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Chris Williams:
Hi all,
Well what a night in Schwetzingen last night. It was quite different from the previous
show in Fulda 2 nights before. As we arrived at Schwetzingen Schloss we took a walk
through the beautiful gardens on our way to the actual concert area. Once in, we brought
some new ’Footsteps’ T shirts for Stewart and myself before taking our seats. The stage
was just as I remembered it from a few years ago, quite high, but maybe not quite as
high as at Fulda. The front row of seats were certainly much nearer the stage. Again
there was a whole row of big speakers along the length of the front of the stage, but on
ground level. The weather had been lovely all day, so I was very surprised to feel a few
drops of rain just after we arrived. Thankfully it came to nothing and the evening
remained dry and warm right up to the end of the concert. Well we did have a few drops
of rain again later in the show but that was all, and like earlier, it stopped right
away
After chatting to friends , it was soon time for the show to begin and we all heard the
music of ‘When Winter Comes’ (I’m sure it was this one!!) and then Chris appeared on
stage at the end of it and sang the Road To Freedom, followed by a welcome to
Schwetzingen chat. Then one of my all time favourites The Same Sun. Oh gosh I soo love
this song.
Chris was dressed in his black leather jacket and a pale coloured shirt with some kind
of pink/red design on it. He looked very nice oh and by the way, he did have trousers
on as well and they were black as usual
After the Same Sun came Sailor, I think, then Shine On and Borderline was I think the
4th song in. But unlike in Fulda Chris did not leave the stage, and as Borderline
finished Dave and Tony joined the others , and Chris then sang quite a few more songs
with the band. They included, Oh My Brave Hearts, Sailing Away, Leather On My Shoe.
These are not in order of him singing then, just as I remember them
It was very evident from the start of the show that the security guards were nowhere
near as bad as they were at the last concert in Schwetzingen, when they would not allow
any gifts to be taken up to Chris, or people to even take pictures. I remember Chris
stopping the show and talking to the security and telling them that people could go up
to the stage and they could take photos as well !! This time many people took gifts up
to the stage, and Chris managed to bend right down to accept some and some were handed
up by the security, and at one point Chris walked down the stairs to kiss some people
and take some more gifts!!
After the band section it was time for a 15 minute break while the orchestra set up on
stage. While this was happening , we witnessed a beautiful sunset to the side of the
castle and many many people were taking photos of it.
Soon we were hearing the ‘Storyman Theme’ being played by the orchestra and then it was
time for the second part of the concert with Chris, band and orchestra. He started with
Missing you , then a superb version of Carry me Like A Fire In Your Heart, than an oldie
by Elvis Presley called ‘Always On My Mind’. Funnily enough I loved this song when I was
a young lady training to be a nurse. I used to play this song over and over again on my
old record player in the nurses home where I lived then. Oh gosh that brings back such
memories
Then another highlight as Chris sat down on the steps and sang ‘Shadow Of A Mountain’.
He looks soo ‘sweet and cute’ as he sits waiting to sing the first words. I can’t really
explain it properly, but if you go to one or more of the concerts you will experience
this for yourself!!
I’m Not Crying Over You then followed, plus Leningrad, The Long And Winding Road, and
finally Lady In Red and this concert Chris did come down from the stage and walk around
the audience, who of course loved it
Then soon after this is was time for the faster songs and soon the area in front of the
stage was filled with dancing and singing to songs such as Revolution, Say Goodbye To It
All, Ferryman, and High On Emotion. Actually I think it was just after HOE that a man
shouted out very loud for Patricia and suddenly Chris started singing a few lines from
the end of the song The orchestra just stood and looked sort of ‘bemused’ as all the
fans sang along. The band sort of had to catch on quickly !! Afterwards Chris said it
was nice to keep the band awake or alert by throwing in an extra song!!!
Then finally it was time for Snows Of New York and only too soon it was the end of the
show. The audience was very responsive from the start of the show and that made the
atmosphere very good indeed. The whole evening went far too quickly!!
Once the show was over, it took quite a while to get out of the area as there was only
one small exit and it was obviously very busy. It then took us about another 20 minutes
to walk to where our car was and then a further 20 minutes or so for me to drive back
to our hotel, where we again met up with Andrea and Jacqueline for a nice drink and chat
before going off to bed for the night.
Actually as we walked back to our car it really did start raining and continued quite
hard for a while, of course this was as we were trying to find our way back to our
hotel!!!
Hope you enjoyed my review
Take care all,
Chris(W)thebluehealer....and ‘roaming’ CdeB reporter
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