your Farmfoods and Primark 'Gold cards' are going nowhere:)
Marco.
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