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Post by Sam on May 26, 2022 14:49:19 GMT
Setlist spoilers below based on some twitter discussion I’ve seen - please only read if you’ve been to a rehearsal performance. On Monday night’s rehearsal the biggest song omitted from the setlist was Super Trouper, alongside Take a Chance On Me and Money Money Money. Instead we had the less-famous and unexpected Summer Night City and When All Is Said and Done, for example.
I’ve read that these were done to test audience reaction, and there may be some switching around of the setlist with the band recording mo-cap for more songs.
Did those who attended another performance to Monday have a different setlist? Wondering how this will affect the final setlist for opening on Friday.
Additionally, I didn’t think The Winner Takes it All was necessarily the obvious choice for the encore (though didn’t mind it personally) - are different songs being tested as the final song too? This was the same as Sunday. Noticed the same omissions and we had the same thoughts about the encore. |
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Post by interval99 on May 26, 2022 15:54:09 GMT
Londoners you could have warned the out of towners how massive Stratford is.
Just getting out of the station is a major walk.
The Westfield mall next to it is best serviced with GPS and hard to think of a major shopping brand it doesn't have.
About 10 to 15 mins walk from Stratford to the ABBA arena, looks best to try and use the DLR and get to pudding mill lane station which is opposite it.
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Post by steve10086 on May 26, 2022 16:16:02 GMT
Londoners you could have warned the out of towners how massive Stratford is. Just getting out of the station is a major walk. The Westfield mall next to it is best serviced with GPS and hard to think of a major shopping brand it doesn't have. About 10 to 15 mins walk from Stratford to the ABBA arena, looks best to try and use the DLR and get to pudding mill lane station which is opposite it. I worked in Stratford from 1999 to 2016. It still surprises me to hear something like “how massive Stratford is”. It was a little $hithole before the Olympics and Westfield came along. Talk about a transformation! And yes, by far the easiest way to get to the ABBA Arena is Pudding Mill Lane DLR station, which is directly opposite the arena. |
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Post by alece10 on May 26, 2022 16:33:39 GMT
Westfield is my local shopping area. It is massive but you get used to it in time. I tend to just go to the shops I need and home again. Gone are the days of browsing around shops. I want to be in and put.
And yes it was a dump before the Olympics. The area is unrecognisable these days.
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Post by alece10 on May 26, 2022 16:36:07 GMT
For those who get London ITV just heard them say that they will be live at the ABBA Arena in the news tonight
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Post by richey on May 26, 2022 16:55:07 GMT
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Post by jek on May 26, 2022 16:58:22 GMT
Those interested in Stratford in the before times there is a newly published book called Before the Blue Wall by Homer Sykes, published by Fistful of Books. It has 44 photos of the Olympic site when it was full of car spares, small family run businesses, house churches etc. It is very good: fistfulofbooks.com/product/before-the-blue-wall/As someone who has brought up my children in Stratford - all attending local schools - and has known it since the 1960s/70s when I grew up in Stepney I will concede it is now a very different place from before the Olympics/Westfield. But I take exception to it being described as a sh*thole. I have spent this afternoon, like many others, in with my 90 year old neighbours who have lived in the same house for 67 years. Like many others in my street/neighbourhood they have made good lives in Stratford, kept their gardens well maintained and brought up their children to be socially useful members of society. I can't imagine that I will go to see the Abba thing - even though it is within walking distance for me. It's a bit pricey when there are other things I really want to see. But I am so enjoying seeing very excited people around my neighbourhood (special bonus points to the gentleman wearing the Abba Voyage t-shirt in Westfield today - he was practically levitating with glee). It's joyful to observe. |
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Post by interval99 on May 26, 2022 17:47:25 GMT
I am in.
It is packed
Matt Lucas has tweeted the picture of all four on the red carpet
ABBA are here!!!!
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Post by ptwest on May 26, 2022 17:56:58 GMT
I am in. It is packed Matt Lucas has tweeted the picture of all four on the red carpet ABBA are here!!!! Not in the least bit envious 😃 |
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Post by alece10 on May 26, 2022 18:07:37 GMT
I am in. It is packed Matt Lucas has tweeted the picture of all four on the red carpet ABBA are here!!!! Not in the least bit envious 😃 You lucky bugger. |
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Post by d'James on May 26, 2022 19:30:38 GMT
The ad looks terrible, but sometimes these things don’t transfer well to a small screen. I can’t wait to hear first hand reviews.
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Post by anthony40 on May 26, 2022 19:51:47 GMT
This is ABBA Voyage
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Post by d'James on May 26, 2022 20:04:42 GMT
That’s the one I’m talking about. |
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Post by karloscar on May 26, 2022 20:15:12 GMT
Poor interviewer from NME caught out by Benny:
"NME? Are you still alive? I thought you were long dead. You always hated Abba...."
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Post by vabbian on May 26, 2022 20:53:26 GMT
I have standing tickets for this
is it like a normal concert where you need to get there early for a decent view?
Not sure how big the standing space is - if you turn up say 20 mins before will it be ok?
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 26, 2022 20:59:18 GMT
That advert is really not good.
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Post by karloscar on May 26, 2022 21:04:24 GMT
I have standing tickets for this is it like a normal concert where you need to get there early for a decent view? Not sure how big the standing space is - if you turn up say 20 mins before will it be ok? Room for 1000 people on the dance floor area so it's pretty big. Given the enthusiasm of early audiences, I'd imagine 20 minutes might leave you right at the back, but maybe check online to see how they're managing the audience entry now that previews are over. |
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Post by harry on May 26, 2022 21:14:48 GMT
Last weekend it didn’t really fill up until a few mins before the advertised start time but then it carried on filling for 25min. I assume they were struggling to get everyone through security quickly enough.
There’s no support act so I would have thought 20min or so would be fine to have a choice of where to stand once you get in as there’s no “residual” audience who’ve got there early to watch the warm up. To be honest it’s not really obvious where the best place to be is - some people want to be down the front while others want to be at the back to give a similar view to the front seats. If you’re at the front you’ll get the best view of “ABBA” but miss some of the immersive effects going on behind you. The edges have something to lean on but the middle is more in the “party”. So there’s no real prime spot. It really didn’t feel overcrowded or like anyone was having trouble seeing (I guess if you’re very short and often struggle to see at standing gigs, the seats are more guaranteed to offer a raked uninterrupted view)
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Post by interval99 on May 26, 2022 21:53:27 GMT
Don't know where ABBA viewed the concert from as they didn't make a preshow entrance to any seats.
They did walk on stage at the very end, didn't say anything but seemed to be very happy with the response and looked great and it was wonderful to see all four together and for them to see the emotions and joy their music has brought to people
Board member talkingheads when he started this thread labelled it perfectly it's a ABBA concert experience and quite unlike any previous film/hologram show before and really does maximize the possibility of ABBATARS.
By mid June a fair number of board members will have seen the show and we maybe able to discuss the structure more then but there are literally jaw dropping moments with the technology from industrial light and magic completely believing in the ABBATARS.
I see some new adverts have been posted in the thread, let me assure you seeing the show, full volume, full screen size in a fully 360 light and visual arena is a completely different experience.
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Post by interval99 on May 26, 2022 22:18:04 GMT
The opening night dance floor tickets were filled by ABBA fan club members who had been fortunate to gain tickets via a draw option the the fan club held. On the night the main entrance was for celebrity invites who went via a walkway with abba voyage backdrop. , We were herded by the side entrance and got in via direct to dance floor area so missed the bars and merchandise stores I know are in the main entrance.
We were given complimentary ABBA water bottle White bottle which was sparkling, I think the black version may be still.
There was a single merchandise tent open to us which had four t-shirts £30 a time, tote bag £10, the program was £15 has all the tech people listed and some articles about the show and how the bits were created, not too much on ABBA away from voyage. The first night ones had a little sliver sticker on stating opening night.
There were also ABBA socks in daygo colours and a ABBA tray which had the ABBA logo designs, not sure how much they were. I am sure there is more via the proper ones inside.
There was a message about no photos/videos people did sneak some but not too bad.
Phones worked fine inside and outside the arena and I could text and post the I am in message earlier in this thread without issue.
The fan club had said 1200 of us would be in the dance area, it was very full and did become very warm, would recommend you use an abba water bottle to get through.
The very front before the stage is a solid barrier and the back edge is solid to lean against,
The floor is flat so if there are a bunch of tall people in front view will be hindered.
Security check was done via detector wand, keys,wallets etc on table, I presume when normal entrance this can be undercover, you also get a wristband put on you not really sure why .
Also if you do buy something, all card only get a receipt which will have the ABBA logo on the top , ( maybe a fan thing but I liked it)
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Post by talkingheads on May 27, 2022 6:20:56 GMT
{Spoiler - click to view}
I'm going in a few weeks, but I thought I'd still use the spoiler tag, just in case. Having read some reviews and seen the setlist, I'm very surprised at a few inclusions, especially Hole in Your Soul and Summer Night City, but I love that they're including them. Really makes it feel like a real ABBA gig rather than a best of. |
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Post by alece10 on May 27, 2022 7:44:39 GMT
Seems to be some comments on social media about the fact that ABBA won't be at tonight's show as they were there last night.
Tonight's show is the first night for the paying public rather than invited guests so I can see their point.
I think a lot of fans booked for tonight hoping they would be there.
Maybe they will turn up.
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Post by partytentdown on May 27, 2022 7:52:11 GMT
Lots of 5 star reviews this morning putting this in the same quality category as Legally Blonde (I despair)
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Post by alece10 on May 27, 2022 8:09:21 GMT
Lots of 5 star reviews this morning putting this in the same quality category as Legally Blonde (I despair) Or worse than Legally Blonde as the Times gave ABBA 4 stars. |
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Post by partytentdown on May 27, 2022 8:23:23 GMT
Lots of 5 star reviews this morning putting this in the same quality category as Legally Blonde (I despair) Or worse than Legally Blonde as the Times gave ABBA 4 stars. Absurd. |
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