MIKA @ Le Poisson Rouge, NY - June 23 2009 - reports, photos and videos

CazGirl · June 25, 2009

OMG the start of that makes me want to cry

If he had performed at the celeste it would have been my greatest concert moment ever. He was just IMPOSSIBLY close. I mean the people in his band are not even that close to him 99% of the time while he's performing.

"Every single night on this f***ing tour something goes wrong!" gosh he sounds SOOOO British, I'm tempted to say almost common lol! :teehee:

Candboys · June 25, 2009

It's a nice video, but a shame that you can hear people talking!!

Yes, there seemed to be alot of that. And it has already been mentioned but Relax was ruined by some girl screaming the lyrics so loud that you couldn't hear Mika. :sneaky2:

Christine · June 25, 2009

Were you the one who told the other girls to not touch him?

You can hear Sara saying it and I was just motioning them to put their arms down and stay calm.

They had lost a ring in the confetti on the floor before the show began and I helped them find it so we had been chatting. I knew they were drunk and super excited to see Mika so I had prepared them for the fact that he was coming out to play at the celeste and that it was a quiet song, etc. I think they were nice girls and probably would have been well behaved under normal circumstances but they'd just had a few too many. :naughty:

CazGirl · June 25, 2009

Yes, there seemed to be alot of that. And it has already been mentioned but Relax was ruined by some girl screaming the lyrics so loud that you couldn't hear Mika.

Yeah I read about that :sad: :sneaky2:

foalbaby14 · June 25, 2009

You can hear Sara saying it and I was just motioning them to put their arms down and stay calm.

They had lost a ring in the confetti on the floor before the show began and I helped them find it so we had been chatting. I knew they were drunk and super excited to see Mika so I had prepared them for the fact that he was coming out to play at the celeste and that it was a quiet song, etc. I think they were nice girls and probably would have been well behaved under normal circumstances but they'd just had a few too many.

Oh OK. :naughty:

sienna · June 25, 2009

It's because Sienna asked him to sign it in Berlin (thinking about a simple autograph)... but he was in such a good mood that he wanted to 'dedicate' it as well, so he started to write: 'to the...' and I think he asked about the name he should dedicate it to .... and because he did not receive an answer, he creatively wrote: To the moon ( as he saw the moon on the hat..)

Not sure what he thought or if he cared at all...someone might have explained it to him later on though:naughty:

PS: Sienna might like to tell us the whole story...?

I know this is from around 12 pages back but here is the Hat Story:

http://www.mikafanclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2322416&postcount=496

sariflor · June 25, 2009

OMG the start of that makes me want to cry

If he had performed at the celeste it would have been my greatest concert moment ever. He was just IMPOSSIBLY close. I mean the people in his band are not even that close to him 99% of the time while he's performing.

I KNOW!!!! He was impossibly close. It was like a dream :wub2: . I would have loved to look into his eyes whilst he sung that. Imagine :blush-anim-cl: .

Were you the one who told the other girls to not touch him?

Yeah, it was me. Some people were calling me Nazi but I just like things to be right :blink: .

You can hear Sara saying it and I was just motioning them to put their arms down and stay calm.

They had lost a ring in the confetti on the floor before the show began and I helped them find it so we had been chatting. I knew they were drunk and super excited to see Mika so I had prepared them for the fact that he was coming out to play at the celeste and that it was a quiet song, etc. I think they were nice girls and probably would have been well behaved under normal circumstances but they'd just had a few too many.

I had also chatted to them before the gig for quite a while and I agree that they were nice girls.They were sweet. As you say, they were just too excited and a bit drunk, which is a shame.

In fact, at all these venues, most of the time when people are causing trouble I find that they are drunk, so maybe they should just watch it a bit more when someone who's tipsy gets out of control and stop serving them or something :roftl: .

foalbaby14 · June 25, 2009

Yeah, it was me. Some people were calling me Nazi but I just like things to be right .

I liked that you were doing that because it put people in there places:naughty:

CazGirl · June 25, 2009

Yeah, it was me. Some people were calling me Nazi but I just like things to be right .

Why were they calling you a Nazi? :blink:

sariflor · June 25, 2009

Why were they calling you a Nazi?

Because I tried to sort things out and organise the chaos and get the chancers/queue jumpers out of the way. It seems that, for some people, being fair and doing things right equates with being a nazi :roftl: .

To be honest it was said a bit in jest, but just because that is what I always do. I try to sort it out and organise things, and have no problems telling people that they need to go back to where they belonged if they are trying to get ahead of others who were there before. What's fair is fair, and that is the way it is.

CazGirl · June 25, 2009

Because I tried to sort things out and organise the chaos and get the chancers/queue jumpers out of the way. It seems that, for some people, being fair and doing things right equates with being a nazi .

To be honest it was said a bit in jest, but just because that is what I always do. I try to sort it out and organise things, and have no problems telling people that they need to go back to where they belonged if they are trying to get ahead of others who were there before. What's fair is fair, and that is the way it is.

Well fair play to you!

And you're definitely no Nazi, no matter how much you try to wind me up :teehee:

ncsuemme · June 25, 2009

i'm so happy there are a bunch of videos out there. i want to relive the concert over and over again.

question - on the ticket confirmation print out, there's a code and it says to keep the code for something special... does anyone know what that's for?! it said it would be revealed may 25th, but i bought my ticket on may 27th and i still don't know!

Nielo · June 25, 2009

I wonder where he keeps all that stuff anyway. And now three washing machines on top of it.

He's probably storing all of that stuff in his newly bought washing machines now. :mf_rosetinted:

Because I tried to sort things out and organise the chaos and get the chancers/queue jumpers out of the way. It seems that, for some people, being fair and doing things right equates with being a nazi .

To be honest it was said a bit in jest, but just because that is what I always do. I try to sort it out and organise things, and have no problems telling people that they need to go back to where they belonged if they are trying to get ahead of others who were there before. What's fair is fair, and that is the way it is.

:blink:

I think it's great you try to organize things! I always hate it when people cut in front! It's just ridiculous people'd just so randomly use the term nazi. :blink:

Ruth · June 25, 2009

question - on the ticket confirmation print out, there's a code and it says to keep the code for something special... does anyone know what that's for?! it said it would be revealed may 25th, but i bought my ticket on may 27th and i still don't know!

Now, that's an interesting question? Let me know if you get an answer :roftl:

Cassiopée · June 25, 2009

Ahem, you mean snoring, right?

Ok, ok, I am joking, you weren't snoring

I guess people don't snore when in Mikaland :wink2:

I just can't get over the layout of this venue. It's like having Mika perform at your slumber party.

It was exactly the feeling!

Oh, you're Cassiopée again!

:biggrin2:

ncsuemme · June 25, 2009

yes, it was SUCH a Mika slumber party!

Candboys · June 25, 2009

Here are my videos so far:

Beginning of Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly

Lady Jane (full song)

Stuck In the Middle (beginning only)

Lonely Alcoholic (full song)

Blue Eyes (full song)

Toy Boy (full song)

A. Clay · June 25, 2009

AS PROMISED, NYC GIG REPORT!

VAMOOSE: Perfect way to travel from DC to this gig.

AND, because I bought 6 one-way tickets,

I now have credit for "1 and a half" FREE

additional trips back to the Big Apple!

HOTEL: Stayed at the Washington Square Hotel.

(Daughter had stayed there on a previous visit.)

Good choice for this trip; easy walk to all the places we'd go to this visit.

Got there before check-in so went straight

to the "Q" at the Club.

Got our numbers #40, #41, #42

and got put on the list.

CAFE: Popped into much-read-about "Cafe Reggio" for a quick Iced Late +

famous stogliatella on way back to Hotel to actually check in.

WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK:

Cut through the Park on our way back

to the "Q" at the club

after claiming our rooms for the night.

Discovered the fountain IS too working;

live band (of a sort) playing there and

youngsters frolicking in the fountain.

(Such frolic is not permitted in the

sculpture garden fountain in DC!)

MFCers MET IN "Q"

Lucy (easy to find; just go to the front of the "Q"

HollyD (easy to find; just find Lucy)

Kath, MFC World Rep From for Scotland

(asked folks in line if she was there!)

Standard Toaster (recognizable from Pix)

Sivan (also recognizable from Pix)

DC Deb (also recognizable from Pix)

Natalie (finally in the Club (outer) Bar--

when overheard me asking someone else if they were her, HA!)

Chatted with many additional MFCers before & after the show,

but (sorry) don't remember names well,

but I guess you know who you are.

One a local NYC gal, we talked some 'bout our children.

Another the lady who had bought tickets for her youngsters initially

(when info was so confused,) but in the end found a way to

allow someone else use them.

Special note for: milagroA

Sorry we didn't spot each other.

Could have been standing next to each other and not even known.

I'm really glad, though, you were able to be there and enjoy it.

After the show, standing in the autograph line a fellow with a gal,

who had snagged one of those BIG balloons, offered it to both me

& another. Neither of us had a way to deal with it,

but it was a sweet gesture.

NYC FRIENDS & FAMILY:

Franchesca & hubby, "Bad Boy Rhizo" and

Big Daddy Dale's brother, James who I revert to addressing as "Edgar."

I can ALWAYS count on both those boys for a big hug.

(And congratz to Fran & Joe: Expecting their 1st before long.)

Thanks for meeting us in the venue neighborhood for a quick visit.

RESTAURANT: Had dinner with the above friends at "LUPA"

right around the corner from the "Q".

Checked many times during the day, during dinner

and early evening attempting to collect our

"will call" tickets--which were never issued.

On final return to "Q" we followed security guy's direction

about where to wait to get into the club.

A note about the security fellows

(as was the case at MIKA's Philadelphia performance,

you couldn't find a sweeter group of guys!)

FAMILY/MIKA TEAM SIGHTINGS:

Mrs. Penniman, Yasmine & Fortune.

Taking a relaxed stroll on the sidewalk right across

the street from the "Q" line.

The ladies in their summer whites:

Mrs. Penniman in a coordinated capri pant & top outfit

and Yasmine in a fluffy concoction of a ruffled dress.

Fortune in jeans + a white collared/cuffed shirt, I believe.

Then the group disappeared around the corner.

Didn't look like no "MAFIA" to me!

MIKA'S brother, Fortune also,

at one point, walked the length of the "Q" personally

offering and encouraging takers for the free ice cream.

A distinct treat to see Fortune up close.

Just as cute as MIKA in his own way.

Similar characteristics.

Tall and lean like Mika;

eye's and mannerisms a bit similar,

looked to be just as sweet.

John (the manager) could be spotted here & there,

of course, throughout.

After lst wave admitted to the performance area,

I saw Yasmine again

--who I could now recognize for sure by her lovely dress.

I entertained a fleeting urge to approach and speak to her

(which I'm sure she would have been gracious about)

but I quickly decided it preferable not to bother her.

I'm also pretty sure I spotted Audrey(?) there

also walking through the performance general audience area

wearing a big, full, long kind of "hippie style" skirt.

And frankly, later while the support acts were doing their thing,

I confess I found it much more interesting/entertaining to gawk

--from a respectful distance--at the VIP section,

mostly focusing on Standard Toaster & Fortune.

CLOSED CIRCUIT TV: While we were waiting in our "pen" in the outer bar,

there were 2 closed circuit TVs on either side of the bar running.

Initially you saw the previous act (a young pianist from Japan) finishing up

his act and you could see his audience clustered at tables and in no hurry

to disperse. Then later, you could view stage hands with the use of ramps

removing that fellow's piano from the stage.

Finally, and this was interesting, you could see MIKA walking about the area,

pondering it, making a single skip up to the stage,

doing some pre-show pacing AND for a brief amount of time

you could also view Mrs. Penniman and Yasmine helping the stage crew

"spread on the (silver) glitter."

Then, after a bit, the TV's went dark.

I doubt they knew they were being watched!

THE "PEN" or "HOLDING AREA"

The outer bar was OK when just the lst wave of folks were admitted,

but when the 2nd and 3rd(?) wave were admitted, it became quite

unpleasant and remained that way for a long time.

People in front were pushing back at you, people in back of you were

pushing forward at you! Also, any available toilet was at the far end

of the "pen" behind all those people; impossible to access.

MFCers were anxious that their "numbers" weren't going to matter.

There were announcements to put yourselves back into number order which,

with the loud music, were barely audible and not really possible in the

crush of things.

My daughter had some fleeting hyperventilation attacks because of the

conditions there and it really was not nice. You had this sense that

there might be a stampede from behind when/if the doors to the

performance area were opened.

Anyway, to my relief, the security guys somehow managed to keep

things from getting out of control and eventually let the

first (about 50 folks) in according to (it seemed) their hand numbers.

FINALLY IN:

When first in, really didn't know what to do.

Things were calm enough.

I think we thought there would be a little seating in the back.

So (stupid us) we headed, unknowingly, for the VIP area.

We were set straight about that quickly.

Then I think I went down toward the stage and stood right in front of the confetti cannon.

Girls were sitting on the floor adjoining the stage.

I kind of knew standing right in front of the cannon probably wasn't a swell idea.

I also knew I wasn't going to make it long without out a toilet break.

I ask a club staffer if there was one in the immediate area and by god,

actually to my surprise, there was.

Promptly visited it: multiple stalls, clean--maybe two other people there.

"Big Daddy Dale" got me my requested "Garfunkle" from the

long inside Bar-NO PICKLE!

The drink was good, but quite stong so I went back to get a class of ice

to water it down a bit. Hence I had two drink glasses--one with the drink

the other with the ice, but made me look like two-fisted drinker!

Anyway, I quess a 2nd wave was admitted, but you could still see the stage fairly well.

Initially, I decided to lean against and hug a pillar in the rear of the performance area.

But when more and more people were let in, I bolted on my 'keepers' and worked

my way back front (about halfway) toward the stage 'till

no further advancing seemed reasonably possible.

Found some spots were I could clearly see MIKA and stayed there

most of the time.

Got a little of a stiff neck, but it was fine.

I noticed a LOT of guys arrived in a 3rd wave,

but did not hang around afterwards for the autographs.

PERFORMANCE: MIKA was so bouncy.

I could see him bouncing so much on his piano bench,

I thought maybe he'd sail on up to the ceiling.

And MIKA was so energetic, swinging his head from side to side

--that style only MIKA does.

The sound was amazing: Both MIKA and the audience were so energized.

I was soo happy to be there--wiggling, waving hands, clapping, singing along with the adoring crowd. . . . Insufficient superlatives . . .

I know this is short, but you ALL know how good MIKA is already!

Rejoined my "keepers" a little before the stage invasion.

AUTOGRAPHS: Hung around after the last song, inside the performance

area with some others in case MIKA were to come out there.

The Security guy said something so went to see what he'd said.

Basically, "if you want to see him, you'd better get outside;

there's a long line forming out there." The truth?

The WHOLE truth? Maybe, maybe not, but out we went.

Waited the hour for MIKA to exit the club.

(It's always 1 hour to the minute isn't it?)

When the hour was up, out MIKA came like clockwork.

He was doing a fairly efficient job of going down the line,

so I knew he wasn't going to be real chatty this time.

Some were politely asking for a hug, and MIKA was quickly dispensing them.

[if you've got to have a hug, this is the approach!

When sweetly asked, MIKA is free with his hugs!]

Someone (I realized later) had asked for a pic with MIKA and

he said "Wait 'til last."

MIKA was (as in Europe) mostly giving autographs.

That was my mission, to obtain an autograph 'cause I didn't yet have one.

I had printed a favorite photograph of MIKA on high-gloss photo paper

and had a much smaller one on regular paper.

[As I post this pic, I remember MIKA noting I'd lifted it from YouTube, HA!]

When MIKA first came my way he skipped me ('cause I was standing back from the rail a little)

& he had gone on to the next person on my right.

So I said "Oh MIKA, don't skip ME!" and MIKA stepped back.

I just said "I'm Alice; I'm so happy to be here,"

And offering my photos--the small one on top of the bigger one.

I said "I'm afraid this (the bigger one) might smudge."

That sweet boy, wouldn't you know, signed both for good measure.

I said "Oh, thank you." Then I said something kind of stupid

and I got the sense MIKA didn't really understand what I meant.

I uttered "Everytime I say 'I'm too old for this S*IT' you prove me wrong!"

My time was up and on MIKA went down the line.

Then I just watched MIKA with the others.

"Big Daddy Dale" said, some fans were going down the line for a

2nd shot and that I should do the same.

I wasn't for that: That's just tacky.

GOOD BYE (for now) MIKA:

So while MIKA was working the line, his car had been moved to the end.

It was raining very lightly and John was holding an umbrella over MIKA.

At least one group posed for a group photo with Mika--and then off he went

in his car.

I was right there to say, "Goodbye MIKA."

Every time I take a trip, something is left unsatisfied:

Those things go on my "Maybe next time list!"

For "next time"--IF I ever return to the area:

Go see the famous "Dosa Man"

Have a night cap at "The Dove Parlour"

Meet MIKA's band members? somewhere, some time?

Edited June 26, 2009 by A. Clay

Nielo · June 25, 2009

What a great report, Alice! Thanks for posting it! :wub2:

I love the paragraphs and colours, makes it so much more pleasant to read from a computer screen. :biggrin2:

AKateisaKate · June 25, 2009

A few pics... My friend Dara came and took most of these. Felt like old days in high school, snapping away at everything for the newspaper together. :naughty:

Can you all see these? I'm hotlinking facebook.

Candboys and me.

Dara is a Music/ Vocal Performance major, ad she was impressed with Mika live. :-P

A few from the show, I'll see if any are special enough to post.

Suzy · June 25, 2009

PART 2 - Day of the Gig. Waiting in the Queue.

Still bright eyed and bushy tailed for the first hour of the queue.

The twitter pic requested by the Fine & Kind himself. Approx 10:30am. Taken by closetmikafan.

Edited June 25, 2009 by Suzy

dcdeb · June 25, 2009

my only additional point is that since he is so proud of fans queueing for half a day just to see him from the front row, it would probably also please his prescious soul to show the flag around to whoever he wants to ( In Berlin the band had great fun with it, apparently, and they thought it was to keep so Sara had to ask for it to be returned:naughty:)

....

Anyway, these are only points to consider, I am not fighting for it:wink2:

I understand, Suzie. I have to say, I originally joked that Mika had

our posters decorating his bedroom walls, which is why we would

never see them again. But who knows? Maybe he does think of us

that fondly... :blush-anim-cl:

i'm so happy there are a bunch of videos out there. i want to relive the concert over and over again.

question - on the ticket confirmation print out, there's a code and it says to keep the code for something special... does anyone know what that's for?! it said it would be revealed may 25th, but i bought my ticket on may 27th and i still don't know!

It's apparently some kind of rewards program -- the more merch you

buy the more points you get, so that you can redeem them for

special things later. They have yet to roll out the program formally

though, so we really don't know the details yet. Stay tuned... :thumb_yello:

AS PROMISED, NYC GIG REPORT!

Loved it, Alice! Thank you!

I uttered "Everytime I say 'I'm too old for this S*IT, you prove me wrong'"

When you told me you had said that to him, I laughed Alice... because

it's exactly how I feel, too! :roftl:

Christine · June 25, 2009

I can see them Kate. Thanks for posting. :thumb_yello:

Candboys · June 25, 2009

Alice, thanks for the report. That was me you were talking to about the extra tickets I got for my kids in line. :biggrin2: My friend was quite concerned about your daughter in the bar area. She looked like she was having a clautrophobic attack with all the shoving from the rear.

I can see your pictures Kate! Thanks for posting!

Suzy, I love the pictures of the fish bones!