12. David Duchovny’s ‘Hell Or High Water’ UK Tour 2016
Only a week before I attended my very first gig of his, I was in a Q&A on Facebook where he replied to my observation regarding his second novel ‘Bucky F*ing Dent’.
Then on May 16th my friend Carl and I set off for Glasgow. Once we got to the hotel we had about an hour to get ready. Then after some difficulty with the sat nav in his car, we finally found the O2 ABC venue. I obtained a VIP ticket by pure luck as they’d originally run out, so I had tried London, who ended up letting me down! Carl went as my carer and was able to go free, but agreed to pay half the ticket price. The place used to be a cinema, then became a venue for discos and concerts. Sadly it’s no longer around as it burnt to the ground in 2018! One of it’s highlights used to be a glittering disco ball, which had been one of the largest in the UK. Even David mentioned this whilst on stage, joking that the person he knew with the biggest balls was his Mum. LOL! We noticed the queue for the meet ‘n greet was quite long. But I had arranged with the venue that since I was disabled and couldn’t stand in lines, I would be allowed instant access through the security on the door. Indeed, they took me and Carl to the VIP area where I waited about 20 mins with a few other folks, so ended up leaning against a door. One of the people I met was Laurice Fatal from the USA who along with her husband runs the Duchovniacs page on social media. I didn’t get to see him, as he wasn’t with her at that time. But I met one of the band members, and also Brad Davidson for the first time, David’s music manager. I actually got to shake his hand after the gig, and he looked knackered, as along with Kerry Lee he organises all these events!
Then when we were ready to meet the man himself, Carl & I were taken over to this rather dark area at the side of the stage and told we would be allowed only 15 seconds with him! I managed a few minutes in total, I think? I just ended up talking and talking, once David had beckoned me over, and put his arm around us both. LOL! All the while I thought we were having a photo with him? Nope! We were actually videoed, and they only chose the first gig of the tour to do this, so boy was I lucky! I’d secretly always wanted an opportunity to have a meeting with David on video, but never thought for once it would actually happen! I only discovered this weeks later after photos of the fans were put up on Dropbox. A lot of fans had been complaining they were grainy and were not happy about it? But I thanked Ging Management, and got a reply thanking me as well!
Then when we were ready to meet the man himself, Carl & I were taken over to this rather dark area at the side of the stage and told we would be allowed only 15 seconds with him! I managed a few minutes in total, I think? I just ended up talking and talking, once David had beckoned me over, and put his arm around us both. LOL! All the while I thought we were having a photo with him? Nope! We were actually videoed, and they only chose the first gig of the tour to do this, so boy was I lucky! I’d secretly always wanted an opportunity to have a meeting with David on video, but never thought for once it would actually happen! I only discovered this weeks later after photos of the fans were put up on Dropbox. A lot of fans had been complaining they were grainy and were not happy about it? But I thanked Ging Management, and got a reply thanking me as well!
Not long after that, I was sent a link to my video clip, which was 21 secs long, in b/w and the audio was replaced with ‘Hell Or High Water’
I can lip read, and also remembered just about everything that was said. To my amusement I also noticed at one point David looked down at my chest! LOL! I was wearing a t-shirt which displayed both Mulder & Scully next to the TARDIS. I had heard he liked Doctor Who, so thought I’d wear it. It’s called ‘The Agents Have The Phone Box’.
I asked David if he’d mind Carl joining in with us on the photo, as you were only supposed to have one for each ticket, to which he replied, ‘No, of course not.’ We’d been given a CD of his first album, and a picture card for him to sign. I ended up giving it to Carl, as he didn’t have his autograph, whereas I did as I’d received a personal one back in New York in 2010. He would also have liked a CD, but there was only enough for one VIP person each. However, when I got home I made him a copy anyway. So, David then asked me what my name was? I told him then mentioned I’d met him in NYC after his play ‘Break Of Noon’. He smiled and told me it was nice to meet me again. I then carried on yapping away, while I thought the photographer was trying to get a photo and probably wishing I’d shut my gob! LOL! David didn’t mind one bit and was in fact so warm and gracious throughout. And while we were being recorded (I wasn’t even aware of it!) David took the card and signed it. I then delved into my bag where I’d put his CD (and almost gave it back to him!)
I had brought along a CD demo of mine, and told him we’d do a swap! LOL! The cover of which I created from a photo during a trip to Vancouver in 2006, that Mum took – her last trip there before she passed away.
I then reminded David about the UNICEF gig I did on his behalf for a website, and the DVD I gave him. He looked right at me, shook my hand and said. ‘It’s so very nice to meet you again!’ I’ve never asked him outright what he thought of it, but it was really nice to get a reaction like that. After giving him the CD, I asked him if he’d received a disc from me, through a staff member called Steve on the X Files set in Vancouver, as I was there last year? Later, Carl said that David had probably thought at the time, who the heck is Steve? LOL! He did say he didn’t recall getting that one, to which I was a little disappointed and told him he’d said he’d given it to you? David then held up my CD and replied with a smile, ‘Well, I’ve got this one!’ and thanked me for it. I then mentioned that the contents on that ‘data disc’ had been ‘stuff’ from ‘that’ site we’d met on years ago. Oh boy, I got such a cheeky grin from him then, but that was all. He clearly wasn’t going to talk about the distant past, oh well, fair enough. I started to leave the way I’d come in, and he kindly directed me to the right exit. As I turned to go I stopped in front of him and gave him a big hug, which he returned. Then said, thank you and wished him luck with his gig that evening.
Carl and I found a lovely Italian restaurant opposite the venue. We’d been given a paper wristband so we could return to the O2 with no problem. I had my favourite dish, spaghetti bolognaise and we shared a bottle of Rose, so I was a bit tipsy (doesn’t take me long with wine!) We didn’t need to rush back as I could skip the queue. We’d also had a table reserved for us, as I cannot stand for long periods of time. So, when we returned to the venue we were taken to our seat, a bench at the right-hand side of the building on a raised platform. It wasn’t near the front of the stage, but we had a very good view. It was also a relief to have a table next to us as well. Throughout the evening Carl got the drinks at the bar, only this time I chose water with lime. On arrival we realised we’d missed part of the warm-up act, a young Scottish lady singer who had a lovely voice. Another hour went by, and after the band came on stage David joined them. I was really pleased he sang most of his album, barring ‘When The Time Comes’, which is my least favourite anyway. I was thrilled when he sang ‘Unsaid, Undone’ as that is my favourite on the album (although I hear it’s not his!) I actually was a little worried I wasn’t going to enjoy the performance? I’d seen clips on You Tube of some of his US gigs, and his singing was not very good at all. However, he must have had more training since then, as he was so much better. He went off key here and there, but on the whole it was a big improvement! At one point he got his phone out and called his Mum, encouraging the audience to yell out, ‘Meg! It’s Glasgow. We miss you!’ At the end of the night he suddenly dashed off stage, then came back on wearing a kilt. I thought he’d rushed off to the toilet or something! LOL! Also during the gig he came on stage with a guitar, and told us we were the first to hear him play to a ‘live’ audience. He sang a couple of new songs that were not on his first album, which was ‘Somebody Else’s Girl’ and I think the other was the one he wrote for his daughter, ‘Stay On The Train’? By the end of the night some folks were standing up in front of us. So, we stood up on the bench so we could see, and were whooping and cheering away. Also, I sang along to the songs throughout the whole performance which was such fun! Unfortunately, I don’t have a mobile phone, and we were not allowed to take cameras. So, I can’t show you any photos of the gig, sorry.
After struggling to get the car out of the parking garage which had been locked up for the night, (we had to press an emergency button for assistance!) We went back to our hotel, grabbed some water and crisps from the bar and went to bed.
Carl and I found a lovely Italian restaurant opposite the venue. We’d been given a paper wristband so we could return to the O2 with no problem. I had my favourite dish, spaghetti bolognaise and we shared a bottle of Rose, so I was a bit tipsy (doesn’t take me long with wine!) We didn’t need to rush back as I could skip the queue. We’d also had a table reserved for us, as I cannot stand for long periods of time. So, when we returned to the venue we were taken to our seat, a bench at the right-hand side of the building on a raised platform. It wasn’t near the front of the stage, but we had a very good view. It was also a relief to have a table next to us as well. Throughout the evening Carl got the drinks at the bar, only this time I chose water with lime. On arrival we realised we’d missed part of the warm-up act, a young Scottish lady singer who had a lovely voice. Another hour went by, and after the band came on stage David joined them. I was really pleased he sang most of his album, barring ‘When The Time Comes’, which is my least favourite anyway. I was thrilled when he sang ‘Unsaid, Undone’ as that is my favourite on the album (although I hear it’s not his!) I actually was a little worried I wasn’t going to enjoy the performance? I’d seen clips on You Tube of some of his US gigs, and his singing was not very good at all. However, he must have had more training since then, as he was so much better. He went off key here and there, but on the whole it was a big improvement! At one point he got his phone out and called his Mum, encouraging the audience to yell out, ‘Meg! It’s Glasgow. We miss you!’ At the end of the night he suddenly dashed off stage, then came back on wearing a kilt. I thought he’d rushed off to the toilet or something! LOL! Also during the gig he came on stage with a guitar, and told us we were the first to hear him play to a ‘live’ audience. He sang a couple of new songs that were not on his first album, which was ‘Somebody Else’s Girl’ and I think the other was the one he wrote for his daughter, ‘Stay On The Train’? By the end of the night some folks were standing up in front of us. So, we stood up on the bench so we could see, and were whooping and cheering away. Also, I sang along to the songs throughout the whole performance which was such fun! Unfortunately, I don’t have a mobile phone, and we were not allowed to take cameras. So, I can’t show you any photos of the gig, sorry.
After struggling to get the car out of the parking garage which had been locked up for the night, (we had to press an emergency button for assistance!) We went back to our hotel, grabbed some water and crisps from the bar and went to bed.
The next day we visited the Glasgow Botanic Gardens in the centre of the city.
It was here I discovered the TARDIS! I actually discovered it years ago in the city when I went to a Highlander convention, with my old friend, Phillipa back in the 90’s.
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She resembles the character Xena from the NBC series and had asked if I would like to be her Gabrielle and enter the costume competition? I agreed, and we even did a little dance routine to the theme tune, which involved me twirling a staff over my head – and we won second prize!
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We also wore the costumes at my Quantum Leap convention I organised which was the 10th one running – Spring Leap ’99. And even had Ulysses with us! Actor John D’Aquino who played him in Xena, was my US guest…and also a friend.
But that’s another story!
But that’s another story!
Then after lunch in the tea rooms at the Botanic Gardens, we drove back to England and Carl took me home. On arrival I was so exhausted from all the excitement of the gig. The next evening I went to my local pub where my mate Alastair was holding a karaoke event. So of course I had to sing the ‘Duchovny’ song, that I also performed at the UNICEF gig which David had the copy of. Not many folks knew it so it went down like a lead balloon there. But, I’d had such a great experience seeing David at his gig for the first time, and also meeting him a second time – I really didn’t care a fig if no one liked it! LOL!