Elvis Presley: Live at the O2 Arena

Friday March 16, 2012. ~ The King comes to London

The day started with Emma, Erin and myself heading to Rickmansworth, in the morning, just for a change. 

We got a bus there and started to mooch around the charity shops. A few good bargains were found and then we checked out the other shops. Soon, Erin started to get hungry, so we headed to 'Caffè Nero's' so that we could feed her and we could have a sit down. 

We then had another mooch, before getting a bus home. After a spot of lunch, I headed upstairs to change my clothes and get ready for the afternoon and evening.

Len arrived just after 15:30 and, after he had got changed out of his work gear, we each had a beer and headed off to Watford Metropolitan station. We took the train, which was one of the new trains, to Finchley Road, where we changed to the Jubilee line and continued our journey. 

We arrived at North Greenwich just after 18:15 and headed towards the O2 Arena. Since the doors to the show didn't open until 19:00, we decided to head into the 'American Sports Bar & Grill' for a drink. We then went to the 'Union Square Bar', as it was closer to the arena doors, for another drink. 

At 19:00 we bought a souvenir programme each and joined the queue to enter the arena. Within moments we were through and heading up the escalator into the Arena proper. We then made our way down the steps to find our seats were on the Arena floor, about 60 feet from the stage. 

I think we were both surprised at how fast the O2 Arena filled up and the differences in ages. Toddlers, children, teenagers, young couples all the way through to the elderly. Some people were dressed as Elvis, while others were there for the pure entertainment factor.

At exactly 20:00 the house-lights went out and the sound of 'Also Sprach Zarathustra', by Richard Strauss, began. Then the screen was illuminated with the legend:

ELVIS

LONDON

16 - 03 - 12

The screen then showed a view of the Earth from space, and started to zoom in on London. Then it zoomed in on the O2, then cut to a handheld video of the outside of the Arena. Then a door opened and Elvis was seen to be walking along the corridors backstage, before appearing to walk across the stage, rip the curtain apart, shake hands with an audience member and then launch into a searing rendition of 'C.C. Rider'. Within a few minutes, I had completely forgotten that Elvis was purely a projection, because I was sure that he was there on the stage with his TCB 'Taking care of business' band. 

For the next two-and-a-half hours, we were treated to one of the best live shows I have ever had the good fortune to witness. 

When the show did finish, Len and I made our way to the 'Union Square Bar' to discuss what we had just witnessed. This also gave us a chance to miss the chaos of trying to get on a train, as most other people had gone straight to the platforms. 

After we finished our drink, we headed back to the station, which was only 200 metres away, and boarded our train. We changed at Finchley Road and, because of a faulty signal, alighted at Northwood and got a taxi home. 

We arrived at my home just after 00:30 and had another beer, while boring Emma to death with details of our evening. 

Before long Len fell asleep on the sofa, so Emma and myself headed off to bed. 

What a great day and evening!

Until next time...

May it be well with you...