Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for live music. In this case, I couldn’t make any of the UK dates work for OMD, so there was only one sensible solution – go to Prague.
This would be my fourth time seeing Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and joining me for the adventure was my sister, Tamara. What could possibly go wrong?
Prague Bound
We had a 6pm flight from Stansted and, a little under two hours later, landed in Prague. Unfortunately, getting into the Czech Republic took almost as long as getting there.
Passport control was absolute bedlam and we spent the best part of another two hours queuing to get through. A fine demonstration of the many benefits Brexit has brought to international travel.
Eventually we escaped and jumped in a taxi to the hotel, where I’m fairly convinced the driver heard the English accents and immediately found an additional £15 button on his meter.
Bags were thrown into the rooms and there was only one thing to do – find a pint.
We discovered a dark, very loud bar nearby. It was awful. Well, actually, it probably wasn’t. We’re just old.
One drink was enough, although technically I managed one and a half after Tamara ordered a wine and lemonade and somehow received half a beer with a slice of lime. I’m still not entirely sure how that happened.
Eight Miles Around Prague
Saturday started bright and early with a continental breakfast at the hotel. I even tried fruit tea.
It was awful.
With that important piece of research completed, we headed out and somehow ended up walking about eight miles around Prague. We followed the river towards the main tourist area and Charles Bridge, wandered through the streets and eventually found the John Lennon Wall for the obligatory photographs.
By this point refreshments were required. Naturally, I had a pint while Tamara had honey and lemon tea. She’s considerably more sophisticated than me.
There was plenty more walking before nature called and we found some public toilets. Unfortunately, they wanted cash and we didn’t have any, so we did a runner. I appreciate this doesn’t exactly paint British tourists abroad in the best possible light.
Things didn’t improve when we later jumped aboard a hop-on, hop-off bus and somehow managed to get away without paying for that either. A worrying pattern was beginning to emerge.
£1.86 A Pint!
Eventually we returned to the hotel, where Tamara decided to have a bath while I went for a reconnaissance mission around the local area looking for somewhere to eat before the gig.
This was thirsty work, obviously, so back at the hotel bar I made one of the discoveries of the weekend – a pint was £1.86.
ONE POUND AND EIGHTY-SIX PENCE.
Suddenly Prague was looking like somewhere I could happily retire.
After some food, we ordered an Uber and headed to Areal 7, the outdoor venue where OMD were playing. It turned out to be a great little venue and, even better, we found ourselves a table.
A table at a gig! This is what happens when your rock-and-roll years start disappearing into the rear-view mirror.
OMD – Still Brilliant
At 8:15pm, OMD took to the stage. I’d already seen them three times, so I knew what to expect, but they really are one of those bands who continue to deliver live.
Andy McCluskey remains a brilliant frontman. There is no attempt to pretend the years haven’t passed, but equally there’s absolutely no sense of a band simply going through the motions and trading on nostalgia.
The electronic sound that made OMD so distinctive still sounds fantastic live, and the set was packed with songs that reminded you just how many great records they’ve made. There were the obvious crowd favourites, plenty for the long-time fans and, of course, those songs where the opening few notes immediately transport you back several decades.
And yes, there was dancing. On stage, obviously. I’m far too old for that sort of behaviour.
They finished at around 9:40pm, meaning they’d crammed a superb set into roughly an hour and 25 minutes. Then came perhaps the most impressive achievement of the entire weekend – we were back at the hotel by 9:55pm.
Fifteen minutes after the gig finished! Try doing that after a concert in London.
OMD – Prague Setlist
- Isotype
- Messages
- Tesla Girls
- History of Modern (Part I)
- (Forever) Live and Die
- If You Leave
- Souvenir
- Joan of Arc
- Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)
- Veruschka
- Talking Loud and Clear
- So in Love
- Dreaming
- Locomotion
- Sailing on the Seven Seas
- Enola Gay
Encore
- Secret
- Pandora’s Box
- Electricity
View this setlist on Setlist.fm
Was It Worth Flying to Prague for OMD?
Absolutely.
What started because I couldn’t make any of the UK dates turned into a brilliant little weekend away. We flew to another country, walked eight miles around a beautiful city, saw Charles Bridge and the John Lennon Wall, discovered £1.86 pints, accidentally avoided paying for toilets and a sightseeing bus, and watched a superb OMD show.
Then it was up early on Sunday and back to the airport for the flight home. A fantastic little trip that somehow went almost completely without a hitch.
I won’t mention baths.
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