Concert Review: Bad Mergentheim, Germany - August 22, 2010
Andrea Lucas:
Hi, a day off, not only for Chris, but also for us fans… So this should be a fairly quiet evening and there’s time to write a review about my trip to Bad Mergentheim. Unlike others I might mention the songs I remember, so those of you who don’t want to know should maybe stop reading. On Sunday morning Sibylle and I left Lake Constance by 10 o’clock and started driving about 300 km to Bad Mergentheim. On the way we picked up Jacqueline at her hotel close to Stuttgart Airport. It was a hot day again and we were thankful for the air condition in my car. After checking into the hotel in Bad Mergentheim, we went out again to find a place to eat. At a restaurant outside the venue, which was closed for the sound check, we found a table and were quite lucky, as the sound check started shortly after we’d ordered our food!!! Good timing It was nice to listen, though it was much shorter as in Salem. Back at the hotel we went for a swim and enjoyed the sunshine, before the sun disappeared behind clouds and it started to rain. Thankfully it stopped and as we walked to the venue it was dry, though with clouds not looking too good. Inside the venue we said hello to Jason and shared a “Bratwurst”, then it was time to sit down. Our seats were on the left side in row 4 and funnily enough Sibylle was sitting next to Jacqueline and me, though we’d bought the tickets separately. Unfortunately right at the moment the concert started, it also started to rain… It did not take away our fun though!!!! I love the intro with all the lights, “Last Night” and “One World”. Of course as Chris greeted the audience, he said that the rain would stop – next week, ha, ha… Good luck that it did stop during the concert!!!! He had obviously practiced how to pronounce Bad Mergentheim and did really well!!! Personally I enjoyed this concert more than the one in Salem. It was great to hear “People Of The World” again. And I also like the new song very much. There wasn’t an intermission, maybe they decided to go on, because of the uncertain weather conditions. So after “Revolution” (sadly no “Leather On My Shoes” anymore…) where Chris usually leaves the stage for the band solo, he came back and the concert continued. For the solo part he sang “In A Country Churchyard” and “Spaceman”. The third song was “Those Were The Days” and again he mentioned he would always think ahead (not only about what he would have for breakfast the next day, but for a longer period) and that this song might be on a second “Footsteps” album. Quite a nice thought… Again there were people gathering on the sides and as Chris was on his “Lady In Red”-walk, they ran towards the stage. At first I did not want to join, but then there was some empty space on the left side, so I went to the front. Soon Jacqueline joined me and we enjoyed the dancing part with enough space around us to move. “Africa” was great as always. I never was too fond of this song on CD, thought it was ok, but wow, live it’s FANTASTIC!!!!! During the first half of the show Chris started to introduce “The Long And Winding Road”, but he was reminded by Tony (I think) that the next song would be “Sailor”. I think it’s moments like this that make a concert unique. Soon it was time for “The Snows Of New York” and “Footsteps” and the concert was over. We walked back to the hotel and were soon joined by Chris W, Claudia and Miriam for a drink in the bar before we went to bed. Take care, Andrea