Concert Review: Düsseldorf, Germany - September 29, 2011
Astrid Nolde-Gallasch:
OK - since I am always asking other ppl to write reviews for the community, I should as well go as a good example and write one of my own. Düsseldorf was my only "full" concert at this autumn tour - I was in Koblenz as well, but had to leave rather early, because my husband had to be in Stuttgart at 8 am the next morning, which meant he had to get up at 3:30.... So Düsseldorf was the show I could watch in its entirety. I asked a friend from my sons' school to come along with me, who has been to several CdeB concerts in the 80s and 90s, but none for over 10 years. So time to get her back on track... As due to my work at the website I generally get complimentary tickets, I never know where I may end up sitting. In Koblenz it was quite far at the back (row 12 at a side block), but in Düsseldorf we were lucky. Row 2 - and quite close to the middle aisle too. Perfect view and perfect to get up and dance. There were lots of familiar faces in Düsseldorf - in fact I probably knew most of the people in the first three rows. Or at least they knew me. I met Heidi from South Africa, Anya from Moscow, Chris W. from England, many ppl from Holland and of course from all over Germany. Also a big pleasure for me to see Doris from Munich whom I first met at a show in Ireland a few years ago for the first time, and who I haven't seen for a long time. Steffi, one of the fans, had her birthday that day and for months in advance I kept getting phone calls from her husband who tried to convince me to give her the chance of a backstage meeting that day. I understand about birthdays being special... but statistically, out of 2000 people in the hall, there are 6-7 with a birthday at any given concert... so it would be quite a job for Chris to say hi to every fan who has a birthday... But anyhow, I tried to arrange it, and was told to come back 45 minutes before the show. While waiting backstage, I got to chat to the band members. And in an attempt to make smalltalk, I told Dave (the bassist) about the fanpage on Facebook that exists for him. He got all excited and wanted to know who created it. I told him about Kathrin and said that she was here that night, and he got even more excited and asked me if he could meet her. Then I got told that Chris was running late for the show and there was no possibility to meet Steffi now, so Dave suggested he comes out with me to meet Kathrin. And so we did. I think Kathrin almost fainted when I went to her and said "there's someone who wants to meet you....". The concert itself was great. They played many Moonfleet tracks during the first half, as well as two songs of the upcoming Footsteps 2 album (SOS by Abba and Seven Bridges by Karat). The films shown in the background had changed slightly (there were not two sails, but just one projection on the back curtain, which sometimes looked odd as you could clearly see the structure of the curtain ..). Otherwise the stage set up was very similar to how it was during the spring tour. After The Leader Trilogy it was time again for the intermission. I made another attempt to bring Steffi backstage for her birthday, and this time we were lucky. I just love it, when I can make people happy.... Soon the concert continued. During the solo part, which is always different at each concert, Chris played The Same Sun, Spirit and Spaceman. When Chris started with "Where Peaceful Waters Flow", everybody got ready to run to the front - at one certain part in the song, it was like a hidden signal... very funny, if you have experienced this for the first time (as my friend who came with me...). So then the "real" party started and we were dancing, singing and cheering at the front for the rest of the show. Wonderful! The last two songs were The Snows Of New York and Go Where Your Heart Believes, and then it was time to say goodbye...... A few of us ended that evening at a pub nearby, because we just couldn't manage to say goodbye so early. It was a late night, but it sure was worth it. Who knows, when we'll see each other again...... Hopefully soon!