Frequency festival, St. Pölten, Austria, 20th August 2010

Creating a new thread for this gig the other day....

The Expatriate experience started with us finding out that the boys were going to do a signing at the autograph tent a few hours before their show. So of course we went along to that. I had my Expatriate t-shirt on, which I think surprised and pleased the band. I guess they weren't expecting someone to have one of their t-shirts on at the festival. I chatted briefly to them about the new album and if we can expect any new songs at the show that evening.

I also took some photos:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400537&l=34062394ad&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400538&l=f4c275d994&id=591500875 (that's me at the front and you can also see my two friends)

We went to the Weekender stage in plenty of time and were front row centre. Unfortunately, the organisers had changed the schedule a bit and so Expatriate ended up clashing with We are scientists and one of my friends went to see them instead.

The room wasn't that full but those that were there seemed to enjoy what they heard so that was good. It was strange that Cristo wasn't there though.

At the end of the show, Ben clapped both sides of the room and then bent over and blew me a kiss before he left the stage. What a sweetheart.

I then tried to get a setlist off one of the people clearing the stage but they just looked at me as though I was mad. I then saw that the guys were at the side of the room chatting to people so I wandered over. I mentioned to Damian that no one would give me a setlist and he said he'd get one for me later. I then chatted to Dave for a bit and found out that they had apparently been having major sound problems. They couldn't really enjoy the show because they were hearing really loud feedback in their earpieces and couldn't hear each other properly. Of course, they hadn't had time for a full soundcheck so these things can happen. Ben then came over and asked me what I thought of the show. We chatted for a bit about the new album and I asked him where Damian had disappeared off to because he was going to get me a setlist. Ben said he'd take care of it and went backstage, returning 2 minutes later with a setlist. Dave then came over to say goodbye to me and Ben had to go too but before he did, he hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek and said "good to see you again". Aw, I LOVE these guys, I really do... grin

It was pretty dark so my photos aren't all that great. My friend videoed Are you awake (at my request, hehe) and I'll post that as soon as she's uploaded it to You Tube.

Here are some pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400589&l=cd8edb7c51&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400603&l=9a82e72b5d&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400621&l=5604042a61&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400624&l=7cf670cf9c&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400631&l=3f2bc3e747&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400638&l=9d99fa0711&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400643&l=851e383941&id=591500875

Setlist and autographs:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5413033&l=2167105d27&id=591500875

AreYouAwake wrote:

The Expatriate experience started with us finding out that the boys were going to do a signing at the autograph tent a few hours before their show. So of course we went along to that. I had my Expatriate t-shirt on, which I think surprised and pleased the band. I guess they weren't expecting someone to have one of their t-shirts on at the festival. I chatted briefly to them about the new album and if we can expect any new songs at the show that evening.

That's quite cool, meeting up with the fans before the gig is really nice. Don't they suffer from stage-fright at all?
And did you wear the forum shirt or a band shirt?

AreYouAwake wrote:

I also took some photos:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400537&l=34062394ad&id=591500875
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5400538&l=f4c275d994&id=591500875 (that's me at the front and you can also see my two friends)

Thanks for posting the pics! I'm sooo into Ben's new glasses... And Dave's look is just priceless.

But most important: did they say anything new about the second album? And how are the news songs? How was the gig? (ok, stupid question, of course it was great!)

And I totally agree: the guys are soooooo gorgeous! Have you washed your cheek already?

Ha, I'm useless so I had my old normal band t-shirt on

They said that they've written the songs for the new album but it'll be a while before they start recording. They'll definitely be recording it in Berlin. We should expect a new song release before the end of the year. Ben said "be patient with us".

The gig was really good but once I heard about the problems with the sound, a few things made sense. At times, they looked a bit grim, as though they were concentrating really hard - which I guess they were if they couldn't hear each other properly and were practically "playing blind". I wish they had had the chance to play on one of the proper stages and not in the indoor hall. That would have been better I think.

Are you awake was the highlight of the set - as always. That song just goes off live. I can't wait to see my friend's video. She already tweeted that it's incredible, she needs to get round to uploading it though so I can share it with you all!!

What a pity with the sound... But also good to hear that they've made the most of it!
Did they play any new songs? On other festivals they've played "School" - I know, I'm curious, but can't help it... Actually, that "patience"-thing is not really one of my strengths...

No, this was the setlist, all songs I'd heard before:

Setlist and autographs:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5413033&l=2167105d27&id=591500875

thanks a lot for this review Areyouawake ! it's really as if you had taken us with you :)
that might have been cool to see the guys before the gig ! that's a good idea to do a signing before i think ! and always great to be able to meet them and chat a bit ! you're lucky :)
and perfect to see the setlist =D
thanks a lot !

looks like an unforgetable day ;)
love the pictures!

My friend has discovered some pictures from the signing tent. Including pictures of us meeting the boys.

Here's the album:
http://www.volume.at/fotos/galerie/m16/1561/

And a couple of pics if you don't want to look through the whole album:
http://www.volume.at/fotos/galerie/foto/m16/1561/img_1561_130/
http://www.volume.at/fotos/galerie/foto/m16/1561/img_1561_113/
http://www.volume.at/fotos/galerie/foto/m16/1561/img_1561_2/
http://www.volume.at/fotos/galerie/foto/m16/1561/img_1561_183/

Thanks for that! I'm totally into this idea of putting the bands in a tent for the fans.

edit: the last pic you've posted with their friend Jack is really nice!

My friend's Are you awake video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdjaFlzoAzY

Absolutely great, I love it!! Thanks for posting! And thanks to your friend. :)