Rose & Rosie Exposed London | Review

I'm not sure how to start off this review considering I started off this day quite bad mentally. Don't worry I'm good now. Ok off to the review, I had been to this venue over four times or so, no problem of finding it this time; the only thing I started worrying about was when I got there, pretty much everyone seemed to be coupled up. At first I thought this was cute and adorable but then I was surrounded by them... This never normally got to me since it was my dream to go to concerts alone, so my mum wouldn't have to put up with what I liked but she so obviously didn't, I noticed this when I took her along to a Vamps concert and she was just sitting there awkwardly, on Facebook.

There was a slight delay on us being let inside, as well as when the show was starting which did add to another worry of mine that the event might be called off last minute; but I gently pushed it aside by thinking it was just some VIPs taking their time with saying their hello's (take your time).
A thing I noticed about this event was there were quite a few videos to watch in the show, what I mean by this is: the other YouTube sort of tours I've been to only had the intro video and then that was it, the rest of the show was just them. That's not to say anything was wrong with that, however with where I was sitting (middle row on the bottom), it was hard to hear almost all of the speech said in those, so once the crowd was laughing at a straight joke they just said, I was either pretending to laugh along or squint and stare, trying to make sense of the little murmurs I was hearing. Though it was quite easy to cheer along when they kissed on stage. Maybe I'm just turning into my Nan who likes subtitles to be there, just in case.
On with the show, I guess with me feeling bad mentally made me set this show as really high expectations, which nothing but Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 could've hit. The show was still great, there was quite a bit of audience interaction (only if you wanted to go on stage), which I found quite nice. They even included the higher level, not just the people in standing so everyone got a feel of the show. Not sure how much of the show I can spoil since there has been little hints that they might take it international but who knows? Anyway, on with the questions.

1. Was it worth the money, how much were the tix?
Well normal was £29 and VIP was £65, I remember because the first lot of tickets sent out said the VIP price instead of normal. They said in email that those tickets wouldn't get us in at all, so I waited patiently for reprints. After seeing how cheap Hannah Witton's tickets were, I think it was a little much. Though gotta give them credit they were still doing quite well when it was their last night and they must've been quite tired. 

2. Would you go again?
If I had friends to go with this time, and I got good seats so I would be able to hear those videos clearly sure.

3. Was it funny?
As funny as their videos, which is quite hilarious.

4. Anything you think could be improved with the show?
Just what I've said before with the sound quality or subtitles would be great. I guess to some extent it did feel weird with this show, because with the other ones they had a book to promote or something to base it around but this one seemed a little without purpose.

5. What would you rate the show?
7/10.

Links
+ Rose
+ Rosie
+ Merch
+ Vlog

DOING IT! LIVE | Review

quick selfie (me, Alina & Becca)

 Hi, long time no see; let's get back to this by starting off with a review, since it's all I do on this blog so I must be this narcissistic person who loves sharing my opinion about almost everything. Don't worry, I was joking, mostly. Anyway, I went to Hannah's London show (the first one) and I made some new friends. I was originally going to go alone but then I was curious to see who was also going alone, so I did a quick Twitter search and found these two: Alina & Becca. We met up before the show to have some lunch, then I relied on them for finding the place (since I have a great sense of direction). So once we got there, we weren't sure whether to expect a long queue or just 3 people, it was the latter but it was around 6:20pm, this was just after the VIP had been called in so it made sense. As we lined up, the queue started forming, so no more worries on whether we were waiting outside the wrong place, and we could start feeling pretty special to be some of the first few to go in (after the VIP).

Before we start on the show I would just like to note that there wasn't anyone screaming, it was just a calm, peaceful, gentle community of people in the same room to see two people. I'm not exactly fond of those who scream at the littlest of things so I loved this. Once the show begun, I had to creep my head around this girl (who I later found out had the same name as me, idk on spelling) to see properly, thankfully this only lasted for the first two bits. I wasn't sure what to expect with this show, no one was and Hannah herself even admitted to knowing that, then thanking us for buying tickets to something we had no clue about. To sum it up, Lucy was eating Doritos whilst we talked about sex.

creds to Alina for this pic

look how aesthetically pleasing this lighting is

I don't want to delve into too many spoilers, mostly in fear Hannah might come after me and say I'm not allowed to do that, incase future shows do happen. But I can't not mention this moment where (from right to left) Becca and another member of the crowd raced to put a condom on a banana.
They were even offered lube "just incase".


During the interval, we were told to give in slips which were these small dating profiles in hope we'd be paired up with someone by the end of the night, picked out by Cupid Lucy. I went to go use half of my change (I have a lot of change in 20ps) on a copy of the book, whilst practising maths skills with the merch seller. Only to find out at the end of the show that there was a cash machine outside I could use, so I used it at the end of the night to get a t-shirt.

I AM ENTITLED TO ALL OF THIS SPACE

As the night came to an end, even though we all didn't want it to, it was getting around 10pm so some of us had to hop on the last train before parents started worrying. Some of us also had to notice the crushed Tuc biscuits in their bag sometime, luckily I had tissues. Good thing I was with two new friends that still helped guide me the way home, that makes it sound like I was drunk...there was a very funny live drunk advice episode in the show, but I'm just the non-drinker that gets lost quite easily.

So yeah this is mostly it, hopefully that still leaves a lot of wonder for this show and not me getting sued. Here's some last Q&A's:

1. Was it worth the money, how much were tix?
Normal/standing tix were £14, it matches with the age restriction actually (14+, 14 and 15's had to be accompanied by adults). Considering most shows are £30 and up, Ed Sheeran's being at £60 and more, I would say £14 for standing is quite a bargain for a show with a lot of laughs. I can't remember the cost of VIP but I think it was around £60 to meet both Hannah & Lucy with some free merch; early access; signed books, and these cool VIP lanyards.

2. Would you go again?
In a heartbeat I would, and this time I would put my hand up more for audience interaction since I'm usually quite shy as everyone calls it, but looking deeper into it; it's mild selective mutism (look it up). My mind was ironically saying "why not do it, since the show is called DOING IT!?" 

3. Was it funny?
Hilarious, there were a few sexual innuendos so be prepared for those...

4. Anything you think could be improved with the show?
Uh, can't think of much actually, it did feel quite short but then again, all shows do when the moment's finished. I even asked Alina & Becca, we all just agreed it was too short. Maybe more selected couples by Cupid Lucy? Not sure if it was at every show but at the London show; it felt a little last minute like ooo gotta squeeze one in then boom we're done.

5. What would you rate the show?
10/10 since who couldn't rate it that when the live drunk advice was everything.

Links
+ Buy a copy of the book
+ Hannah
+ Lucy
+ Merch
+ Vlog

"Louise Live" {03/09/16} Review [some spoilers!]

So this won't be organised if that's what you were hoping for, soz {sorry}. The trains just weren't great on the day I went so I was late by like 15 mins because of part closures. Great timing.

Was it worth the money?
Of course I'm going to say yes but I still wish there was more to it with merchandise wise {it was just a poster and a tote bag, where were the books?} and that we didn't have to queue just to say hi. I just remember seeing clips of the last Louise Live where it was all done as a group and yes don't get me wrong it's nice for everyone to have their own time to say their things but then they go straight to the show after they're done, even though it was in a bar. It just seems like a bit of a missed opportunity to talk with us all and just hang out but I guess that is pretty difficult when quite a few people in one room.

Would you go again?
Hell yeah, I asked if she had caught up with OUAT {Once Upon A Time} and she said she hadn't but in the next show she'll call me out then for it, but idk {I don't know} when that is since it was the last show, for now I'm guessing. But even then there will be a few shows before mine comes up again so good luck in memory department when so many others.

Was it funny?
Yes, it was hilarious, I found myself genuinely laughing quite a few times throughout it, I loved the moments where you could tell she was paraphrasing so it wasn't just script-work. There was even this bit where the lights and a disco ball went off when she was in the middle of talking about bins and she acknowledged it with "UH, can we go back to the normal lights please? I was trying to tell a story," someone even shouted that they were being blinded by the disco-ball, I was too.

Anything you think could be improved with the show?
Maybe one thing extra actually, it was like you could tell the chairs were just pulled out the back. Which I've been to the place before and seen it without chairs so I know they probably were but they were just placed so close together, it was an obstacle course if you wanted to get out during intermission. I could feel mine moving by itself, like it just wasn't steady. Alongside the little merchandise and not what I expected the VIP room to be like when it was literally held in the bar area.

What would you rate the show?
9.8/10 {the .2 left being the two things that could've been better}. Ok I'll change it to 10 on Darcy's behalf, she's just so adorable, I wanted to squish her, I didn't. But I know now I'll be that grandmother who squeezes their grandchildren's' cheeks.

I think I've basically summed it all up so all in all, it was a lovely show. I think I even cry laughed a bit in the intermission, or my hay-fever was acting up again.
- Video version of this.

Halsey - BADLANDS | Concert Review, photographed by Rajalaxmi Watkinson

We (myself and Rajalaxmi Watkinson) started off the day by checking we had the right directions written down on our phones, all the right trains to get on and a vague idea of what way to go when we got there, thankfully Rajalaxmi remembered the way from the last time we went there and all the memories started flooding back from the last time we went to O2 Brixton Academy.

Once we got to the arena, after praising that Rajalaxmi had remembered the way; we had to go to the back of one of the longest queues we had ever seen, it just never ended, it went round and round, and around the building and then to other buildings. Giving us the heads up that the show is “SOLD OUT”, even though we already walked past that sign. We finally made it to the end, where we would wait until it was time for doors to open, and if the line already wasn’t long enough; people started queuing up behind us, reminding us just how big the arena is. Rachael got the tickets out of her bag for us to keep hold of, ready to be scanned when we did eventually get to the doors, there was still plenty of time for selfies to take for ‘Snapchat’ to send around.

Skipping to the moment the queue actually started moving, we got past the side of the building which had gates to only show the other side of the queue, still yet to go in themselves. There were these big posters of her on the walls with the labels “SOLD OUT”, there was always that feeling of relief, remembering we have our tickets already in our pockets. I almost forgot all about them having to check our bags, which meant I was a bit disorganised, trying to open up my bag as soon as I could, assuring the security guards that we just had big cases for our professional cameras. This was where I said my goodbyes to my water-bottle, and a guard made the comment “don’t take her sandwiches, that’s just cruel.”… and leaving me to dehydrate isn’t cruel? Overjoyed and excited for the night to begin, we had a quick look at the merch stand, then remembered how poor we are and decided we could easily find something on eBay later on, we ran to our seats on the higher balcony, and then the radio started playing; where we only recognised one song which happened to be by ‘twenty øne piløts’ which we sang and danced along to, still awaiting the concert to begin. 

We won’t mention names of the special guests, considering they-well.-to put it blunt, they were awful. The base was fine, but we couldn’t hear a word of any of the songs, there were these bright, blinding lights. The two bands played about six songs each, which we just about survived through, with little help from Rachael’s earplugs (playing ‘Panic! At the Disco’ and ‘Bethan Leadley’ / MusicalBethan on YouTube). We had that small moment of thinking Halsey was next, considering the whole arena had blacked out, which usually means the next act is up but it was just the second band. Soon enough, after making sure not too much time had passed, it was definitely running later than what it had said on the ticket; this time, we knew Halsey was next. Well, thanks to the small hint when the people checking the instruments and lighting had shown the logos of the two bands that had just been up and then Halsey’s on the screen. We waited a little more, and then we recognised the start of her music being played.

Trying to contain all our excitement, there she was, on stage; taking our breath away. We just couldn’t believe that the girl we had been listening to non-stop was in the same room as us and performing those songs we love, live. Witnessing another beauty to add to our list of god(esses) that make us question our sexualities. I just loved how she didn’t sing those songs the exact same way as on her album, otherwise what would be the point? She sang some notes higher and with just more emotion, it just had more atmosphere to remembering that this was happening live, and we were there to witness. It was like she was really bringing herself to the stage.
We did find ourselves wishing she had an intro sort of trailer to welcome us into the Badlands, or at least use the trailer for the album here but to ease the audience into it (not that they needed it) and give a better sign that she was up next, something we could scream in excitement at. But the space being played on the screens behind her when she was bringing herself to the stage was just so aesthetic. I mean look at it. Space is beautiful and we were just so glad it wasn't some pixelated low quality kind.

I love how she was just so genuine, she called us her friends that were too cool for her, if we knew her in real life. She was so comfortable with us, she even took her bra off at the start of ‘Castle’; hiding it up by twerking. I really couldn’t believe it, that there was this point where in-between the song break, she told us that she was taking off her bra. “I bet you all didn't notice I was taking my bra off at the start of the song”.

There were times she couldn’t keep herself away from the crowd, she would go back and forth to stand on the bars and she would reach out to some of us who were reaching back to her. There was even hand movements she was getting us to do with the song that looked silly but she still got us to move our hands up and down to the beat; like we were all dancing as good friends. As well as dancing, she pointed the microphone towards the crowd when she noticed us singing the words back in sync. Almost like karaoke where we would sing the chorus back to her. 

When it came to the break or sometimes in the middle of song, she would stop it all, just to say how much she appreciates us all, give a round of applause for the special acts beforehand and her band helping her out or try to get as close to the crowd as she could. She swore in almost every sentence when she wasn’t singing (including her song, ‘Strange Love’), yet it didn’t sound like she was actually swearing, more like talking to us as good friends and she didn’t mean for the swearing to be harmful, to not be taken seriously. “I love all your f**king faces”. Before we knew it, it came to the last song ‘Colors’ and there was confetti everywhere, she sang songs from her old EP “Room 93″ and every song from her album, “Badlands” except for ‘I walk the line’. Throughout all the songs, the crowd was just so enthusiastic to be singing every word with her, dancing along. We just didn’t want the night to end. Sadly, it had to, otherwise we would miss our train back, and the college days after that.
Now came the time to endure that after-concert-depression, until Friday (26th February), where another concert will add on to all the emotions Halsey left us with.

Written by Rachael Cook, photographed by Rajalaxmi Watkinson.You can find more photography of this concert here.