Saint Etienne: International (and new single: Glad)

HANG ON! They do STORMTROOPER IN DRAG? :D

I didn't think anyone even REMEMBERED that apart from me, never mind it being some kind of FAVE!
 
From what she said after the song in London I'm not sure Sarah expected that many people to know it either.

I thought it went down very well and fit that section of the set perfectly.
 
I got a shout out with another guy, Sarah thanking “Dan for coming to all of our gigs over the years” and then she welled up talking about me!

That was the end for me, rest of the concert I was just a blubbering mess.

Full reviews to come, but right now, I’m speechless. Can’t believe it’s all over.
 
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So, nine gigs done (I missed the first three when they added them due to appendix/work-athletics trip) and still as much fun as they always were.

The setlist was very much a run through their best and one very minor gripe is that it I would have loved a bit more variety over the tour and the odd deep cut interchanged, but that’s big fan wishing rather than anything else.

Stormtrooper in Drag, which I’ve always loved, was a revelation here- without doubt it goes OFF live. Add to that the most phenomenal arrangement of the already phenomenal Shower Scene (which I cried at most nights, it was that good) and DJ being a surprise banger and it was a set where the deeper cuts were the best bits.

They did bring in Hobart Paving for the last two gigs, accentuated with Sarah repeating “farewell, farewell” over the outro, and both times it absolutely destroyed me. I’m sat crying just thinking about it. It was beautiful, sad, poignant and just perfect.

What I will say is they’re probably leaving at the right time. For the first time that I ever noticed, Sarah was singing over a backing track (and making endless mistakes which proved it! :D) and I wonder if the live voice just isn’t what it was. Whilst they were clearly having fun, Pete seems to be the only one entirely at ease with being on stage and with the energy to match.

Finally, personally, I can’t believe it’s all over. (Well- kinda. There’s likely to be European gigs and a big one-off show next year somewhere to round things off). Though I was a semi-fan from the early days, I’ve been obsessively following them around for over 20 years now and it’s a big part of my life I will very much miss. From the old days of going to gigs on my own, with Moopists and with friends in various places I could persuade to come along, to this tour- again, roping in Moopists (big shout out for the great company @jyxz @FetchFugly and @BoysForSeles ) but also hanging out with the friends I’ve met on the way and, again, mates in various towns. Going to be a bit weird not to have them around anymore.
 
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I’m also fucking knackered. Who knew going up and down the country would be so much harder aged 48 than 28?

And let’s face it, it’s ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT IS, LOVES!
 
Oh I would have LOVED Hobart Paving.

I agree about DJ feeling like a big moment, one of quite a few great lost singles.
 
FetchFugly said:
Oh I would have LOVED Hobart Paving.

I agree about DJ feeling like a big moment, one of quite a few great lost singles.
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I’m guessing she was going to struggle to get through it. She was visibly moved during it both times in the final two gigs.

I was surprised how many knew DJ. It went OFF!
 
I’ve nothing much to add as everyone else has summed it up nicely but I had a grand time at the Dublin gig, pretty much danced from start to finish in good company. Some of the montages on the screen definitely caused happysad moments.

It was my first time seeing them and the setlist was rock solid though I would have paid extra for them to work ‘A Good Thing’ and ‘Sylvie’ in somehow.

‘DJ’ was fab of course. I wish they’d written it in the mid 90s because I think it would have been their top 10 single at that time. Not that it’s outdated sounding but it would have fit in then too.
 
Only Love Can Break Your Heart has been certified Silver, their first/only certified single.

Their only album certification appears to be a Gold Disc for Smash the System, but surely Foxbase Alpha and So Tough must at least be silver by now? Their cash-in reissues ALONE…
 
So Tough is weird- it always was silver and on the database (and I own a silver disc for it) but it’s vanished.

But yes, surely Foxbase Alpha is now as well. I have a Creation in-house presentation silver disc for it to Alan McGee too.
 
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