Concert Review: London, UK - December 11, 2000

Astrid Nolde-Gallasch:

I'm back from my London trip and what can I really say about it? It was wonderful!!!!!!! All of it, starting with Henoch picking me up at the airport, staying with Brigita and her friend Ute at the hotel, doing lots of Christmas shopping in Oxford street, finally meeting Melanie and her husband Keith together with Marietta and Yogi (something I have wanted to for a very long time, the evening with them was absolutely great!!), chatting away in an English pub with Chris W. and her husband Stuart, meeting up with Tina just to go into another English pub, doing lots of sightseeing with Brigita and Ute (and making the funniest memories in the London Dungeons - a funny horror tour with lots of live actors, ... one of the attractions were when Brigita and I were pleaded guilty in court for dancing naked around a bonfire and singing Kumbayah backwards....... LOL), and finally on Monday night, the best part of the whole trip: the CdeB concert in the Royal Albert Hall!

I have to admit I was kind of nervous beforehand, about how the concert would be like. I have heard so much about the differences between British and German concerts... and having to sit during the whole show is something I am not really used to.. would I be allowed to sing along? Or would people give me funny looks if I did? Could I at least applaud madly or would I have to do it in a reserved British style? Do I have to dress up for it or can I just go along wearing my CdeB list t-shirt and jeans?

Well, I decided for something more stylish to suit the special occasion and surrounding. And really, WHAT a place the Royal Albert Hall is!!! You can just FEEL the history dripping out of every corner. More than once I just had to turn around to take a look at all those pretty lounges. It is absolutely beautiful, and for me, being there was a dream come true, a memory for a lifetime. Before the show, Brigita, Ute, Henoch and I dined in one of the most exclusive restaurants inside the Royal Albert Hall. And even though this meant that I had to use my credit card to buy the EPs later, it was well worth it, something you only do once in your life!!

Henoch and I had wonderful seats, right in the middle of the 6th row. Not too close to the stage, so that we had a perfect look on the whole setting and perfect accoustics too.. yet, it was still close enough to make it to the very front at the end of the concert when everybody was allowed to get up and dance.

The show started at 7:30 with a singer called Don Mescall, who did an extraordinarily fantastic job despite one of the strings on his guitar had to be retuned all the time... He sang four songs, very beautiful, story-telling songs, and the audience thanked him enthusiastically for his appearance.

After a short break, it was time for Chris de Burgh. While the concert itself was much like the last German shows I had seen, I still noticed a lot of differences. What struck me most was the difference in interacting with the audience. Obviously this came from being in England where he doesn't have to make sure to talk slowly and use easy words so that everybody would understand him. His jokes were different (there was one about Viagra and Guinness originating from the same company, and another one about the "sound of running feet" during Revolution sounding like a train, except that it can't be one since they don't run anymore), and he talked much faster than he does in Germany!

Chris W. had already told us on Sunday that Sailor was added during the "unplugged section", just before he sings My Lover Is and Snows Of New York. I was very curious to hear this version of it, as I cannot remember ever having heard Sailor live before. Well... it was a bit disappointing, I must say. He chose a very high key, and the unplugged instrumentation couldn't quite keep up with the faster part of the songs. I am probably spoiled by hearing Brian's wonderful version of it, still it was very nice to hear Chris do it in concert for a change!

The solo section was quite long, and he did In A Country Churchyard, The Tower (on Henoch's request), Lonely Sky, Borderline, and A Spaceman Came Travelling. Those of you who have been to the German concerts recently might remember the "oh-oh" we have added in our singing between the "lalalala" parts of Spaceman (this is hard to explain in e-mail, I hope you know what I mean). I think I was the only one singing this in the Royal Albert Hall, but from his mimic I could tell that he was waiting for it. So, for those of you going to Sheffield or Bournemouth... don't forget to sing this! :))

Oh, and btw, Henoch and I were singing along with every song right from the beginning, and we didn't get any funny looks at all (at least, none that I noticed). It seemed to me like everybody was singing all of the time, and everybody was applauding madly too, I really didn't see any reserved British behaviour at all. When it was time for the faster songs in the end (right after Natasha Dance), we quickly made our way to the front, and were dancing right at the very front, just like in any German concert too! From time to time I had to look around and just watch the audience, thousands of people in their lounges, up on their feet, dancing and singing along.. wonderful!!! What an atmosphere!!!

Brian asked me for a complete setlist. This is from memory, I am not sure if I have mixed up something, but roughly here it is:

With Band:
When I Think Of You
Living In The World
Sailing Away
Oh My Brave Hearts
The Same Sun
St. Peter's Gate
A Woman's Heart
Beatles-Section Solo:
Yesterday
With Band:
Hotel California
Missing You
Lady In Red
Revolution
Unplugged Section:
Sailor
My Lover Is
Snows Of New York
Solo Section:
In A Country Churchyard
The Tower
Lonely Sky
Borderline
Spanish Train
A Spaceman Came Travelling
With Band:
Natasha Dance
Nothing Ever Happens Round Here
I Want It (And I Want It Now)
Patricia (slightly arranged like the new version)
Don't Pay The Ferryman

1st Encore:
Say Goodbye To It All
High On Emotion

2nd Encore:
Where Peaceful Waters Flow (solo)
Hey Jude

The show lasted for about 3 hours, and it was just fantastic! After the show we managed to get hold of Chris Andrews who promised us to see what he could do about meeting Chris. We had to wait outside the hall for about an hour or so when everybody who had been waiting there was asked to build a queue (gotta love the Brits and their queues!!), and was allowed inside for a brief chat with Chris or an autograph. It was really very nice!!! :)))

The weekend ended much too fast, and my mind still isn't back home somehow... I'm high on emotion and my heart is full of all those new memories! :))))))))))