I'm sad. I'd spent so long looking forward to this weekend, that it felt like it way over way too quickly!
It's no big surprise to know that my favourite band, ever, in the entire world is New Found Glory. I've seen them more than I have any other band, but when they made the announcement of playing 6 of their albums entirely, over 3 nights in London, I knew that this would top every other time I have seen them before.
So if you're reading this you're probably a dedicated NFG too, and know the drill. But to recap, NFG played 3 shows in London, each night the venue got smaller. Friday was albums Sticks and Stones and Self Titled at The Forum, Saturday was Catalyst and Not Without a Fight and Sunday was possibly the coolest of them all, they played The Underworld, a tiny venue, with a capacity of just 500, where they played Coming Home and Nothing Gold Can Stay. This was the smallest venue I have seen them play at (I guess seeing them soundcheck to a few of us back in 2014 doesn't really count) but BOY, did this feel surreal.
Friday - Kentish Town Forum - 06/10/2017
I'm not going to lie to you. First things first, i'm a bit bored of seeing Roam. They seem to support every pop punk band I ever go see at the moment, and though they aren't a bad band, they aren't really my cup of tea anymore. I'm not so much into Pop Punk nowadays, unless it's the golden oldies.
Starting off the weekend seeing my favourite album of the NFG back catalogue, was pretty epic. That being Self Titled. Sticks and Stones I have already seen played in full twice before, the last time they came over to play this in full, but I'm never going to say no to a chance to hear it in full again.
The Forum is where they filmed their live DVD; This Disaster back in 2004 which was just before the time I started going to gigs (parents still in the years of parenting / not allowing me to go to gigs / deprived me), so I never got to go the first time around. Rest assured I have had my moneys worth through playing the DVD about 9873927 times. Anyways, what I'm trying to say is this is a special venue to them. This is also a special venue to me as It's where I went to their meet and greet back in 2014, and where I got to watch them soundcheck.
One complaint I do have though is the sound quality at this venue lacks a bit. I found it hard at times to make out what song they were playing, as the setlist was all jumbled up. I have mentioned this before about this venue.
Though I'm by no means a McFly fan, I appreciate what they do and have respect for them as they seem like decent guys, a more suprising moment was seeing Dougie Poynter from McFly join NFG on stage to play Hit or Miss. As a fellow NFG fan, I'll give him the respect and take my hat off to him, as he did a good job!
Saturday - Camden Electric Ballroom - 07/10/2017
ONE OF MY FAVOURITE VENUES EVER!! I have no idea why, It could be the bands I've seen there in the past, it could be the grubbiness of it, I'm not sure, there's just something about it I love.
I have to say, this was my favourite night out of all three. I know it wasn't the smallest of venues, I know it probably wasn't their most desired of albums to see, but the energy from Not Without a Fight and Catalyst is something you just cannot beat. It was the most fun I had.
Other than the energy of the songs, there was something about this night that stood out from the other two. The crowd felt more like a family. This is something that's hard to explain and understand unless you are in with it yourself. And as I am getting older now, there's something nice about being in a crowd surrounded by people your own age? You know, kids like yourself who grew up listening to the same music you did around the same time, who have come out of hiding to relive a part of their childhood? That in itself is priceless.
I came home that night and saw Chad himself post a few videos on Instagram. One being the crowd seeing along to The Sound of Two Voices, he said how we sung it as if it was one of their old songs; I felt that too at the time, he basically said what I had noticed whilst there. Another was a video of Jordan singing Papa Roach lyrics during / at the end of Failures Not Flattering, which was another moment that sticks out in my mind. It's silly moments like these that you remember most.
Sunday - Camden Underworld - 08/10/2017
So when these tickets went on sale, The Underworld sold out like hot cakes, which was predictable, so having a three day ticket had it's advantage too. I think had I have tried to get a single ticket for just the Underworld, I wouldn't have been so lucky.
If you haven't been to the Underworld before, or heard about the Underworld, let me tell you, it's pretty legendary. It's basically the equivalent of being at your local; a small pub, with a tiny little stage, pretty awesome if you ask me! You know if a band you like is playing the Underworld that it's going to be a hot sweaty mess, it's more intimate and always pulls a great crowd.
It's not the first time I've seen NFG where someone from the crowd has shouted a song of theirs that wasn't on the setlist and they have randomly started playing it, which is one of the things I love most about them. That happened at the Underworld, a guy decided he wanted to hear Certain, a song which was beyond Nothing Gold Can Stay, and in their surprise of hearing someone actually knew that song, they started to play it.
I have to admit my favourite moments of this night, was when they played songs that required more singing than jumping around and losing your shit! Such as Make Your Move and Boulders, hearing the crowd sing at the top of their lungs is something that will forever give me goose pimples.
So, after all of that, apologies about the terrible pictures. There's only so much you can do with an iPhone camera, and I hate to be one of these people constantly with their phone out. Not to mention that's one of the last things you think of when you're in the moment! If anyone else has any photos, videos, please share! I need to sit and relive the moment now, as it's going to be one that stays in my heart for a long time.
x
