Manc

Roadhouse, Manchester 26/03/02

First of all as you can tell from the pictures, the Roadhouse isn't exactly Wembley stadium is it? The stage is tiny, the tiles on the roof are the same polysterine shite used at school/ college, and most of them are missing or broken. In fact Fletcher seemed to enjoy poking his bass through the gaps! But the ATMOSPHERE!!!!
This, like Flickerstick was the first time I'd been to the Roadhouse in Manchester. Luckily my friend Ben has been plenty of times before watchin bands so he knew the layout and where to go to get to the front, without standing there through two crappy support bands. As you can tell from the pictures that's exactly where we were. Right at the front! Well almost, a few people in front of us that's all. Best of all we were right in front of the man himself Rex James EL DANGEROSO Ewing!
The guys walked on bout 10.15pm and kicked straight intoSmile much to our surprise. We were expectin Lift (With love we can survive) but we were happy anyway it's the first Flickerstick song I ever heard, and what an impression that made! Next they went into Got a feeling, which was awesome, really got us jumpin! Then they played this song I've never heard before. I don't know if it's a new one or a cover, or simply an old song that I've missed. I can't remember the exact order after that, but they did play:

             Smile
             Got a feeling
             Believe
             Talk show host
             Tellin all of the world
             Lift (with love we will surive)
             Sorry,..wrong trajectory
             Fade into you
             Chloroform (the one you love)
             Coke
             Beautiful
             Direct line to the telepathic
             Execution by x-mas lights

             Half way through the show, I think they were tunin up, and Brandin was talkin to the crowd. Some guy shouted "SOULCRACKER SUCK MONKEY GUTS", to which Brandin replied ";I like that" I shouted quite a lot of things however Rex managed to hear one. "ROCK AND ROLL DOGGIE!!" Rex replying "Who's rock and roll doggie?" I tried to explain that it was something that Bono (my other great idol!) had said once in an interview, and that he was a dog. Don't think he heard me though. He's probably still puzzled by the whole thing!
They finished off as usual with Direct line to the telepathic. No guitar smashing, AWW!!, NO FAIR!! Still they jumped around like mad men, Rex beating the shit out of his guitar as usual! He managed to bust a string which I had grabbed hold of. Unfortunately it was still attached to the guitar .A Cream, Epiphone Les Paul custom(fitted with Gibson pickups), in the shape of an SG if anyone's interested. I almost bought one identical to it about a year ago, but I didn't have enough money!
At the beginning of the song Rex came and sat down in front of the crowd. I actually rubbed his hair! Incidently cos he was stood in front of us I managed to touch him quite a few times, Brandin as well, as well as strumming the strings on Fletchers Bass at the end of Direct line!!!Cory, I think tried to go towards the crowd but seemed to fall over. He was OK though.
After the song they said goodnight, thanks etc and tried to leave. NO CHANCE!!!! We all knew that they did "Execution by Christmas lights as an encore". So we were all chanting, Flickerstick, Flickerstick until Brandin walked back on. He performed the song using the Fender Telecaster he'd used all night. It was awesome, I mean I've seen them play at on Bands on the run in that little cafe and at the battle of the bands, but seeing it live is another thing!
After the show I'd planned on meeting the band, however my mate Ben had to get up in the morn to go to an important open day at some university, so we had to leave. OH MAN!!! Oh well there's always next time, apparently they're planning to come back over soon, because it went so well!