Concert Review: Liverpool, UK - July 18, 2001
Chris High:
Where do I begin?? Well at the begining I suppose!
The weather, which had been bad all day, broke for the better just as myself & Helen (my good lady) were headed into the tent where the gig was to be played. Yes I know, a tent doesn't exactly conjure up images of ideal sound quality and I too had my reservations.
We were getting in in plenty of time and were cordially shown to our seats ... right behind a metal stantion that held the Marquee up, obliterating the central & obviously most important microphone.
Looking to our left and right, the tent was full BUT directly in front was a completely empty block of seats.
Still, no time to move then as THE MAN came on stage dressed in black leather jacket, shirt & jeans, no intro music, no fanfare just him and his band waving & smiling cheerily to the crowd who responded in typical scouse fashion (IE Warmly for those of you who don't know us !!).
I don't really want to spoil the surprises of the gig (there were quite a few) because I know that lots of you are going to see him this weekend. If anybody wants a full track list then let me know & I'll happily provide one privately..
However I will say that he opened with a really powerful version of one of my fav. tracks, that being "Where We Will Be Going".
At the completion of this song, I grabbed the bull by the horns, grabbed Helen's hand & headed for the still vacant seats facing the stage .. unobstructed. This was much better !!!
Helen is in fact partially sighted and armed with her binoculars, she could now see what was going on .. more to the point (I'm a bigger fan of Chris than she is) so co could I.
On he went cracking jokes and revelling in Liverpool FC's "tremendous" Football season (a little hard to take being a staunch Manchester United fan, but let's not get into that here) and sharing one-to-ones with the audience.
Lots of newer stuff mixed with some older less known songs, which revved the audience up nicely going into the break.
Time for a quick ciggy outside and a chance encounter with some friends of mine that I'd not seen in years (we didn't want to lose our pilffered seats) then back in, just in time for Chris's return. He then did a selection of "covers" (a couple of Beatles tunes in part) before dismissing the band to play alone with his guitar and the audience and then for me the highlight of the night "In A Country Churchyard" ( oh my word, what a tune) quickly followed by "Carry Me" and then this section of "Great Ballads 'R' Us" was finished by a rendition of "Borderline (possibly his best ever song !!)
From then on the crowd were just going from strength to strength and the finale came all to soon.
As expected, "High On Emotion" was his closer, with much dancing and singing (by most ... my voice had completely packed it's bags & gone for a lie down somewhere by this time !!) and Chris and the boys were bowing and waving and (sadly) disappearing.
Stage crew & security staff were milling around and we were collecting our coats from the floor in the dark ... hang on ... in the dark ???
With that Chris was back on stage, security guards were checking watches and the crowd (those who had stayed, some had already departed and as Helen had found out when she'd earlier gone to the loo they wouldn't be allowed back in) went nuts.
"So now there's a few of us I'd like to leave you with a particular favourite of mine and say thanks for coming" he said breaking into a really beautiful version of "Where Peaceful Waters Flow". Oh Lordy !!!!
Not content with this, the rest of the lads joined him on stage and set about playing a really fine version of "Hey Jude" which seemed to last forever, before at last the night was over (definately this time) and we were headed back to the car park. I'm telling you these last songs 'coz I don't know if he'll do them elsewhere or whether it was 'cos he was in Liverpool, home of The Beatles. If he does sorry to have spoiled it, but it seemed really impromptu to me and it's a concert moment that will live with me forever and a day.
Without being in anyway big headed, I've seen a lot of people who are reputedly bigger than Chris (some have lived up to there reputations, others have dissappointed dismally live), but I can honestly say that tonight's show was ONE OF THE BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!!! The man is just a bundle of boundless energy, enthusiasm and love for his craft and fans.
Like I said at the beginning, I had my reservations about going to see him play in a big tent. This did nothing to detract from the spectacular and fitting lights, nor (importantly) the sound, it was CRYSTAL !!!
I am now running out of superlatives to say just how good he was and that I really envy those who have got this joy to come over the next few days.
I would say enjoy yourselves, but there's no point ... you're bound to !!!! Simply Amazing.
And if any of you get the chance to grab the limited edition CD that's for sale at the merchandising desk grab it early. I was going to get mine on the way out & they'd already sold out (the only down point of the night).
Oh how quiet Lime Street Station Sounded outside, but inside I was still singing and Helen was smiling at the enourmous grin I had plastered to my face.
Truely one of those "completely at peace with the world" nights.
That's it & I'm sorry if I've spoiled anything for anyone but I just needed to share the moment with those who'd appreciate it. Helen, by the way, is now a convert and is currently listening to "Live In Dublin" She's only got work in 4 hours, it's now 2:00 AM.
Bye for now, and thanks for letting me bore you to death.
Simon Krol:
Back from LIVERPOOL !!
I see that some reviews are already plced,so what about that I WILL KEEP IT SHORTLY.....
Where to begin:Last monday we(Astrid and myself) went to Liverpool. Didn't know what to expect......NEVER BEEN TO lIVERPOOL...... I must say:A wunderfull place to be !!!
Very nice people,a very big shoppingcentre.....no way:we would enjoy ourselfs........and we did !!!
After 3 days shopping still had the feeling missed some shops......lol......(that's what I SAID TO MY GIRLFRIEND,TO BE TRUE...MY FEETS WERE KILLING ME......HEHEHEHE....STTTTT......)
Seriously......We can recommand liverpool as a place to visit!!! About the concert:Wow !!!!!What's that?????A big circustent???? I 'VE PAID FOR A REAL CONCERT,DIDN'T WE??
But inside it was just very nice......comfartable chairs and a very good sound !!
We were sitting in the front,on the 8 th row,just sitting near a lane,so a beautifull view we had!!!!
To be honest....the last concert of Chris was at Volendam and we were sure about it.....such a beautifull concert wasn't possible anymore....
But I'm glad to say that I was a little bit wrong !!!
Ofcourse it was very different,but Chris had a good time,enjoyed it very much and it was good to feel for us.....the show was full of joy, good voice and sound and chris made many jokes between the songs !! The last 25 minutes(I believe it started with Natasha Dance) many fans came forwards and we couldn't resist that ofcourse....
So,the last half hour we had the best places on this planet!! JUST IN FRONT OF HIM,DANCING WITH HIM,SINGING LIKE YOUNG TEENAGERS WITH HIM.......JUST 3 OR 4 METERS AWAY FROM HIM!!!!
It was indied a very remarkble evening and we won't forget that for a long,long time !!!(At least till the folowing concert that we will visit at Germany....lol)
But I have to make a big remark!!!!!!! I don't know if it will happen again.......it sure was the first time for me......there was a break in the middle of the concert........ 20 minutes for a man/woman what he\she got to do.... Please don't do this ever again !! CAN YOU IMAGENE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF A FEW THOUSAND VISITORS GOT TO DO THEIR PEEPEE ???????
The break was too short,and when chris restarted again,the first 10 minutes was really disturbed of people who had to come back !!! The first rows had their chance to go to the toilet behind everybody....and were the last who had to come back.......I REALLY MISSED 2 SONGS....COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING ......
OK:I will finish now.....really tired(it is now 00.30 am.) Two things:have made over 30 photo's..hope they are good and will send it soon to this site!! Secondly:There's a possibillity to order a 24 carat gold album of chris with autograph and a personal adding of your name.... It is not very cheap.....but sure it is a nice collectors Can't wait to have it !!