Concert Review: Mainz, Germany - March 2, 2004
Lore Müller:
Some month ago we got to know from the official cdeb-mailing-list that there will be some sort of party, perhaps a release-party, the first week in March 2004. Later we heard that the new album "The Road to Freedom" would be released on March 8, so we called the party a "pre-release-party". It was said it would perhaps only be for 200 people or less :-(( It was also a rumour that it would be filmed and a DVD would be recorded to be released in 2005 - perhaps. What a surprise, when Astrid told us, there would be several small events at German radio stations, that there would be a competition and a pre-competition to win tickets for participating in those events. One of these events was in Mainz yesterday at SWR 1, a radio-station. So, some of the listmembers have won tickets and others tried to book them via phone or internet. You had to be quick and lucky to succeed. And then, as listmembers are like members of a happy family :-)), some ordered more tickets than they needed for themselves and made it possible for others to go to Mainz. Silvia, Gabi, Doris and me were some of the lucky ones and here is our "Mainz-story": Silvia arrived after an hoursī drive at my (Lore) house and Gabi after a short drive at about 10 a.m.. With Silviaīs car we went to Bonn to meet Doris, who had arranged a very cheap trip by train ( 150 km, 21 Euros all in all for 4 persons!!!!) to Mainz and back. We went by bus to Bonn and had to take a very slow train which stops at nearly every station. We had much fun on the train and in the early afternoon we arrived in Mainz. With the help of a map we walked to "Alte Patrone" where the event should take place. We got our tickets there and had a quick look into the large room, where people were busy arranging loudspeakers and camera, tables were set in front of a little stage (piano already there) and about 100 chairs at the back of the room. Outside again, the restaurant right beside the hall-entrance opened and we went in to have a coffee or a chocolate (both more cold than hot). More and more people arrived, many faces we knew, some joined us and soon we were a happy bunch of people discussing eagerly what we expect from this event. We were told there would be an interview and a concert, both of which were broadcasted, live or not live, two hours or less, nobody was sure about anything. I was happy to meet Lisa for the first time, as we had changed many emails in the past days. Silviaīs mobile rang and it was Claudia Schr. who had picked up Willi and his Claudia from the station. I went outside to welcome them. Soon it was time to pay the bills and join the queue in front of the entrance. Just then a black car with coloured windows arrived and CdeB left the car with quick steps and was pushed to a small door by his "bodyguard" Chris Andrews. Then we had to wait for a long time, because something inside caused a delay. Once we had taken place, the first part, the interview part, began. We clapped hands when CdeB, dressed all in black with his leather jacket, entered the stage. He told us he was not happy with all the cables around his neck and he let us have a quick look at them under his leather jacket. They make him move with a stiff neck, he said. The interview was recorded for radio-broadcasting and between the parts of the interview they played CdeB-songs and began with "Lady in Red", before they started the interview. So CdeB had to sit there without saying or doing anything and had to listen to LIR!!!! Not very comfortable for him, I think. The audience could listen to the interview in German by using headphones. But I tried to understand CdeB in English. Just as many others I like to listen to his voice when he is talking and I enjoyed it very much yesterday as I could understand him very well. As the interview will be broadcasted even on the internet, I wonīt tell you everything. To be honest I canīt remember all the questions and answers. But here is one question about the song "Five Past Dreams" which Chris wrote as a continuation of LIR: "What did your wife Diana, who you wrote LIR for, say, when you wrote this continuation?" - "I canīt wear a red dress anymore, because of LIR." Well, he didnīt sound funny, it seemed to me as if he thought: "What a stupid question!" The audience got the possibility to ask s.th., too. They had to write their questions down and some were chosen. Diana asked if CdeB likes to dance. That was a very good question, because he had a lot to say and to laugh and to demonstrate. He really enjoyed this question. But you can hear it yourself later. After the interview and a break, Chris appeared without leather jacket, introduced and played 8 of his 11 new album songs (if I count right). His voice was great, the songs were great but - for me there was one very very outstanding song, the "Rose of England". Iīve known it from the single already, but live, looking at the performing Chris, undescribable!! Although most other songs, like "Snow is Falling" and "Road to Freedom" are really great, his voice in "Rose of England" is, well, undescribably fantastic. Chris said, he had to concentrate very much on the lyrics and he admitted after Rose of England having changed s.th. But that didnīt matter at all, nobody noticed it, I think, everybody was caught in that song. What struck me is, that Chris sang most of the time with closed eyes. Perhaps for better concentrating. Some of the songs deal with dying and dead people, but Chris said itīs a very positive album. Canīt wait to get it!!!! After the new songs he played "Where peaceful waters flow" in a fast way (I like the slower version much more). Much too soon, he said good-bye, but came back to sing "Snows of New York". High on emotion we were ready to leave, when we saw a reporter coming to Dani, then Doris and Willi and to me. He asked how we enjoyed the concert and why we like CdeB, so, perhaps we and you are hearing our voices on the radio. As it was too early to go back to the station, we went into the restaurant again and were delighted to see there were already many many listmembers around a large table. Everybody got a seat. What a great idea to sit here together and talk about the past hours! We had drinks and s.th. to eat and much fun. Only some listmembers were missing, perhaps they had to drive a long way home. At about 9 p.m. most of us left, the four of us went by taxi to the station and back to Bonn by such a slow train. It was a fantastic day and well worth the travelling. Thanks to those who made it possible for listmembers to join this event, even if it was not a pre-release-party. It was surely something very very special!