Concert Review: Penshurst Place, UK - August 29, 1998

Frances:

Well, the day of my first ever CdeB concert had come (first ever of any such concert in fact) and I was extremely excited. Full of hope and anticipation, and a little apprehensive that I'd get there in time etc etc.

I left early with my Mum and Japanese friend (all the way from Tokyo and then coming to see CdeB at a UK summer concert .. wow) and we arrived at Penshurst at around 12 or 1pm I think it was. On the way I saw CdeB posters and got butterflies in my stomach! We drove to the field where things were being set up but of course were not allowed in yet.

So, we went back into Penshurst itself and walked to Penshurst Place. I asked if we could get to the concert field from the gardens.. but no, no! Instead we walked out along country lanes around Penshurst Place and the gardens and then into farmers' fields. It was a laugh and eventually THE field was in sight. We tried to approach inconspicuously (!) and entered behind the stage. I saw the 'royal' tent (! hehe) where someone was having lunch and there were a few others pottering about too. We asked if CdeB was there yet, but of course he wasn't there that early!! We went round to the front of the stage and it looked really impressive - instruments already out and someone strumming on a guitar. Apart from that no one else was there - it felt strange!

We wandered up the bank heading towards the car park wondering what to do. I suppose we could have stayed where we were somehow but we didn't. Behind the fences a queue of people was already forming. We sat down - there were around five people in front. One of these people was Miriam and I was not sure at first if it really was her .. from what I overheard she seemed to be quite a fan(!) and she was wearing a black skirt and white top as she said she would so I asked - and sure enough it was her! (hehe) We had a chat, had our photo taken... but it really was very early still and I felt bad for my Mum and Japanese friend to have to wait around for so long - added to which there was a really moronic security person there who was insulting CdeB, so we left.

Back in Penshurst we had a little (haha) look around and when we were in the church heard Chris doing the sound check. We really could hear it very clearly and it was wonderful - the atmosphere of being in that church and then hearing this beautiful music and realising who it was - amazing!

We looked around some more - stuffed ourselves with ice cream - and then decided it was about time to head back to the field. By then loads of cars were doing the same thing and the car park was already quite full. We joined the queue.. a way further back this time .. and passed the time playing cards - I kept losing because I couldn't concentrate so the other two kept taking sneaky glances at my cards. Hmmm!

At last the hoards of people were let in. I took our rug and my ticket and as soon as I got through the gate started to peg it down to the stage. I have never run so fast in all my life I don't think - and was overtaking everyone!! When I got there I could have gone right to the front but instead I set up our rug in the centre at about 10m(?) back. This worked well as everyone who came in front of us had no tables or massive chairs so we were comfortable and had a great view (next to and behind were all the dining tables and sun loungers!)

We waited, and waited, eating our way through our picnic and then ----- he modestly came onto the stage. I was really impressed by this. The huge audience was clapping and cheering. Clearly many of them already knew just what a treat they had in store! And I noticed that the audience consisted of all sorts of people, from very young to old. I thought that was great and surely shows the strong affect that Chris' music has.

During the concert I tried to scribble down all the songs so that I could report back to you - I know that the list must be similar to other concerts, but I'll tell it all the same (but I think there will be mistakes - sorry - sometimes it was quite dark too you know!). Oh, and some of the songs were new to me so I didn't know the titles - instead I've written out some of the song words..

CdeB + piano
1 Carry On - I love this song
2 Forevermore (?)
CdeB + guitar
3 Country Churchyard
4 Transmission Ends
CdeB + piano
5 Head and the Heart
6 Moonlight and Vodka (v funny Yeltsin(??) impressions beforehand)
7 Danny Boy
8 Borderline
9 Spanish Train
Karaoke..The Risen Lord - CdeB was surprised at this choice and the girl sang it very well. I'd never heard the song and now like it very much.
10 Spaceman came Travelling
CdeB + Neil&Peter
11 Always on my Mind
CdeB + full band
12 Lonely Sky
13 Sailing Away(?)
14 Love's got a Hold
15 Brave Hearts
16 Brother John
17 House in New Orleans(?)
18 Hotel California - his way of doing it is great!
-----------BREAK-----------
Was this when the orchestra/singers came on? I think so.
19 Missing You (I love that Roses and wine thing at the beginning and the way he starts the song..him on that stool..his facial expression and the way he moves is hand after he says 'I've got the wine'.
20 Carry Me
21 Standing here..thinking of days we've had'???? then Peter on the piano..Blue Danube, Fuer Elise etc. Hmm!
22 Lady in Red (sounded lovely!!)
23 'You said to me..you opened up my eyes'???
24 'I need someone beside me forever..'???
'Men coming down from the valley'
25 'Take my girl and a handful of silver'?? v nice one
26 Revolution - wow - and the guitars and rest of band..excellent
27 One more Mile
28 Snows of New York (and no, I didn't cry when it came to the footprints bit - thought I would!! hehe)
29 Ferryman
30 Say Goodbye
31 'Spinning like any wheel...'???!?
32 Patricia
33 Peaceful Waters
34 Hey Jude

I thought that Chris spoke beautifully between songs and it all reinforced my opinion that he really is a genuinly very nice guy. Completely unpretencious. He sang happy birthday for someone, congratulated a couple on their recent marriage, sang a song for an oak tree nearby (apparently the oldest in England or something!!), joked about Clinton and a dress (hmm!), told a story about a reporter who fell out of a tree in front of him in a golf course who apparently did exactly the same thing the next year (for some reason he dedicated Spanish Train to him), he mentioned Northern Ireland and said his farewells very sweetly, wishing us all a safe journey home etc. Right from the beginning people were shreaking out for Patricia but he was teasing us with excuses. When he eventually performed it, someone threw a pair of boxer shorts at him - he was very amused too.

The fireworks were also beautiful. Chris did three encores - the audience just did not want to let him go! His voice was just superb the whole way through. He seemed worried at one point if he should still be going on as it really was very late, but someone said it was ok. He looked very very tired at the end of it so I thought I wouldn't try to track him down. Oh, and the band was amazing - the singers and orchestra very good too.

At the end of it all it was a weird feeling to go home again. I was completely drained from singing (great how everyone sang along and how Chris wanted us to), clapping, dancing, generally jumping up and down etc. and very sad that it was all over. I took some photos and they're not too bad - I'm sure he looked straight at me a few times (especially when I had binoculars near the beginning when we were still a way back - you see, about half way through we went to the front - 2nd row back..so all in all we had had the best of both worlds!!) Going back, I really felt that he is like a friend. He just think he's great. For the next few days I was still in a funny kind of subdued frame of mind, wishing that I was still going to another concert.

I really can't wait until next year's batch and I really would love to meet CdeB some day. I have since got some more albums of his on CD while I was in Germany (some I already had, but on tape) - Eastern Wind, Flying Colours, Spanish Train, The Getaway. I love them all.

Well, I hope that reading this report has brought back memories to those of you who were also at Penshurst and to everyone who has been to a CdeB concert. Wow is all I can say - even now I'm semi-speechless about it all!!!