Concert Review: Cologne, Germany - March 26, 2011
Lore Müller:
Our CdeB-community had prepared a fan-meeting and many fans from various countries came to meet old and new CdeB-fans. The weather was fine, so the first act, which took place outside, was very successful. Which act? Well, in the past, every official fan-meeting included a short meet & greet with Chris himself. And every time he got a little present from the fans. This time, we fastened a metal ship with 3 padlocks at the Hohenzollernbrücke (bridge in Cologne, which connects the main station/cathedral or Dom with the other side, Deutz). In Deutz, Lanxess Arena, the concert and the fan-meeting took place. On the ship it is engraved “Chris de Burgh & Fans – A special relationSHIP” and on two green padlocks you can read “Fanmeeting Cologne 2011” and “Moonfleet & Other Stories”. Every padlock has 2 keys. We kept one key of each and the other three were thrown into the Rhine with a loud “OOOOOOHHHH”. Then 14 of us, the tallest ones, stretched out their arms, holding hands, the first one with his hands at the ship. All other fans who were there crouched in front of the standing people. So we showed “14 fans d own”. You don´t understand? Well, the words “14 fathoms down” have a special meaning in the story, with which Chris´ album “Moonfleet & Other Stories” deals. Many pictures were taken. Then Michaela hurried to town to have 3 photos printed out. She and another lady had prepared a big frame to stick on the photos and to fasten the 3 remaining keys of the padlocks, and a picture with all our names and the letters “14 fans down”. I saw the complete artwork, when I met Michaela on her way back to the venue. It looks great! At 14.00 o´clock we gathered at the entrance of the Arena. Astrid had well organized the event and she had many helpers. So, we all got a button with our name and the place and country we were coming from; the background: dark, showing the wild sea with a ship. We also got a slightly glowing wristband “CdeB Fanmeeting Köln 2011 – Moonfleet & Other Stories”. And… … we got one part of a puzzle, a puzzle of 6 parts. You know why? At the fan-meeting we did a table-quiz. That was new to me. Everybody had to find people with the other parts of the puzzle. It was not difficult, as the puzzles showed the covers of CdeB´s albums. Each group got a questionnaire to fill in. I must admit I was not of much help to my group, for we had a very quick-thinking expert among us, Alison, and also the others were very good. When the time was over, we had to stop. Some time later, the winner-group was announced. And guess what? Our group was the winner! Everyone got a Moonfleet-mousepad as prize. Nice idea! I have enjoyed the whole table-quiz very very much!! But before we started the table-quiz, Astrid announced we should gather. She seemed to have got a phone-call. Perhaps we were allowed to join the soundcheck? That was what everybody hoped for. Some of us remember the fantastic soundcheck in Dortmund, where Chris de Burgh played a concert of 45 minutes as soundcheck and we even could wish songs. That was so great! But this time I could not really understand why we should gather, nor did anyone around me understand. Standing there and waiting, I I suddenly realized that CdeB must be standing somewhere, then I saw Michaela and Chris Andrews and I thought Chris might get our present. I couldn´t see anything and I couldn´t hear anything, but I saw many mobiles up in the air. Then everybody turned round and whatever happened was done. Luis told us, Chris got the present, thanked us and said he wouldn´t come to the soundcheck for security reasons. There was an anti-nuclear-demonstration going on in that part of the town. I have no idea, if someone tried to make a group-picture, but if so, I´m sure, you can see only those who were in the first place. If there is a next time, I suggest that Chris is standing somewhere higher than the fans, that he has a microphone and that the photographer has the possibility to stand higher as well, so that all the people can be seen (not recognized of course) in the picture. Later we were allowed to join the soundcheck, which was not interesting . The boys in the band tested something but didn´t play any CdeB-song. I remember some parts of melodies from Moonfleet. And it was extremely loud for my ears. You may understand that I was disappointed, because I had hoped for some songs, with Chris´voice. The atmosphere in the place, which was no room actually, no seats at all, was not nice. Kind of corner with a bar where you could buy snacks and drinks, people of the staff of the Arena going through the place, two high stairways in the middle of the "hall", no windows. I always compared with Dortmund, where everything was comfortable and pleasant. Of course it was nice to see well-known people and to get to know others. Before the doors opened for the public, we had to leave the venue. Unfortunately we decided to leave the area, so we missed Cesar and Corinna playing the guitar outside, and the fans singing along Once back in the venue, the stage was covered with a red curtain. We knew that the stage was decorated a bit like a ship, we knew there were sails and some details which are somehow connected to Moonfleet. I forgot to mention, Angelika had brought 2 glowing wristbands for everybody.. The concert started, Chris and the band were in a special outfit which I liked very much. I won´t go into details here, for it was only the second concert of the tour and I don´t want to spoil anything for those who are looking forward to their concert. The concert had many highlights for me, many. It was quite different from others, I have enjoyed it very much (as usually). The sound was perfect, middle block, 4. row. Chris´voice was strong, clear, he seemed to have much fun, was relaxed. Many of the songs he had chosen were those I would have wished. From the very beginning people in the first rows got up and danced, everywhere you could see the glowing wristbands. Chris mentioned our group of fans "from all over the world" (I think only from Europe) who were there and who had fastened that special padlock-thingy at the bridge. Please understand that I don´t tell more about the concert, you know why. Just go and see yourself! BTW the Lanxess-Arena was sold out! After the concert we went to the restaurant just opposite where there was a reserved area for us. Cesar and Corinna brought their guitars. We were all very thirsty, but if you preferred s.th. apart from Kölsch, you were not served until more than half an hour later. Music was playing, so it was not the right place to sing along. When finally our guitar players began to play, the last drinks were already served and my Dutch friends and I had to leave to catch our last train home. Again I remembered the wonderful atmosphere and singing and performing at the after-show-parties at both Dortmund fan-meetings. Nevertheless I had a great weekend in very good company. Thanks everybody who made it such a great weekend!