seen 'em live?

[mmmender]

were you one of the lucky one's who had the chance to see cocteaus performing live? if so, which do you think was the best tour? having seen 3 cocteau twins concerts y i'd have to vote for the holv tour....it was lovely seeing liz sing while pregnant!

[Phil Lawton]

I think I speak for every red-blooded male here when I say I'd rather have seen her GETTING pregnant.

From close quarters.

Very close quarters.

You with me?

[Chaz]

Definitely the Heaven or Las Vegas tour. Saw them twice during that season.

[mmmender]

phil - oink oink!

[Rollo]

Saw them during Four Calendar. And I was lucky enough to be stood right at the front, right beneath the gaze of THOSE EYES.

I think I can honestly say that I now know how it must feel to have one of those Visitor/abduction experiences. Amazing.

They wouldn't have had to have made a sound, I would have been perfectly happy to have just stood there all night looking up at Liz.

[David Mason]

Saw them on their Heaven Or Las Vegas Tour at the Royal Court Theatre Liverpool UK. They were awesome, Frazier Chorus were the support and they were very good too.
The one and only time I ever got chance too see them.

[The Gaffer]

David

'twould have been better for the support act to be the Fraser Chorus!

[mr bigger]

saw them once in 1990
four times in 1994
and three times in 1996
the best was all of them

[spanglemaker]

Definately the last time I saw them. I met Robin Guthrie that night. Four Calendar tour. Was front row under Liz, lol some guy jumped up and gave her two dozen calla lillies. She screamed her head off and cursed about a million rantings she was obviously really surprised...lol
it was a very good show. Luna was their opening band. Must have got in about a million pictures before security decided to come get my camera, lol

[-i-]

.. and today's word is 'million'... ;-)

well i think i've seen them live about 3 times but for the life of me i couldn't tell you for sure which tours they were on... my admiration to all those who keep track of such things! :-) though i did get a 4cc t-shirt at one gig so maybe there's a clue there somewhere.. lol!
and the first gig was very early.. all reel-to-reel tape recorder, finger pulling and body bashing.. so probably HOH era. the last time was at the royal albert hall, london (england!).. likely to have been the m&k tour, or something.
the middle one (town & country club) was by far the best!
and all my (now ex-) wife could say was.. "why don't the songs have proper endings?". bloody heathen... LOL!

[dreaming]

mmmender.... was that you that gave what looked to me like
a scooby-doo lunchbox filled with knick-knacks to Liz?

It was my only show, but I must say had mixed feelings afterwards.
The sound was great (massey hall) but man was I
shocked that Liz was in warble mode and hardly sang any
of the songs. I was really hoping to hear that voice, but
instead the dynamics were too harsh and her voice was being
clipped all the time trying to contain all the fluttering.
It just ended sounding shrill and harsh. But i was 5'th row,
and all the way through Pur, I had to keep telling myself
it's really, really, really them standing 5 feet in front
of me.

[John Anderson]

I saw them at the same college auditorium for both heaven and calander tours . Heaven was amazing because it was my first time and calander ( the new orleans mcalister show for those who have seen the bootleg ) was orgasmic because i litarally stood in front of the stage the whole show while others stayed by their seats. I was the only one at the stage i thought these people are crazy. To top it all off i had a lengthy conversation with Robin after the show and was most impressed with his total lack of star ego and even got to take some pics of liz before she got on the bus. But alas no words from her just kind smiles. I can bear witness that the sound on that bootleg which i bought from the net does no justice to the actual sound at the show. I even attempted a pathetic recording on micro-tape which only a true fan such as myself could bear to listen to espescially since they were hidden in my jacket pocket.Hey I was desprarate. Sorry I'm Rambling. I miss them sooo much Its nice to visit this support group every once in a while though in a way it's torture.
Goodnight, milk and kisses
john
email me if you like ( no jokes or crap )

[mmmender]

ian - you're obviously lost in a daze because you didn't attend any of the milk&kisses concerts, or so you said!

as for me and a scooby doo lunch box at the toronto fcc show - er, that was thankfully someone else. i stood happily and danced my life away.

[mmmender]

btw - "dreaming" do i know you?

[Ernie]

Favorite show in Los Angeles was on HOLV tour with Lush(!) opening. It was an amazing combination, and I liked the way Liz sounded much better than her "dolphin screeching" vocal style on the subsequent FCC tour.

[Brittany in Florida]

Lisner Auditorium, Washington D.C. Heaven or Las Vegas. The acoustics were absolutely horrid, but I didn't care. Liz could have just stood there breathing and I would have been content just to be in her presence. Those eyes, that mouth... Brittany, Siesta Key, FL

[Brittany in Florida]

I was completely unaware until the moment I read the first thread, that she was pregnant during the Heaven or Las Vegas tour. I noticed that they ordered a lot of pizza for such a small entourage. It must have been fairly early in her pregnancy, when I saw her.

[Derek]

Got to see them in New Orleans for the Four Calendar Cafe tour. Felt very lucky for that as well because I had tried to see them twice before but failed miserably both times.
It was a wonderful show and not at all what New Orleans expected, I think. The band was great and the crowd reverential.
I think the security guards were a little put out because it wasn't the madhouse one expects to find at a rock concert. Just a lot of people swaying to the music and mouthing what bits of lyrics they could puzzle out. From their perspective it must have looked a bit cultish.
The show finisher was Purr. One of my all-time favorites and I can still remember what it was like after the concert wandering back to the car with Purr reverberating in my head. In the end, my friends and I couldn't go to sleep and wound up staying up all night and talking at a coffee shop before finally getting tired around daybreak and driving home.

[Derek]

Got to see them in New Orleans for the Four Calendar Cafe tour. Felt very lucky for that as well because I had tried to see them twice before but failed miserably both times.
It was a wonderful show and not at all what New Orleans expected, I think. The band was great and the crowd reverential.
I think the security guards were a little put out because it wasn't the madhouse one expects to find at a rock concert. Just a lot of people swaying to the music and mouthing what bits of lyrics they could puzzle out. From their perspective it must have looked a bit cultish.
The show finisher was Purr. One of my all-time favorites and I can still remember what it was like after the concert wandering back to the car with Purr reverberating in my head. In the end, my friends and I couldn't go to sleep and wound up staying up all night and talking at a coffee shop before finally getting tired around daybreak and driving home.

[Derek]

Got to see them in New Orleans for the Four Calendar Cafe tour. Felt very lucky for that as well because I had tried to see them twice before but failed miserably both times.
It was a wonderful show and not at all what New Orleans expected, I think. The band was great and the crowd reverential.
I think the security guards were a little put out because it wasn't the madhouse one expects to find at a rock concert. Just a lot of people swaying to the music and mouthing what bits of lyrics they could puzzle out. From their perspective it must have looked a bit cultish.
The show finisher was Purr. One of my all-time favorites and I can still remember what it was like after the concert wandering back to the car with Purr reverberating in my head. In the end, my friends and I couldn't go to sleep and wound up staying up all night and talking at a coffee shop before finally getting tired around daybreak and driving home.

[Derek]

Got to see them in New Orleans for the Four Calendar Cafe tour. Felt very lucky for that as well because I had tried to see them twice before but failed miserably both times.
It was a wonderful show and not at all what New Orleans expected, I think. The band was great and the crowd reverential.
I think the security guards were a little put out because it wasn't the madhouse one expects to find at a rock concert. Just a lot of people swaying to the music and mouthing what bits of lyrics they could puzzle out. From their perspective it must have looked a bit cultish.
The show finisher was Purr. One of my all-time favorites and I can still remember what it was like after the concert wandering back to the car with Purr reverberating in my head. In the end, my friends and I couldn't go to sleep and wound up staying up all night and talking at a coffee shop before finally getting tired around daybreak and driving home.

[NoBoyBandsPlease]

I saw them 4 times - 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1996. I think he best was the Milk and Kisses show at the Ministry of Sound - just for the fact it was their last UK show and they experimented with some old tracks,giving them a dubby, dance vibe (Wax and Wane, Aloysius).
All of them were blinding shows though.
God, I miss them!
Does that make me sad?

[Torreadorre]

I saw them twice during both the FCC & M&K tour.
Ill never forget the first time at the Brixton Academy in 1993. Id been a fan since I discovered them during HOLV and couldnt equate their music to real people. I had visions of some entity to beautiful to be human.
See-ing them live that first time was one of the most memorable experiences in my life. I knew my love for them ran deeper than just the music, Liz looked to sweet beating her chest and Oh that smile. I didnt want the show to end.
Theu also performed a track Ive never heard before and I have everything they have ever done.
Ill never forget seeing them at the Ministry of Sound in 1996. I met Robin at the bar before hand. No one else seemed to recognise him. He was so down to earth and easy to talk to. He introduced me to his charming wife and we chatted like we knew each other. He promised me he'd play Wax & Wane and even ok'd it for me to come back stage to watch them play. You may think Im dumb but I was in another world so when the bouncers came to usher him on stage I remained with my friens gazing like a lemming. OH THE REGRET!
How-ever it didnt end there.
After the gig and several beers in I went looking for the loo. I saw a door ajar being guarded by a bouncer. I approached him to ask directions for the loo and noticed people in the room he was guarding. I asked him as natural as anything if Robin & Liz were inside. He told me to go in and have a look. Inside there were many folk drinking & milling about. Near the entrance stood Robin & simon chatting in a crowd. I chatted with them briefly before asking where Liz was. Robin pointed to the opposite corner of the room. I gazed in the direction of hs finger and there she was, the woman who ruled my world. I wanted to chat with her but suddenly became overwhelmed by it all. 'What if it went badly' I was thinking, Id be gutted for ever.
My firend was so good, he calmed me and said if I didnt talk to her I would regret it for ever. I knew he was right so I made my way through the crowd, at the same time she started walking in my direction. And there it happened. I said Hi and she she honestly looked pleased to see me, so warm and friendly. We chatted for 20 minutes about the gig, about Lucy, about life, about the grey track suit she was wearing. There was a crowd of people around us listening in but they were oblivious to me. Damian Reece her boyfriend was standing behind her and he looked aggitated, like he wanted to get out of there.
Before Liz left I asked her for an autograph, she gladly obliged BUT there wasnt a pen about so she apologised. I said it had been lovely to meet her and her eyes lit up even brighter as she smiled and returned the compliment.
Then I watched her wind her way out with Damian.
I felt like Id been granted the most precious moment ever and then had it taken away from me. I was quite depressed for a few days after, but now the thought of that day brings me perpetual joy.
I hope Liz liked me, then again maybe she was just happy to see the only guy at the gig with long back-combed hair wearing eyeliner & lipstick!

[coldplay]

derek.. easy with that left-click finger! maybe your trips to coffee shops are making you a tad edgey... ;-)

[Derek]

Heh, sorry about that. It took me a couple of times posting on this site to realize that if you hit the back button on your browser after posting you dont' go back to the thread you were reading, you go back to the post message screen and automatically post again. As spacey as I can be late at night, this didn't sink in as quickly as it should.

Derek

[<--MOZ-->]

I've seen the Cocteau 5 times starting early in the eighties. Liz was upon that moment very, very shy. They where doing a gig in Leiden at LVC and Liz was afraid to come out of the ladiesroom. So some people had to force the door to get Liz out. In all the times i've seem them perform itwas magic.

Call me
<-MOZ->

[beetles&eggs]

sadly, no. :(
phillip

[SimonC]

I saw them a few times - not sure how many, but one of the best was the first time. They were supporting The Birthday Party in London. This was before they had released any records. The mates who had gone with me thought they were crap, but there was something about them that clicked with me and I thought they were brilliant. All I knew about them was the name and it wasn't until a couple of months later when John Peel was in Bristol for a show and I asked him if he knew anything about them. He told me that they had signed to 4AD. So next thing I was sending a letter to them via 4AD, and they actually replied! They even sent me a tape of some of the tracks that eventually made it onto Garlands. I also followed them around the country when they toured for Head over Heels, getting to see them at least 6 times (I wish I had kept notes of the times and dates!), they were kind enough to put me on the guest list for some of the shows. Thank you Elizabeth and Robin for some great times.

[mmmender]

simon, it sounds to me as though you've had some wonderful cocteau experiences - i think seeing them very early on in their career (or lack thereof) would have been magic....you got to experience the sound as it developed into songs we all now know and love. i hope you treasure those times!

[SimonC]

Originally posted by mmmender
i hope you treasure those times!

I certainly do, I just wish I could go back and experience them again!

[dynamine]

also saw them during the HOLV tour in vegas @the aladin
casino w/MAZZY STAR opening the show.WOW!, but my first
cocteau twins experience was @the palace in hollywood 1986.

[Phil Lawton]

I saw them in 1981, when they were known as "Liz And The Lizettes". Some storming cover versions, notably "Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree", "Help Me Make It Through The Night" and "Johhny B Goode". I'll tell you, the regulars at the "Frog and Fruitnut" loved 'em...and rightly so. Whilst Liz did struggle on the odd occasion with the complex phrasing of "Heartbreak Hotel", she brought the house down with her sensitive reading of "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter".

The Lizettes later had a residency at Butlins' Whitley Bay holiday camp, where they also helped out on the "Pass The Balloon To The Person Behind You Using Only Your Knees" game and doubled as the "Oompah" band in the genuine German Bier Kellar. Simon's accordian playing was sublime, as was Robin's banjo work.

Returning to their first love of cabaret work, the band then embarked on a world tour of Aberdeen, where they were spotted by Engelbert Humperdink's agent. After lengthy negotiations, a spot on "Shirley Bassey Tonight" was arranged, but, due to an existing booking at the Aberdeen Young Socialist Gardeners Club, the band were forced to pass up this gilt edged opportunity.

The rest, of course, is history.

[SimonC]

Ha Ha - very witty Phil.
Oh and by the way Simon wasn't in the band in 1981 - he didn't appear until much later.

[Phil Lawton]

SimonC

I know....I was being obtuse, rather than accurate. Just do what everyone else here does, mate - smile and ignore me, much like some barking old relative who sits in the corner mubling, dribbling and farting.

[mmmender]

phil, luv.....is yer tea cold? want me ta top y'up?
g'on have a wee bun as well, no one's lookin'

[mborum]

I saw them on the three 90's tours, as well. (Was Liz ever pregnant while on tour, though? Lucy was born before the recording of HoLV was even completed.)

Anyway, visually, HoLV and FCC were brilliant. Unfortunately, Liz was sick during the HoLV tour when I saw her, so they performed and she did her best, but she had to give up on a few songs altogether because her voice just wasn't coming out.

The FCC tour was brilliant, mainly because I was (I think) tripping on acid or something, so it was a heightened experience, and I was standing about arm's length from Liz. In retrospect, though, I can't say I was very crazy about her singing style on that tour. I do recall the whole place jumping up and down during a few songs, especially "Carolyn's Fingers." Lots of great energy during that tour. After the show, my friends and I were walking outside and we passed the tour bus. Liz was sitting up front talking to someone, and we waved to her and I blew her a kiss. She blew one back to me and said, "Thank you." So sweet.

Ultimately, though, the Milk & Kisses tour rocked my world. All the elements finally came together in exactly the right way, and I was simply amazed. So _right_on_! Pulling out some oldies but goodies, and the live remixing by Mark Clifford. It was the perfect way to say farewell to their fans.

The follow-up best is when I got to sit cross-legged on the floor at September Sound and watch and listen to them rehearse for the M&K tour. They played, like, 4 or 5 songs. It was one of the coolest moments of my life.

Michael

[kyne]

Saw CT in Houston, Texas circa FCC tour. Mesmerized.

[elysium]

Saw CT in Houston, Texas circa FCC tour. Mesmerized.
Which venue was the Houston date? I think I was there!