Concert Review: Hanau, Germany - August 15, 2008
Michaela:
When the tourdates were out I decided for several reasons to attend the shows in Fulda and Weimar and later, when the concert in the basilika of Ebersbach was announced I couldnīt resist to buy a third ticket -already a bit too much - especially in the eyes of my hubby So since month it was clear, that I wouldnīt attend the concert in Hanau, which was the nearest to where I live! After the shows in Fulda and Weimar I was quite certain that Iīve chosen the "right" ones (still I am) because every one had itīs special "highlights" for me. And I was also certain that I will be not sad to be not in Hanau, another concert wouldnīt top my experiences. But----yesterday it became a very strange feeling to stay at home while my hero gives a concert just a 30 minutes drive away! And at least I wasnīt able to stand it I decided to drive to Hanau, just to hear him sing from outside the venue, maybe there would be a chance to glance inside. Iīve listened from outside to several concerts of other artists, those who werenīt worth for me to buy a ticket. On a summer evening it can be very nice, usually lot of people are having a picnic there. But of course Iīve never listend to a concert from outside with a longing heart for the man inside I arrived near the chateau at 7.30 p.m. and found out that the whole quater was a single traffic jam. Obviously there were not enough parkings. An endless number of cars were parking along the streets and I wonder how many people have attended the concert !? When I managed to park the car short before 8.00 still many people were searching! I arrived at the venue and heard When Winter Comes. Tickets were still available and so I concerned for a moment to buy one (maybe my hubby wouldnīt notice if I had spend the money for the ticket or for the weekend shopping at the supermarket ). But at least I was able to resist For I was sure that another show with the orchestra wouldnīt be that exciting after the more up tempo concert in Weimar. And I wouldnīt have the chance for a front row ticket. Would be better to keep my memories. I circled the chateau during The Road To Freedom and found a nice place right at the waterside. Many people were already there!! Four people had even brought a table and a meal, candles and wine glasses!! The sound was loud enough but of course not as good as inside (well, I hope it was good inside). But there was no chance to glance inside, there was a wall around the park of the chateau During the solo part he did Sailor (he didnīt in Fulda and Weimar) and I envied the people inside, but it was also nice to listen from outside Apart from this the setlist was the same like in Fulda. (Leather On my Shoes was after Brave Hearts, right now I realize that it isnīt at the setlist Lore got in Fulda, but Iīm sure in Fulda it was also!). With Peaceful Waters he sung a bit of Tender Hands, Lady In Red and Missing You. There was not other line in it at all in Fulda, Weimar was with Tender Hands and Missing You. But I havenīt heard it with some lines of Lady In Red for quite a long time! We were disturbed by loud beats of music somewhere else in the park, sounded like a private party was going on. I wonder if the audience and Chris also have heard. It was loud enough, so I think they must have, especially while he didnīt sing. Good luck it stopped soon, maybe somebody had told them off During Oh My Brave Hearts I wasnīt able to sit on my folding chair anymore and so I started to dance in the meadows (knowing that you inside have to remain still at your seat ). Must have looked a bit crazy for the people around. The summer evening at the waterfront meadows of river Main was beautiful as it can be. Soon a full moon was risen, reflected at the water and a swan was on the river. So during my old favourites Discovery and In A Country Churchyard I looked at this scene instead of Chrisī face. Ummm, that was even more romantic ..... !!!! One day says Galileo, A man will reach the sky, And see the world completely, From outside, And gazing down from younder, On a world of blue and green, He'll say with eyes of wonder, I have seen, I have seen, My eyes have seen. I have seen, My eyes have seen. Looking at the full moon, surounded by some lighted clouds, I could imagine how somebody is gazing down to our blue and green waterfront.... I was very sure now, that it was worth to be there!! My view to the illuminated chateau was also nice. But it was hard to get his words, I recognized some well known jokes and stories, but if you canīt see him acting and miming you canīt say in what mood he was. His usually catching good humour didnīt spread outwards The songs that werenīt not very exciting for me in Fulda yet followed now. From outsinde they became even a bit boring... And the night was getting colder and colder. The clamminess of the meadows climbed along my trousers. Finally he did The Lady In Red. A piano version, I wonder if it was also the piano version in Fulda, I think it was not. In Weimar it was for sure the "original"-arrangement. I wonder if he was down in the audience or playing the piano himself? Lady In Red and Revolution were in the right order this time. Obviously he had really "forgotten" the Lady In Red in Fulda (what a pity that he remembered later ...). The Song had a sudden interruption, a second of silence, and then the audience was laughing Revolution was the one I have waited for! I liked to hear this one with the orchestra again! But while it was pretty silent around me until now, right at this song a lot of noise was going on. First I heard some ambulance cars, when Chris shouted "Revolution" a dog started to bark and soon another joined him and then some teenagers circled me with their bikes and were very loud. I had the impression that Chris voice wasnīt in that good shape it was the week before (had this impression also few songs earlier), but maybe it was not the fault of his voice but of the acoustics outside the venue. (Well, I know, I had not payed fot the concert, I hadnīt earned it better...). The "dancing part" wasnīt the same from outside of course . And as it was very could now I was not in the mood anymore to do some crazy meadow dancing (with people around laughing at me..). After High On Emotion I started to walk in direction of my car to escape the traffic jam early. And so a was walking along the street when I heard Chris finishing The Snows Of New York and the music turned into the Storyman Theme. I could imagine, that Chris was now down in the audience, a lof of happy faces around, some lucky ladies hugging him ......oooooooooohhhhhhhhhh........eventually I became very sad................