Placebo Live-Loud Like Love Tour
Concert in Athens-8th August 2014
Concert review by Kiko from Greece in colaboration with Placebo Anyway
Pictures by Aggeliki and layout by Kiko (one pic by PlaceboAnyway -design)
Well, I'm trying every day to find something deep
to say. Cos I would like to find the words, that deserve to be heard -and be
written in this occasion-about this magical day!
My oh my!
The 8th of August shall be remembered as one of the most wonderful and
memorable days of my whole life. The day that I first saw my favorite band
Placebo live!
But first,
let's put the facts in chronological order.
All
started, in the beginning of March, when Placebo announced that they were about
to come and play live in Athens during their Loud Like Love Tour.
I can
remember myself jumping around the room, when I first heard the news on the
radio! I would finally see Brian Molko singing my favorite songs live, here in
Athens! A dream finally would come true, as even if I have been a fan for several
years now and Placebo have visited our country many times, I couldn't attend
any of the previous gigs. You see, my
homeland is a Greek island and me and my friends were too young to travel and
attend a gig all by ourselves. But this time, I was much older and as I study
here in the big city, how could I miss that again? For anything in the world!
A short
after the tickets were put out in the market, I went downtown, bought my ticket
with a friend and kept it in my wallet, as my most precious possession for the
next 4 months. Till the 8th of August.
Pre-show Party
Moreover,
another surprise was to come. A couple of days before the gig, Timo Maas, the
famous Dj and close friend with Brian and Placebo as a whole, would arrived in
Athens and have a Pre-Show party downtown, dedicated to Placebo on 7th of
August!
Except the
fact that, eventually a party with only Placebo music (every fan's dream) was
held that day, we also had the opportunity to meet in person members of the
band. Steve, Nick, Bill and Fiona were there, very communicative with fans and in
very good spirits! The great night was the start for the great day that would
followed.
The day had
came! What every Soul Mate in this country was waiting for, finally was a
matter of time to take place in the Open Air Area of the Olympic Stadium of
Peace and Friendship.
Fans from
all over Greece and abroad were there from the early hours of morning, even if
the gates were opening at 18:00. People of all kinds and ages were gathered
outside the stadium, people so different, but so simple at the same time. All
of them Soul Mates. The gates opened and as the time for the show was coming
more and more people were filling the beautiful and huge Open Air Area, by the
sea of Piraeus.
After a
long waiting full of anticipation, the lovely Greek band Sigmatropic opened the
gig at 20:30. Their indie tones and poetic lyrics filled the place with
beautiful melodies, but with more anticipation too. Placebo would played right
after, at 22:00. Sigmatropic, finished their show at 21:30 and the proper
preparations of the stage.
We were
waiting the clock to reach 20:00 when at 21:50 all of a sudden the song B3 was
heard, the lights on stage start blinking and everybody knew that is the opening song of
the tour. I could not believe it, when one by one the members of Placebo were
coming on stage and the audience went crazy! The big moment was now reality,
Brian took his microphone and with his perfect voice sent us to ecstasy.
Jumping, screaming on the top of our lungs and applauding full of joy and
excitement the song finished and Brian saluted us in Greek saying "Ευχαριστώ πολύ! Γεια σου Αθήνα!" (Thank
you very much! Hello Athens!).
'For what it's worth' took its place and
pandemonium in the crowd. People singing, dancing, pushing forward to the
rails, open bottles of water in the air, balloons had became a big maze like
some kind of party. Brian was looking absolutely stunning! Following, he said:
"What a beuatiful place to play! The Stadium of PEACE AND
FRIENDSHIP!" and started the "Loud Like Love", "
Allergic" followed and the crowd
went mad when the "Every you Every me" was on."Rob the
bank", "A Million Little
Pieces" and many others came after as "Space Monkey", "One
of a kind", of course "Meds"(one of Greek's favorite) and a lot
more, to end the first part with "The Bitter End". Brian didn't lose
the opportunity to practice his Greek many times talking and thanking us-the
audience- in the local language, as a reward to our love.
Every time we were
going nuts! For us in the first rows it was party time! Sincerely, I have no
idea what was going on, on the back rows but in front of the stage things were
going wild as everybody in the band were giving their absolutely best and we
all knew it. Steve sticking his drums frenzied, talented Nick and Bill perfect,
Fiona passionate in her piano and violin and of course our lovely and awesome
Stefan a star, as always. About Brian, words are unnecessary.
In the
encore the magical cover of "Running up that Hill" ,in a very more
rocking version, brought back memories, likewise "Post Blue" with
Brian killing it with his unique voice ,as he did with all the previous songs, of course!
But after these
two songs, sadly, we had to say goodbye and "Infra-Red" finished the
gig. Placebo, in their usual bow thanked us several times, Steve and Stefan
thrown some sticks and picks for the lucky ones, thanked us again and finally went
backstage.
I could spend years and still I couldn't
express my enthusiasm and appreciation for this day! It was no doubt ,one of
the best days of my life.
I have attended many gigs the last two years, gigs of
big bands that I love too, but any of them can be compared with that one!
Even
if me and my friends left the Stadium totally exhausted, thirsty (sadly no
water was provided from the production) and in pain due to the pressure from
the huge crowd, I was so shocked, so mesmerized from Brian's voice and
absolutely satisfied that even now, after so many days,
I can feel this sense
of the utter happiness. Still I cannot realize that Placebo were in front of my
eyes! Brian Molko, in flesh and bones, meters from me! Wow! I wish this could
last much longer, but now all I wish is to see them again as soon as possible!
I didn't
cry that day. These that followed however, are another story...
Thank you
very much for your time and please, don't forget to be the way you are! ;-)
....
Special thanks to my dearest Soul Mate Aggeliki for the pictures she provided me, as I was totally
unable to take any that night.
Thank you
so much Placebo Anyway! I love you guys and you are adorable! Keep doing this
great work! You are sincerely one of kind!!!
Concert review by Kiko from Greece in colaboration with Placebo Anyway
Pictures by Aggeliki and layout by Kiko (one pic by PlaceboAnyway -design)
