Concert Review: Tuessling, Germany - June 12, 2009
Andera Lucas:
Good evening to everyone, The venue in Tuessling was the park of a castle. The stage was built up next to the castle and the chairs were on grass – mostly. It was a bit strange, as there was a small middle block with about 10 seats, then two blocks on the right and left side. Between those three blocks were flowerbeds and grass and both blocks started with only four seats in the front row, but of course getting wider in the other rows. I think there weren’t that many seats, maybe 1.000, but I might be completely wrong here. Before the actual concert started, the owner of the castle (I think…) Countess von Pfuehl did a short speech welcoming us and wishing us a nice evening. Of course she also said how delighted she would be to have Chris singing here. The concert started as usual with the lights on. Of course the effect wasn’t quite the same as at the indoor shows, as it was bright daylight. The audience seemed to be a bit reserved, but I also had the feeling that a lot of sound and “atmosphere” kind of disappeared in this open park. No idea how to explain that. Maybe it was that the audience was a bit far from the stage or the slightly strange arrangement of the chairs, it seemed to me that the communication between the audience and those on stage was a bit difficult. At least during the first part of the show. I think it was better during the second part. It was also quite cold as soon as the sun had disappeared. To be honest, I was very cold with just capri pants and without socks… Many people were much smarter as I and brought blankets… After “Last Night” and “Missing You” Chris greeted the audience as usual. A special remark to Chris W: He had a shirt on (might have been a light blue one), a jumper and a (closed) leather jacket. Yes, it was cold and I would have loved a jumper too ? Chris obviously had practised how to pronounce Tuessling which is a tough word for an English speaking person. The other songs of the first part were “Sailing Away”, “Turn, Turn, Turn”, “Brave Hearts”, “The Long And Winding Road”, “Without You”, “The Mirror Of The Soul” and “Leather On My Shoes”. After the break the band members came back on stage, but a lot of people were still coming back to their seats while they had already started playing. Where I was sitting there was a gap in the plastic covered “fence”, so I could see to the area behind and I saw Chris walking there, but not towards the stage, but to the other direction. Soon I saw why: He did not walk on the stage from the backstage area, but they opened one of the barriers and he came out there, simply walking along the audience, waving, then walking up the stairs in front of the stage to join David, Al, Tony and Nigel. They did “All Along The Watchtower” and after that song another crowd of people walked to their seats. In Chris’ solo part we had a nice surprise. After “Borderline” (no standing ovations this time, maybe people were just too cold??) he said that during the break he had met the “beautiful Countess Stephanie” and would sing an additional song for her, her family and all of us. This song was “Always On My Mind”, that was really good. And he didn’t leave out any other song!! As Chris was introducing “A Spaceman Came Travelling” he talked about Christmas markets and all the drinks you can get there and suddenly a man walked towards the stage carrying five bottles of beer. He gave them to Chris, who took a sip out of one bottle, but of course they were for him and the members of the band. As they came back on stage, Chris gave each of them a bottle. Later Heike told me that this guy was sitting behind her and was going on the nerves of all the people sitting close to him as he and his friends wouldn’t stop talking and going to get new drinks all the time. I think Chris and the band were quite pleased with the beer. After the break people had already gathered on the left and right side of the seats and as Chris had started with “Lady In Red” a few ladies wearing red clothes walked to the stage, pointing at their red dresses… Soon they were joined by more people and in the end the area in front of the stage filled up fast. The dancing part was good as always, with enough space to move and I wasn’t that cold anymore. Only too soon it was time for “The Snows Of New York” and “Footsteps”. As it was an outdoor show the globe at the end wasn’t there. Well, that’s all I can remember right now. Take care and see at least some of you at the next concerts, Andrea