Concert Review: Merkers, Germany - September 26, 2009
Michaela:
Merkers was for me the most special venue of the year. Not only because a concert in a mine (a salt mine) is very special anyway, also because Merkers is only 30km from where I grew up und where my family lives. Nevertheless I was 19 years old when I went the first time to this region around Bad Salzungen, because until 1989 the german border made it impossible to go there without big efford (though it might have been easier than in the other direction…). By the way, the day the border opened I had my very first rendez-vous with my first boyfriend. We cancelled our plans and drove to the border but we never reached it because of the most giant traffic jam I´ve ever experienced. Very nice and funny memories. But though I´ve seen the mine several times from outside, I´ve actually never been down there! On Saturday morning I started my journey together with my family, dropped them at our hometown and went the last 30 minutes to Merkers on my own. Arriving there around 1 p.m. a few other fans were already sitting at the terrace of the small bistro. We had a meal (and as written before: it was actually a bad one…) and chatted a lot. I bought a T-Shirt at the little souvenir-shop. It was in the Hardrock Cafe logo style but actually it was written “Salt Rock Cave” on it. Jason noticed the shirt later (well, it´s his job to have an eye for shirts…). Then, around 2 p.m. the big black car arrived, Chris got off and crossed right in front of us the bistros terrace! We sat there as if turned into stone and nobody was encouraged enough to accost him!!!! And so he went into the small building. (I can tell you, the song “Fatal Hesitation” will call up new associations for me now!!!) More and more fans arrived and we had to put tables together. Suddenly at the balcony over our heads Chris turned up. And he started a small talk by making a nice remark about the landscape (letting his eyes wander across it). Very natch, just as if it was your neighbour who stand up there and says something trivial but friendly. That was sooo sweet!! Of course I had liked to tell him that this beautiful landscape (low mountains and a lot of forests) is MY home, but I didn´t dare to yell some english words at that distance. Somebody asked him if he had already been down and he replied no, he has no idea what will expect him. Later we managed to drive into the mine as the first ones, which was not only because of the fact that we arrived so early but also because of a huuuuuge portion of luck!!! We went down in a drawing cage which was not completely tight (little holes on both sides) and so we felt the airstream when we went down. I was a bit concerned if I will become scared, but it was OK. Down in the mine the real “adventure” was waiting for us!! We had to drive to the actual venue, a very big bunker, about 4 kilometers subterraneous. We boarded an open truck and drove through the small passageways very fast and rough!! It was such an impressive labyrinth down there!! Many crossroads, several levels, even signs like at a motorway. Small and very low roads as well as rooms with many space. Unbelievable! Gosh, this is so close to my original home and it needed Chris to discover it!! But what we saw was only a small part of it, as we were told that the whole subterraneous road network has more than 4000 kilometers!!! By the way, we met a woman who works for the mines event-management and she was sooo nice, helpful and patient and answered all our questions and told little stories. She said that Chris was meanwhile down for a soundcheck and he was very relaxed. But they had the appointment to drove him very slowly through the subterraneous labyrinth (so obviously he hadn´t to suffer as much as we did…). And she told us about the german rockband Fury in The Slaughterhouse, who arrived very cocky, but after the ride with the elevator they became totally opposite characters….She said that to her surprise Peter Schilling made the best concert she´s ever seen and we promised her that she will change her opinion this evening! When we arrived as the first ones we felt to be the lucky ones with the best view to the stage. But it wasn´t like that, because the first 5 rows already had reservation-signs on it. I choose a seat at row 6 at the aisle and we blocked some seats with coats and our helmets for the other community members, although I thought we need not, because they will queue and arrive as the first ones anyway. But I was wrong again. The fist people arrived and ambled down the aisle slowly. Obviously there were not only the VIP´s with pre-reserved seats but also other ones who had the privilege of the first elevator! Good luck we had blocked a lot of seats!!! Of course we were not able to tell the other community members that we are already down there, because mobile phones don´t work 500 meters below the surface. And so the second group of people arrived and they run down the aisle towards us like in panic! That was a very funny picture!! Even if we couldn´t see faces at that distance we knew that this must be “our” people. The bunker was very large and small (by the way, at his entrance a 36 meter long impressive paddle wheel digger) and the stage was small and very very low. It was no piano on it, maybe the stage was too small. Or they didn´t like to put it into the salty air. Next to both sides of the stage was a lorry with salt boulders on it, on the walls were candles. The venue became crowed slowly, but they managed to bring about 2000 people down in 90 minutes. During the waiting time I walked back through the aisle and suddenly somebody shouted my name. It was a former colleague of mine who I haven´t met for about 10 years! Chris started on time with the usual songs. My view wasn´t good at all, even from row 6, which was the fault of the low stage. I had to bow towards the aisle to see Chris. But the man in front of me already bowed, so I had to bow very much which was too uncomfortable. There was a big screen where Chris was shown, but to be honest, that was not the way I wanted to see him. When he welcomed us, he said that he has played a lot of unusual places, but this one is the strangest of all. Soon the first women brought flowers and he tanked them with a little kiss. I guess the lower the stage is, the more kisses he gives, because is much friendlier for his back. I never intended to bring him a present this evening, less than ever so close to my home (people may recognize me). But now I regretted that I had no present for him (who knows when the stage again will be so low for good kissing conditions….). But too late. But suddenly I got the idea to present him with the helmet (which we got for driving in). Just in lack of any other suitable present. For a moment I was not sure if I´ll be encouraged enough but then I decided that I´ll do no second “Fatal Hesitation” this day!! Mirror of the Soul was great, especially with the little stars (lights) at the round ceiling. It didn´t look that nice at the open air venues in the summer. And with the next lady who went in front I did also, hiding the helmet behind my back, waiting until she had handed her present. And it was just the same as in Bonn, the many people in my back were making me much more nervous than Mr. Superhero. Even more because being aware that some from my hometown may know me!! Chris turned to me and I handed him the helmet. He made an astonished face, then he smiled and said “thanks, I will need it”. And then he hesitated for a moment. For me it seemed as if he was considering if the old helmet is worth a kiss. In fact it is not a classical symbol for adoration and romantic feelings….. But then he bowed down, snuggeled his cheek at my cheek and smacked a kiss in the air next to my ear. Woooow. I can tell you, I went back to my seat with jelly legs! And noticed only casually that he put the helmet on Al´s head. Next song was Leather on my Shoes and somehow I managed to calm down and did the sprint to the loo without the jelly in the legs! But even without jelly, I´m still on cloud 9, even today!! The loo was a curiosity itself. Through the door in the wall you enter a usual washroom with usual washbasins and running water. And then you go through the next door and suddenly you are in a cave with Dixie toilets in it! Just when I was at the Dixie I heard the first sounds of All Along The Watchtower, so obviously there was no break this time. From now on my view was a bit better, I think Chris and his microphone moved a bit and also the man in front of me was tired to bow to his side. For Moonlight and Vodka (this acoustic version and the little scene with the waiter is one of my favourites of this tour) Chris played the guitar. Because of lack of a piano of course, though the piano version is for sure the more atmospheric one. He ended the song with something like flamenco rhythms on the guitar. And he got huge applause. Borderline was missed out. Also because of lack of a piano. He told again the story with the many Schnapps´ and Gluhwines at the Christmas market. Which are followed by a “Currywurst mit Senf”. I wonder if he is aware that it is completely unusual to eat a Currywurst together with mustard. Then he sang a bit of a new Christmas song which he will release soon. Several times he got standing ovations and I remember one time all people got up except the VIP´s in the first rows. And when it was nearly time to sit down these 5 rows suddenly got up. Looked like they were remote-controlled, because I didn´t notice somebody who was the first. In the solo part was the song-surprise of the evening: Perfect Day! The community-rows yelled. But during the song people walked steady through the aisle to the front to make some photos of Chris with their mobile phones. Maybe they thought during this unknown song they can do. My view was blocked, I was so annoyed and didn´t enjoy the song as much as I had liked to do. Soon it was time for LIR and it was no problem to mange it to the front while Chris was down in the audience. I was right in front of the stage but beneath a light. That was very hot and uncomfortable but good luck they turned it off soon. When Chris was back on stage he tousled his hair. And I noticed an open button in the middle of his shirt. He really looked a bit untidy now. (Or wild and exciting. Depends on the eye of the beholder of course. ) And now, during the dancing part the low stage was suddenly very nice, at least for us in the first rows. Needless to say, that the dancing part is what I always enjoy most. From the ceiling more and more little salt pieces fell down, like snow. Very strange. Chris also looked up a bit sceptic. When he said goodbye he remarked that thankfully the ceiling is still where it belongs, though little pieces came down, but it doesn´t matter as long as they aren´t 50 kg pieces. And he commemorated the many people who have lost their lifes in the mine over the hundreds of years. Then the huge globe arose and actually I saw it for the second time, because most concerts I attended were open air shows. This is really a funny and impressive special effect. At one point (not sure if the globe was already out then) Chris´ gaze wandered along the unique venue and up to the ceiling. And then he smiled and closed his eyes, like somebody who wants to save this picture forever in his memory. After the last song he hurried away and didn´t shake hands. I guess he had to be brought up first and the first people already queued at the place where the trucks would depart. When the lights were on I saw that the bunker was even larger as I thought, because behind the stage was still a big part of it. Of course it lasted a while until we could get out. But everything was organized very well. One truck after another arrived. And a gain we had a wild ride, back to the elevator, the public one this time. Which was a huuugge one with three levels and about 25 persons on each level! And to be honest, I was very very happy to be on the surface after more than 8 hours in the mine!! Although I was not scared down there, but it was really time to escape the darkness (umm, outside it was dark meanwhile too) and the muggy air!! At the information desk we met again the lady from the event management. And she told us, that this was actually the best concert she´s ever seen. But I have no idea if this was the truth or if she only wanted to get rid of those crazy fans….