Happy October!
Welcome back to Blogtober Day 3! Today’s post is one that I have been so excited to write and get out but I thought I needed to take my time with it to get all the thoughts I have down properly.
On the 27th of September, we took a trip to the O2 Arena London to see the wonderful Busted on their 20th anniversary tour!
When I’m telling you teenaged Gee was living her absolute best life and had been so excited to see this tour. I grew up with an obsession with both Mcfly and Busted amongst other groups. I had been lucky enough to see both on multiple occasions. I had seen Busted in the Brighton Centre with an old friend in 2016, I then was lucky enough to see them in Pryzm in Kingston in 2019 with a group of some of my favourite people. That means I know they can put on an awesome show! (I had to… say nothing).
What I wasn’t expecting however was to fall as in love with the show as much as I did. Not only did I love the vibe I chose to go for in my concert outfit (throwing it back to an old school me vibe) but the atmosphere and energy was unmatched.
Who are Busted?
Busted are an awesome British pop-rock band that burst onto the music scene back in the early 2000s and quickly won the hearts of fans (I am no exception) all over the world. The band consists of three incredibly talented and charismatic guys: Charlie Simpson, James Bourne, and Matt Willis.
Opening acts:
The show started with Henry Moonie who I hadn’t heard before but who has undeniable talent and the most beautiful voice. His song Drunk Text hit too hard but has found its way on to my playlist.
We then were treated to a performance from The Tyne. I have to state that their vibes are incredible and very old school 2000’s and everyone was loving it. Amongst performing their own songs, they also did a cover of ‘Teenagers’ by My Chemical Romance and it was one of favourite things ever.
THEN I LOST MY MIND… When Hanson graced the stage and brought the most amount of joy to the stage. It was everything I could have wanted and so so much more.
The Main Show:
It’s not every day that you get to witness a piece of your childhood come alive on stage, but that’s exactly how this show felt. I had high expectations as they had not failed to put on a good show. However with it being their 20th anniversary I was nervous.
Spoiler alert: They did not disappoint!
Busted opened the show with an intro clip featuring Christopher Lloyd from Back to the Future! Personally I think it was one of the best intros to a concert I have seen in a while it just brought around the best vibes and kicked started the magic that was to follow!
During the show they announced that this tour was the biggest arena tour of 2023 and I cannot explain the pride I watched spread around the arena. It cannot be denied that Busted are still kicking butt and now with a whole ass number one album!
Not only did they bring out Hanson for a joint performance of Mmmbop which had the crowd losing their minds. I mean the actual volume of people singing along was unreal but they proceeded to bring out Chris Stark for a performance of Sleeping with the lights on and I cannot explain to you the utter joy. Not only from hearing one of my all time favourite songs but from also watching someone I used to listen to/watch a lot during Radio 1’s Innuendo bingo days live his absolute best life.
Busted setlist:
‘Air Hostess’
‘Meet You There’ (2.0 Hits Version)
‘Loser Kid’ (2.0 Hits Version)
‘You Said No’
‘Everything I Knew’
‘MMMBop’ (Hanson cover)
‘Sleeping With The Light On’
‘Good One’
‘What I Go To School For’
‘Who’s David’
‘Falling For You’
‘Thunderbirds Are Go’
‘She Wants To Be Me’
‘3am’
‘Crashed The Wedding’
(encore)
‘Teenage Kicks’ (The Undertones cover)
‘Year 3000’
My thoughts:
I also did not expect that come the end of the performance of the year 3000 that I actually felt incredibly emotional, the tears making their presence known. I could not explain how many different emotions going on.
It was a mix of actual pride of watching one of my favourite bands do what they do best, but also I think it was a lot of nostalgia!
In the end, Busted’s 20th-anniversary tour was more than a concert; it was a trip down memory lane. It was a reminder of why I fell in love with this band and as James so rightly said why the are going to be a huge part of my adulthood too.
After watching their show all I can say is what a show! They put on one of the most incredible shows I have ever seen. We left with nothing but good vibes and pure joy. It was the best night!
It’s safe to say it was worth the wait and so much more.
Would you take a trip to the year 3000?
Love Always,
Gee xoxo