The first week back to work was slightly tough & I think we could all agree on easily having another week or two recuperating at home! Those first few days back at work throw you off & I truly had no idea what day it was last week. Even for a short week it felt like it went really slowly, but I've started the New Year with good news - I've been promoted to Office Manager at work & that essay that had me up until all hours a few weeks ago I've received a CREDIT for! Feeling on top of the world all over again! I'll admit I've really enjoyed being at home over the festive season as it feels like ages since I've done nothing but chill & organise/sort things at home. I even managed to revisit watching episodes of the OC & finally made it to Season 2 (I got the full season box set for my 21st birthday but its only took me almost 6 years between having a social life & study to watch it hahaha)
Well to add "amazingly awesome" to the shorter week, I was luckily one of the luckiest 650 people selected for tickets to see LONDON GRAMMAR for their super exclusive/last minute intimate gig at Paddington Town Hall. Following not soon after their Falls Festival experience, the trio announced an exclusive sideshow in Sydney (they've not performed in Sydney since 2014 & thinking back I was either too broke from Europe or was way too slow to buy tickets) The exclusive sideshow was announced through Secret Sounds & actually I've been a subscriber of Secret Sounds for years so if there is any hot tips I can provide for music lovers, it is to read & keep up to date with different events (I find following/subscribing to record labels & venues really helps on not missing out on tickets or updates) so I entered the ballot & crossed my fingers & toes.
Last Tuesday afternoon & I'll tell you it absolutely brightened my day the "success!" email came through giving me just ample time to secure two tickets & next thing I knew my Thursday night was booked in attendance to Paddington Town Hall. The last time I was in Paddington Town Hall was no kid 10 years ago - 2007! (Yikes!) I went to a charity gig called Friday I'm in Love which raised funds for getting Youth off The Streets through Father Riley. The artists that headlined on the night were my ultimate favourites Dappled Cities (Fly) with a support bill consisting of Gus tha Hood Rat & Jaime Doom from the Bang Gang Djs, Laura Imbruglia & Old Man River. Seems like such a lifetime ago!
The crowd as they wait to get into Paddington Town Hall
The doors opened at 7:30pm & the queue not kidding looked like it was wrapped around the whole block twice & down the street! It was then & there that made me realise just how special tonight's gig was going to be & what a way to start 2017! I took my bestie & fellow gig goer Jasmine as an early birthday present. On entry, Paddington Town Hall was a gloomy electric blue, smoke machines billowing on each side of the stage & the room appeared a lot larger than I remembered it to be. Instruments on the ready & microphones on stage looking around the crowd was an eclectic mix of young & old, hipsters & hardcore fans but we all had one thing in common & that would be the goosebumps that would be induced.
London Grammar walked on to the stage to a loud & wild applause for an intimate crowd of 650 & after a quick hello they began the concert with "Nightcall" & straight away the emotions started to build up. It felt like you could feel every bit of your being & all you wanted to do was hold in that good feeling. Hannah Reid's voice travelled its way across the room all the way to the corners & edges & it felt like a familiar warmth. You couldn't even hear a pin drop as everyone was entranced & quiet ensuring that the ultimate feeling continued. The crowd was generous with space, so there was lots of room to sway but of course there is always one fan who isn't really a fan that decides to film nearly the whole concert (unsure if they got the memo, but there was massive video cameras on each side of the top balconies that this concert was going to be recorded & released eventually *rolls eyes*) Anyway the poor couple behind that person filming finally intervened about midway to tell them to stop & just enjoy the show. I guess another rant to add whilst we are on this topic but any gig goers in future that do decide to make a video recording, could you ensure to turn the flash off your phone/ device too - cheers from the rest of the crowd. Probably the only distracting thing from this beautiful concert was there were a few people in the crowd behind me that wanted to video record parts of it, but proceeded to keep the flash on in the process which beams a bright lights onto the crowd in front. (& I guess being a hazy blue room this was really noticeable to all & quite selfish really, especially if its an attempt to film the whole gig)
Well as first gig of the year I was thoroughly entranced, I was brought close to happy tears when they played my favourites "Strong", "Wasting my Young Years", "Metal & Dust" & "If You Wait". They played nearly ever track off their only album "If You Wait" which has been on rotation in my playlist since 2013. The favourite song amongst the crowd was most definately "Hey Now" which before being sung Hannah said to crowd "Thanks to you Australians for helping to skyrocket our career, it was this track that really did it for us" which was really sweet to hear - as us Australians did contribute to their debut album "It You Wait" becoming Platinum. London Grammar then ended the concert by releasing two new tracks, one of them which is this week's song (which also was only released last week!) & the other that London Grammar left unknown for us all to wait till their anticipated album dropped later in the year. Their newest track is called "Rooting For You" & when introducing the track "Rooting For You", Hannah explained with an nervous chuckle "We didn't know 'rooting' meant something else here!" the conversations between songs were sweet & candid. The lovable part for most artists is the when you return for an encore, Reid met her audience with "Sorry about that. I don't understand encores."
Such an amazing experience! So please wrap your ears & eyes around their newest track "Rooting For You" below & let the goosebumps begin:
London Grammar are a British trio formed by Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic 'Dot' Major. Their debut EP Metal & Dust was released in February 2013 by Metal & Dust Recordings Ltd. The trio met in a hall of residence at the University of Nottingham during their first year in 2009 & the rest is history!
Hope you all have a fabulous week!
Cheers Amy
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