Concert Review: Melbourne, Australia - February 27, 2006
Mark Daly:
Melbourne, Australia - February 27th 2006 Is there anything that can be said about a Chris De Burgh show that hasn't been said before? When it comes to describing one of his solo shows, superlatives are superfluous - Like a fine wine, he just gets better with age. The choice of songs themselves becomes irrelevant, you get all the gems you expect along with a few surprises. "He can still sing." De Burgh quipped to his audience as he finished playing the title track from `The Road To Freedom', and there began almost three enthralling hours of music and stories. At times joyous, at times poignant, at times funny and at all times entertaining. "It's really more of a comedy show with a few songs thrown in" he explained about an hour in. The fifty-seven year old performer is older, greyer and heavier-set than the first time I saw him bounding onto the stage in Adelaide, Australia almost twenty years ago. His energy may have waned slightly, but there's a statesmanly presence about him now which belies the cheekiness that he continues to exhibit between songs - Like the lost soldiers he sings of, age has not wearied him. It took a few songs before Chris found his stride this night. Neither his voice nor his guitar playing were quite there in his opening songs. These songs (played on guitar) consisted of a few tracks from `The Road To Freedom' and one each from `Quiet Revolution' (`The Same Sun') and `This Way Up' (`Oh My Brave Hearts'). The performance style of his songs in this intimate environment has changed little since the (almost) solo shows he toured Australia with in early 1998 as part of the `Beautiful Dreams' tour. Save for the included eleven songs from his last two albums the choice of songs has changed little too in the intervening 8 years - Right down to the party songs at the end. `A Hard Days Night', `American Pie', `Pretty Woman' and `Hey Jude' - Capped off with `The Snows Of New York' The same final songs he played later that same year in a tour of historic English estates, only with a full band on those occasions. Moving to the piano for the first time, he cut an odd looking figure. The piano was an electronic keyboard as opposed to the real thing. He towered over it as though it were a child's play-thing. This was all the stranger given that the support act played a beautiful grand piano which was wheeled away before Chris could get his hands on it. At his toy piano he played `Lonely Sky' followed by `Five Past Dreams' which was yet another of the seven songs he played from `The Road To Freedom' - All of which translated far better to these intimate performances than could have possibly been expected. In fact, I have a new found appreciation of the album as a result. His mood was casual throughout the evening, very casual - Chris was seemingly enjoying himself immesnsely "It's like a big party" he joked. Coming off the back of a show in New Zealand where he played to over twenty-six thousand people, Melbourne's Harmer Hall necessitated a more intimate and personal approach. For those who hadn't seen him on stage before it could have initially been mistaken for laziness or disinterest should the mood of the first few songs have continued and if a problem with the keyboard (which forced him to abandon his second song half-way through) had continued. But then, almost imperceptibly, things got back on track and he had the audience spellbound. I can't say when the mood changed. Was it `A Rainy Night In Paris' that did it? `Natasha Dance'? `Lebanese Night' maybe? The last two also translating wonderfully to this environment. If I had to take a guess at it, I'd say it was `Shine On' from `Power Of Ten', for it was the first moment when the audience began to recognise and applaud songs as they started. Chris De Burgh was no longer the centre of attention - His songs were, and if people needed any convincing that his works since `Lady In Red' have been no less emotive or beautifully crafted than those produced before it, then this was it. I suppose you'd call it the second act. The show moved into its second hour with a grab-bag of wonderful songs before a series of powerfully delivered songs encapsulating the futility of war. `Borderline', `Say Goodbye To It All' and `Up Here In Heaven' were all standouts. The sombre mood was continued with the story of Eva Cassidy, Chris' inspiration for `Songbird', which followed. It was then time to crank things up and have some real fun. Donning a wireless head-set Chris proceeded to wander about the theatre shaking hands with his fans and singing a medley which included `Living On The Island', `A Night On The River' and `Tender Hands' among others. Playing medleys seemed to be the only way to fit in all the songs he wanted to. `Sailing Away' slipped into `Ship To Shore' and back again. `Missing You' made a brief appearance in `Where Peaceful Waters Flow' which itself rounded out a trilogy of songs (starting with `The Revolution' and `Light A Fire' from `The Getaway' album) and closed the main show. The show covered tracks from most of Chris' studio albums. The only unrepresented ones were `Far Beyond These Castle Walls', `Crusader' and `Eastern Wind'. With such a huge body of work there will always be songs that weren't played that you wish had been `The Last Time I cried' for example, `Turning Round'. But there will of course be songs which you had entirely forgotten about and which you discover all over again, think `Carry Me' and `Saint Peters Gate'. At the end of the day you just have to ask yourself just how much can Chris De Burgh fit into one solo performance? the answer is, one hell of a lot. And yes, Chris - You can still sing.
Cleopatra:
My husband Steve and I arrived at the Hamer Hall quite early, there were not many people there at the time but in the foyer there were copies of TRTF album for sale, disappointingly no programs. I bought a cd so that I could have something for Chris to sign when we got to meet him later. Then Marion and her friend Stephanie arrived, we have never actually met before as Marion is from Sydney and had flown down for the concert, having emailed and chatted on line and by phone, it was great to finally meet up, then shortly afterwards Juia and her husband Sam arrived. Then it was time to go and meet Chris and it was while we were waiting for him that I realised my camera was missing from my bag, I had taken it out earlier to get something else out as my bag is very small and everything was squashed in, silly me put the camera down on a bench, I then forgot to put it back in and walked away leaving it there, I was so excited about meeting Chris that I wasn't concentrating on what I was doing...grrr, I went back to where I had left it and of course it wasn't there, unfortunately no one handed it in either which is very disappointing, so of course I was unable to take any photos which spoilt the evening a little for me, though Julia and Marion took quite a few of which I will get some copies. Then the moment came, I saw Chris walking down the corridor towards us and my face lit up into a huge smile, we introduced ourselves, me being last, and he said "so you're the famous Cleo, I've heard all about you" I felt myself turn red with embarrassment, thank goodnes the lighting wasn't too bright...lol! He gave us all a kiss, I told my hubby and son Rob (who also came to the concert with his wife) afterwards that I was never going to wash that side of my face again...lol! I can't get over how unpretentious Chris is, he is just so sweet...sigh! I'm still pinching myself... As for the concert itself, Chris was greeted with clapping and whistles when he came on stage, though the majority of the audience was a bit slow to respond to the songs until a bit later on when a few familiar ones were played, obviously a lot of people hadn't heard the new album, we were in the second row and the people sitting in the front row didn't seem to be fans at all, I think they were there because they have permanently reserved seats and just go along to different concerts etc, so although they clapped politely there was not much enthusiasm shown until the very end. As usual Chris put on a very polished performance, the only glitch being a technical problem with the piano when he sang "Here For You" and he had to sing the second part again, but being a true professional he recovered well and carried on to a round of appreciative applause. As Julia has told you all about the Britney Spears thing and walkabout I will skip that, I decided to give Chris my roses in between songs when he put down his guitar spoke a few words and headed for the piano...well, I wasn't quick enough and by the time I had clambered across Julia, (refrained myself with what I thought was superb self control from scratching her eyes out for her little episode with Chris on his walkabout)and reached the stage as Chris was just starting the first few notes of LIR, I waved the roses in the air and called out to Chris who immediately stopped playing and came over to me, knelt down and gave me my second kiss for the evening and thanked me, to a round of applause,...blushing again I went back to my seat with a huge smile on my face...bliss! I won't go through the song list, I will leave that for someone else to do, much more efficiently I'm sure. At the start of "Revolution" Chris invited people to get up and dance, stomp their feet and otherwise let it all hang out so up I get and go to the front expecting others also to do the same, and to my dismay no one else did, I was standing there like a shag on a rock feeling a little lonely, then Stephanie came saving the day, followed by Marion, but as we stood there clapping and singing along, the people in the front seats complained they couldn't see so we knelt down in front of the stage, soon others started to join us and we stood up, then as Chris really started to Rock'n Roll everyone stood up in front of their seats and joined in, 'if you can't beat them, then join them' as the saying goes, at the end everyone was yelling for more, cheering and clapping, Chris had them all eating out the palm of his hand, it was just fantastic! an evening I will treasure for ever... After the concert a group of us met in the foyer for a photo session before heading home. To day Marion, Stephanie and Rod Unmack came up to my place for lunch, we had a lovely time discussing the concert and Chris's music in general and getting to know one another a lot better, hopefully we'll meet up again soon. I hope you all enjoy the review. Cleopatra.