Concert Review: Manchester, UK - July 25, 1999
Douglas Smith:
We got to the Bridgewater Hall at about 1845 and were spotted by Miriam, Angela and Hannelore ( So wearing the old list T shirt did work - and my beard is a bit memorable :-) ) Apparantly they had seen someone else with one of the old list T- shirts too. Anyone own up :-) Miriam & co had seen CdeB get to the venue late ( 1815-1830 ish )
PS to Dean ...is there enough demand for the New list T shirt yet ?
Programmes were =A35 and there was a raffle ( tickets =A31 ) for a "12-string Ovation guitar owned and signed by Chris de Burgh"
Our seats were stalls row F 29 & 30 which meant 5 rows back off centre to the right but still excellent views. In fact anywhere downstairs had good views. There was also a good closed circuit monitor near the cafe/bar area and near the toilets
Support
A string quartet was introduced by the president of the Michael Elliott trust - the actress June Brown ( best known for BBC TV's EastEnders ). They played 20th century classics like Summertime and "Face the music and Dance" They were OK - nowhere near the best support but not like Ezio ( Thank goodness ) In total they played for some 20 minutes
There was an interval from 1950
CdeB came on stage at 2020
Sometime during the concert CdeB introduced 3 young ladies who had walked across Ireland and then across to Manchester with Donkeys in aid of the Michael Elliott trust.
He also wished a young lady a happy birthday by name
Set list :
Here is your paradise
In a Country Churchyard
Spanish Train - a bit muted perhaps ( but only a bit )
More than this
CdeB asked for requests as always - he did promise The Tower but it was not to be :-(
"Natasha Dance" - from the new album. CdeB said they had been putting the finishing touches to that in the studios "this morning" At first hearing it seemed like a throwback to earlier times as was promised for the new album and it was good
The Simple Truth
Borderline ( the segue into Borderline from Simple Truth worked very well )
Stay Forevermore ( a young oriental lady from Switzerland helped out with the words and singing )
A Spaceman came travelling - sung with more "belief" than for many years. My wife commented that it was the best version she had heard him do for many years!
Always on my mind - here Chris sang accompanied by Peter on keyboard and Neil on guitar and this finally worked. It was the best rendition I've heard CdeB do of this song - good enough to forget Elvis whilst Chris was singing.
Lonely Sky
Sailing Away
Loves got a hold on me
Oh my braveheart
Brother John ( with House of the Rising Sun in the middle )- this was the best live version I've heard CdeB do of Brother John ( and Brother John has never been in my list of favourites ) BUT (Preparing to be flamed) I do not think CdeB's voice has the edge needed to do "House of the Rising Sun" justice
Hotel California
So beautiful
Missing you
It's me & I'm ready to go
Lady in Red - He's revitalised it with a gimmick. When it started I said to my wife "thats not him" - it wasn't ! We ended up with 3 "CdeB"s for the price of 1 - Tony James ( from a previous open air concert ) and Ian Moore ( from Stars in Your Eyes ) sang parts. Tony and Chris have very very similar voices - Ian tried hard but seemed overwhelmed by the audience
Revolution - all 3 parts. Magic!
<<< Here the raffle was drawn by June Brown and Chris de Burgh. The guitar was won by someone from Liverpool ! Children from primary schools in the Stockport, Macclesfield and north Derbyshire areas came onto the stage for the next section. When they were all assembled CdeB gave each school a name check Allan Clarke from "The Hollies" ( 60's pop group that has kept going :-) ) came on stage and made a nice short speeach about the work Chris and Diane have done for childrens charities and presented him with a golf bag following which some of the children brought on stage putters and golf clubs to fill the bag=20 >>>
One More Mile - sung by CdeB and the Children's chorus
The Snows of New York - the Childrens' chorus did the "Na Na Na" bits and it worked very well indeed
Don't Pay the Ferryman - the children's voices on "Dont Do it", "No No No" and "Dont Pay the Ferryman" worked wonderfully
Encore
Say Goodbye to it all - the introduction was horrible a sort of House version of the opening bars but then it settled back into a more normal but passionate version
High on Emotion
& ...
We had to leave at 1050 so I hope we only missed Hey Jude ( but if it was Peaceful Waters :-( )
Overall CdeB was singing with more exhuberance and passion than for ages. He seemed to be having fun again. Those going to concerts in Manchester, Kensington Gardens and in Europe are in for a treat !!!