As part of my birthday pressies, my wonderful fiancé Andrew bought me tickets to see Maximo Park play Newcastle City Hall on 19 November. They are one of my favourite bands and I had completely missed out (forgotten) to book tickets when they came out so I was thinking I would be missing out big time. Andrew saved the day! The tour is in honour of the tenth anniversary since the release of their debut album, A Certain Trigger. Was it any good?
In a word, YES! Of course it frigging was! The North East five piece played tracks from their whole discography, including one from their album of B Sides, Missing Songs. ‘Our Velocity’ and ‘Books From Boxes’ worked everyone up into a frenzy before they took a quick stage break and came back to work their way through A Certain Trigger from start to finish.
It wasn’t until the first chords started that I remembered just how much this album means to me. It came out in 2005 (unbelievable that is ten years ago. TEN YEARS, I FEEL SO OLD) and that was the year that I went to University, moving from just outside York to the bright lights of the toon. I was scared about going – I cried in my room for hours packing up my belongings and listening to a mix CD that my boyfriend at the time had made me just before we broke up on the bus home from town. Those were the days. I slept the entire way there and woke up at my halls with puffy eyes and a cricked neck. Quite the first impression!
Moving to another city, with no friends, to live on your own is one of the scariest things you will probably do in your life. But also one of the best. I’m a firm believer that university isn’t all about what you learn on the course, but also what you learn about yourself as a human being and how to survive. I made the most amazing friends and I fell in love with a new city. But more to come on that later.
As I mooched my way around the North East in my generally moody, emo way, my headphones were firmly stuck in my ears. And more often than not, the album that was playing was A Certain Trigger. Hearing it again live, in Newcastle, after not listening to it for a long time brought back all those feelings of being a small fish in a big pond and I actually felt quite emotional. Sat there in the City Hall, rocking out in my seat, I felt proud of everything I have achieved in the last ten years. I felt proud of how I have grown from that awkward 18 year old rocking up full of fear.
In 2015, I am so much more confident, self-aware and capable than I was in 2005. Maximo Park were the perfect reminder of my journey in life so far and I loved every minute of the gig. They are so incredible live, if you can get yourself to see them then do!
Have you ever felt a deep connection to an album or song? Please share below!
♥ JH