"Kai, that is fandom." - quick reaction to The Rift

[lonelybrit]

Just a quick initial reaction to the Rift today. Firstly, rather disorganised, there were delays and queues all over the place. But I still give it a firm thumbs up - all the guests were brilliant and the Q&A sessions great fun.

But the main highlight, as it were, came at the end of the day. We all settled in our seats for Marster's concert, only for his manager Steven to come onstage and announce that due to sickness the gig was cancelled. Refunds were offered for those that wanted, and for those willing to stay for a bit, Kai Owen had volunteered to try and entertain us for a few minutes since there was no-one else around. He was obviously, and quickly warned us that he was, very drunk.

What followed has got to have been the most cracktastic 40/50 minutes of my life. Kai swore like a trooper pretty much constantly but actually managed to hold the fort for nearly half an hour until the cavalry arrived. Or at least Gareth David-Lloyd joined the fray (he'd phoned to see how it was going and was told Kai was doing stand-up. His reaction: 'Oh f**k.') Highlights included Gareth and some audience member massacring Grease's 'Summer Nights', Kai singing in general (great voice), Kai singing a hymn (Bread of heaven, bread of heaven...) with Gareth providing the human beatbox backup, and Gareth singing some hard blues-y song with Steven providing the backup dancing.

They kept on apologising for cancelling the gig, saying James would really have been there if he could, and then thanking us repeatedly for sticking around anyway. One of these apologies/thanks leading to Gareth pointing to us as we cheered and applauded one of his and Kai's tuneful efforts and going 'Kai, that is fandom.' Whereupon we all felt rather proud and chuffed and cheered a bit more :)

Comments

[cheesygirl.livejournal.com]

I would have gladly paid to see that instead of James's concert! :D

[lonelybrit]

Hehe, poor Steve the manager look like he was seriously about to cack himself when he announced it all, but yes, by the end I heard several people commenting that the final product was sooo worth the price of entry!

[macphista.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is fabulous. I have a feeling that that last paragraph is like a bookend to the whole day. :)

Can't wait for the longer review! I'm glad you had so much fun.

[lonelybrit]

It's odd but I think that unexpected improv was pretty much the best part of the entire day! All the previous Q&As and autographs etc were fabulous, but that evening was BRILLIANT and my love for Kai, Owen and Steve right now knows no bounds, I can't believe they managed to pull it off but serious adoration for them that they did! =)

[fairyd123.livejournal.com]

Something definitely happened between Marsters solo Q&A and his joint talk with Gareth. He was incredibly spacey when I went up to get his auto and by the final Q&A I thought he just wasn't with it all - all the other reports seem to be people squeeing about that talk- from where I was sitting James was barely coherent and Gareth kept having to interject - it very much looked to me like he knew James was having issues and that he had to step up and save it- he's certainly come a hell of a long way from his early mumbling appearance in Telford.

But yes "Kai Owen's doing stand up - oh fuck", "I can't believe you all stayed - that's fandom for you" and Gareth's version of Bam Bam all made my night.

[lonelybrit]

I remember thinking that James had lost his edge in the second Q&A, he was seriously pwned by Gareth repeatedly, but then dismissing it as being uncharitable and GDL-biased. But in hindsight, yep, I think he was already suffering by that point, hence the noticable lack of snarky come-backs. Gareth definitely has come on so much since his early Q&As, a year or so ago I'm fairly sure he would have baulked at the idea of singing unaccompanied in front of a crowd expecting a JM gig, but this time round and he carried it off splendidly =)

Though I have to say, what really made 'Bam Bam' was Steve's dancing in the background ;) God I hope someone got that last song on camera, bloody brilliant and a perfect end to the day!

[fairyd123.livejournal.com]

James had completely lost it in teh second Q&A and I didn't so much think it was Gareth being snarky as Gareth realising that things were spiralling rapidly out of control and that he had to turn things around by answering the questions and keeping the tone light. He really did save the day in that one.

I don't have Bam Bam unfortunately (memory card was dead at that point) but do have most of Kai's bits including the whole of him singing Land of My Fathers which I loved "and I'll say that again because it's my favourite fucking line!"

[lonelybrit]

In hindsight I think you may be right, certainly it did seem like Gareth was always getting the last word, or rather trying to yank the conversations/answers back on course.

Hehe, yep, the cheering at the 'Torchwood defeated England' and Kai's response was brilliant!

[quinn222.livejournal.com]

God I hope someone got that last song on camera,

Someone did, I downloaded it off YouTube last night.

[lonelybrit]

Eeee! Excellent, I shall go a-hunting for it this evening :)

[londinensa.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

I have bam bam with I hope dancing Steve although I haven't had a chance to actually look at it yet ;p

Seriously the replacement concert events however surreal were my favourite pars of the entire day ♥

[lonelybrit]

YAY!! I saw your other vid which was awesome and was hoping when you said you had a few others that this might be amongst them! Is it possible for you to post them in an unlocked post on one of the coms, or would that cause too much hassle?

That last event was so unexpected but, as you say, definitely the best part of the day - which is saying something as even before then I was happily floating on cloud 9 =)

[londinensa.livejournal.com]

Well, it and a couple of others are on my journal now, not sure about the comm, maybe tonight but vids of all the various songs seem to be floating about on YT anyway ;)

[lonelybrit]

I've still got ruddy 'Bread of Heaven' going round and round in my head, complete with beatbox backing.

Well, I know what I'll be doing this evening - YouTube here I come! :)

[londinensa.livejournal.com]

Two words: Summer Lovin

*runs and hides*

[lonelybrit]

To be honest, the main thing I can remember of Summer Lovin was us all cringing in pain throughout. Well, that and of course Gareth's updated lyrics for two of the key lines ;)

[londinensa.livejournal.com]

Let me refresh your memory *eg*

http://londinensa.livejournal.com/375933.html

[bruinsfan.livejournal.com]

The MC needn't have worried—I think most of convention fandom would rather have a personal, off-the-cuff evening with the special guests like that than a planned show. Personally, while hell would freeze over before I'd willingly attend a James Marsters song gig, I'd be thrilled at the chance to see Kai Owen and GDL perform like that.

[lonelybrit]

They all looked rather overwhelmed, I think Steve was honestly expecting to get lynched when he first went onstage, but yes, although quite a few folks did leave, over half stayed and it obviously went down a storm =)

[cyberducks.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your report - Kai sounds like a really terrific guy and well worth sticking around for.

[lonelybrit]

He really was the hero of the hour that night, and he really does have a lovely voice if a filthy mouth and wicked sense of humour ;)