Concert Review: London, UK - December 11, 1999
Henoch Neethling:
Well, I am inside the Royal Albert Hall, waiting for the show to start. It seems there will first be a supporting act, and Chris will only start at 20:10. If he sings his normal 3 hours, then I will have o miss my train home, or make some other arrangements...
I haven`t seen anyone fom the list yet, but it is still early...
More straight after the concert. The Hall is apparently completely sold out, even the restricted view seats...
***
Well, very fittingly for the RAH, the supporting act was a stringquartet of 4 beautiful girls who played some of Chris` songs, including Carry me like a fire, Sailing away, Lonely Sky, and Dont pay the ferryman....
***
We`re back...
Man, that was fan-tas-tic. Now who would have thought, the Brits have it in them. And although the security guards were acting on orders, and tried to keep the real fanatics in their seats, Chris himself said that we should keep to our seats until "he waves his magic wand", which he did during Light a fire, a decision which brought about he amazing situation where Chris and the band performed, what I can only call the "sheep-jokes part" literally within armlength of a host of listmembers. That must be the nearest I will ever come to having Chris performing in my livingroom. I mean, the stage was scarcely higher than my knees (ok, so I am really tall). But, the listmembers were arrested and everyone detested the horrible manner in which they were exposed... no wait, actually Chris asked really nicely if we would mind returning to our seats until he gives the signal again. Apparently some people could not see... I tried to keep low, I really did, but its difficult if you are 6 feet 5. But I cannot think of two better songs than Dont pay the ferryman and Say goodbye to it all to get everybody on their feet. What a fantastic sight to see the Royal Albert Hall filled to capasity, chanting Dont pay the ferryman...
Highlights?
There were many, and I hate to say this because it is Astrids favourite song, and not really mine, but Borderline was absolutely amazing. Never ever have I heard him do this song like that. A big part of the crowd rose to their feet to give Chris a standing ovation after it. And my personal favourite, The Snows of New York, performed with an almost Africa-like drumbeat as backing, within touching distance of me, made me miss my real home almost as much as The Same Sun..
A really fitting last concert of the century for Chris, started by the stringquartet from Birmingham (called Conspirito, I think) and finished by the lovely Where peaceful waters flow and the classic Hey Jude...
So now we have to wait until next year, when Chris will release the Lords prayer to Jingle Bells...