Concert Review: Hasbergen, Germany - August 25, 2000
Heike Henke:
I am still high on emotion. Because I have had a hot Chris de Burgh weekend :))))))). The first concert was in Osnabrück. That was great (the concert was ok, but the rest was better).
We were waiting in front of the entrance with some people from the mailing list. It was really funny. Suddenly the door opened and a man from the merchandising was coming out. He went to us and asked Marietta if she want to have a passport for the soundcheck. I asked him if he had one for me too,... and get one *GGGGGG *SSSSSSS :)))))!!!!!!!!
So we walked, the jealous watches from the other people in our back, in the hall. We took place nearly in front of the stage with a few others. We talked a while and I searched for something in my handbag, when Marietta said something to me. I didn't understand that and looked up. And get nearly a heartattack! Chris stood right next to me :)))! What great feeling!!!!!!! But I was a little bit sad that he stopped handshaking (and kissing!!) before us. But nevermind, he was looking great. But the indemnity was the little small talk with Peter Oxendale. After that Chris started the soundcheck and it was a great experience to see him nearly alone. And there was some other special too. We heard the new big band version of "Patricia the stripper". No so many people heard that before, I think. Oh I loved it. The only thing we had to do for the soundcheck was to distribute some concert photo vouchers. But that was ok! The concert itself was ok, but much to hot and not enough people there, perhaps 2000. Noone enjoyed the heat (including Chris and band) but we made the best of it and the atmosphere was good. It wasn't the longest concert, 2 1/2 hours, but that was ok, too.
Astrid Nolde-Gallasch:
The hall itself was very small, hot and with very bad air condition. There was an opening act before the show, a local band from Hsbrgnosnbruk called "Escape" playing some cover versions. They were quite good, and Chris mentioned later that he really enjoyed listening to them. He even played a few chords of one of his favourite songs "Africa" by Toto, because they had covered it earlier!
Now the concert... it started at around 9 pm and lasted until 11.30 pm, so it was a bit shorter than we were used to recently, but I guess we can't really complain about that. 2 1/2 hours is still very long.... Chris and the band seemed to have been getting together again only on this very day. They had not seen each other for three months, and .. well.. it showed. :) A bit of rehearsal wouldn't have done any damage..... he forgot some words of Revolution, Al was missing when they wanted to start with Hotel California so they had to start all over again, Peter tried a new piano version with Love of the Heart Divine which lead to cancel this song altogether the next evening... . On the positive side, we had the chance to listen to the beginning of "Le coeur d'une femme"! He played one verse of that French version of A Woman's Heart before he continued in English... I hope this one will come out as a single, that would be great to have!! During the solo part, Chris' guitar wasn't working at first and just as in Oberhausen he sang Sound Of Silence a capella. Then he mentioned that his family was in the hall and with a different guitar he played "Just a word away", especially for Hubie. He grinned when he said "that's a way to embarrass your children, sing songs about them...". He also played the first verse of The Girl With April In Her Eyes (forgot the rest), and all of In A Country Churchyard (to Tina's special pleasure)! Since the concert was somewhat shorter, he had to omit some favourites, which were Spanish Train, St. Peter's Gate, My Lover Is, Snows Of New York, Quiet Revolution and Patricia.. At the end of the concert the music became louder and louder, really too much for this small hall, and with all the heat and sticky air we were quite exhausted in the end and decided just to drive back to Heike's place for the rest of the night. There we had a funny time and to those of you who don't understand what a Kneipp cure is, well it has to do with cold water and a swimming pool in a garden.... :)