Back in 2021 myself, Asps and Swill had tickets to see Belinda Carlisle. Like most things in that era it got cancelled and rescheduled for 2023 which seemed a lifetime away. But it flew by and the big day finally arrived a week last Friday.

On the morning I got to work and within two minutes of starting I was walking through the production area where they had Heart 80’s on (as opposed to Heart 00’s in our section) and their radio was playing Heaven Is A Place On Earth. This was a sign that it was going to be a good day.

I left work and went to meet Asps and Chris (a very last minute replacement for Swill). The plan had been to meet up in Bar 10, have a couple of beers then jump on the chuff chuff to Birmingham. Then another train strike was called. Oh the joy. Plan B was to catch the X51, a nice fast limited stop bus. Unfortunately this appeared to also be on strike. After a good while a normal stop everywhere 51 turned up. We watched as this departed packed to the rafters. Then another one turned up, which we opted to dive on. Not many takers for this one which was nice as it was one of the brand new buses with hardly any seats downstairs. Despite being a stop everywhere 51, we sailed through and arrived quickly in Birmingham all for the new limited time offer maximum fare price of £2.

Upon reaching Brum Asps and Chris needed the loo, my bladder was behaving for once but it was food I needed. We headed to the nearby Burger King only to find the upstairs section with the toilets already closed. It wasn’t even 7pm. Fortunately Chris knew of a McDonalds on the way, one I’d not been in before. He reffered to it as the Rackhams McDonalds. This, like Vienna to Midge Ure meant nothing to me but it was open and all facilities available.

The lads at work had been giving me banter on the day as I mentioned that I was seeing Belinda Carlisle on the night and how I’d had a thing for her since I was 14 years old in 1988. They reckoned that I was going to misbehave and end up on Crimewatch. |In this McDonalds there is a corridor to the toilets and unknown to me a policeman followed me down it as I went to powder my nose. He actually emerged out of the ladies with a member of staff and followed me back up the corridor much to Chris and Asps amusement who thought he was after me. Maybe the lads at work were right but I wasn’t expecting the cops to be after me before I’d seen Belinda.

Whilst waiting for our food talk turned to Radio 2 as Chris and Asps both listen to it and Belinda had appeared on Ken Bruce’s show 2 days earlier. The plan had been for me to listen back to that feature whilst writing this but I am typing this 5 days later than planned and listening to the Radio X Indie Night instead. I will check it out soon honest.

Anyway we all emptied our bladders and filled our stomachs and began to walk to Symphony Hall. It was at this point that I revealed this was my third time of seeing Belinda, as Steve Stuart got me a ticket to a tour warm up gig that she did at Stoke University in 1995 and Blackpool Jane got me one for my 40th birthday at Birmingham Town Hall. At revealing this Asps called me a weird stalker. Hmmmm, nah not really.

To break up the journey we stopped at The Colmore, a superb Thornbridge pub. It wasn’t the busiest that I’ve seen it but there were a few well dressed people in there as you would expect in a pub close to the financial district. It was hard to tell if they were in the straight from work brigade or the out for the evening crowd. Well technically I was in both of these camps but without the well dressed part.

I tried to check out what all 8 handpulls were offering but a couple were blocking the last 2. I twice asked politely if I could see what they were but I was ignored. I’ve not exactly got arms like Bo Selecta Mick Hucknall but I leaned across and just managed to get a finger tip on the left pump clip of the two, enough to turn it slightly in my favour and reveal the words brown ale, which totally lost my interest. I went back and had a pint of Crackendale which was on the easily visible pump no 1.

Talk moved onto the gig and that Belinda was being supported by The Christians. “What was their big hit?” Asps asked of me. “Harvest For The World, but my favourite is Hooverville” I replied. “They also did Ideal World” Chris added. And that was it. We’d named 3 songs by The Christians in 10 seconds. Ken Bruce would have been very impressed.

We made it to Symphony Hall, grabbed a pint and made our way to our seats in the grand tier. Way up in the gods but a great view. We caught about a minute of The Christians set who were finishing with Harvest For The World. As they walked off I shouted “Hoovervile” a couple of times. They either didn’t hear me (feasible) or ignored me as they didn’t come back on to do it. Had I been more convinced of the latter I’d have shouted “were you up the bar in The Colmore earlier?”

There was an interlude and I took the opportunity to get drinks. Downstairs I’d had a pint of Lawless Lager and Asps had an IPA, only problem now was this was a bottle only bar. Whilst waiting an announcement rang out “the show will continue in 3 minutes”. Now when I’m on stage with AMCS we get a 5 minute warning when the show is starting. This usually leads the rest of the performers to eagerly rush downstairs whereas I sit back down and open another tube of Pringles. This warning meant something though as I wanted to see Belinda walk out.

I made it up to the bar.”Have you got a golden ale or an IPA please?” I asked. “Er, we’ve got Peroni” came the reply. She hadn’t got a clue what I meant. I spotted bottles of Purity “Ubu” in the fridge. I know the brewery, not the beer. “Is Ubu an ale?” I asked. She looked confused. Thankfully the couple next to me confirmed it is. Bottles purchased, I dashed back and the show hadn’t started.

The two seats next to me were still empty but then two lads came to fill them. The guy immediately next to me gave me a warm greeting which I reciprocated. Yes, most unlike me I know. We didn’t exchange names but let’s call him George.

Belinda came out and launched into “We Want The Same Thing” which was a great start. A few more hits followed but it took until song 6 before one of my 5 grade A must hear songs “Circle In The Sand” occurred. I loved this and George also upped his enjoyment levels during this number too. Number 2 on my shopping list “La Luna” was next to be performed. Me and George glanced at each other during this one, thrust an arm out and sang the chorus in unison.

Belinda was on a roll now and a 3rd song of my must hear list “Summer Rain” was next up. Belinda gave a wave whilst singing “I can see my baby waving from the train”, me and George waved back. Chris popped out during this one and returned with the grave news that the bar was closed. I didn’t care, I was in the zone.

A few more songs passed before another must hear “Leave A Light On” occurred. People in front were up on their feet dancing for this one. Me and George by now weren’t just singing together, we were practically fine tuning our harmonies.

Belinda did a couple more and went off for the encore. I turned to George. “I just need Runaway Horses now and I’m happy”. I need “Live Your Life Be Free” he replied. Encore one was a couple of slow numbers. Encore two started with “Live Your Life Be Free”. George gave this absolute portions. One song later and it was last song of the night “Vision Of You”. Hate to sound a bit like Wayne’s World but no Runaway? Denied.

It was a superb show though and I thoroughly enjoyed every second. We made our way out but went to the toilets by the venue exit only to find them closed. Closed whilst everyone was making their way out. I know Birmingham has these clean air zones now but are they trying to bring in “thou shalt not piss zones” too? Ridiculous.

Chris knew of a nearby pub but alas it had closed down. After a decent walk we arrived at the The Old Contemptibles. “Are you still open?” Chris asked a member of staff outside. “We stop serving in 7 minutes” came the reply. We dashed inside. My bladder had behaved during the gig but now I needed to go. I saw a member of staff emerge down a stairway. “Are toilets up there?” I asked. The result was positive.

Then a customer got involved. The conversation went “there’s a disabled toilet just over there”. I don’t like using disabled toilets as I’m able bodied and feel that these should be reserved for disabled folk. “I’m okay, I don’t mind going upstairs” I replied. “They are only there” he countered. “I really don’t mind going upstairs”. “Nobody will mind you using those”. I know he was being helpful but by now I was prepared to beg for him to let me go. I just muttered a thanks and dashed upstairs.

Chris used modern technology and ordered us a Uber. He said it was due and we went outside. By some coincidence a taxi with Walsall plates pulled up in front of us. Thinking it was ours we piled in only for Chris to pint out that our cab was pulling up behind it.

The taxi back was quick, and dropped me off on the main road by my house. So much quicker and handier than getting the train so the strike actually did us good.

I got home and ate a prawn cocktail whilst listening to Runaway Horses. Heaven may be place on Earth but so is my bedroom and although it had been a superb night, I was glad to see this especially with work on the morning. Cheers Belinda, who now joins Maroon 5, Boy Kill Boy and Unhinged (sadly now disbanded local shouty band) on the artists who I have seen 3 times list. Hard-Fi remain in first place on 4 viewings.