I was thinkng of calling this post “In the VIP” but, thought better of it.
Saturday night saw a large percentage of Arun Community Church head up to the o2 Arena in London’s docklands in order to witness the final UK gig of current drummer Stew Smith. Rosie and I were no exception we jumped, or in Rosie’s case slowly maneuvered, into the car and set off for London town.
I’ve never been to what was the millennium dome and the approach was really mixed. One minute we were driving through some of the East ends most deprived areas the next, the oppulency of the city; Canary Wharf and the new “trendy” houses that now line the banks of the river Thames in obvious hope that with the dome prices will have risen.
Still, this isn’t the post to discuss social injustices. Once parked we set aboout the trek from car park to dome. I’d read some things about how AEG had redeveloped the dome; I’d imagined something like Disney’s “Downtown Disney” complex. Sadly, I was slightly mistaken. It’s clear that despite it’s opening in June 2007 development is still very much in progress.
Inside the main doors lies a mass of floor space broken up only by some alternative artwork like the balls (that can be seen above) or a huge enlargement of a BMW’s front end. All interesting stuff. After a quick snack at good ol’ Starbucks it was time for the gig. We were on the guest list and plesently surprised to find VIP passes and not just complimentary tickets.
I’ll leave you to visit www.delirious.org.uk for a review of the gig. It’s fair to say that it was an emotional time for all the band with kilts, stockings and a vespa were all present. Yes, you did read correctly…stockings.
It’s perhaps only right that I leave this post here. It was a great night and therefore was memorable for all the right reasons.
Yeah, was a good gig, although we have sit with the plebs in the cheap seats!!!
Funny you should say about deprived areas, most of the A2/102 into Greenwich is pretty affluent (even Bexley Heath ain’t that bad) compared to some areas - if you want a shock, head into Erith, Woolwich, Stratford, Tower Hamlets, Silvertown, etc.
I work in these areas quite often - some parts look better than downtown Baghdad!