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catching up
Posted on February 12th, 2009 at 2:30pm
As promised, just because I'm now twittering doesn't mean I'll stop blogging. Twittering = fewer words more often; blogging = more words less often. It's all good, as they say. If you want to follow me on twitter, start here: http://twitter.com/curtsmith.
So, the first two shows at The Standard Hollywood are now behind me, I hope those who have been there (hello Eileen, Sheila, Hermest, Justine, to name a few) will agree a good time has been had by all. Some Twitterers (tweeple?) came all the way from Las Vegas to see the show last night - that would be Mike and Danny - and there was even somone there who had been at the NOTP show in Cologne! Anyway, if you took pictures and want to share, you can send them to us at csow (at) curtsmithofficial (dot) com and we'll put them online. We prefer 800x600 (or 600x800) and 72dpi (in other words, web resolution).
There are two shows left, on the 18th and 25th. The room tends to fill up so do call The Standard to book seats if you haven't already. The number is (323) 650-9090 x2921. If they tell you the Cactus Lounge is all booked, that's okay, ask for a seat on the deck which is lovely and you can see and hear just fine from there. And sometimes people cancel at the last minute so you're able to move to a seat in the Lounge after all.
The set list last night was the same as the one Arlene posted for the first week, although I did add Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" (thank you for the suggestion Yara) to the beginning of the second set. We had literally only rehearsed it moments before, during the break between sets, but as it was fresh in our minds I was prevailed upon by Charlton and Doug to give it a try. It went rather well, if I do say so, and may be a keeper. We got a request for "Snow Hill," but both a shortage of time and the fact we hadn't rehearsed it meant we weren't able to work it in. Maybe next week...
There seems to be quite a buzz about the planned TFF West Coast tour this summer. This is NOT an official announcement, as contracts haven't been signed yet so far as I know and therefore things are subject to change. So with those caveats in mind, here are the likely dates:
July 10 - Seattle, WA
July 11 - Portland, OR
July 14 - Santa Rosa, CA
July 15 - Saratoga, CA
July 17 - Costa Mesa, CA
July 18 - Las Vegas, NV
July 20 - San Diego, CA
We'll probably also play in Vancouver either July 9 OR 12 - not clear yet. When everything is confirmed I'll post the news here. Before you ask - I don't know when the on-sale dates will be, you'll need to contact the respective venues/ticket agencies for information about when and how to get them.
In other news: those of you who frequented my previous website may remember that along with the lyrics, I included short stories about "Perfect Day" and "Halfway Pleased" as well as explanations of the lyrics. They're now rightfully restored to place here, along with the previously unpublished story / explanation for "Coming Out." Just go the pages for those tracks (in the "Music" section), the stories and such are beneath the lyrics if you scroll down.
Bella has been gone at puppy boot camp and will return shortly, more pictures of her once she's back. The house has been very quiet without her, but she was allowed a "home leave" visit the other night and the skills and control she's attained in a very short time away are remarkable.
I'm thrilled as you can imagine that Manchester United are atop the Premier League. I'll be glued to the screen as usual when they play Fulham next Wednesday (luckily, it won't conflict with my show). Hm, perhaps a good reason to rehearse "Snow Hill"...
Until next time.
EZEZ
Papa S.
Comments
Posted by jazzerholic on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 23:08.
Uuuhhh change of subject! Since there is all this buzz about the summer TFF gigs, could there be a possible leak about a new TFF album? It might just be in the mix that Curt and Roland possibly hit the studio to a long awaited follow up, "Everybody Loves A New TFF Album"! Just an Idea to lighten up those menopausal "crazyness" going on here!!! He He He... Maybe it'll calm some of these ladies down Curt. What do you think?? :D Gotta Love LA!!! Ha Ha!!!
Posted by ck2d on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 21:41.
Rough weekend, people?
I've been recommending people (a lot of people) to the site to listen to Halfway Home - it definitely should be released as a single, by the way, and I don't think it needs any more work at all. Hence my delurking. (I'm torn about full disclosure - I think I'll still leave it at that.)
This sort of post-Valentine's hyper-negativity isn't going to continue, is it? It makes me nervous about further recommendations...
Posted by envertigo on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 21:36.
>>*rolls eyes*
>>Note to everyone who didn't "get" it:
It was SARCASM.
Sheesh.
I DO know what's really important in life...
>>Note to Carolyn: Good.
...Katy, posts like that do not enhance your image as a mature adult.
Posted by Carolyn on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 21:03.
Note to Katy: Obviously you don't know what is really important in life or you wouldn't be so bitter and nasty to people. I know that you and I have had our differences in the past, but I was putting them behind me and trying to make friends again, which obviously you are unable to do. Katy, you don't like me, that is fine. But regardless, I have nothing against you, and with my last post to you I was just trying to make amends for whatever problems we have had in the past.
Note to Curt: I will continue to read your website, because I enjoy it so much, but I will no longer post here because of reasons that are very obvious. Life is too short to let stuff like this bother me.
Added note to Katy: You won. I'm done. You are tiring, and evidently not worth the effort of trying to extend the olive branch to.
To everyone else: See you in Vegas in July!!!
Posted by Gruno on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 20:57.
Celeste crafted this:
"I found this video clip of a T.F.F. show at the Mountain View Winery in 05. I'm not sure if Roland was blitzed on stage but it appears as though he might have been.
Amazing Carol, the one who posted this video, said that she didn't know anything about Roland's drinking but she did say that there was plenty of wine being passed around.
Was anyone here at this show who can tell me if Roland was drunk or not?"
Yes, I was there at this show and was around the band the entire day & night and I can absolutely confirm that Roland was not drunk at this show. I have very educated knowledge as to what and how much of any beverage is consumed by each band member at each show. As for wine being passed around? Well, ya think with the venue named "The Mountain Winery" that it would be a no-brainer that wine is being consumed. Really.
Now, instead of fueling a rumor, it is better to squash it.
--- GRUNO ---
Posted by Carolyn on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 20:43.
Katy,
I was being honest, reaching out, and responding in a nice way to your post....why the :roll eyes: thing again?
It is obvious that you don't like me, for whatever reason, so from now on I will refrain from any contact with you on the board. Which is sad.
Posted by swetbabo on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 20:14.
Celeste, why are you so curious? You made plenty of comments on the ytube comment section that he was the only one who was drunk and another that he was loaded. Why are you doing that? And why here too?
Donna
Posted by ck2d on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 19:57.
Where there's a will there's a way. Just be a better negotiator. Sell the silver - half for you, half for him. You've got all spring to scrape together the rest. Figure out how much more you need to get and how much time you have to get it, then divide it out to figure out how much you have to save per week. Check out money saving tips and start doing them. Put the extra money in a jar religiously so you don't accidentally use it. You can do it!
Posted by eva elena on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 19:46.
I'm sure that Curt will be thrilled to hear that the summer tour is providing grounds for divorce.
And Mr. Roland Orzabal is a wine connoisseur...an oenophile. They have a way of enjoying without abusing. :)
Posted by Carolyn on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 19:11.
Katy,
You go girl!! I agree...some things are just more important. Some Silver (and husbands) are over-rated anyway. :) I like how you told him that you have been in love with TFF for longer then you've been in love with him. That is dedication!
Hugs,
Carolyn
Posted by Carolyn on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 18:54.
I just watched the clip. IMHO, it doesn't look to me like Roland was drunk. If he was, there is no way he could hit those notes on RATKOS that he did. It looked to me like he was just having a good time, and bantering with the audience.
And even if Roland did indulge in a bit of wine before the concert.....what does it matter? As long as he does his job, performs the songs, and gives the fans what they want, then it's all good. Why would anyone care if Roland was drunk during a gig in 2005?
Looks to me like he did his job. RATKOS is not a song that someone could sing drunk....at least not as well as Roland did in that clip.
IMHO.
Posted by Katy on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 18:48.
My husband said it would be irresponsible of me to go to any of the shows, but I told him I'd been in love with TFF for longer than I'd been in love with him, and some things are just more important, and he'd better get used to it. I think I can sell the wedding silver for enough to pay for the trip. We never use it anyway.
Posted by Celeste on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 18:45.
Tears For Fears Live @ Moutainview Winery
I found this video clip of a T.F.F. show at the Mountain View Winery in 05. I'm not sure if Roland was blitzed on stage but it appears as though he might have been.
Amazing Carol, the one who posted this video, said that she didn't know anything about Roland's drinking but she did say that there was plenty of wine being passed around.
Was anyone here at this show who can tell me if Roland was drunk or not? And just in case anyone is wondering no I don't think Roland is a bad person for anything that he does. I'm just curious that's all.
Tears For Fears Fan
My Twitter Page
Tears For Fears Fan Site
My Fan Weblog
Posted by IdeasAsOpiates on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 18:09.
If I 'do Vegas' it most certainly will not be with my family. Not a good place to bring a three, a five and a seven year old (since by then Tania will be three). If anything, it would be San Diego for a family trip, with the Zoo, Legoland, and Seaworld. And since last time we did that, Tania basically screamed non-stop all night (amazing what undiagnosed lactose intolerance does to a baby), it would be much more enjoyable...
Vegas is adults only, IMO.
Posted by Celeste on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 17:53.
Carolyn,
Thank you very much for your kind words. :) I've loved Tears For Fears since I was about 9 years old. Now I have the perfect excuse to fly out to San Diego and see a show. I assume that the show is going to be at Humphrey's again? I'll likely fly out the day before the show on the 19th and leave for home on the 21st the day after the show. I just have to get myself a passport before June 1st.
I'm starting to doubt that a show in Toronto will actually happen considering that Curt's wife and kids are in Los Angeles and he told me himself that he never likes being away from them. So maybe this is just a sign that I need to get out and travel away from home?
Celeste
Tears For Fears Fan
My Twitter Page
Tears For Fears Fan Site
My Fan Weblog
Posted by IdeasAsOpiates on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 15:58.
Ugh, twitter. Perhaps this is a sure sign I am getting old - I can't stand twitter...
Saratoga - will that be the Mountain Winery again? An excellent venue (though with the proposed date on a wednesday, it makes it harder to get my wife to join me). Not sure when the family trip to the NW is going to be this year, so Seattle might be an option...and I always love Vegas (and that IS a weekend at least).
Guess I will have to see how things play out this year...
Posted by Carolyn on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 14:44.
Allison,
Traveling alone will give you so much confidence. You will get back home after the trip and say to yourself, "Did I really do that? Did I really just travel to LAS FRIGGING VEGAS (or CA) by MYSELF and get back home safely?" And yes, you will remember doing just that for the rest of your life and you won't be afraid again.
I've been traveling alone since I joined the Air Force back in my 20's (the Air Force does not encourage their recruits bringing Mom and Dad to basic training). :)
Once you take that step, you will never be afraid to do it again. And you will see exactly what I mean when I say it is "freeing", and you will be so danged proud of yourself.
Hugs, Carolyn
Posted by jazzerholic on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 14:25.
Most likely I will be crashing up the SoCal venues. Costa Mesa and San Diego is just down my backyard. Good luck to all you East Coasters and Canadians planning to see TFF in the summer, and hope to meet up with any of the gigs! It's gonna be a blast! Gotta love LA!! He He!!!
Posted by Celeste on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 13:39.
Good afternoon ladies, and gents, and Curt,
I view this west coast TFF concert series as an opportunity to get out and see the world beyond my own boarders. It's the perfect opportunity for me to see a whole other city than the one in which I've been living.
You see I'm young, only 32, and to me this is a whole opportunity to get out of the country and travel up and down the west coast, following our boys of course, and just being young and having a lot of fun doing what I want to do.
I view it like I'll never have this sort of opportunity again so it's only fitting of me to get out and see everything that I want to see before I hit 35; which for me is 2 years from now.
So if I have to travel to the other side of the United States I will just because I want to have this opportunity to see the Boys from Bath perform again since I wasn't able to see them the last time they were in Toronto, which was May of 1985, because I was too young. :)
Celeste
Tears For Fears Fan
My Twitter Page
Tears For Fears Fan Site
My Fan Weblog
Posted by Allison on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 11:46.
Carolyn,
Your words are truly inspiring. You've made statements and points that I believe in whole-heartedly. I have to embrace the moment and not look back. "You only live once, so take hold of the chance." And I have to! If I have to go alone, I may be scared, (I still feel like just a kid), but I am so willing and preparing to do it if I need to. I see how this experience could be very life-altering for me, and a huge milestone that will no doubt deeply impact my future in a very positive way. Thank you for your words!
Allison
Posted by yara on Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 00:26.
Suzanne..you should try and make the trip! My daughter Amelie, who is 4 now, went with us to the Costa Mesa Pacific Amphitheater TFF concert 2 summers ago and she had an amazing time. My hubby was sweet enough and got tickets in the far back area of the venue so her ears wouldn't get blasted. She still asks to sing "Shout" every time we are at a gathering with karaoke. My son Andre and I sat up close to the stage and had a great time! I also took my son Andre to see TFF in Phoenix when he was 10 or 11 and we saw a Duran Duran concert with him in 2008. It's a really fun thing to do with your children if they are into music at all. Andre is totally wanting to see TFF again and was so sad that I couldn't take him to the Standard Cactus Lounge show last October, since it was 21 and older.
Anyway, as someone else said in a post, life is short and I've found that finding and creating possibilities is so fulfilling. As long as it's affordable and you can find a way to make it happen, you should make an effort to do it! You never know when you'll get the opportunity again!!!
I hope to catch up with you at one of the shows Suzanne!! Keep us all posted.
Yara
Posted by SuzanneOlden on Saturday, February 14, 2009 - 18:15.
Just wondering if the venues would allow her to attend - she loves TFF! But why bring her if I can't bring her ;P
Guess the best thing is wait for the actual dates from Papa Smith and then see what I can finagle (if I can...)
EZEZ
Suzanne Olden
Recent Posts
| 1 Sep | psych airs tonight! |
| 3 Aug | twitter chat |
| 29 Jul | As promised......... |
| 28 Jul | Updates? I've Got 'Em. |
| 12 Jul | a few things |
This could be very exiting, a new Tears For Fears Album in early 2010 on maybe sooner!!! Let's not hold our breaths yet. I'm sure Curt will have plenty of time to discuss these when Roland gets here. First we need to get through these summer gigs!