The Mavericks - Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry & The New Theatre, Oxford

April 2004

By Lois Elsden

Driving up to Coventry on a sunny Thursday afternoon I began to think I was mad. It was a two-hour drive, see the boys, back home in the early hours of Friday, work all day, then off to Oxford to see them again!

I was looking forward to meeting up with Hannah and seeing the famous scrapbook! Coventry is a lovely city and well sign-posted so I found my way to the University with no problems. It is a wonderful campus, attractive modern architecture, beautiful flowers and shrubs all in bloom, a lake… and all in glorious sun!

Hannah and I had some time to chat and I was so impressed with the scrapbook – the presentation, the organization, all the little touches, it was excellent.

We wandered into the foyer of the arts centre and who should also wander in but Robert! He was friendly and seemed pleased to see familiar faces. He was astonished and delighted with the book, really impressed with it. Plenty of hugs for Hannah!! Eddie arrived and he too was bowled over with it and they both said how touched they were.

We drifted into the theatre and found our seats. There was an area at the front for dancing and we decided to go down to do just that. David Mead sauntered onto stage with Paul on the vibes. I’d never heard of him before but soon realized how brilliant he was. Robert and JD joined them for a couple of numbers and the atmosphere was buzzing!

After the break we stayed on the floor, very near the stage, waiting for the boys. The lights dimmed and they all ambled onto the stage, picked up their instruments and it started!! It was just fantastic – you’ll have to check out the set-list elsewhere, I was too busy dancing and having a great time to make notes! Raul seemed to be really enjoying himself, he seemed much more relaxed and happier than when I saw him previously. I remember how awful the audience was in Cardiff, like a load of puddings, no cheering no dancing. The Coventry crowd were very different, very responsive, very enthusiastic – no wonder Raul looked a happy boy!

The music was a mixture of old and new numbers, maybe more of the older ones, which perhaps suited more of the audience than the die-hard fans. Whatever, it was brilliant!

When it was over we hung around, chatting with other fans. Eddie reappeared, then Robert, then Paul. It was marvelous chatting to them and we stayed in the hall until we were chased out by the management who had to derig! Outside it was warm and pleasant but I really had to go. Sadly I missed meeting JD, fortunately Hannah managed to see him. Apparently Raul came out much later, but even Hannah had gone home by then!!

The next sunny afternoon I set off for Oxford. Another good drive but what madness as I arrived in the city. It was utter chaos, signs led me down cul-de-sacs, pedestrian areas, bus lanes but not to any car parks (although I found the exits of several I never found the entrances.) Eventually I found somewhere to park by accident and by chance it was on the road where the theatre was.

I had a good seat but it was as well Hannah wasn’t with me, the keyboard was completely out of my line of vision so no views of JD.

David Mead was excellent again and in the interval I bought his CD – I have played it so many times since then, I’m really looking forward to getting the next one when it comes out (end of May I think)

If I had thought the boys were on their best ever form the previous night I was wrong. They were just superb in Oxford. Raul was really chatty and there was the usual amusing chit-chat flying between him and Robert. They had spent the day at Warwick Castle – they’d had a great time and been fascinated by the dungeons, particularly There was a rather a surreal moment as they discussed the instruments of torture….!!!!

Again the set-list eludes me, I was up in my seat and dancing!! By the time it finished I had to leave, another long drive ahead of me. Regretting that I couldn’t hang around to see them I set off home. I decided I hadn’t been mad after all!!