For the love of these soldiers = NMA... the APPLAUSE thread. :)

[8]

Well, it was 'four o'clock...' (actually, more like 4:38am ) 'in the morning, and still'  I could  'not sleep.  Turning over turning round, twisting in' my 'sweat'.  After having been up all night, last night, trying to write a letter, then giving up on it halfway through and putting it away ('cause I suck at writing anything).  Anyway, I decided to go to  themill.tv  and paid my way back in to re-stream NMA's 40th Anniversary Global Gathering.  I knew I wasn't going to get any shut-eye, so why bother trying, it was almost 5am.

I must say, the entire performance left me quite emotional by the end.  It was even more-so deeply touching, profoundly moving the second time 'round.  See, it was 3pm in the afternoon here, when I watched the original stream.  Even with the shades down, it'd been too bright outside my window, to really soak it in, like it was being filmed... in the dark, like it was meant to be taken in, mood-wise.  Not only that, I didn't realise how much I actually missed during the original stream due to refreshing the page every so often, which seemed to happen every time Mr. Sullivan was just about to part his beautiful lips to speak to everyone who tuned in.  And those moving words of love, warmth, truth, insight, light, hope and wisdom, in between the songs, he so kindly and generously offered, shared, were among some of the most tender, genuinely sweetest. best moments of the evening.

I'm not going to say anymore about the beautiful gig.  Reason being, I want everyone who wasn't able to view it then, right through to the to end of this Wednesday, to not run into too many spoilers.  I want them to have a fair chance.  However, be warned though, come 12am UK time Thursday onward, at some point 'round then or in the days shortly thereafter, I very much intend to return to further post in-depth thoughts and details about the wonderful show, experience, etc..  There's so much more that I wish to say and ask, here, on these boards pertaining to the whole treasured event, etc..  So please, don't get mad at me then, all ye gentlefolk?

I'm going to stream it a third time, again tonight.  It's the very least I can do.  Plus, it's another chance to see NMA!  Whoa!!  Who would pass that up?  Not even in my wildest dreams can I see them in action every night.  It's crazy!  embarrassed soft lol, what the heck am I saying!  I'm the one that's crazy!  Ahhh, but completely harmless though.

oOo

[8]

I'd like to express further thanks to NMA & co. for making the live stream available to view, via purchase, for a few more weeks!  This is such wonderful news!  I'm assuming a few means 3 or more weeks.  I wasn't able to get clarity on themill.tv website.  Also, I seriously appreciate the behind-the-scenes photos accompanying these incredible updates on the official .org site.  I don't understand a lot of what I'm seeing, yet still, geeking out and over all of it like some fool in love.  THANK YOU!  As NMA fans we never get to see the mechanics of what it takes to build up a terrific and truly engaging show.  It's a bit like being back in school again.  Terribly fascinating and exciting!  Well, it certainly is to me.  I so love these tiny glimpses.  Thank you so very, very much for that bit of insight... makes the entire experience even more rewarding, special. 

oOo

[8]

YES!

Ok, I just got all choked-up, teary-eyed, emotional, thanks to NMA & co. and the countless beautiful people of this magnificent forum - (which I 100% feel and believe, is a direct reflection of the truly wonderful people in and around this most amazing band = NMA & co.).  I just saw the latest update on the NMA .org  home page.  And was elated to see that gorgeous photo of the empty room with all your gear, laid out and prepped to be played, in it!  lol, don't laugh at me already, well... not for this post anyway... I love ALL of this.  I really, really I do!

I never realised that you guys used pedals in a live situation.  Maybe that's because I'm too fcukin' short to see them resting by the foot of the mic stands, when I come to see you all play, in-person.  I can tell they're used on the records, but didn't realise that you do, or at least Dean does when you guys play live.  I say this because the pedals I'm noticing are by Dean's Evolution keyboard, but then there are a few where Justin was positioned as well.  Was Justin using pedals too?  Not sure if Marshall was using any, but I think think I see a rack or whatever you'd actually properly call it, in the near distance, to the right, just past Dean's keyboard.  Who was using those ones, Ceri?  After inserting these fantastic photos, looks as though Ceri did in fact use pedals.  So one question has been answered.

After having a wonderful moment gazing at the gear photos, I now, don't think I was imagining it, but Michael's kit there, in that shot is bigger than the one that goes on the road with him, when you guys come here, to do gigs in North America.  Correct?  In that shot of Michael's kit in the "Thank you" section of the (above in red) latest update, I noticed a rather curious looking piece.  It's the greyish round, black-rimmed disc shaped piece.  It's situated just below the high-hat, to the left, looks like a pad-type thing of some sort or other.  Anyone can tell me what that piece is and does?  It doesn't look acoustic to me... but I'm a dick about this kind of stuff, so I honestly haven't a clue.  If you happen to know, I'd so love to be enlightened.

While I was watching the incredible performance, (so far, seen it 3 times now, and intend to keep pay-to-view streaming it as many times as I can, before the chance is gone forever)  I noticed these pinkish either rubber band or nylon cable ties secured to the drum head? of Michael's snare drum.  What do those pink ties or whatever they are, do.  What is there function?  And that thing, lol, (boy, am I dumb-fcuk or what, lol, sorry this stuff, the mechanics of it all, genuinely thrills and excites me to no end.  I hope everyone reading this post will forgive my ignorance, naiveté and perhaps humour me)... anyway, yes that thing or large square piece of equipment - that almost looks like a hard case or some kind of amp or something - plugged into the electrical, that was resting by Michael's left as he sat playing, which blared the number 244 in a bluish coloured light... what is that piece?  A monitor of some sort?  What's it regulating?  What's its function, purpose?  What does it do?

While watching the 40th Anniversary gig stream, I was convinced that Michael's kit was set on top of a riser.  However, having a better look at this amazing rehearsal photo, it looks like he was actually on the venue's stage, while the rest of the guys were where, under normal circumstances, the audience would be found.  Is this correct?  So cool seeing all these photos!  Lovin' this!!  All of it!

I never realised Michael wearing an ear piece before, well, at club-level gigs here in Canada.  Normally I barely get to see him, 'cause he's naturally set too far back and I'm a real shorty, lol.  Well, I know Michael doesn't play to a click track, so what would he be hearing through his ear piece then?  Would it be his own voice as he sings or something like that, to maybe stay in tune or something?  Justin was wearing one as well, but only them two guys were.  lol, I certainly don't believe someone was whispering sweet nothings in their ears, during the performance... so what was the function or purpose of the ear pieces?  Were they the way they getting cues from the guy playing director or something like that?

Marshall was playing another guitar that looked like it might've also been some kind of a Gibson during "Orange Tree Roads".  I've never seen him play that one before.  Anyone, able to tell me more about that guitar?  That was the only song where he used that particular guitar.  Was Marshall using pedals at all, too?  I still can't tell, even with all these inserted photos.  I would love to know.

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Though I'm still talking about gear, I'm going to swerve a bit off-topic, but only for a quick moment here...  Was any of that stolen gear from the Walsall gig back in 2012 ever recovered?  I wasn't here back then (was going though some personal shit, and was off here for 7 years or so).  Anyway, Viv had posted...

We only ever found one guitar (the black Gibson SG), nothing else sadly.

Is this still true, that no other gear was found?  How about Dean's laptop, that was stolen from his place, containing the making-of the NMA album "High" on it...Was the laptop ever found?  If the answer is no, that it was never found, then somebody, anybody, please I beg you, tell me where and how incredible, spooky youtuber  "Kimmo - Finland"  has this  ultra-rare piece  of  NMA footage.  From what I imagine, that very clip would've been from that exact same NMA making-of "High" video recorded material, that was still on Dean's laptop, and only there, I believe, because it hadn't been saved, backed-up elsewhere.

Ok, if there is absolutely anyone here reading this post, with a nice chunk of time on their hands and a genuinely gracious, kind heart and open willingness to enlighten an annoying simpleton = me, by answering any or all of the dozens of questions I've asked anywhere in this very post, then please, jump in and make my day? You don't have to be any of the guys in or around NMA, (well, unless anyone from NMA or connected to them in some capacity wishes to humour and enlighten me, then great, but I'm positive they've all got a million better things to do then answer my "Stupid Questions", warm lol.)  I would SO, be utterly grateful, to absolutely anyone who answers.  I don't really care who answers, but would so dearly love and appreciate answers.

I genuinely love this kind of stuff.  I love music.  I love NMA.  I love the great people on this forum, both old and new... you're ALL wonderful.    (those are rather emotional happy tears, by the way)

Cheers! 

oOo