Wings over Sweden Tour 2014 (MERGED)

Tour blog entry part 1 - pre-concert:

In order not to make this travel entry too long, I start my story at the hotel, the day of the gig. I’ve travelled alone, flying from Oslo via Stockholm to Sundsvall. Luckily, I know three other girls and a guy who’s going to the gig … 3 days before travelling I thought I was the only fan in my circle of die hard fans who was going. It wouldn’t have bothered me, but it’s nice to share the gig with someone you’ve already met. Make some new memories. Camilla was coming, the same girl I had rocked out with at Sweden Rock Festival 9 months before

I had eons of time this Saturday morning, so I spent the duration of one spin of the Wings of Tomorrow-album in the shower. This time I wanted to look good, and feel well. I have met the band members before, but it has almost never been planned, and I figured that if I actually was to meet them tonight, I wanted to look as though I felt comfortable. Pretty even.
So after dressing up and putting up make-up, I looked at the time, and it was only 1 pm! Camilla was still on her train, due to redirection. I knew the venue was 20 minutes’ walk away from the hotel, so I figured I would walk and find out where it was. I know my sense of direction (not good), so I figured I’d use some time getting there. People I asked for direction always said, « it’s quite a walk there, sure you don’t want to take the bus? » or similar things. But 20 minutes walking? It was maximum 30 minutes, and that is not taking the bus for if you have lots of time.

I found it all right. A big beautiful building a little up the hill that said TONHALLEN in capital letters. I started walking upwards, you never know if you actually happen to find people already queuing at 2 pm… But there was no one there. I tried the door… It was open, so I figured I’d go inside to have a look around. If anyone came to throw me out I would just say I was there to keep warm, and have a place to eat the bagel I’d brought with me 
There was no one there. Except a bald man with glasses bending over his phone, his back towards me. I guess I must have made some noise while getting in the door, cause he turned around, and I asked if I could just sit by the table closest to the door. But as Ian didn’t normally work there he couldn’t say yay or nay.

I have had the good fortune of meeting my heroes on several occasions during the past 10 years, and of course it’s thrilling. But the butterflies have settled, I’ve become older, and hopefully wiser, and a bit more modest, and not so over-the-top-eager, so now I’m actually able to talk quite calmly in their presence. Ian asked me where I’d travelled from, so I explained my route  I don’t actually remember what else we talked about, it wasn’t a lengthy conversation. But when I asked (calmly) if I could have a picture with him, he said «Of course!», and it sounded like he really meant it So I took a picture using Snapchat (cause then you can take a selfie while watching yourselves and without the camera reverting the image, so that it doesn’t look as though you are standing on opposite sides of where you’re actually standing)

Speaking of selfies, Ian went into a door leading to the actual venue, and I sat down eating my bagel and surfing the net. He came out again, and it looked as though he was photographing something behind me with his cameraphone. But he took a picture of himself underneath the ornament above the door, lots of heads with open mouths, they were supposed to be singing, I think.
- Picture here –
After a while, I figured I should go and find a “bankomat”, an ATM, to get some money in order to buy merchandise later on. I ended up having to go all the way back into the city centre. But still, it passed the time, and I got some exercise. When I got back to Tonhallen I started to wait for my friend. Someone, a man I later learned was the leading man of Sun Hill asked me if I worked there or something, but I said no, but I wouldn’t be in his way, I was just there to keep warm and I would go when my friend came. He seemed okay with that. And when my friend did come, I kept on sitting there. No outside waiting for us this time. Which was very comfortable. No one tried to kick us out ^^ Later came Robin, a guy I still can’t remember how or why I friended on Facebook (apart from the fact that he’s a Europe fan of course). Very nice to meet him for the first time face to face. He was as nice as he looked ^^
Later came one after the other wearing WOT-shirts  There were two entrances into the venue, and the fans seemed to be gathered on one side (the side were we were sitting). I had standing tickets for this gig (as per usual), and so had the other die hard fans. But most people were just chilling in the foyer with beer or food or something.

Ok, rewind. I forgot the soundcheck. It was sometime after 6pm, or maybe even after 7pm. That’s where the magic lightning struck… We heard Wasted Time! And a little bit of Lyin’ Eyes… Also, while I was talking to someone (probably Robin), I heard this amazing keyboard intro. Chills, goosebumps, tears in my eyes, jaw dropping. It’s one of those times where the music hits you and you want to cry, or laugh, or hug the person next to you, whoever that might be.

While soundchecking (behind closed doors, of course, but the sound carried just fine out to the foyer) I had the pleasure of hearing the guys PRACTISE. I do not know if it was just John N, or John N and Mic, but he/they practised the Wasted Time-solo slowly. Several times. I’m a music teacher, so I value slowing the tempo down to improve the technique. Wish I had recorded it, it was great hearing it slowly as well 