Concert Review: Halifax, Canada - April 5, 2000
Carol Ann Sampson:
Last night's concert was wonderful. Mr De Burgh was in great voice and great shape. The sound was awesome and the light show fantastic. He did many songs from his new CD Quiet Revolution and many old fav's. I had the best time. My most memorable moment though did not happen at the concert but about 4 hours before when I had a chance meeting with the man himself at the bookstore in Scotia Square. After 25 years of being a huge fan of this wonderful singer and having a list of questions I would ask him if I should ever be so lucky to get the chance, I became a total geek which is not like me. I walked up to him and asked "Excuse me, but are you Chris de Burgh, of course you are!" He laughed and said yes he was. I must've told him that I loved him and his music about 10 times and each time I said it, I touched his arm. The man must've thought I was nuts although he was very sweet about it. He told me that the concert was going to be a long one, his band was in top form and that he wanted everyone to get up and dance. The concert was about 3 hours long, and yes the band was awesome. All the while I was talking to him, I kept looking into his eys, the nicest shade of brown (next to my husband's, of course) I have ever seen. I don't think my feet touched the floor after that. My voice started to quiver and I thought for sure I was going to cry, and still, he was very sweet - a gentleman. He must be used to all that sorts of people coming up to him, but I kept it brief and told him how much I looked forward to the concert and how long I had been a fan. I never even told him my name - he will probably someday forget about this meeting, but I know that for me, it will be something that I will never forget and will relive throughout my life and each time that I tell my kids. I did get a t-shirt and I have to say, that I am moved even more by his music.
I can't seem to find a copy of his new CD anywhere. Seems, that they sell out very quickly. I can't wait to get my hands on it. There on so many beautiful songs on it to make memories to.
Susan Robin:
Just my little input regarding the concert last night. It was amazing!
I was in the front row, and there was no barrier between the seats and the stage that they seem to have at most concerts now, so Chris was right in front of me a lot of the time. He started out with When I Think Of You and played 11 songs from the new CD.....if somebody has the set list I'd love to see it: the ole memory is not what it used to be! :o) He played The Tower, Borderline, Lonely Sky.....maybe it's because I'm still I'm on my concert high, but I feel like no words will do justice to what a brilliant show it was. Wonderful singer (lots of banter with the audience), great band.......
Later in the show, after the little "unplugged" section, they started to up the tempo a bit; before playing Nothing Ever Happens Round Here, Chris said "ok, you can get up and dance now" so I did......and was the only one (my husband told me later that there were some girls dancing in some rows behind us too) in the front row up and moving...felt a little wierd, but at one point Chris looked down at me and kind of shrugged and smiled, as if to say "oh well, at least I've got one of you up!" But by the end, everybody was up singing our hearts out to Patricia, and Hey Jude, and calmed us all down with Where Peaceful Waters Flow.
During the show, Chris had mentioned that he and the band would be going to a little bar called The Old Economy Shoe Shop, so my husband and I figured we had nothing to lose and down we went. We had a couple of beer, and at one point we saw the band come in, but not Chris. Waited about an hour and figured that he just wasn't coming, so decided to leave. As we're walking out, I see Tracy (who I'd met waiting in line for the last two Chris concerts) and I say I guess Chris isn't coming, and she tells me to look around the wall, and you guessed it: there was Chris! So we sat down with Tracy and her friends (John, Lisa, and Steve) and wait so Chris can relax a bit, and then John goes over, and brings back THE MAN to our table. He signed a couple things for John & Lisa, a ticket stub for my husband, Steve & Tracy's T-shirts, and for me my program, after he looked at me and said "I remember you!" He was just everything I thought he would be...gracious, gentle, funny. Just that he would take that couple of minutes with us means more to me than I can say.....still find it a little surreal that I was looking into those brown eyes from across a table, when I was on cloud nine that he had looked at me at the concert.....thanks to Tracy for asking me to sit down, and thanks to John for bringing him over!
Life Is Wonderful!!!!!!
Scott Tattrie:
Well, it's the morning after of the Halifax Concert, and a great concert it was. I don't have time to write a full review but here's a mini-review:
I was there, 3rd row, center stage. The Man was only 12 feet away from me most of the night. I ran for about 2.5 hrs. No opening act. He just came out and started singing. Mostly songs from QR in the beginning, then slowly working towards the older stuff, throwing in a cover tune here & there, including Hotel California which the dual guitars at the end was completely amazing. You'll love it. He also took a couple requests that he played solo. The funniest was when the band was all on stage and someone shouted "Ship to Shore". His band didn't know it, so he played it all by himself while the band watched. His band was excellent, and it was great to see Peter Oxendale on keyboard.
He played 3 encores. Yes, 3. And he played Patricia as the very last song. And as before, he told us where he would be heading after the concert. I'm sure a couple list members met up with him there, but I couldn't stay up that late :(
Overall, I give the concert an 9 out of 10, with his Beautiful Dreams tour I gave a 10 out of 10.
Look forward to hearing reviews from the others so I can relive the night.