Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls - Leicester, De Montfort Hall - 12th Sept 2014

Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls

 De Montfort Hall, Leicester

 12th Sept 2014

 

 

18th gig of the year, 5th Frank Turner gig in total, needless to say I was very excited to get to this gig. I'd never been to Leicester before so it was quite cool to explore another new place! We found the venue and started queuing about 3 o'clock, there was 8 people in front of us. I knew there was exactly 8 people in front of us because around half past 4 some guys who worked at the venue came and said ''we'll write a number on your hands because you've all been waiting here so long, you guys can get in before everyone else we'll make sure of it''. I was number 9. Pretty awesome of them. To be fair time went pretty quick, we got chatting to other fans in the line. I've said it before how I love meeting new people.

 

7pm.....doors open (well it was actually more like 7:10 when they opened but ssshh)! The queue was rather big now, didn't really matter as we knew we'd get a good spot. We got let in and followed the people in front of us, we went the wrong way, good start. We got guided to where we were supposed to be to wait to go into the actual room where Frank and co were playing. The numbers had been mixed up, we tried to restore order, the security didn't understand why, we explained that there's only one middle spot on barrier, they still didn't understand. We got let in. All of us ran for our spots. Our newly found friend saved us an awesome spot. I was basically right in the middle of barrier, at which point I was so excited. Now to wait till 8pm for the support band, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, to come on.

 

They ran on stage, I didn't really know what I was expecting but it wasn't this. They looked like they were off a fitness dvd. They went on to sing about Whales, Fanny packs, unicorns and well you get the idea. I seriously had no idea what was happening, all I knew was that these guys were hilarious. I saw Frank Turner watching Koo Koo Kanga Roo from the side of the stage he was laughing. Such a random support act for him, but dare I say it, it actually worked, the crowd were buzzing and even joined in speaking whale on the whale song and joining in on other activities that came from the other songs. The last thing these guys did was jump in the crowd with a massive blanket (thing) and chucked it over everyone. The crowd were warmed up... literally, it was so hot under there.

 

 

 

Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls hit the stage at 9pm. I was still in that amazing place on barrier. They ran out on stage and kicked off their 24 song set with 'Try This At Home''. The crowd were already buzzing just the one song in. Frank and The Sleeping Souls went into ''If Ever I Stray'', it was so loud in the De Montfort Hall (Demon Fort according to Matt) and had great atmosphere.

The band played a new song only four songs in. Frank requested that no one recorded it to put on youtube as the song wasn't quite finalised yet. After when we were speaking to Ben, Sleeping Souls guitarist, he said it was so people don't get tattooed with the wrong lyrics. Very considerate.

The new song was followed by fan favourites ''The Road'', ''Glory Hallelujah'' and a personal favourite ''Reasons Not To Be An Idiot''. The band clearly love seeing the crowd's reaction and participation to these types of songs.

Frank went on to play some new songs including ''Get Better'' and ''Love 40 Down'' these were the songs out of all the new ones played on the night that stuck out for me and stuck in my head. I hope to hear them again.

The Sleeping Souls went off and all was left was a Frank and his acoustic. He played a three song solo set, including an older song ''Romantic Fatigue'' off 2007 release ''Sleep is For the Week''. During the chorus frank said ''This song has a hidden part in the chorus'' and went on to sing ''In the jungle the mighty jungle the lions sleeps tonight''. It went really well with the song.

The whole band joined Frank back on stage and kicked off with ''Wessex Boy'', another great song the crowd loves to sing along and get involved with. ''Photosynthesis'' followed. Frank did his usual getting everyone to sit down on the breakdown of the song then jump back up when the music kicks back in. A couple got engaged during this, that was pretty cool. I was on barrier so when we all jumped back up I got a tad squished....worth it nonetheless!

A few song later and we heard ''Recovery'' which means STAR JUMPS! (of course, what else?). The audience have to do star jumps during the chorus to this song, it's super fun and looks so cool when you watch it back from videos taken from behind/above the people taking part. The whole band went off after ''Long Live The Queen'', leaving the crowd wanting more. We all shouted ''we want more'' etc, clapped our hand and stomped our feet. The noise and atmosphere was incredible.

They ran back out for their final encore and played four song, finishing on ''Four Simple Words''. Frank doesn't play guitar for this one and runs around the stage with so much energy, he even did a stage dive during one of the last songs. It was amazing, he was stood right in front of me singing some of my favourite lyrics. ''Punk is for the kids that never fit in with the rest.. somebody told me that music with guitars was going out of fashion, I had to laugh, this shit wasn't fashionable when I fell in love, if the hipsters move on why should I give a fuck?''

This was gig number 18 for me this year and I have to say it is one of the best.

 

 



Happy 10th Anniversary American Idiot!

10 Years Of American Idiot

American Idiot will always be the album that’s most special to me. I remember the day I got my first copy, it was the deluxe edition, the one that included the dvd. I loved it so much. I still have that copy 10 years on although it has been played ALOT! I did know Green Day before American Idiot was released, I thought they were awesome however this album made me want to listen to more music, so I have this album to thank for discovering other amazing bands and most importantly getting me to fall completely in love with Green Day. American Idiot practically saved me from myself, it helped me through my darkest days and pulled me out of them. I find everything about it so inspirational, the lyrics, the music, just everything. American Idiot is still the album I turn to when I have a bad day, I don’t think that’ll be changing any time soon.

Track by track:

American Idiot: The title track and probably Green Day’s most well known song. This song is full of energy and a great way to start the album. It’s an awesome song to jam to playing guitar. American Idiot is almost always in Green Day’s live set and goes down well every single time, the wall of death takes place during this song, which is super cool to see.

Favourite part: ‘’It’s calling out to idiot America........booooooom’’ J

Jesus Of Suburbia: This song is one of my favourite all time songs. The 9 minute masterpiece just has everything you’d want in a song. JOS is a mini rock opera, it tells a story in 5 different parts. This song has helped me through some tough times as well as being played throughout good times.

Favourite part: From 00:00 to 9:08 J

Holiday: Holiday is a very catchy song. The video for it is amazing, it’s one of my favourite videos. It shows the members of Green Day playing multiple characters on a night out. Rather funny. Holiday’s end leads on to the next song Boulevard Of Broken Dreams.

Favourite part: The guitar, bass and drums. J

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams: Again this is another of my all time favourite tunes. Ever since I heard this song in 2004 I was hooked. Even 10 years on it’s still special to me. It was the first song I ever learnt to play on drums, soon to be followed by learning it on guitar. It is a very powerful rock ballad and hearing it being played live is something I will never forget.

Favourite part: All of the lyrics. J

 

 

Are We The Waiting: I feel this song prepares you, in a way, for the next song St. Jimmy. Personally I prefer the live versions of this song than the album version.

Favourite part: ‘’ Starry nights city lights coming down over me, Skyscrapers and stargazers in my head, Are we we are, are we we are the waiting unknown, this dirty town was burning down in my dreams, lost and found city bound in my dreams’’ J

St. Jimmy: Again this is another song which is totally insane performed live. St. Jimmy is probably my favourite character in the whole story. This song is pure punk rock. It’s a fast paced, in your face kinda song. Billie Joe played St. Jimmy for a little run when American Idiot was running as a stage production, he knows this character, he created this character, he is this character.

 

Favourite part: ‘’It’s comedy and tragedy, It’s St. Jimmy and that’s my name, and don’t you wear it out’’ J

Give Me Novocaine:  This song starts out with just a simple drum beat, followed by an acoustic guitar, followed by Billie Joe’s soothing voice. For me this is one of my favourite tracks for Billie’s voice. I seem to listen to this song and feel instantly calmer, strange given what it’s about.

Favourite part: The vocalsJ

She’s a Rebel: This is another energetic song and was one of the tracks not to be released as a single. In the musical it has a pretty cool tie in with Last Of The American Girls, a song released 5 years after American Idiot.

Favourite part: The drums J

Extraordinary Girl: Truth be told, it took me a while to get into this song. I don’t know why because I love it now.

Favourite part: ‘’She's all alone again, Wiping the tears from her eyes, Some days he feels like dying, She gets so sick of crying’’ J

Letterbomb: Guess what? It’s another one of my favourites. I never thought i’d get to her this song being played live and it finally happened last year at Emirates Stadium. Such an awesome song. The AI cast version is equally as awesome too, it’s sung by a woman, the character ‘’Whatsername’’.

Favourite part: ‘’It’s not over till you’re underground’’ J

Wake Me Up When Septembers Ends: This is the most emotional song on the track and perhaps that Green Day have ever done. Although it ties in with the whole concept of the album, this song is very personal to Billie and is about his father passing away. The instruments compliment the lyrics fantastically. It is a powerful song without you even realising. It’s hard seeing this song played live, the emotion that goes into it from not only Billie but Mike and Tre too is incredible.

Favourite part: The solo J

 Homecoming: As if one 9+ minute song wasn’t enough here is another mini rock opera. Along with the lead singer, Billie Joe, having his part to sing, Mike and Tre both sing a little solo bit each. They all wrote their parts separately which is pretty cool how they all managed to fit together in the end.

Favourite part: ‘’You taught me how to live’’ It describes how i feel towards Green Day J

Whatsername: Awesome way to end an awesome album. This song always reminds me of the stage version of American Idiot. I found it so powerful on the stage production.

Favourite part: ‘’Regrets are useless’’

 

 

Grumpy gig Kat outtttt!