Concert Review: Schwerin, Germany - August 30, 2010
Chris Eggert:
To begin with, Twitter Talk: CdeBOfficial: comments that dinner at one hotel was too salty all the way. Chris_e: explains that the chef was probably in love, that's what we say when he makes use of salt too much. CdeBOfficial: replies that they assume the chef is drumk when heavy-handed with salt. My day started early, I woke up around 2:30 am and heard rain crushing down on the world outside. I was just too lazy to close the window and kept sleeping until my alarm reminded me it was time to wake up. I picked up my umbrella, packed a little bag for Quito and then took her for a walk. Almost immediately after we were back, my friend came to pick her up. I found out that she had a good day at work and then a lengthy romp with an energetic puppy - dog holidays I suspect. In the meantime I prepared a little something to eat, and soon Sophia came crawling out of bed. We left the house at around 8:15, and by that time it was at least only drizzling, so no raincoat was needed as an extra layer of clothing. We first went to the center of Rostock city, where only a few shops were open. We went into one and bought - well yes - a jar of seasalt. Then came our first bakery stop for coffee and cake, as no shops were open apart from that little supermarket. As the commercial doors slowly opened, we checked for winter jackets for me, looked at the selection in a flower shop, bought a few nice tops for me in my favourite store and then finally went to the train station. Ran through a packed place, picked up a snack for the way, jumped on the train and ended up opposite a very patient lady with her granddaughter, the kind of couple you really enjoy watching, how the child keeps asking, and grandma keeps thinking of answers that are satisfactory and always spiced up with a light flavour of amusing speculation. In Schwerin the weather looks no different, heavily clouded sky, occasional rain. Flower shop - no good. Another one - well at least we've found one flower, have it reserved for us and leave. Yet another flower shop - allright, not what I imagine it to be, but we reserve another flower. Coffee to go, and then a first check of the venue in the cold drizzle. It seems cozy, cold but nice for a concert, provided the weather improves. No chance for an ear full of soundcheck, a security member asks us to leave, for we are no members of the crew. Passive crew, maybe? Well we walk up and hide in a restaurant, where the food is great and we kill the time. Then we visit the cathedral and walk into a book store, where I pick up a few work-related ones. Sophia, the unbeatable shopper, discovers a store, where I in turn discover the ideal winter gear. One more coffee for Chris, and then we pick up the flower and start back to the Freilichtbühne, tongiht's venue. What am I wearing? T-shirt, sweater, outdoor coat; but it's still not cozy and warm with the wind blowing. But at least it's stopped raining! We are given coloured lights as we go to our seats, but prior to this we stop by at Jason's home, the merchandise paradise. Jason is cheerful and really kind, he agrees to store my bags at the back, so I needn't drag them along. Some twenty minutes before the beginning of the show I meet Anya from Russia, a young lady with an aura of determination and a large bunch of white roses. Just after she has left, my friend a sound engineer (no active crew member either) comes by with his wife. They have reserved two seats at the back center, which is the best for the expert's ears. They let bells chime to announce the beginning of the show - something that's usually done in theaters, so it is a little unusual for a setting like this. The intro starts, and finally the musicians occupy the stage, blowing on their fingers to keep them warm. I promise, I certainly didn't order such weather! I am thrilled! Chris surprises me with a soft, strong voice that has gained a low timbre I have not noticed so clearly before. He naturally has a problem at first, it is too cold indeed, but he uses the given voice capacity very well and I have the impression that he quickly knows the current limits and stretches themcarefully as he is going along. I would have to look at my set list to see what songs he played, but I can tell you that I really enjoyed "Lebanese Night", which will always remind me of a friend I had back in 1995-96. She came from Lebanon, and I will never forget what she told me: "I was nine years old. Believe me, Chris, when you hear them coming behind you, you don't ask, you just run, run, run, and don't care if you have the strength to run any further. We ran for days until we reached the mountains..." The sad thing is that I have no clue what she is up to or where she is these days. "The long and winding road" is a great song, no doubt, afterwards Anya hands the white roses to CdeB. "Everywhere I go", the teaser from the upcoming new "Moonfleet" album, has hit potential, if it's getting enough airplay, in my opinion, it's a very catching tune. The band are great, of course, and I did not even miss the piano, contrary to my expectations. It was allright. The only thing I missed was a fierce band part sending us off into the intermission after "Liberty", I thought if it hadn't been so cold we could have heard an even stronger performance. The chimes commanded people back on their seats, but I really love the real intro - a classical piece of improvisation by the band, leading into "Moonlight and Vodka". They are great musicians and enjoy having fun. Then follows the solo part, Chris and guitar only. He starts with "Last thing on my mind", I love his version of this Elvis song. Afterwards Sophia and I walk up to the stage to get rid of our presents, but Chris doesn't see us. So a security member asks us to leave and come back later. We wait at the side and I am delighted. After "Carry Me", "The Same Sun" is one of my top all time favourites, and here it is - magnificent. After this highlight we try our luck again, and this time Chris takes the time to sit down on top of the stairs. He takes the salt from me but obviously doesn't know what that's about until I comment that it's the twitter story. He seems to like the one flower I present him; not a white madonna lily, as I had intended, but an orange lily with flowers that are starting to open up. A kiss on the hand, a smile, warm applause from the audience, and Sophia and I are back on our seats. What a wonderful experience! However, Chris has another surprise waiting. During the "Lady in Red" walk about he usually covers the area to the left of the stage, from the spectator's point of view. It is a natural way of walking, a tendency you see with most humans. This time, however, he seems to have fun; he walks around the place and chooses the right aisle, where we are sitting, to return to the stage. What a pleasant quick second encounter! The dancing part is striking. It is wonderful to get up and move, that gets the blood back into arms and legs. It is not that cold anymore, the wind has completely stopped. The band are going full force, and finally Tony is going great on the drums, providing an intense end to "High on emotion". The Snows of New York sees Chris with the audience, and then the second encore, Footsteps, is wonderful. I clearly remember the 2007 finish with Storyman, and now it's this instrumental with another display of brilliance by the band. All in all I had an excellent night with top quality entertainment, as I had expected, despite the fact that we were all cold and Chris had a sore throat following the Schwerin show. Then we go to the merchandise area, where people are gathering to make use of the commercial opportunities they are given. Well that's easy, I have also secured my copy of the CD/DVD of last year's tour. When the crowd is shopping a little less, we ask Claudia, who is kindly helping out, for the bags, but we do get the chance to thank Jason for the favour of keeping them during the show. My friend, the sound engineer, and his wife arrive, and he says he was impressed with the level of the sound and the quality of Chris' microphone as he was walking around the venue. We leave for home, thanks to my friend we have a comfortable car to take us, I am richer by one great day with my friend Sophia, one 2 hour quality music performance and entertainment, many smiles, a great chat with Jason and two kisses (on my hands that is, mind you!). The entire experience is not yet over, for the next morning my friends arrive and join us for breakfast, they take me to work and meet Quito, who is not over the top enthusiastic to see me back; of course not, she's had a great time with Daniel! Sophia leaves the day after, and I am left with scary news of a dear family member and an apartment all to myself again. But when I finally go to sleep, I discover Sophia's bear's little sister, a little bear with a cute nose pointing up in the air. And once again I have proof that it's the little things that can fill a heart with affection and great joy, and most of all grattitude. Cheers, Chris:-)