My Mission To Mars

This was the week my 30 Seconds To Mars concerts finally happened!

The tickets were released way back in October and the thought of the show has kept me going through this never-ending winter (seriously would it kill the weather to throw a little sunshine this way?). The last time I saw Mars was back in 2015 at a teeny acoustic show in Hackney which I adored, these two shows were on a much bigger scale at London's O2 Arena and Birmingham Arena. 

When the tour dates were released I decided that I wanted to go to both the London & Birmingham shows and take myself on my very own 'mini-tour' (with such rock n roll debauchery as stocking my hotel room with bottles of water and apples!) which I'd done way back in 2010 when they did 2 nights in Brighton and then one in London. 

I'd bought a VIP ticket for the London show mostly to ensure I got as near to the front as possible (I had a VIP ticket back at their 2013 O2 Arena show) otherwise being quite smurfen I wouldn't have seen a thing and I don't think security take kindly to people bringing boxes to stand on. Some of you may know that I've been trying to clean up my diet and walk more lately (and in doing so have lost 2 stone since the start of the year) which has left me with more money left over that I've not been spending on junk food and bus fares (I call it my 'Fat Fund' which is quite catchy in my opinion), because of this I decided to celebrate by upgrading to a VIP ticket for Birmingham.

These were my 18th & 19th Mars shows since 2007, I tend to try to keep that under wraps due to the reactions I get when I tell people; that range from being creeped out to laughing to looking at my like I'm crazy (whilst I do have a diagnosis of crazy it doesn't extend to my social life!). Then there is always the question "Surely they must know you by now?" to which I have to grit my teeth and laugh off. So I just say that I've seen them a few times and met them once or twice, it just makes life easier.

The first show on the 'Monolith Tour' (or Jenolith Tour as I've renamed it) was at the O2, on arrival I was pleasantly surprised to find they had decorated in advance for me.

Just like my Esme

Ready for the show (Still in love with my undercut)

The meet & greet part of the VIP package was before the show and we had a question and answer session with the band before having photos taken with them (and yes one day I will pluck up the courage to ask a question)

'I'm with the band' .. no really ..

Using my aforementioned 'Fat Fund' I'd also spent a few more quid on a ticket to see the Soundcheck. I actually enjoyed the soundcheck more than the rest of the package, it was more intimate and they played a couple of songs 'just for us'.

Soundcheck

I manged to get onto the corner of the barrier for the show which was super fun (aside from the drunk lady who seemed to think she could get me to give up my spot by crushing my ribs with her elbow - lucky I'm still well padded and have the Richardson stubborness gene!) especially when the balloons were let loose, it wouldn't be a Mars show without balloons. 

I've said this before to a number of people but I feel so proud when I see my favourite band taking over a big venue like the O2, for the first few years that I went to their shows they were playing small venues in Hammersmith, Brixton and one of their best ever shows in Camden, so seeing them in front of such a big crowd still feels odd to me. Whether it's a big or small venue nothing in the world can beat the feeling of excitement and anticipation when the venue lights go out!

My camera wasn't playing ball at the O2 show so I only got a couple of half-decent photos, possibly not helped by the elbowing ...

Jared in some form of blanket

Shannon (not in a blanket)

I have to give a special mention to the creative genius who put together this sign at the North Greenwich tube station for the crowd leaving the show -

I left the pouring rain in London the next morning to make my way up to Birmingham.

Looking pretty fresh for 'the morning after the night before'

I hadn't realised how quick a journey it was on the new-fangled high speed trains but we were there in just over 2 hours (not that I noticed as I passed out asleep before we'd even made the outskirts of London!). I wanted to make sure that I didn't waste my 2 days in Birmingham sitting in my hotel room waiting to go to the show so me being me I had meticulously researched things to see and do in the city. 

My first stop was Birmingham Museum to visit their collection of Pre-Raphelite paintings and Ancient Egyptian artifacts. My favorite part of the museum was actually the history section telling the story of how Birmingham came to be the city it is today. I even have a favourite new fact about buttons that I'm delighting in repeating to everyone! 

Most importantly they serve loose leaf tea in their cafe!

Birmingham is a lovely city to walk around and I spent all the time that I wasn't bouncing around to Mars out exploring. Birmingham is famous for it's Bullring shopping complex and if you fancy any kind of retail therapy then I'd recommend it, I made a beeline for HMV since Eastbourne no longer has one (possibly another reason why I have much more money than I used to) and the Disney Store naturally. 

My new hat was perfect for the occasion

The buildings around the city centre are gorgeous. I particularly liked the covered arcades. 

Look at the painted ceiling

So pretty

Birmingham School Of Art

Made me chuckle

Birmingham Cathedral

My favourite part of the city was Victoria Square, had the weather been warmer I could have happily sat there and people-watched.

On the day of the show I decided (along with much encouragement from Helen via email) to embrace my inner child and visit the Sealife Centre, my excuse being that since it was next to the concert venue I should do a 'trial walk' from my hotel to see how long it took me. 

I made some new Penguin friends

I found Nemo!!!!

And Dory too!

I loved this fish, every time I had my phone in my hand it swam up for a photo

After a 'power nap' it was time to head back out to the show, I discovered that the 7 minute walk from earlier in the day only took a 3 minute scuttle in the rain. As before we had the Q&A and photo session before the show.

Sitting on a band box with a VIP lanyard makes you at least 98% cooler so I'm told

After 19 shows I finally got a hug!

The show wasn't quite as 'good' as the O2 show so to speak (by that I mean it was 98/100 rather than 99/100 at the O2), it took the crowd a couple of songs to warm up whereas the O2 crowd were ready to go straight away, but I enjoyed it more due to it being a smaller venue (I really don't like the O2 as a venue, it's too echoey and souless) and being right on the barrier in the middle of the action (with no elbows thank god) in enjoyable company, if you need a 'beacon' in the crowd then get yourself a 6 foot Dave in a pink beanie. 

After a stern talking to and a battery change my camera finally started taking decent photos -

Particularly pleased with this one

I was so close that I even snapped a couple of good pix on my phone -

The traditional chaos-causing drumstick throw

How can someone so talented have such hideous dress sense?

I really enjoyed my 'micro-tour', I've made some lovely new friends and come back so refreshed. On a deeper level it's demonstrated an independence that I didn't realise I had, I'll have no qualms in the future about going off to do my own thing rather than trying to find a unwilling party to drag with me. It's also another 'fuck you' to my mental illness that tries to keep me tied down with nasty symptoms and a reminder to myself that when I have bad days I can remember what I've achieved this week.

Plus I look super rock n roll with all my VIP bands -

Roll on the next tour!

Love Jen

XxxX