Hull, Supporting Elton John - 19th July 2003

 The day was brilliant and the band/David sounded fab.

TRIP TO HULL

O.K. then folks are you ready, hope you don’t get too bored. Might take a while.

Great journey up to Hull, on route, masses of text messages and phone calls flying all over the place, yes we are all as excited as each other and everyone’s checking to see where each other is. The excitement is gradually building, to calm our nerves, we decided to play the entire Sneddon collection in the car, well you have to really!!

THE HOTEL/JOURNEY TO STADIUM

Arrive safely, on the way, see a helicopter coming in just over Hull, both myself and Leeza immediately say "hey that’s David" (we later find out it was). In hotel, Sue introduces herself, tells us about her journey up and we agree to walk to the ground together. Whilst it had been hot on the journey up, in Hull it seems to be boiling, and during the course of our 20 minute walk to the stadium, with Leeza directing us, it gets more and more stifling. We decide to upgrade our seats, to get a better view of David (well we’ll come back to that one).

It’s now 4.00p.m. and we have over an hour and a half to wait until David is on stage. We decide anyway to walk round to the back of the stadium, where there are security people and an access road, which we assume is the most likely route David will take into the stadium. It’s hot, we are all tired, but hey spirits are high!. After a bit of loitering with intent, a journalist/photographer approaches our group, and asks to do an interview with us, they first speak to Sue, and ask her name, age, etc and then "why are you here". Sue replies to "see David Sneddon". Journalist looks taken aback, and then says "what do you like about David Sneddon", well I’m mean ask a silly question folks! (but hey Sue you soon put him straight girl - love the headline too). We have a group photograph taken.

Shortly afterwards, John appears, near the back door, we all rush up, get autographs, he says David’s not arrived yet. I then put my pennyworth in and say that he must tell David how brilliant "Let You Go" is, that a lot of people on the site love it and also am amazed that David does not think it is good enough. John looks a bit startled and then says that he previously got confused when he spoke to Hazel- at CRC and that it is not called "Let You Go" but "Shadow" instead.  O.K. excitement over, but where’s David, we spend next half an hour or so, waiting for his car to arrive and when cars do arrive, which we think contains David they run into another stage door. Oh well, we had better get into our seats.

THE CONCERT

Arrive inside the stadium, find our seats about a third of the way on the pitch, with a good view of stage.

5.20p.m. David is announced, and starts the intro to a song which does not sound familiar, a few seconds in realise it’s "Follow Me". Stadium is not full and there appears to be empty spaces at the front, so we run up towards the stage and stand and stare. Just to say, David looks absolutely stunning, even better than on the telly and it’s lovely to be so close.

David starts "BOO", two girls are running up towards the stage, one turns round and I notice that this is David’s sister Pauline, the other one with long red hair is of course Eleanor. It is totally evident that as soon as David catches Eleanor’s eye, he has eyes for nobody else!

We notice there are a couple of empty seats in the third row from the front and sit down. People are cheering, and clapping and enjoying themselves. Suddenly a bloke appears near where we are sitting, taking photographs and shouting "We Love you David", the security people try to stop him taking photos and he protests that he is David’s Dad, we look round and yes it really is David’s Dad AH!  We all start jumping up and down and cheering and then realise the camera is on us (oops).  

David did a stonking version of "BOO" and was excellent, a very lively performance.

David’s also performs "Don’t Let Go", "Bluebird", Lazy" and O.K. and lastly "Stop Living the Lie".

A special mention to the absolute terrific version of "St. Pepper’s", what more could you ask! and shows his versatility off to a tee. 

Also a truly wonderful acoustic session, with John on guitar, of my favourite song on the album "Long Time Coming". The power, the range, the control of his voice was exceptional.

A truly wonderful concert, and David did us proud and, of course, converted some more people.

I will always remember  - talking to the man behind us, who was a staunch Elton John fan, he was very impressed with David and we all told him to buy "SYTW" (well Leeza - did really) The ladies behind us enquiring of Leeza who we were and all about David Sneddon. Gave us tremendous pride.

AFTER THE CONCERT   

We arrive in a heap at hotel, all hungry and tired, but full of talk of the wonderful concert. By the way, Elton John was pretty good, gutted we missed David coming down to the stage, we were getting refreshments.

We all watched clips of other’s video cameras, digital cameras and my memory is of myself, Leeza and Sue acting like a pair of schoolgirls watching the clip of "Long Time Coming" on the video camera.

Wonderful, it was too.

So that’s it, sorry if I left anything out or rambled on too long.

It was truly great to meet everybody, you all know who you are and made the day even more extra special!.

Question: How to have the perfect day.

Answer: Do all of the above!

A

-----------------------------

  

'I had a really good time out there. The show went really well. We've had some of the best feedback we've had all summer.' David

Chicago Rock Café gig, Northampton – 26th May 2003

'That gig was so special because of its intimacy and Mal, Nigel and Lemar being there. The venue was perfect for the numbers - you could get up really close and personal and we even managed some banter with David and the band.

I was no more than 6 feet from David, who was on a little raised circular stage area, and it seemed that all the people there were either fans or there to listen and appreciate the music.

After the gig he was so sweet - sat, taking time out, waiting to meet us all - he had a little word for each of us (I also got John's autograph and had a quick chat). I felt so close to David that night and so privileged to see him perform so wonderfully.

Happy memories.'  Mary

This was the first gig that fans were able to attend, and many did and said what a wonderful gig it was!

David and the band were on top form and performed a full set from David's album Seven Years Ten Weeks including -  Follow Me, Best Of Order, Time To Fall Down, Lazy,  Bluebird, Ok, Don't Let Go, Neverland, Long Time Coming, Stop Living The Lie plus two fab covers, Mustang Sally and Sgt Peppers.

Many reported excitedly how brilliant David has been, and how amazing his voice is live.  That there was a good amount of banter with the band and David was so relaxed, funny and down-to-earth.

Fans said that they loved the raw, live sound that the band did.  That they were fantastic and  it was amazing as they have only been together for such a short time.  They thought David's album seemed tame by comparison!

‘I am hoping that David will get to produce the next album by himself so that it keeps the  'live band' sound.....and leaves out the female backing singers!’

‘It was a night I will never forget.'

The Garage gig, Glasgow

That was on the Monday - I got the album on the Tuesday at the Safeways signing.

I logged on the David site on the Friday and up popped a competition to see David on the Monday at the Garage. It asked what was the third track on the new album - which was Stop Living the Lie, so I thought why not enter. That night I found out I'd won tickets - much to my surprise! I'd never entered anything like that before.

On the way in we heard David on Radio Clyde. He was a busy guy that day, in fact he played 7 gigs in 10 hours to match the album title.

I remember we waited ages in the rain and at one point David's parents walked past us to the head of the queue. Someone thought they were queue jumping, I said no, it is David's Mum and Dad. The woman in front of me was from Amsterdam and had been in Edinburgh with her husband on business. She was originally from Glasgow and was very excited to be able to see David. I should have worn a hat too because my hair was fairly frizzy by the time we got in! They had told us 5.30 for 6 but it wasn't until 6.30 that we got in.

The place was pretty dark inside. We rushed up the stairs and managed to secure a place in the second row. The band came out first and played a bit. There was mad hysteria when David eventually appeared. He was smiling away and looking a bit taken aback as he usually does!! I'd not heard the album yet and sitting at the piano David started with the rocky and fun Follow Me - that was a huge surprise after expecting only ballads.  The band and David performed six of David's songs from his debut album ' Seven Years Ten Weeks' which expressed the diversity and originality of his songs - the wonderful jazz influenced Lazy, the powerful Bluebird,  the stirring Don't let Go, and his number one hit Stop Living The Lie.  

David started at the piano but as the stage was not raised it was hard to see him.

I remember he stood up to sing the rocky Best of Order and also how he looked getting the gold disc for his album sales!! He was so chuffed.

Little did I realise the impact of this gig, making me the dedicated fan I've been the last few years,...... patiently (?) waiting for the next album!  The following day I met David at his Safeways signing and what a lovely guy he is.

Fame Academy Concert - 20th April 2003

Performing at the Glasgow SECC was a big thrill for David, having been there as teenager to see the likes of Travis and Wet Wet Wet.

We went to the Fame Academy concert at the SECC, and were only two rows from the front. The show started  with the foot-stomping show opener, Robbie William's , Let Me Entertain You.  It seemed a long wait before David was back on, just after the interval, when he sang Elton's classic, I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues, with Sinead, the lovely Irish lass who was the runner up on the show.  Then we had to wait again for David’s set.

David started with his moving and vote winning performance of ' Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me' which is the best cover I have heard of Elton's classic. 

Then David moved to the piano to perform his own song 'Stop Living The Lie' the heartfelt ballad that took him to the top of the charts for two weeks in January 2003.  This song brought back many good memories from the Tv show, and it was wonderful to hear this very special song 'live' with David's expressive vocals.

David is the only artist from a reality Tv show to have a hit with his own song.  

Next he sang his second hit single, Don’t let Go. This song is a favourite of many, clearly showing the expressive range of his voice  and he sings it perfectly.  It has a striking piano riff, a dramatic song about not letting go of your dreams.  The  Gulf war was on at the time, and sitting at the top of the tall steps, he sang  Lennon’s song of hope ‘Imagine’.  David cites the Beatles as his biggest musical influence, and he gave this song passion and depth. 

It was clear to see why David shone, he has that extra stage presence that’s so hard to define.  His expressive vocals thrill with stirring high notes and sexy lows.  By far the highlight of the show, and I'm certain for many, David was the reason the show was such a success.  As for David's charisma - you need to go see him live!!

It was the best to see and hear David and to see that he is even better live. What a magical night.!!

 The Fame Academy tour was the most successful reality TV tour to date.

The FA Tour was a 12-date tour around the UK  -

20/04/03 FA Tour - Glasgow

19/04/03 FA Tour - Sheffield

17/04/03 FA Tour - Newcastle

16/04/03 FA Tour - Wembley

15/04/03 FA Tour - Wembley

13/04/03 FA Tour - Nottingham

12/04/03 FA Tour - Birmingham

11/04/03 FA Tour - Manchester

10/04/03 FA Tour - Cardiff

07/04/03 FA Tour - Dublin

05/04/03 FA Tour - Belfast

04/04/03 FA Tour - Glasgow

03/04/03 FA Tour - Aberdeen