Teenage Dream - 1998-2000

Day 3 In The Big Barrowlands Ballroom... we made it! It takes such a time to get through from the East to the West between 5pm and 7pm!

Tonight Teenage Fanclub were playing the Howdy album in the first set followed by various B-sides etc recorded between 1991-2000. Despite looking forward to last night's 2 albums the most, Howdy follows a very close 3rd in my opinion and again, watching them perform it, in sequence, was enlightening. Still the 3 of them writing then performing their own songs and mixing harmonies... just so good.

As I said, we've not done anything like this before, 3 gigs in a row covering 5 albums and b-sides, in the same venue and I tried to blip various sides of the gigs for a change. Day 1 was the entrance to Barrowlands, Day 2 the pre-gig waiting in anticipation and Day 3 the gig, band and audience.

In the top right photo there were 5 Japanese women in front of us we had some chats with. While one lived over her for 20 odd years, the others flew over here just for these gigs, despite the band touring Japan next year anyway... one was described as a famous diehard fan back home! For whatever reason, they have been popular in Japan for 25 years or more, in fact the first of their albums we bought was a Japanese import.

A couple of months ago the band announced that Gerard was leaving the band after these UK dates as he was not keen on the overseas touring... so they are off to Japan, Australia, Canada/USA and Europe without him next year. So they didn't make a big thing of it, but this may be the last time they all play in their hometown together.... or maybe they will invite him back when they return or maybe not... 29 years after forming, I wonder how they'll deal with it. Anyway, a fab 3 nights but won't be in a hurry to do it again! Or maybe I will...

Now, I've missed my attic... it has been days since I've spent time in it... although I may just put my feet up tomorrow night and watch some telly...