Concert Review: Manchester, UK - November 8, 2002
Chris High:
Isn't it strange how one City can hold so many good vibes for individual people where as others simply leave you cold? The first part of this line can be applied (as far as I'm concerned at least) with Manchester. I am a staunch Red from that City, have been to many gigs there and genuinely love it. Last night however, has merely enhanced my image of the place. We got into Manchester (in the traditional rain) at 4:20 and caught a taxi to The Jury's Inn where we (Helen & I) were staying for the night and promptly got ready to head out to the MEN Arena and proceeded to go to the box office. Why you might ask? Well, following a 'phone conversation with CdeB in August concerning some Tales I'd written based around his lyrics, he's asked whether I'd like to go back stage to meet him. Obviously saying yes, I fully expected it to be about 10 minutes before hand or something. Imagine my disbelief when we discovered that it was to be AFTER the show !!! Not only that but we'd also been given 2 EXTRA tickets for the show. So, we gave our original tickets to Steve Bennett (who's been a tremendous help in adapting the Tales into another format) from the list (which were front centre anyway) and took our complimentary places in time for the gig to start. The best part of any show for me is when the lights go down. That expectant buzz and increase in atmosphere still never fails to get me going. On came the man and immediately broke into Guilty Secret. From then on it was just fantastic song after fantastic. Oh My Brave Hearts, Sailing Away, Bal Masque, Revolution, Spaceman (after a constant request) all those that have been listed before were performed (despite a very bad dose of Flu and a late night in Liverpool the night before by all accounts) with true style, energy and attention to detail. How anybody can say that they don't like his stuff / performances is beyond me. Chris doesn't sing the type of stuff I generally listen too (I'm a Rocker really) BUT his talent is exceptional and I've followed him for around 18 years (though this is only my 2nd gig of his ... but not the last). There was one bonus to the evening though. He sang The Tower, with just his guitar having had it requested from the audience. What a s! ong that is !!!! A further personal highlight was Ship To Shore (which made up for the omission of In A Country Churchyard & Spanish Train) which he delivered with just SO much energy !! By now, we were up dancing and clapping and singing ourselves hoarse and all too soon, we were at the Ferryman / High On Emotion stage of events (superb, just superb!) He then came back on, pointed at his watch and said it was going home time but of course picked up his guitar (after pretending not to several times) and said goodnight with a really special rendition of Snows Of New York (with the band backing him - who I must add were just fantastic !!). He then jumped down into the audience and shook hands with those who were up dancing Including Steve & Claire, which I was made up about as Chris recognised him straight away, judging by the look on his face. Then he was back up on stage and waving goodbye for the final time that evening. It was then that I first saw Chris Williams who very kindly brought me a couple of discs that she did for me (Thank you ever so much) and realised that the Tape I've done for Chris & Stewart in return was comfortably minding its own business back at the hotel (I was in such a state of nerves before hand with the prospect of meeting THE MAN, it's a wonder I didn't forget to take myself!). Helen had been busting for the loo and had to go as soon as the show was over, so I said my goodnights to Steve, Claire Chris & Stewart and waited for Helen. And waited. And waited. Then the back doors opened and people were being ushered through. Helen eventually turned up quite distressed. She is Visually Impaired and had asked a steward where the nearest loos were (Having explained her disability) and had been promptly sent Bloomin' miles away. She didn't realise that they were so far away, else she'd have asked me to go with her and everybody who worked there were more concerned w! ith clearing the litter up than helping her (Gripe over). Anyway, we went through and were ushered into a small room underneath the stage right stand, where bottles of wine, water, pop and peanuts were laid out on table. Stephan Henchoz, the Liverpool defender was there and about 50 or so other people. We'd got talking to a couple of nice ladies inside the gig and they were there also (Dawn & Angela hello & thank you!!). Then Chris de Burgh came in wearing a thick jumper (he'd said he was cold on stage) and a black leather jacket and began mingling amongst those there gathered. It seemed to take an age for him to get to us, but when he did I introduced myself and Helen, shook his hand and Helen got a kiss before we giving him a gold coloured box, which had inside it a black mug with drawings of the Beatles on and a box of 'Beatles' fudge in a similar presentation box. He was absolutely made up with them. I also handed over another batch of 5 Tales to him (that makes 19 that he has now. He asked for some when we went to London f! or Gloria Hunniford and those passed on via Diane Perry (thank you Di). He signed my own copy of the Tales, posed for three photographs and signed some CD covers AND Steve's programme. We had a little chat (but his voice was so hoarse and to be fair, he didn't look that well) before asking Chris Andrews to come over to us. Chris Andrews said that Chris and himself had read the Tales and that they were really impressed with them and that he'd be in touch (amongst other things, such as asking whether we'd enjoyed the show etc.) and then Chris Andrews was also away mingling with the others. I then spoke to Stephan Henchoz, who was really nice (but I didn't ask for a photo to be taken because I'd have felt a bit cheeky, given that it was his night off) and shook my hand and spoke to me for about 10 minutes (considering my Manchester United allegiance, this is something of a record for me with ANY Liverpool player / supporter - apart from CdeB of course) and it was a real pleasure. I then spotted the band standing in the corner and went across to thank them for their part in the show. They all shook my hand, and when I said my name, Tim said "oh your the guy who writes the stories"!!!! AND THEN asked if I'd like to go to Birmingham TONIGHT !!!!!!!! I thought he was kidding at first, but quickly realised that, no, he was serious !!!!!!!! Sadly, I had to decline. I'm a student and have essays to write and exams coming up this week (which he fully understood) but I was delighted to have been asked. We stood and chatted for about 15 minutes or so (I've just star! ted trying to learn the guitar - badly, but there you go) and then returned to Angela & Dawn. Chris de Burgh and Chris Andrews came over and we chatted some more (about this and that, but mainly how much they love Liverpool - it's where I'm from) and then it was time for him to go. BUT before he did, he came back across to us touched me on the arm and said "Thanks very much for coming, thanks very much for the Tales and the gifts & I'll be in touch soon!!!!!" HIM thanking ME !!!!!!!!!!???? Was he KIDDING ????????? Everybody started to thin out when CdeB left and we'd been in his company for a little over an hour. We eventually left the little room after being in there for about 90 minutes and headed off to Edward's bar in Piccadilly to celebrate what was JUST THE MOST FANTASTIC NIGHT !!!! I'm not generally an emotional type of guy, but after he'd gone I had to go to the loo and have a little cry (Ahhh - Helen's told me to put that in) simply for the fact that EVERYBODY had been so damn nice and complimentary about what I'd written. A thing that started off as a bit of a laugh, may just (with God's will & Steve's help) become something a little bigger. The only down side was that we couldn't spend more time with Steve, Claire, Stewart & Chris Williams and the upset with Helen & the loo. Everything else was just PERFECT. If he does ever read this, I'd just like to say Thank you Very Much Chris, for giving me the opportunity to meet you and for giving me one of the most memorable nights of my life. Manchester may boast the Theatre of Dreams (United's ground), but for me last night it had moved to the MEN Arena That's my account.