Concert Review: Dresden, Germany - August 28, 2010
Sandra Pleyer:
Hi all, Chris, I hope you don't mind that I post my review here, although you haven't posted you own one..... After a fantastic weekend in Dresden I've just found some time to find a review (about our trip and the concert): After a few hours at work on Friday morning I started directly from work to the airport Cologne/Bonn. After meeting up with Tina we waited for our plane, the was delayed for half an hour. The flight itself fortunately was pleasant (beause of the weather being quite unsettled I had expected it to be a little bumpy....). I love travelling by plance and so the Dresden trip started already in a nice way for me. At the airport we took the train go get to Dresden Neustadt. Our hotel was only two hundred metres away from the station. After a short rest we wanted to explore 'Dresden Neustadt' and to have something for dinner. The weather forecast for the weekend was really bad: Rain, rain, rain. Suddenly a heave rain shower, after 10 minutes walking. Gosh, we got soaked and had to return to the hotel to change clothes. With new trousers, shoes and jackets we wanted to set off again. But it started again to rain. Finally we ended up in the hotel's restaurant and had a delicious 3 course dinner there. Through the night and next morning: Rain. So we decided to take a guided bus tour around Dresden's city on a 'Hopp on Hopp off bus'. During the two hours lasting tour the sky already cleared up and the sun came out. A nice suprise, I already had given up hope for sunshine....The bus went through the city centre with all its wonderful buildings: Zwinger, Semperoper, Bruehlsche Terrasse, Frauenkirche and more. It's really impressive there. We hadn't expected that everything is so lavish there. But also in the outskirts there were so many beautiful houses and villas. And everything was so green.... After the tour we strolled around Dresden's centre having a closer look at various buildings and squares. Also we went inside the 'Frauenkirche'. Impressive as well, but a bit strange because everything inside looked so new (and is indeed new). It's great that they rebuilt this church, but it's different from an old church. Time passed quickly and after having a meal we walked back to the hotel. Btw, only one shower during the whole day and a good amount of sunshine. As we wanted to have a look around Schloss Pillnitz we headed off to the venue already at 6 pm. By tram and bus we could easyily get to 'Schloss Pillnitz'. What a nice castle, well mantained with a beautiful castle garden, situated at the Elbe. I took a few photos and then we went inside the venue. The stage was built up on a huge lawn with big trees around. It was the setting I had expected and was very pleased as I love concerts in a green surrounding. Much more than at a square somewhere in the city centre. Soon we saw familiar faces. I hadn't expected to meet so many community members in Dresden!! As Dresden isn't somewhere in the middle of Germany, but far away for the most of us. It was really nice to say hallo to all of you again!! After having bought the DVD we found our seats in the first row, a little bit at the side but still with a very good view at the stage. Wow, I guess at least half of the first row was filled with community and list friends. Knowing that this would make a first row with an 'enthusiastic audience' was so nice. The concert itself nearly began on time. And started - as you all know - with 'Last night'. I love this song and so it's always a wonderful beginning for me. After the second song Chris greeted the audience. As it was quite cold, he told us that there would be hot soup, hot coffee and hot 'schnaps'. For free. And indeed they obiviously sold 'gluehwein' that evening. In the middle of the stage there wide steps that led up to the stage. A few ladies brought flowers or presents to Chris and Chris helped all these ladies to get down the steps again. A true gentleman. I was also glad to see that the security didn't prevent the people do to this. I had the feeling that everyone on the stage (Chris included) seemed to be relaxed and enjoying the show. At the beginning I thought Chris voice sounded a bit hoarse but after a few songs this thought was gone. In the first half I especially enjoyed 'Lebanese Night' (the yellow and red lights fitted well to that song) and 'Without you'. The second one is special to me since the Dublin concert last year. Those wonderful memories came back. During 'Long and winding road' a few raindrops came down and after the song Chris came down the steps, looked at the sky and said with a strict voice: 'No, no. I told you to stay away". He meant the rain. And indeed it stopped raining again. During 'Revolution' the first rows stood up and it seemed like many (or perhpas nearly the whole audience, I couldn't see that) followed. At the beginning of 'Revolution' he joked around a bit about woolves and spiders and got lost a bit and had to laugh about himself. That was funny. During the break some more chatting with friends before the second part started. With the beginning of the second part many people were standing at both sides. During the solo part the first song was 'The last thing on my mind'. Then Chris asked for requests. There were many requests. One request 'Every drop of a rain'. With regard of the rain he said "You're kidding...". He decided for 'Where have all the flowers gone". Then the third song was 'Those were the days'. That's a great party song. Really liked it. But to be honest I would have preferred Chris' own songs in the solo part! Chris mentioned that he plans a second Footsteps album and that this song may be on it. Again a bit suprising to me was which (positive) response the cover songs get...... During 'Moonlight and Vodka' I definitely missed Nigel's squeezebox and the piano. I don't remember the order of the songs exactly but I think 'People of the world' followed then. First time live for me and I really had goosebumps. It's a great song and when the first stood up during 'People of the world stand up for freedom' the rest of the audience followed very quickly. Tremendous applause after the song. After the first tunes of LIR the rush to the stage from the side began. Would have preferred if people had waited until LIR is finished, but okay.....One of the first songs there was 'Everywhere I go' , at first Chris announced it as another 'Footsteps' song. But he realized his mistake and corrected himself. The dancing part was great fun - as always. Fortunately it was not packed and seeing many familiar faces around me was just great. For me it looked like Chris enjoyed himself very much. I remember some concerts in the past when he seemed to be a bit tired. But no, this time definitely not. He was smiling a lot. Arrrghh, why is it so difficult to catch these smiles with a camera. ...?At the end a little firework could be seen at one side of the stage. And Chris pointed out the even the moon could be seen now. To soon the concert ended with 'Footsteps' (before Footsteps of cause SONY, loved the light show with the New York skyscrapers) and Chris came down the stage again. My first concert for this year was already over again. After the concert we tried to get back to the bus station quickly as there was only one bus every 30 minutes. Sorry, that I didn't say goodbye to some of you. Luckily the bus station wasn't crowded and without any problems we got back to the hotel. There we had a 'Schnaps' at the hotel bar to end the evening. The next day we did some more sightseeing. Walked over the 'Blaues Wunder' (that's a bridge), had a look at the three castles situated above the Elbe. After a lovely cake and coffee in the afternoon we went back to the Hotel and picked up our cases. Then finally back to the airport. After a pleasant flight (once again a bit delayed) we arrived safely in Cologne/Bonn. Really enjoyed that trip and I'm sure without Chris' music I wouldn't have spent this weekend in Dresden. Sandra