Concert Review: Neuwied, Germany - August 13, 2008
Astrid Nolde-Gallasch:
So where do I start? Well, I suppose at the beginning! I went to last night's concert in Neuwied/Schloss Engers together with my friend Sabine, who is the mother of one of the friends of my older son. It was her first Chris de Burgh concert, but she has wanted to attend one ever since she heard that I was working for Chris de Burgh, so I invited her to join me this time. Our seats were way in the back on some very uncomfortable wooden chairs. The whole day there had been dark clouds in the sky, but it did not start to rain until 10 minutes before the concert! Oh dear!!! I quickly pulled out my raincoat, and free plastic raincoats were given out to everyone in the audience, it was quite a funny sight. The sun was still trying to find a way through the clouds, and all of a sudden, very shortly before the show, a beautiful full rainbow appeared just to the side of the stage. What a wonderful sight!!! It started to rain heavier though, and those who hadn't put a raincoat on yet got really soaked.. When the concert started, it still rained, and Chris came out and joked about the sight of a sea of plastic with huge grins on their faces. Nigel took pictures of us (I want to see them!!!). Chris started with Where We Will Be Going. By the time of the 2nd song though, the rain stopped, and the sun came back! And all the black clouds went away and we spent a (rather cold, but dry!) evening at the castle. Beautiful! The first part of the concert was all with the band, but with a sitting audience. I find it hard to stay on my seat when the band is playing, and a lot of people in the back where I was got up, walked around, got something to drink or eat, chatted, or anything else. I heard the atmosphere was better at the front, but in the back it made me just yearn for the final dancing part at the front..! Great songs were played during this part, such as "The Traveller", "Oh My Brave Hearts", "The Risen Lord", "The Last Time I Cried" and even a debut live version of "Live For The Day"! My friend Sabine told me later that she really loved this song and that it would certainly be a hit when played in the radio... The second part of the concert was the solo part. It started with Chris on the guitar and continued with songs on the piano. For my personal taste he could have skipped "Always On My Mind" or "Leningrad". I think these songs work better when there is a full orchestra. I loved his guitar version of Sailor though - sent shivers down my spine! When "Lady In Red" came up, Sabine and I got up and moved towards the side of the stage (it helped that the loo was also in that direction, and a lot of people walked up and down that aisle during the concert anyway...). Chris made his walkabout through the audience and a girl sitting next to where we were now standing got a real long hug from him and the look on her face when she sat down again was just indescribable. She just couldn't believe that she had just hugged Chris de Burgh! I love these little moments. After Lady In Red everybody ran to the front quickly and the real party could begin. He played "Bal Masqué", "Living In The World" and many more songs that made everyone dance and sing and clap like mad. There were two blonde girls right next to me headbanging, and Chris watched them for a while with a big grin on his face (while he continued singing of course). Only too soon the show was over, and we said our goodbyes and drove home. Sabine enjoyed her first CdeB concert a lot and said that it was much better than she would have expected. Another convert? Btw, to Aachen I am taking Axel, the father of another friend of my son Robin. We were on holidays together with this family - and there I learned that Axel used to be a big Chris de Burgh fan for years and went to see some concerts in the Sporthalle Köln in the 80s. He hasn't heard any of the newer stuff though, so I am curious what he thinks of it! Can't wait for Saturday!!!!!