Lael of ArizonaLael has been so loving and kind over the years in her fan following of Tears for Fears. This year she is contributing to the Arizona fan fun by assisting fans with any questions about their travel plans. Read more about Lael and be sure to look her up before the upcoming TFF Arizona show to participate in the fan fun!
A Soft Place to Land
Tears For Fears has always been a soft place to land for me. I first heard of them in October of 1983 when their hit “Change” became a college radio hit here in the U.S. I was very drawn to them, as they appealed to my quirky, nerdy side. I was blown away by their ability to express childhood trauma in such an universal manner, at such a young age. It was intriguing that their harmony followed a classical idiom, which was not common for popular music at the time. I was raised on classical music, especially opera, so I loved Roland Orzabal’s operatic voice. Combined with Curt’s quintessential pop voice, they created a sound that was inviting, soothing, and timeless.
Their music has always been there for me during the worst of times: The passing of my mother, my highly dysfunctional upbringing, and my divorce. Due to the amazing strangeness that is Social Media, I was able to sing a duet with Michael Wainwright when he was the opening act / backup singer for Tears For Fears. This experience was life changing, as I discovered that there were people truly like me in this world. I finally learned that it was okay to express my creative side, and with insight from the band regarding songwriting, I am now able to write poems and sing much more freely.
I have met many other intelligent, talented, and compassionate people through my involvement with Tears For Fears; fans that understand the legacy of this band, and the overall importance of art and its relationship to our humanity. I look forward to this continued journey of self-discovery, self – actualization, and cultivation of enduring friendships.
We want to thank Lael for organising on two occasions fun things for fans to do and riding out through the desert to Curt Smith Solo shows in Santa Monica. Speaks volumes when people go above and beyond in the manner she has. Cheers Lael! Let the good times roll!
Tears for Fears have announced more shows and one will be in Irvine California at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre (formerly Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre) alongside several other bands (i.e. Bush, Everclear and Cake). This is all a part of Jack’s 10th Show. It takes place Saturday June 20th at 3pm. This show is not general admission and tickets can be purchased via live nation right now. However, the better seats have been snatched up by third party ticket sellers. Good thing about this is that $1 from official ticket sales goes to TACA (Talk About Curing Autism).
Travel Accommodations
Lodging and hotels for this show are a breeze because it’s California and not a remote spot so you, the fan, decide. There’s so much to do in this area from dining to just hanging out we’re not going to bog you down with a list of “must sees” …it’s California, go see everything!
We do suggest taking Uber to the show just because it’s easier and you can drink w/o designating a DD. If you are not familiar with the area and are just going because of the band vs summer travel we suggest the Irvine Marriott. You can dine on site and focus solely on the concert. We do not have the official list of who goes on first. But that line up is intense, those are some major bands and many of us have seen them all including Andye who, as a teen, was carried out on stretcher during one of the other band’s shows in 1996. Thankfully moshing is not all the rage anymore so we’re expecting good behaviour from most and no emergency response teams needed.
Show Day
Will call is open 2 hours prior to the show. Arrive early, bring valid ID. We have about a handful of travel fans committed to going to this show. These are mostly the local folks from LA who are driving over (please see the link for parking details on the radio station’s event page if you are not taking Uber).
M&G + Other FAQs
Write us directly on FB or in the comments box with any questions. Contact Jack’s 10th show directly for info on meet & greets (none of which have been announced yet…because this show is sponsored, the radio station with which it is associated may be able to confirm whether or not they are giving away backstage passes, etc. If they are you need to ask the radio station if you get to pick which band you want to meet. Rules change for different events so you have to ask the station as we won’t have that info in our info parcel. That’s usually arranged by a third party when it comes to radio hosted events.
Official Venue Address: 8808 Irvine Center Dr. Irvine CA. 92618
Pardon the brevity…got to keep it moving as another show was announced and that info needs to be posted. Scroll up in about 24 hours for that concert note.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Team ROCS’ Fans/Travel Fan Bloggers
This is where the magic starts to happen, the lights lower and your soul soars…Tears for Fears are approaching the stage!
As discussed on social, Tears for Fears will be featured at the Kool 105 Kool Concert 2015 alongside two other great bands, The B52s and Berlin. The concert takes place at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre and is an all ages show. A few fans have expressed their joy in being able to create new memories at this venue. One fan warns that the Denver weather is tricky in the summer so be sure to bring a poncho. The venue features assigned seats and also a pit. The pit tickets, as many have seen, are about $80 and you enter on a first come first serve basis…aka you’ll need to line up early to get the spot of your choice. The show there is early and it seems that the concert and festivities wrap up about 10pm? Give them a call and find out for sure but this is an early show so it may be a bit warm when you arrive in the June weather and then cooler temps at night. If you have lawn seats, try to upgrade to something closer. The pictures we have of past shows make the lawn seem as if it’s rather far from the stage. If you’re travelling quite a distance, you don’t want to just “listen” you want to “see” Tears for Fears in all their gorgeous glory…so, try again and get a closer seat.
Accommodations
We suggest Hyatt Place at Denver Tech Centre. Right now you can get a standard room at about $130 a night after fees and taxes. The Hyatt Place is different from the other Hyatt hotels in that the rooms are a bit smaller but each has a sitting area with a fairly large couch. If you plan to share a room that’s not a bad option. It may fit up to three people fairly comfortably. But we suggest just getting double beds if you have up to three in your travel party. This hotel also offers breakfast and had plenty of foods at fair prices throughout the day on our most recent visit. If you’re not into festival food, you may want to eat there before you go and take some snacks with you in a small carryall bag. Again, check to see what types of items you can take into the venue with you. Most don’t allow backpacks anymore. One thing you can guarantee is that you’ll sleep well after standing on your feet all day.
Direct flights going into Denver are about $300 right now from either coast (one way) on major airlines (not including low cost carriers, you can perhaps get pretty darn good deal on Southwest so just check). For those headed straight to the next TFF show, flights from Denver into Kansas City are about the same. So enjoy these low fares while you can.
Roland rockin’ it w/the team! Courtesy of Cams
Set Lists – Because the new album isn’t out yet we imagine you’re going to get a lot of great classics from Tears for Fears and some of the stellar selections from ELAHE. You may even get a few more oldies as the other bands are doing some mega classic pieces including “6060-842” by The B52s. That’s a real throw back. Keith Strickland may not be with the band at the show because he mentioned he’d stop touring after 2012. He’s still a B52 but isn’t touring as far as Andye knows (she coincidentally lives near one of the members and follows their news closely- she learned this from a press release after a tour). “It’s a real shame because he adds so much to the group. Still they are absolutely amazing in show and gave me the drum sticks once, I’ll not ever forget it…I’m pretty sure that made me a loyalist and I’ve been following them ever since. They are truly the ‘party band’,” she says. Expect really good classics from this band as well new selections from their most recent album. They’ll most likely close with Planet Claire and Rock Lobster…and yes, “Love Shack” is on their list…ever notice how the video starts with a Sunflower? oh yeaaah baby… 😉
Same for Berlin…expect “The Metro” and “Take My Breath Away” plus other classics…
Extra Advice
Sip your water slowly, don’t guzzle so you’re not having to run to the loo excessively. Keep snacks with you and pain killers for your legs or heat headaches. We know outdoor concerts are not everyone’s favourites but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer til the band gets to the stage. Have a good time, use the hashtag #TFF2015 and tweet the hell out of this show! We’ll RT you.
Address:
6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Doors open at 4:30pm, show starts around 6pm
Still need tickets? Click Here
The week of 14 June 2015, Tears for Fears will set out on a few tour dates in addition to Bonnaroo. These may or may not be the only shows of 2015. If last year is an example of what’s to come this year, you’ll know to expect more but, we only have confirmation for this particular week and the 2 previously noted festivals. Just after the Tulsa, Oklahoma show, the band will be in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We’ve had a handful of fans report to us directly saying they definitely want to go. Tickets go on sale tomorrow 4, April 2015 through Ticketmaster. Try the app if you have it on your phone. It seems to work best/pretty fast. Be sure you’re in a place with a good connection. Our experience has been pretty outstanding with the Ticketmaster app. It, in fact, has been better than calling on the phone or trying to buy tickets on a desktop.
Location: This concert will take place at Sandia Resort and Casino’s amphitheatre. It is absolutely breathtaking, gorgeous really. Please note that the band has another show in Arizona the next day so fans who are travelling make sure you don’t party too hard post-show so you can wake up in time to make the drive or catch the plane to Chandler, Arizona. There are thankfully plenty of flights to nearby cities between these shows unlike the Kansas to Tulsa show. The address of this concert is: 30 Rainbow Road, Albuquerque, NM 87122 – seating chart.
Sandia Resort and Casino
Accommodations (lodging, dining & food): We suggest you stay on site. You can Click here to reserve your room but be mindful that there are all sorts of discounts at this hotel for members. So phone them in advance and see if they can sign you up for something. Please call them first before booking so you can get the best rate. We saw some incredibly low prices for such a fantastic resort. There are plenty of places to nosh on site, so no need to run out looking for anything. It’s all there. Another great thing about this is it is not general admission so you’re not waking up at 7am in the morning to go stand in line with other dedicated team members.
Because we do not currently have a large group confirmed for attendance, we’re not hosting a major group activity branded with the Travel Fan Team’s travel kerfuffle-stuff. So be kind to each other, partner together to have a good time. Tweet each other and let us know during the roll calls if you’re around. Email us if you have any questions or need a bit of assistance. We were not/are not aware of any pre-sale ticket options for this show.
Thanks for reading!
AA
Follow: @tearsforfears @curtsmith @rolandtff
Travel Fan Account: @papasfans – we’re also on Facebook
Dearest Fellow TFF Followers, Tears for Fears Travel Fans and friends!
It’s Andye here with a little love note to you all! I want to first thank all of the readers from around the globe. Over the summer, SK and I sat in L.A. and took a good look at the stats. We were well over 35,000 visits with people checking in from all over the world including parts of the Middle East, several nations in Africa, Italy, you name it. That is very encouraging and very helpful in our goal to provide information to all interested parties.
We get a lot of thank you notes from fans for providing the info and I appreciate each and every one. But be sure to pat yourselves on the back because none of this is possible without the slew of 70+ registered travel fans who come out to shows year after year. We can’t always go to the same show together but where one person can’t go, another will, bringing the Tears for Fears Travel Fan spirit to the forefront. Because our band fan activities have been mainly at shows, I’d personally like to take it up a notch and expand our gatherings (there’s so much more we want to do and host). Still, I’m grateful for the progress we’ve made in getting more people to concerts, sharing extra tickets and now doing larger carpools and spending more time together in person and online.
Thank you from Alisa. Big Hugs to her!
I have a list a mile long of contributors. All of the names mentioned in this blog, from Carri and Becky to Alisa and Rise, SheeShee, Lady J and Lady K, plus CH and Jenny WBDA are to be thanked. Each person has gone out of their way to make this group fun and exciting. The band has been very generous with their time, their families have been very sweet and tolerant plus we’ve experienced great responses and outreach from the venues and hotels like Loews Santa Monica who provided us an incredible 500+ sq ft suite overlooking the ocean in 2012 during Brit Week. Boy did we put on a performance out there on that patio in our Curt Smith tshirts and swimwear. Sometimes you just have to be there to see it. We’re just incredibly grateful. These are memories to last a lifetime.
There’s been a lot going on over the last 3 months, some noticable and some unnoticed. Carolyn is right, we are doing this as volunteers. We are not on anyone’s payroll and have not requested to be. We are human and have challenges like most. For example, a few of you know I’m attempting to organise fan travel and juggle local challenges. So, yeah it’s a bit much. I may not be able to do a whole lot of parties and gatherings at the moment but I trust that fellow fans will step in and help each other get to and from shows this year. Meanwhile, we’ll do what we can to get any info we receive on upcoming shows, airline deals, etc. If you are having a hard time getting to a show or just don’t know the first thing to do, feel free to send us email through our FB Travel Fan page or send us a tweet on twitter. We’ll do whatever can.
Let’s take these gatherings up a notch! #TFFIsFineWine
We are not “exclusive” so there is no initiation or crazy requirement to be a travel fan. If you show up, contribute a story/photo and have genuine love for the band you are in. Come by at shows (or if you see us in the lobby) and say hello, we are open to taking selfies/usies that can be posted to the blog to show everyone’s participation. The goal is to promote the awesome fun that Tears for Fears (Roland, Curt and Team) provide at shows; dancing and swaying in front of the fans. #ItsAllAboutTheBand!
We’re pretty laid back minus being kind of wild and always up for a party. So jump right in with friendliness and hugs! Also, thank you Lady K for the gift of the rice maker! I’ve been on the fence about buying one and now, problem solved #SushiEveryday! For those who sent the gift of macarons francaises from around the world, a separate blog was created to praise thoses delicious french desserts because they are THAT crucial. LOL!! Wishing everyone safe travels this #TFF2015 season and again, thank you tons for the love! Hugging everyone right back! #GroupHugs #TeamWork #TFFTravelFans
We are very happy that the band appreciates the fan teams. We received a tweet from Good Man Curt Smith. Thanks Marcio for capturing that awesome moment 🙂
Tears for Fears will appear in Arizona at the Wild Horse Pass’ Ovation ShowroomOne of the stops on the week-long Tears for Fears concert series will be on the 19th of June at the Wild Horse Pass Casino and Hotel. Tickets for this show will range from $65 to $119 and will go on sale the 1st of April 12 noon MST. Lots of discounts available to the casino’s members. Fans under 18 must be accompanied by an adult of 21 years or older. Doors open at 8pm. To buy tickets, click here.
Venue
The show takes place inside the Ovations Showroom. It holds up to 1,400 and there are “seats” this is not general admission. The seats surround the stage in a crescent shape so there aren’t any bad seats or poor views.
Ovations Showroom – imagine that gorgeous curtain rising to reveal that band!Accommodations
We suggest you stay at the hotel, remain close to the venue. The hotel is the Wild Horse Pass Hotel. You can make reservations by clicking here. The accommodations include a lounge which is open from 10am – 2am daily. The one thing we love about casinos is the option to hang out after a show and just enjoy post-show chit chat and making new friends. No need to stand in line at this venue, so all of the socialising will take place at the end of the show.
We do have a few registered Travel Fans in the Arizona area and once we confirm their participation we’ll let you know who to reach out to if you have questions about the area. This page will be updated with more info closer to the date.
Thanks for reading!
-AA
Update: Lael will be organising an activity. Be sure to reach out to her before the show. We’ve tweeted about this previously, hopefully all who wish to hang out have received this. Click here for info.
Tears for Fears in Kansas – Summer of TFF –This dream come true announcement nearly sent our Travel Fan Team member Carolyn (Kansas/Midwest Travel Team Rep) swirving off the road a week or so ago. Tears for Fears are scheduled to be in concert on the 15th of June 2015 at the Uptown Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans in the area were have made it clear that they are absolutely excited about this and so are we. Tickets go on sale on Saturday morning (28 March) via Ticketmaster. Click here to buy.
About the Venue
It has a lot of history! It opened in the 20s and looks to be well maintained with several different rooms for various types of events. We’re assuming that the concert will be in the Theater Room which has a luxurious red decor and folding seats for concerts it seems. While there is an open floor section in front of the stage, we imagine that for the show there will be seats in its place as seen in other on site concert pictures.
Address: The Uptown Theater 3700 Broadway Suite 300 Kansas City Missouri, 64111
Carolyn is our Travel Fan team contact for KansasTFF Travel Fan Team Contact for Kansas is Carolyn as mentioned. Note that this isn’t her first TFF rodeo, all travel fan team members have been doing this for quite a while and that does mean since the 90s latest. Many since their pre-teens in the early 80s (sneaking into shows or begging parents to take us). Carolyn is a pro at the Travel Fan come and go so reach out to her via the Travel Fan Page or Twitter (@Truman555).
Fun Stuff/MeetUps
We always try to have dinner together and trade pictures, fun stories and all that jazz 🙂 – Slip on your concert t-shirts and come have a drink the night before and after the show. Tentative hangouts spots will be provided by Carolyn. This particular page will update once we solidify the schedule and addresses of these cool Kansas City hotspots.
Airlines: Southwest Delta and United are quoting low fares right now. Don’t forget to use credit card points or miles toward your purchase as you can already see it’s a week of flying and hotel stays. That can add up to a few thousand dollars and we’ve got the receipts to prove it. No need to go broke for a show, as much as it is that crucial it’s not smart or safe. Find savings where you can. If you’re not a member of these hotel chains we suggest you need to be. Most memberships are free. Even the basic entry level for a hotel membership allows you to get a few upgrades or free nights on your third or fourth stay. So keep that in mind. It takes about 10 minutes to sign up, you get a couple of emails throughout the week. It’s not much to bear given you get deals. We also suggest pairing up with a great pal and splitting the costs. We usually pair off in the Travel Fan Team and save upwards of $400 per excursion. If you have any questions, reach out to us on the Travel Fan Facebook page or Twitter.
Thanks so much for reading! We hope you found this information helpful!
Andye has always wanted an excuse to use this song, we think this is the perfect time. Enjoy! Kansas City here we come!
Tears For Fears are confirmed to perform at the Brady Theatre in Tulsa Oklahoma, Tuesday the 16th of June. Tickets for this show go on sale next Friday morning 27 March at 10am CST (Centeral Standard Time or 11am ET for East Coast, 8am for those flying in from Los Angeles). The Brady Theatre is quite historic, having opened at the beginning of the last century. A plethora of A-listers have performed here. This is not a general admission show, so no need to arrive at the crack of dawn and stand in line in the summer heat (thank you TFF booking). Doors open at 7pm and the show is start at 8pm. No word on who will open for the band or if anyone is opening at all. We also read that the seats are tiny. We don’t know what that means. See reviews on the venue and make the choice that fits you best.
Given that Bonnaroo will be the week prior and no shows have yet to have been officially announced/scheduled between the 14th and the 16th (that could change in 10 minutes or 10 days, do not plan your travel schedule around that sentence), you may want to get into town the night before and party.
Location: The official address of the Brady Theatre: 105 West M.B. Brady Street Tulsa Oklahoma 74103. So put that in your GPS if you’re renting a car from the airport. It’s about a 10-15 min ride from the theatre to the airport. That’s $20-$30 average using hired transporation/car services. Arrive a day early, don’t stress yourself. Tentative Roll Call: Monday 15 June 8pm. Purpose: Just because…you never know.
We like swank, Mayo hotel looks stellar and is highly praised.
Accommodations: A) The Mayo Hotel– this has become quite the hotspot with top reviews. They also have a rooftop bar. Prices start at $129.00 but that’s with third party hotel chains. We recommend booking all stays through the hotel directly. Yes, it costs more but from our own travel experiences and field research so to speak, we find that it’s just easier all around. However, if you’re going to use a third party be sure to join that site’s membership so you can take advantage of free nights on future stays at various hotels.
B) Ambassador Hotel Tulsa – looking at about $200 a night with taxes. If you’re looking for something luxurious and a bit further away from the venue you may want to stay here. Click on hotel name for details.
C) Courtyard Tulsa is about $119 per night before tax. It is near the venue.
Food: We’re big on in-room dining, piling up in hotels and munching on fries and sandwiches (gluten free for Andye, she has an allergy, if you see her with bread, take it away and give her macarons instead). But we understand that it’s cool just to get out and go to a great restaurant. The area near the venue is full of Taverns, Mexican and Americana fare. There’s also a highly rated Italian restaurant called “Hey Mambo.” So keep that in mind.
Tears for Fears loyalists and travel fans ready for ROCS! #ItsMagic
Fan Fun: We usually conduct the roll call at dinner time the night before a show. Location TBD depending on the number of attendees. We always go for drinks afterwards which will be Tuesday night unless we have another show to attend the next morning/have to rush to the airport.
Song Line-Up/Set List: Most likely it will be some of the great hits we heard in 2014. So check the past blog posts for set list, those of you who will be in the elusive Tears for Fears clap section. Choreographies will not change, choir robes and costume changes not necessary but welcome. LOL! You know we’re serious.
Hope this helps! Thanks for all who follow along, email, send appreciation notes and meetup at shows. You are appreciated. Your hellos and selfies are okay with us and have been lots of fun! Most of all, thanks to the band for continuing to come out on tour each year. Trusting to see everyone very soon! #TFF2015
Thanks for reading!
AA
You’ll also want to follow: @tearsforfears @curtsmith @rolandtff for official band news.
…and us if you’d like @papasfans for updated fan fun and band travel excursions!
Tears for Fears – Roland (L) Curt Smith (R) #RockLegends #TheBeautifulPeople
Tears for Fears are noted on the Free Press Summer Festival 2015 Line-Up. This festival has several positive reviews. The event will take place on the 6th and 7th of June. Tickets are for both days. Whatever you pay, you get access to both days.
Location: Houston, Texas USA at Elanor Tinsley Park in the Fourth Ward Type: Festival (standing)
Doors open at 11am each day Click here for a slew of #FPSF reviews on Venue: Suggested Lodging: After all that festival frolicking you’re going to want a nice place to sleep. We highly suggest Hyatt Houston. Should be about$159 + tax per night if arriving on a Friday evening and choosing a standard room (which should be sufficient for most but other options are available including suites…and they are worth it). You’re going to want to get your pre-festival rest and Hyatt has some of the best beds of the hotel chains we frequent. Prices – Gen Am – $158 + admin fees, 2nd Tier/Fancy Pants is $223.50 + admin fees Ultra Experience is the Silk Pajamas Package/The Ultimate Experience, it’s a little over $1000 USD after admin fees.
Online Review Sites such as Yelp rate FPSF fairly high – photo by Mark G. See his review.
Early concerns… Believe it or not we’re getting feedback less than a few minutes after this event was posted. Many are VERY excited that TFF is going to be out and about. However, some just aren’t fans of festivals because they only want to see TFF and have no sincere interest in other bands. “Paying one huge ticket price for one show is worth it but not practical in these slow to go grow economic times,” one follower stated. Our suggestion is to please consider the area and all of the fun tourist sites and activities available. Houston is a pretty cool city with lots to do. There had been some low line chatter aka “convos on the DL” about 2 years back that this beloved band would be doing some festivals. And as we loyalists know, they make good on their word and often at just the right time.
Fan Activities – Once we hear back on who is going and what everyone wants to do we’ll post it here. If you plan to go do not delay on buying tickets. Contrary to popular belief, Festivals DO sell out. Don’t end up having to buy one off Ebay. Just a warning. xoxox
Thanks for reading!
AA
*Updates to this post will be tweeted and posted to FB.
This is where the magic starts to happen, the lights lower and your soul soars…Tears for Fears are approaching the stage!
Happy January 2015! Hope all on the ‘band fanwagon’ are doing quite well! Fun seeing everyone online and hanging out in Twitterville. Thought we’d start this year off by taking a look at ‘Fan Travel.’ We have a lot of travel themes in our fan circle. There’s the loyal team of shipmates on the fan ship, the SS DelaQ led by Captain Julian Orzabal. There’s the travel fan team, Curt’s Kerfuffle of Kooks that travel to hang out at shows in L.A., it all overlaps, intertwines and most important, celebrates all things Tears for Fears! We have had an extraordinary time, so much so that the idea of not going the extra mile to be a part of the superfan shenanigans is just unheard of. From taking multiple planes just to get to one show, to crisscrossing the country in less than 24 hours to try to get to each one, we’re known to clock some pretty outstanding mileage…neighbours, family, husbands, friends and sometimes pets in tow…and cupcakes, we always have cupcakes! You can thank Lady K for that.
Sometimes tragedy hits… we either get stuck in some city, or encounter medical issues i.e. several times a passenger has had a heartattack on the plane we’re on thus resulting in an emergency landing. The worst cases have been death defying transporation issues that made us wonder if that day was one of our ‘Last Days on Earth.’ We each have had some horrid tales of trying to get to shows and something just went all wrong…but somehow, by ‘The Grace’ we made it! I, too, have showed up at a concert (a different English crew) after a car accident, one where I ended up losing the whole car. But that’s an account for another time and place as I digress… Let’s read about Alice E’s hair raising tale of barely making it …and when she did she had the time of her life!
CD posted some shared photos from online, great picture! Hugs to the photog!
Here’s her story… My daughter and I started out in the morning for a 10 hour round trip to Oakland for our 1st Tears for Fears concert! We had bought what was equal to three times the tickets to make sure we would get up front (not something in our budget). Less than half way there, we were in an accident. The car was totaled, my daughter got a concussion, and I fractured a vertebra. We called a good friend (who, BTW, isn’t a fan and is an overly critical musician) and he really enjoyed the concert, very much…….Yes, we made it!
We stood for, what seemed like a long time, at the edge of the stage. Then Lorde’s version of Everybody Wants To Rule The World started playing in the dark, so perfect. Then the lights went up. Curt entered from the other side of the stage. I waved. He waved back. Then I turned and looked up to see Roland standing at his microphone, right in front of us. Was this really happening or I did I die in the accident and go to Heaven?!
It was a whirlwind of music and joy. I could feel the warm stage lights engulfing me. Yes, we danced, injuries and all! Roland and I communicated with lip reading and sign language! What joy and laughter. One time I looked up and he was sticking out his tongue and waving his arms about. As I followed his gaze, I saw my daughter sticking her tongue out and waving her arms about. I think I’m glad we got to see one of these non album-release concerts. It was like a party with old friends and familiar songs. We even made some new friends. It was a beautiful venue. Wow, have times changed since I last went to any concerts, the sound was great!
I usually don’t pick a favorite song, because it always depends on my mood. Recently, I played The Prisoner about 15-20 times in a row, very loudly. Everybody Wants To Rule The World is my most danced to song and fits a lot of moods, but after this concert I’d have to say it is my favorite. From the 1st note Roland played, I began to blubber like a teenager in those old black and white clips of the Beatles arriving in the USA for the 1st time. When the song was over, Curt commented that we had some therapy going on here. Probably. It was overwhelming tears of joy. Tears for Joy! I was thinking at the time: WOW, that’s the guy that sings my favorite song on my TV all the time.
I am not good with good-byes, this was the hardest. When they began to play Shout, I didn’t know what to do. I ended up blanking out mentally. When I became conscious again, Roland was gone and Curt was about to exit the wings. I was thinking, I didn’t get to say good-bye. Then suddenly Curt turned around, walked almost all the way across the stage, knelt down with his hands together. Looked at me and said “Bye, Mama”, then backed away. I threw him kisses & waved good-bye.
Fan Souvenirs, Doc Martens, Man-U swag & TFF’s latest on Vinyl, courtesy Patricia O -France
NOTE: I’ve been a fan since 1985 (my favorite band). My daughter, same age as Diva Smith, found my cassette tape of Songs From The Big Chair & hasn’t stopped playing it. Since then, she introduced me to the internet, YouTube, and Amazon. Now my life is full of Tears for Fears. I’m dancing, singing, and on Facebook daily. Roland was so sweet to tweet my daughter singing advice for her 1st solo since Kindergarten. She sang Shout, while playing the bass. She is a fantastic bass player, even the up-right acoustic bass. This Christmas she asked for a pair of Docs, just like Papa Smith’s.
::hands out tissues:: THAT is …I need a minute.
Yeah…that right there, sums it up! Heaven only knows the things going on in our personal lives or what JUST happened to us before we got to a show…or why going to a show is a pilgrimage and a sacred ceremony for SO MANY fans of this band. Alice truly expressed what so many of us feel. There is nothing that compares to being in their presence. This is not hero worship as much as it is pure appreciation for the energy that Curt Smith, Roland Orzabal and the entire team put out at those shows. Their concerts are compared to gospel services, church, religious ceremonies and hard core parties all the same. It’s truly worth the effort, this band makes every travel experience worthwhile. We won’t ever forget it, we look forward to many more and I pray we all get there safe, sound and ready to rock with ROCS!
Here’s to another outstanding year with Tears for Fears!
Thanks for reading!
AA
~Kol iA~
Tears for Fears Travel Fans 