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The other day I posted about the Rehearsal Night, but I haven't yet got around to talking about the Portsmouth gig itself. I timed my arrival to coincide with the band's sound check at about 4pm. Having done most of the setting up and a run through the night before, the band just did a few short songs and made sure they were happy with everything. By 5pm they were finished and we headed to their dressing room.

The main dressing room at the Portsmouth Guildhall is fairly basic. In fact, despite what you might expect about dressing rooms at gig venues being grand and luxurious, most of them are fairly low key. In Portsmouth the room is fairly small, with a sofa on either side, mirrors along one wall with lightbulbs around them and a worktop underneath. An attached en-suite bathroom has a not particularly modern looking shower, sink and toilet. Hanging on a rail in the corner of the dressing room are five outfits which the band will be wearing on stage later.

Relaxing in their room for a while, the band members make phone calls, leaf through the pages of Q Magazine, and chat to me about the tour. Being the first night, there's an air of uncertainty,, with nobody really knowing how well it will go. Jon and I take a walk through the venue to the foyer where Paul Smith the band's merchandise king has set up his stall. A whole range of new d: t-shirts will be on sale once the doors open at 7pm tonight. Paul kindly gifts me a very nice tour shirt, with World Service on the front, and the dates on the back.

By now it's time for an evening meal, so the band and I head outside, across the road to a pub opposite where we order our meals. Joining us are a few other people, such as Tony, the band's manager, and Jon Brown who heads up Fierce Distribution. An American singer by the name of Taylor Sorensen is due to be the opening support act tonight, but unfortunately he had problems getting through customs and ended up having to fly to Holland whilst a visa was sorted out. Bizarrely though, Taylor's drummer did make it through customs, and he joins us for the meal. He seems impressed with the menu of very traditional British pub food which includes the likes of Pie and chips, chicken and chips and an all day breakfast.

A little while later the rest of the crew, and the boys from Rock and Roll Worship Circus (the other support band) walk in to the pub for their meals too. The hard working crew are always the last to eat, having to cover the sound check for the support band after the headline act have finished their own sound check. Eventually everyone heads back to the venue, and we wait for 'the hour' to arrive.

Shortly before support band RRWC are due on stage, a final production meeting is called. Everyone crams into Delirious' dressing room - both bands, all the crew, tour manager, band manager, you name it - everyone involved in tonights show is there. Ian the tour manager gives a little talk, introducing all the crew members, explaining how everything will work and telling everyone what time everything will happen. The meeting ends with a prayer, and then everyone leaves.

I watch as RRWC wait in the wings, ready to go on stage. Ian the tour manager signals for the house lights to go down, and instantly a massive roar goes up from the crowd. RRWC walk out onto the stage and launch into their set. I watch from one side of the stage, and on the other side, hidden from the crowd, Stew watches, eager to see how RRWC will go down with the d: fans. The crowd's response is impressive, giving a warm welcome to RRWC's first UK visit.

Back in the dressing room, Delirious? make their final preparations. Jon has his bass and is strumming away. Stew has a drum pad on his knee which he furiously hits to warm up his arms. Tim is ironing his stage shirt. Martin walks around exercising his vocal chords. There is a definite air of nervousness around, which surprises me. I've been with the band shortly before they go on stage at previous concerts and never really noticed any nerves. But tonight, the first night on the UK tour, they're definitely nervous, yet excited.

With just two minutes till they're due on stage, the five d: boys gather round in a huddle, arms around each others shoulders, to say a pre-gig prayer. Then it's time. The dressing room door is opened and they walk purposefully along the corridor and out onto stage. Immediately the crowd goes wild and the Delirious? concert gets underway.


During the concert I wonder around the venue, watching from various locations. The pit at the front provides me with a good position to take some photographs, as does the balcony. Standing next to Colin, the sound engineer, on the side of the stage also provides a unique view of the band's performance. While I'm stood next to him, Colin has to dart onto stage to deal with one or two technical problems with Stew's drums and Jon's bass amplifier. The rest of the time Colin keeps an eye on the band for subtle signals. Stu looks over in our direction and points with his hand at Martin, and then points to his ear, and the points down. Colin, an expert at this kind of sign language, adjusts a few knobs on the sound desk, presumably turning down Martin's vocals in Stu's ear piece.

When the show finishes, Delirious? head back into their dressing room to take a shower. They all seem pleased with how the show went. Then, with the hard work over, they hurry out to a side room where many of their friends and families will meet them after attending the concert.