What an absolute blast this concert was. I've been longing for years to experience a Crowded House concert and great as it was to be at Hyde Park, a festival was never what I had in mind and I felt cheated of a full set by the drenching we all got there.
It absolutely must have been fate when the Barcelona date was announced because I had a week's holiday planned that week, so I managed to con my sister into going to Spain instead of Greece in order for us to be at the Barcelona gig.
It was everything I'd hoped for and more. A small, sweaty, all-standing venue with a ridiculously friendly crowd (met some frenz there I'm sure, up at the front right in front of Mr Finn). Great performances, nice banter, a deafening yet tuneful singalong from a responsive audience of fans and expressions of genuine pleasure on the faces of the band. Mark in particular couldn't stop smiling. Neither can I, days later. People are crossing the street to avoid me because of the soppy grin I'm wearing.
I don't care, I'm still reeling from the icing on the cake: having my hands shaken by Crowded House as they moved along the front row of the audience right at the end of the gig. I didn't even dare to hope that might happen. (I have washed since, though, just in case you're wondering.)
Oh, and I even scammed a setlist, along with another Yorkshire fan, making it a double whammy for God's Own County. Is he a forum member, I wonder? I meant to ask, but never got around to it. If he is I'd like to say thanks for his friendliness and for that of all the other people who were queueing outside before the gig and who helped me out when I was panicking about whether I would ever get inside (I had an internet receipt and was trying to get it exchanged for tickets so I could join the queue)
Manchester Arena next, then Royal Albert Hall. Can't wait, yet don't want them to happen. I'm enjoying the anticipation so much - especially now I know what I'm in for.

"Oh, and I even scammed a setlist, along with another Yorkshire fan, making it a double whammy for God's Own County. Is he a forum member, I wonder? I meant to ask, but never got around to it. If he is I'd like to say thanks for his friendliness"

He is and you are very welcome! See you at he RAH perhaps!

Oh, so it was YOU! I've been reading your posts for yonks while lurking round these parts (and privately commiserating with you over Leeds United, but that's another story). How great to have met you after all this time. Definitely see you at RAH - I think you were on the front row, werent you? I'll be three rows behind...