The night belongs you

So today was gig day, which meant going to Birmingham.

First goal, after putting money in the bank, was to find the Sleep Token pop up shop. Like I mentioned in the last post, it’s oddly far from the venue and tucked out of the way. Thankfully I checked Google maps, putting in the bullring as the starting point, which meant I found it pretty easily. The route it gave me took me by the institute, then at the end of the second road on the right. It was ina. Similar direction as the venue for James Marriott’s gig was, but the place was new to me. (Ironically it turned up on a heritage walk guide I picked up later).

It was an interesting place (and there was a dog!) there was a strange piece of art on the wall, something with ufos which I took a pic of. The merch wasn’t too special. The long sleeve was the nicest clothing item, but the one at the gig was nicer so I left it. However I’d seen people with bags so I got a wax melt and key ring and got a bag with them (best 25p I spent) but I do feel bad for others that got more (why? You’ll find out soon)

After that I went in the museum to see the bits I missed last time. I expected there to be a decent section I’d missed but… it was just one room with the way to others still closed up. There was also another exhibition that, like the wildlife one, was a paid one and it also wasn’t advertised as such. They really need better comms.

I ended up going in the library for a little look. The wheel and ice skating rink they have set up is right outside it which is strange. But I picked up some of the trail guides.

Then I made the way to the venue and just sat down and listened to the band while waiting. Lots of people had the bags too, some of them bulging with stuff (clearly they’d got the jacket or hoodie!) so I thought there’s not gonna be any issues right? Of course the venue is bitchy (not with me cause I could fold it up and tuck it away) but it was insiting on others to leave the line to bag storage with a £15 which definitely felt scammy. Especially since this was just the seating area and you could clearly see all that was in there was clothes FROM THE BAND THE GIG IS FOR. It’s baffling honestly.

But anyway. Inside everything was expenseive so I didn’t get anything but I did get merch. I got a tee and a long sleeve (oddly it was just in white when all the promo, even on the venue screen, had it in black)but the design is the same and it’s really nice. Plus I don’t have any Sleep Token merch so that didn’t feel as bad (and who knows when I’ll see them).

(Also wild thing to hear in the line ‘do you know the dreamsmp, it’s a Minecraft server’ and I got no context)

My seat was at the end of a row which was annoying cause it meant people would come and go, but it did mean I could leave pretty quick too. The view was pretty good considering, though of course I wish I could’ve been closer.

I’d not been to an arena show in ages so I kinda forgot how… big it all is. I’m glad I was seated though I feel I would have been overwhelmed if I was standing.

Also kudos to whoever was in charge of the pregig music, I’ve not heard them Linkin Park Renanimation album in awhile and now I want to.

First gig was a band called Bilmuri. I’d not heard of them so wasn’t sure what to expect and… they were definitely unexpected. The singer came on with his legs out, there was an awesome saxophonist/flutist lady (she even played a bit from a Zelda song! And there was a cute guitarist. He had curls, played fortnite, apparently has no brain cells and wore cat ears for most of the set. They were definitely something (especially as the songs ranged from being about suicidal thoughts and…. Cranking it out (his words).

After an interval Sleep Token came on and ahhh! They played just over an hour and a half long set. The set was split into three, with songs from each album played together. I’m not as familiar with them but I have been listening to the setlist songs in prep. And ahhh I’m still hyped that the6 played Hypnosis which is my fav from the second album and Alkaline too!

They used the lighting pretty well, having the bands logo (sigil?) in different colours and having the lights look almost like rain. But of course the lights could be a bit blinding and meant getting pics wasn’t too easy. (It feels fitting Vessel is an indistinct figure in my pics though). I think I’m gonna have to get a better phone for gigs, I meant to for this one but…

But anyway I love how Vessel (the band’s singer) is a pretty mysterious guy and he looks kinda intimidating (and he was when he was prowling the stage) but then he’ll also do some kind of goofy dancing, or laying on the floor to watch the guitarist do a solo (at one of the other gigs he was even kicking his feet too) it’s so sweet. His mystique did also mean he only sung, with no crowd interaction, though I kinda didn’t expect it. (Has anyone even heard him speak publically)

It was in the third of part of the set, that was about Taking Back To Eden that I was just hit by a few things. (One of them was pretty important so I’ll leave it for last). It felt amazing, almost magical, to hear these songs live, ones that I listen to pretty much whenever I have the pod thing on.

But I found myself surprised by how much it actually affected me, like I got teary eyed several times which I didn’t expect. Usually it takes a lot to make me like that and I don’t really get why it did now. Usually the only band that can manage that was MCR and only with one specific song (that I avoid like the plague usually)

(Side note, if MCR do a uk tour of the black parade I’m either going with someone or not at all. I don’t have the emotional capacity for that)

Ah ahh again, I can’t believe I got to hear so many of the Take Me Back To Eden songs live!

I found I lost track of time, completely forgetting that there was meant to be a thing for the last song (to make lights turn green, but apparently I wasn’t alone). Also someone the next row over proposed during a song too! Which is wild behaviour.

I really hope I’m able to see Sleep Token again, but I also fully expect it’ll be hard to (tickets go crazy fast and I was lucky to get the spot I did.) hopefully they’ll record one of these gigs. Reading the Kerrang special I got of them made me wanna get into the lore of them more cause it feels deep and more mysterious than I thought.

Thankfully the gig finished earlier than expected so I could get to the stat aoon (I didn’t get merch outside, the poster seemed to much and not as good as the kerrang one) but of course getting back to the station there was both no food I could eat and an issue with trains. (Trains were being cancelled left and right and my one had a rail replacement bus). What didn’t help was the phone suddenly decided to die on the train, nor did the bus driver fill us with confidence (instead of a regular bus driver it was a coach driver that had to get directions from passengers which…) but thankfully I got home.

Despite all the stress I am really glad I got to see them.

Lastly the important thing. It came to me part way through the Eden part of the set, probably around Ascensionism. It was a sudden powerful thought and I’m not sure exactly where it came from (maybe it was because I was trying to place when the last time I was so effected by music and..)

It was the thought that if this does turn out to be cancer than this is gonna be something I’m going to fight and I’m going to win. And if it’s not? Then I’m going to beat whatever it turns out to be too.

I dunno where it came from and I’ve not had that thought before since it was thrown out there as a possibility, but it’s something I think I needed.

Now though I’m gonna go and flop, cause I am a bit drained.