Concert Review: Toronto

Picture, if you will, an amusement park built on the shore of a great lake. The lake is part of the park, and the park is part of the water front. A great white IMAX dome theatre, walkways and buildings built above the water, and a new(ish) Amphitheatre.

It's the last night of summer, in a few short hours autumn will be upon us. You look around this unique venue, with this being the closing night of it's second year. It's on a small Island, there's a 60 foot high roof above you, behind you are 9000 seats, 5500 are under the roof, and behind that a 'lawn' that can hold another 7000 people, although it is not in use tonight.

There is a cool breeze coming off the lake and blowing across the front of the stage. Looking past the slowly moving swarm of heads making their way to their seats, all the way past the lawn, to the horizon, there is a dark orange-red tinge, the remnants of summers last sunset.

The air, cool and fresh, is filled with excitement and anticipation, escalated by the 7 year absence.

On stage last minute adjustments are being made.

Shortly after 8 p.m. the house lights go down, and without word, or a sound, a lone figure walks on stage, a spot light clicks on, he waves, and walks to the piano and starts to play.....

Well that's how the wonder evening started.

Chris did two songs at the piano, but at this point I couldn't say what they where. There were just too many songs.

After his first two songs Chris got up and walked to the microphone at centre stage to talk to the audience. Among his comments was that it had been too long since he had been to Canada. He also told us that the show would be a two part show. The first part, him with his guitar, or at the piano. The second part with an Orchestra that he "met late this afternoon, and if that doesn't work, we'll try something else."

My comments about the concert in general. Well I guess I could go the usual route and say GREAT!!! FABULOUS!!!! WONDERFUL!!! and of course we can't leave out TERRIFIC!!! But they just wouldn't say it all.

Having seen Chris' last three concerts in Toronto (all three at Maple Leaf Gardens) and not having ever had really good seats I can say that being in the 3rd row for this one was... well I hate to say it, but AMAZING!!

How would this compare to the last three? Well they just aren't comparable, they are just totally and completely different. Which would I prefer? Both!!! This concert seemed to lack the energy of the past, but then I think it was supposed to. The one big disappointment, no merchandise! (Eds Note:We understand all merchandise was lost en-route) There are no tour books, no t-shirts, nothing. The Fan club didn't even have anything, the last one (??? or was it the one before that???) the fan club was selling their own t-shirts outside after the show. (I've got one!)

The first part: Chris really seemed to enjoy himself, and as it's been said before, he had a great rapport with the audience. Some of his introductions to songs where quite humorous. Being late the next afternoon, there are three things that stand out in my mind, from this first part.

The first would have to be the absolute best version of Spanish Train I've ever heard, just him and his guitar. Having read of Chris' beginnings in the music business (from the tour books of the previous concerts) I really felt that this was the way this song was meant to be heard.

The second would be when he mentioned his band, naming each of them (remember all except one is from Toronto) saying that some were "here tonight" and that he missed them. I got a really strong impression by the look on his face and with the way he said it, it wasn't just a rehearsed line that he was saying at all the concerts but that he sincerely meant it and that it came from the heart.

The third one was when he thanked Canada for making Spanish Train (and Other Stories) such a success. Also pointing out, although very quickly, that Canada was the first country to do so.

Oh, I'd also like to comment on the guy from the audience who sang "Sailor",(Ed's Note:His Review is next…) he did a really good job of it, especially when you consider that he was standing in front of about 8000 people. Chris himself even seemed surprised.

Part Two: An orchestra, no Hungarian String Quartet, although he did mention them. I didn't quite catch the name of the orchestra unfortunately but they are from Toronto. There was also a drummer, 2 guitar players and a piano player. And then the choir who came out for the last few songs. Chris said he had just met the orchestra that afternoon, but you'd never know it. They did a fabulous job.

A high light from this part, hmmm I don't know, it's very difficult. I'd have to say it was hearing Snows of New York, in the Beautiful Dreams format LIVE!!! It was..... mmm..... well.... Beautiful!

The encore: Well how about 8000 people standing and dancing to a Beautiful Dreams version of High On Emotion. Not to much could top that. He sang Riding on a Rainbow, I really hope the CD makes it to Canada.

I believe it was in the 3rd encore that he said he'd be back soon.

Dean Dalrymple :)

E-mail: dbd@interlog.com

Howdy All:

Well I'm still reeling form the concert at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto on Saturday night!

Chris was in great form.. and it was nice to see him realize just how many die hard fans are still in Canada! He personally thanked us canucks for being the first country to buy the SPANISH TRAIN album all those years ago.. He also talked at length about how nice it was to be in Toronto again, and about what a great Chinese restaurant that he always goes to whenever he is in town.. He also talked about how great it would be to see his band again, and promised them a few drinks after the show..

I must confess that I enjoyed the first half of the concert more then the second.. Just Chris and his guitar or his piano was the highlight for me.. He achieved an incredible sense of intimacy, and it really did feel like a show in his living room, rather then in a 16000 seat concert venue.

Now for the fun part.. Forwarned about the Karaoke thing by Willem's review of the South African show, I made sure that I was fairly close to the stage about 2/3'ds of the way through the first set.. and it was me that ended up getting up and singing SAILOR with Chris in front of 10000 people! He was really amazed though when I told him that I owned one of his guitars! A Rickenbacker 12 string that he had used on the EASTERN WIND album and on the 1980-1983 tours.. You would have been amazed by the look on his face -- I got quite a reaction!

It was really the culmination of 16 years of CdeB fandom... Back when I was 17 I even had a t-shirt made up that said "I WANT TO PLAY GUITAR WITH CHRIS DE BURGH!".. Never in a million years though did I think that I would ever get the chance to actually do it...

I also gave him a copy of my own CD.. I do really hope that he likes it. As it was his songwriting that inspired me to start writing myself all those years ago.. Other than the five minutes on stage, I didn't get a chance to chat.. oh well!

An evening that I will remember for the rest of my life!!

Brian

PS. There was a TV news camera in taping while I was up singing with Chris.. But I didn't get the chance to see what station it was.. Did anyone in Ontario see anything on the evening news??? I'd love to get a copy of that video tape if I only knew who was shooting it!

CONCERT: Wow. Articulate, I know, but how else does one describe the sheer quality of Chris' voice live and in person? I'd forgotten (heck it's been 12 years!) how incredibly powerful an instrument it is. Dynamic, wide ranging, crystal clear and precise. I think there was only one sour note and that was at the end of a 3 hour+ concert! The first half was definitely my favorite, just to see and hear him all alone onstage, playing the piano or guitar.

Sigh.

BRIAN MORTON: What a highlight!! Hey, Brian, did you hear some guy yell "Give it back!" when you mentioned you had one of Chris' guitars? ;) From my vantage point, Chris seemed to be surprised & complimented about your revelation. (Did anyone else get that impression?) At any rate, he sure got a kick out of you, as we all did! In Chris' words, "That took guts."

SECOND HALF: Chris said he had just met the orchestra that afternoon and I believe it. Not meaning to be critical, and this is very minor point, but I think I would have preferred the string quartet. The orchestra seemed to be just a tiny bit off and the sound wasn't mixed well - too much bass made my fillings rattle! And the choir was drowned out. The only song they really enhanced was "Eleanor Rigby" (and did he belt that one our or what?) Did anyone see that blonde cellist on the end? She was singing along to all the songs and had such a big, happy smile on her face!

PEOPLE: Aside from the concert, this was the best part. Everyone was so friendly and funny. The evening was very special and something I'll sure never forget!

Donna

OK, are you all up to another review? Wonderful to meet all of you in Toronto, I find it never ceases to amaze me how we are all ready to be friends even though we've never seen each other before. To all of you who met my man, he actually said the concert, was "good, very good", and that is high praise indeed. He also said I babbled so if I did, I apologize - - I was just so damned excited!!

I was in the 4th row, so I could see CdeB no matter where he was on stage. He sang most of my favourite songs as the evening went along. It must be extremely hard on the vocal chords to sing for 3 hours straight, but he never faltered, seldom missed a note, and just kept the songs coming. I also thought his interaction with the crowd was interesting, he really made me feel at times as if he were playing just for me, and I'm sure others felt that way. At one point I thought he was going to come down off the stage and just sit and sing for us.

The orchestra set was way better live than on the album. In Dreams gave me the chills. The only song I didn't like was The Traveller, I thought it was too fast. Having said that, I must add that that was one song in three hours, so heck, who's complaining! There were times when I had tears in my eyes....I had waited so long just to hear some of those songs being sung to me. Truly a memorable experience. Oh, before I forget, way to go Brian!!(Ed:See Brians review above)

Theresa