Big “Thanks and Appreciation” to Good Man Curt Smith and the Good Sir Roland Orzabal for their personal time and kindness throughout this year. Their outreach to fans was enormous! We’re so grateful for the TFF moments either initiated by the band or personal wishes granted where possible. We know that’s not easy and can’t always be done but both Curt and Roland went out of their way to recognise a variety of causes, people and followers. We spent the whole year just thrilled and in a constant state of awe.
Their relatives were also pretty darn nice, interacting and sharing fun moments with us in person and online. We’re very grateful to each of them. High five to Little Lady Wilder for the tweet chats! Big Hugs to Captain Julian for spending quality time with so many fans and friends in Vegas this month. Moments like that keep us going and uplift our spirits. Life may not be perfect in our own lives, but moments with the band can erase a bad day in a heartbeat. For many of us, being in their presence has become our “happy place.” Those concerts are truly healing and we’re always eager to be present.
SK, Captain J and Our Good Lady Rise
The Smith Family Rockers
Speaking of family, Curt’s sweet angels, with the help of good guy Charlton, created two holiday songs of which they shared with fans and the world on pre-Christmas eve and Christmas Eve. In case you missed these great gifts, please click the titles below…
Again, words are never enough to express our appreciation and not sure how many gifts we can possibly continue to send before these men are buried up to their ears in a myriad of items. Until we can “make it rain” so to speak, we’ve told them in person, online and via mail that we care and appreciate all that they’ve done for us.
Wishing the band good energy, an incredibly successful new album and an enjoyable, profitable tour ahead with all of us in tow #KerfuffleOfKooks style.
Wearing our loyalty on our wrists…
Big thanks to fellow fans for all of their heads up on show dates, hard work, contributions, team spirit and joining in on the fan fun. This is one unique fan family and we’re grateful for the good times. Our goal is to always be inclusive and loving and we’re grateful to unite in the name of Tears for Fears.
Big Happy Birthday (Saturday/Sunday) to Sweet Angel Wilder Smith and Little Lady G. Orzabal, both of whom turn a year older within 24 hours from each other …party starts in just a few hours!
Thanks for reading! Cheers! -AA
SK was a big contributor this year and we’re grateful. Many thanks!Lady K, Lady J & others were determined to make it to Kimmel. Such love!Curt signed off on our pride 😉 #ProudToBeAKook thanks Becky!Online share – Thanks all!Mr. Alexander taking a moment…to let it all out. Yes, this right here… is the essence of fan life. You take a moment when they’re on the radio, to just soak it all up and savour! 😉
The Tears for Fears Las Vegas show at the Palm was another win-win for the band and the fans. Reviews, photos and commentary about the show are stating it was fantastic and the travel fans are thrilled that Good Man Curt Smith gave a shoutout from the stage! That means the world to us as a team and band fan family. Over 56 West Coast Kooks gathered to meet up with locals and join the hundreds of people that filled the Pearl Theatre. It was EPIC and quickly named one of the best shows of #TFF2014.
~~This post is lengthy and will detail logistic notes, the good and the bad, so feel free to scroll down to “the show” if you’re looking to get just the details on the performance ~~
Great picture from Sweet E. (looks like Ramskull’s cousin)
Accommodations – Loving the Palm – Black Friday Deals! One of the plusses of this band fan excursion were the black friday deals posted by the Palm Casino and Resort. Rooms were as low as $39 on Sunday night. So if you stayed through the weekend you were looking at $150 at most for 2 days in select rooms at this swank hotel. It was quite a bonus. The staff at the Palm were very accommodating and favourited several of our Twitter posts as they were aware the team was coming in for the show. Can’t stress enough how helpful they were, absolutely awesome via phone. Also great, speedy, easy to navigate booking process online as well.
Looking at other logistics – OMG, are we even gonna make it?!
Our planning for this excursion started the very day that the concert was confirmed. Again, there was a hint that Vegas was on the TFF 2014 list but after reading in September/October that the tour was “done for the year” (or something to that nature) many assumed that this meant no more shows. Suddenly Jimmy Kimmel Live was confirmed and shortly after, the Vegas show at the Palm and KROQ. This meant fans had just over a month to prepare for more travel. To top that off, Lady K discovered the BellyUp show some time after that and was one of few who managed to grab a ticket before it was too late. That venue holds approx 500 people (according to fellow fans) and those tickets sold out “within minutes” from what we understand.
courtesy Becky (BB)
With the additional shows announced, multiple East Coast Travel Fans checked their calendars, got time off from work and begged babysitters to watch the little ones so they could be there to enjoy the GoodMan, the Good Sir and team for the holidays. But after looking at the plane tickets, several saw that prices on most carriers were DOUBLE the usual amount. Even the ‘Black Friday’ sales were quite high – some carriers were listing East Coast to LAS as $450-$1000 (Atlanta rate) in November and by the time we got to the week of, the tickets were $905 to $1100+. Trying to get tickets for oneself, not to mention a spouse became questionable. Many fans from the East Coast stated this was one of the reasons they would not be there. $2000 is quite a bit to spend when it’s usually $290-$350 round trip. So, in short, getting to these final shows of the year was not easy. Kudos to the 2 East Coasters that reported they would be in for the show and those that checked-in during the arrival roll call.
After conducting a survey for travel fans and also speaking to loyals who have a reputuation for going anywhere the band goes, we see that “some” communication between those who release show info and those who need it (i.e. Travel Fans and TFF loyals on both coasts) is greatly lacking. We certainly will need more than a month’s notice, preferably 60 days. We don’t feel 87+ x $97 is a bad profit for the venue to gain…but those 87 were not there, so that’s ticket dollars lost. Hello to whom it may concern!!! This band is special!! It has a travelling fan club much like Duran Duran’s and we need advanced notices, not a week before tickets go on sale!! Thanks!! <– A formal system has been set up to address this. We’ll see what happens…
Shipmates and their Captain, Julian Orzabal, ruler of the high seas, creator of The Wonky Woo childrens book series and lead singer w/DelaQ. Boom Boom, SK & the Captain
The SS DelaQ Rolled In…
One of the major highliights of the trip was Captain Julian Orzabal being on hand as well as Lady Rise. Friday night’s drinks and fan fun featured shipmates Silver Kitty, Becky Boom Boom, Lady Rise and the Captain himself. We’re always thrilled to have him around. He is an integral part of fan life!
Fan MeetUp
The next night, long time fan Alfredo, who was also with us back in 2012 at Sunset Station and countless shows before that, hosted the Travel Fan meetup for this occasion. Fans met up in front of the Pearl Theatre at 3:30pm for a drinks and convos. Anxious as we are, several got in line soon after. Pictures and check-ins from the West Coast Kooks poured in. A few East Coast Kook/Travel Fans also made it in (some last minute). “We’re in skirts” Becky Boom Boom texted when asked “what’s tonight’s attire?” Fans looked incredible in their fashionable #TourCouture. Pennie K with the purple sharpie, Silver Kitty swankin’ in silver and gray, Becks in blue, Lady K had a stylish sway as did Cams with her cool hair colour. High five for Haute Couture on tour!
Tears for Fears loyalists and travel fans ready for ROCS! #ItsMagic
Big shoutout to #DrummerGenius Jamie Wollam who gave some hugs and hellos to familiar faces! We’re always glad to know he’s around. Beatifully bearded Bill was seen the night before…that’s always a plus. “Bill!!! Bill!!!”
Floor/Gen Am section Courtesy if BF
Another shoutout to the Good Man Curt Smith for his #TravelFan team shoutout on stage and a big high five to Sweet E and her daughter Audrey for making the trip from the midwest to Vegas. Let’s add a ‘Big hug and kiss’ to Rosalie, maraming salamat ya kapatid!! She went around and hugged everyone, delivering love from Manila. And a cool virtual hug to Lady Wzzy for getting a picture for Patricia who stayed up late in France.
Roland rockin’ it w/the team! Courtesy of Cams
The Show
Twitter, Instagram and FB lit up with videos and photos of the band. Text messages filled phones with photos and video of the dynamic duo dancing and doin’ their thing on stage. It was a circular raised theatre platform so the band seemed spread out but fans on the front row managed some great shots and cool footage inlcuding this one taken by Cams.
Set List
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Secret World
Sowing the Seeds of Love
Change
Mad World
Memories Fade
Closest Thing to Heaven
Ready to Start*
Creep*
Advice for the Young at Heart
Badman’s Song
Pale Shelter
Head Over Heels
Break It Down Again Woman In Chains
Shout
(order may be a bit off)
*Covers
Ready to Start by Arcade Fire
Creep by Radiohead
Not too long after the show, Curt noted that he got home safe and sound into the warm loving arms of his wife and family. Captain Julian stated the show was rockin’ and the Good Sir had a tearful goodbye to Vegas and new friends in his twitter feed.
Really cool decor featuring the band was everywhere! photo courtesy BB & SK
Tears for Fears’ Vegas shows have a long history of being some of the most fun ones on record. Fans fly in from ALL OVER THE WORLD to be there, including those from outside the states. The fan family continues to grow and we’re all gearing up for another amazing year with the band leading the way. Many thanks to all of the travel fans who worked tirelessly around the clock to scan the internet for ticket deals. Thanks to Becky’s daughter, Lady Rise, Lady K, Pennie K, Silver Kitty, Becky for their contributions to the travel team from day one and a roaring number of others who were determined to be there. Huge thanks to those who stayed up all night long watching, RT-ing and those on deck who provided photos and more for all to enjoy. Another EPIC online party and show!
We’ll be posting some of the cool pictures posted by fellow fans who were in attendance at the show. It was apparently quite difficult for our beloved East Coasters to fly out to the West Coast for a variety of very understandable reasons (many thanks to the ECrs who did).
Photo by fan ‘OIBette’
TFF @ BellyUp 10 Dec
Many stayed up late to catch the live updates and tweet about the night. We quickly saw that “Plaid is Back.” Roland sported one of his cool plaid shirts from his swank wardrobe and Curt wore a stylish Ben Sherman t-shirt which has been recognised by the Ben Sherman brand on several occasions. Live updates showed many travel fans and loyalists from the West Coast doing their ‘Soldiers of Sound’ duty. KT, KZ and some new people peppered social media with great shots which were tweeted and highlighted by our travel fan account @papasfans and posted to our corresponding FB page. Band favourites like ‘Head Over Heels’ and ‘Shout’ were included in the set list of course.
Absent fans expressed their sadness of not being there as this was a sold out show with tickets being swept up by the venue’s mailing list members and third party vendors. We’re so grateful for our fans on-the-ground taking pictures and relaying the magic that is Tears for Fears for all to enjoy.
Tears for Fears Travel Fans 