Marktrock, Leuven, Belgium, 13 August 2005

by Carmen

When we are together…

-the end of four years of waiting-

21st of April 2001, it’s a date to remember, my first Texas concert in Gent. I didn’t know one single lyric, I didn’t know the woman on stage was called Sharleen and I was completely astonished that the last song they sang that day (say what you want) was from them. It was a Saturday evening and Sharleen was a bit sick, but despite this I remember that after a few songs I was convinced that I was watching the best band in the world. The day after, I needed lyrics…on the official website I discovered a chat box, and people there send me to Texasindemand.com. I think I have been a silent fan for 2 years then, reading the message board, discovering the basic Texas stuff (and saving up the money I got for my birthday to buy their albums). After two “silent” years I became a message board member. Since then Texasindemand is like my basic internet-page. I’ve met the coolest people there, and they were all as crazy as me when it comes to Texas. For four years I had to wait ‘till I could see my favourite band again and to meet all those kind other fans.

13th of August 2005, D-day for me. My alarm woke me up at 7.20am after a chaotic night, I hadn’t slept a lot, I was very excited about what was waiting for me in Leuven, and I have to admit that the night before I had been drinking a bit too much, but who cares?! I was about to see them again today! At 9.20 the train left the train station in Bruges, there was an elderly lady next to me telling me every detail about her heart surgery she had some months ago and a couple in front of me discussing about which hits that band called “Texas” who was about to play at Marktrock tonight had . So I was in pretty good company. In Brussels Mailla saved me from the lady, just when she was about to tell me about the problems of her divorced son…what a pity.

So I met Mailla for the first time there. It’s pretty weird meeting people who you are talking to almost every day, but you never met before. At eleven we arrived in Leuven, we searched for the stage, they were still building up, so lots of time to talk a bit more and looking for a typical Belgian (o god I love our traditions ) “Frietkot”(well, that’s a thing were you can buy “French” fries). After a very long search, we’ve found one and while eating them at the statue in front of the station in Leuven, a lot of other Texans arrived. The family was gathering one by one.

I think it was around 3 o’clock when we were at the front row. The 8 hours of waiting was just started. But it hasn’t bothered me one second. It was really cool talking to all those Texans, one by one the finest people you can imagine. Wim Soutaer (a “handsome” Belgian artist who thinks he’s Robbie Williams) was that day’s opener…and I think he has some new fans…(international fans!) :-p. The hours passed, a girl called Estelle made the audience move a bit, followed by the Human League (in the beginning I think they were cool, but after a while I thought they were doing the same song all the time, it was a bit boring. Only Don’t you want me was cool…and we all know why! Just because Texas covered it, and they did it a lot better if you ask me.) The last support act was Vaya con dios, it’s a pity for her, but I didn’t really enjoy the concert, I was thinking about that Scottish band who was about to come.

At 23.20 pm my heart started to beat that little bit faster. I was getting pretty excited, my four years of waiting was about to end!

Around 23.30pm I went nuts. I saw them getting on stage one by one…I was really at a Texas concert again…I couldn’t believe it. They started with I don’t want a lover followed by Halo (two first class jumping-songs, I went out of my mind) Then it was time for the first new one (Can’t resist). Sharleen was in a good mood, she told us that the band had been drinking a bit too much and they were a bit drunk, which was good for the atmosphere . So Sharleen took her glass of wine and toasted on Dirk (and he definitely deserves it, our big boss!). After Can’t resist we heard Black eyed Boy and In our lifetime. I was so happy about the fact that I knew the lyrics this time!. I think it was after In our lifetime we were supposed to witness Michaels absolutely stunning body! The band’s virgin…he’s so cute! Like Shar said…a bit of exercising and he’s a model.

They continued with When we are together and two more new songs, sleep and nevermind. Sleep is my absolute favourite of the new ones…what a song, and what good is it to hear Tony singing! (my mum loves it too…and if my mum loves it…that means a lot!) I didn’t like Nevermind a lot when I heard it on the official site for the first time, but live it’s so real, so intimate, so pure…stunning! After the complete silence of Nevermind it was about time to get nuts again. Inner smile, getaway and Summerson…I lost myself.

And then they were gone for the first time, of course we knew they were about to come back…I shouted myself a sore throat. And they came back with Dallas (Red book is going to be such a good album!). I felt sad when they started Say what you want, because we all know that’s the last one, for the last time that night I went crazy. For me it was absolutely okay if they went on like that for the rest of the night. I was on another planet for at least three hours after the concert. I enjoyed it so much…it was so great…

By the end of the concert my parents were arrived, so I had to leave. I said goodbye to the Texans, hoping that it won’t be another four years ‘till I see them and my favourite band again.

Now I’m here at home behind my computer, still enjoying the wonderful time I had there. Sleep is in my head constantly…

Thanks my dear message board friends for the wonderful day you gave me, and thanks Tony, Ally (o…I adore Ally ) Johnny, Eddie, Michael (You rock!) and Sharleen for being such a great band and making such magical music!


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