C o n c e r t R e v i e w s
| Tina Turner at Gelredome Arnhem March 21th 2009 |
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| Pink Project live on a piece of ground in the home town March 2008 |
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Founded in 1994 Pink Project started out by giving a series of concerts playing "The Wall". They also played "Dark Side of The Moon" on the 25th anniversary of that album. Using the same equipment, instruments, equalizers, microphones and such they set out to give fans a feeling of being at a real Pink Floyd concert, with a stage setup and lightshow, when the venue allowes it, deserving of the name Pink Floyd. Unfortunately, or perhaps not, the venue in which I saw them perform didn't have the capacity to allow for a very big lightshow but that put the focus more on the music, and that didn't disappoint. Staying away from the more well known numbers for the most part, we got a varried mix of songs from almost every Pink Floyd period. What I missed were not songs like "Money" or "The Wall", but songs from the Syd Barret era. But they did play some obsure songs like "Carefull with that Axe Eugene" and "Set the controls for the heart of the sun", reliving the psychedelic days. The band was fantastic, if you didn't know better you'd thought you were at a Pink Floyd concert. The singer sounding like Roger Waters, every sneer and scream, perfect bass playing and a guitaris that really re-creates Dave Gilmours guitar style. Shivers down my spine listening to that beautiful guitar solo from "Comfortably Numb". My compliments also the the female vocalist. She has such a powerfull voice, making "Perfect Sense", a solo Roger Waters song, another highlight and there are many. They did a really good version of the Animals song "Pigs (three different ones)". With the bass pounding in my ears, they rocked harder then the real Pink Floyd ever did. That might be the only diference at times, but I am not sure what I prefer. In any case I really liked this version. "Echoes" was another shivers down the spine moment. It's one of my favourite Pink Floyd songs, and I was really happy to hear it. It's also an real highlight on the new David Gilmour dvd. What I did miss however was the beatiful harmonies in the song. The voices of David and Rick Wright really blend beautifully together, while it sounded like a double tracked Roger Waters on Saturday night. That was the only other thing I missed, a David Gilmour like voice. While you could be easily fooled while they were playing Roger Waters songs, Dave was surely not on stage. "Wish You Were Here" had a troubled start, so we got a second attempt. But then we got a beautiful version of the song. The other complains aren't things you can blaim the band for. Some people just saw the concert as an excuse to get themselves drunk, while others thought that talking to their friends is more important then listening to the band. But all in all I had a great time and listening to the music with my eyes closed at time I really thought I was at a Pink Floyd concert, and that for 15 euro at almost my neighbours. I would have been a fool if I hadn't went to the concert. Great band, great show. I can't remember the exact setlist but it's at least very close to the following. Signs of life
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| Brian Wilson live at the Pepsi Stage July the 11th 2005 : ^: |
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| Going
to see Melissa Etheridge in Amsterdam is always a great experience. I
first saw her some eight years ago, and she left an huge impact. I
didn't have to think long when I got the chance to see her again. So Monday,
July 12th, I went to see her again, together with a friend.
It's amazing to see the enthusiasm she has, and the affection for our country. The audience responded with the same enthusiasm and affection towards Melissa. The whole concert was full of energy, and two hours flew by. Great rock music, from the opening song "Lucky" of her new album, and of course the hit "Like The Way I Do". "Meet Me In The Back" is also always a great crowd moment, with all the OH-OH-OH!s. Mix this together with lots of humor. When she tried to translate something into Dutch for example, and gentle ballads, and you have a great show. Till next time! The track list: Encore: |
| There is
little doubt in mine mind that Eric Clapton is still an incredible
guitar player, something you can witness attending any one of his
concerts, like the one I attended the 11th of April in Ahoy Rotterdam.It
was the first time I had seen Eric Clapton live. That the set list
contained a lot of blues songs should have come as no surprise, considering
Eric's Blues roots, and after all he was promoting his
latest album Me and Mr. Johnson. That I didn't know many of them, or
that I am not really fond of blues songs, was just my problem.
Thankfully the balance between the blues, rock songs and the classic
hits were right. An highlight came early on with a fantastic version of Let
It Rain, great song and guitar work. Fantastic start of the concert.
The show was all about the music, one song after the after and little
interaction with the audience. A few words were all Eric could muster,
some thank yours between the songs with "happy Easter everyone" being one of the longest sentence, apart from the
band introductions. But as said it was all about the music.
Among the highlights apart from Let It Rain were Bell bottom blues, Cocaine, fantastic song which got me on my feet, if not the rest of the audience, and Badge, which was great to finally hear live. It sounded better then the live version on "One More Ticket, One More Rider, but then live is always more special then just listening to a live cd. Of course Layla was also a highlight. No matter how many times I've heard the album version, shivers went down my spine when I heard that famous guitar introduction to the still incredible song. Unlike previous concerts there was no build up, just straight into the opening guitar chords. The songs I would have liked to hear and were missing, are mostly from his 80's albums, songs like Bad Love or Forever Man, also one of my favorites Let It Grow wasn't included on the set list, but still enough left to love. The band, which include Billy Preston who I didn't recognize at first, was also good. The opening act, Robert Randolph and the Family band, is worth mentioning. The gave a fantastic show with amazing guitar work. Really magnificent. Robert Randolph also helped out on the encore, which gave another highlight, a magnificent version of the Cream classic, Sunshine of your love. Another fantastic concert came to
an end after Got my mojo working. The track list: |
| Friday the
25th Paul gave a show in The Netherlands. I traveled together with a
friend. And at the venue we met up with other McCartney Beatle fans I
met online.
We were on the left of the stage, good overall view, but I'd preferred if we were closer to the stage. The pre-show was beautifully done, with art that suppose to represent the whole world, while beautiful it went on for a bit to long imo. But then the real show began, shivers running down my back when the curtain shows the big bass guitar, and Paul projected on it. Then the opening song "Hello Goodbye". Jet got the crowd going, throw in a Beatle song “All My Loving” and you get the feeling, yes this person was a Beatle, all the history attached to this man, and your with a bunch of people all sharing that same feeling. “Getting Better” and “Let Me Roll It” followed. I’m sure the in between chanter was the same as in the U.S. but Paul had prepared some words in Dutch, so he did the introduction to “Getting Better” about how a song went up on a shelve and not to come out again when you’re not touring, in Dutch adding that it was the first time he did the song in the Netherlands, “in Nederland”. He did well on other introductions also, tho Paul himself said, “ You Dutch speak better English then I speak Dutch.” lovely to hear him speak some Dutch. “Let Me Roll It” was as always great live, I have many bootleg versions of this song live but finally for the first time I get to hear it really live. Then I got bit of a mixed feeling, some of the predictable things came along, Paul bursting into a folk song stopping it, and Paul still couldn’t be bothered to learn the words of “You Never Give Me Your Money/ Carry That Weight. I just went along singing “This is the part where I don’t know the words”. Wish he had done the Abbey Road version. But there were also “Lonely Road” “Blackbird” and another live favourite “Every Night”. The tributes were beautiful, and I couldn’t help the tears during “Here Today” and also “Something” seeing the pictures of George, such heartfelt. After “Here Today” as promised the Dutch crowd did “Give Peace A Chance”. Paul just stood there probably not knowing what to think, and this time he didn’t please the crowd by playing the song, instead after “Eleanor Rigby” Paul said, “Someone here in the front, shouted what about Ring” and he then began playing “Yellow Submarine” which the crowd took over, till Paul stepped in. There were some new songs, he didn’t play “Driving Rain” and “Coming Up” the latter probably because of his voice, but he thankfully played “Maybe I’m Amazed”. He obviously felt confident enough to play it again, and he didn’t disappoint. A powerful song and great live. New songs he played were “I’ve Just Seen A Face” in a wonderful version, and “Two Of Us” the part of John was done by his band. Again great to hear live. Then the powers that be obviously felt that it was time for a beer break, Michelle came on (not really a favourite of mine so I had to go for the drinks) Through the crowd I couldn’t make it back for “Band On The Run” which he did in a new version, starting out slowly then he did the normal live version. This I love see Paul do more, it may not be to everyone’s likening but at least he’s shaking things up a bit. I could hear the song but I wasn’t back in time to see it. I’m all for hearing “Let Em In” live, tho it's not a song I play often when at home. “My Love” also a song I don’t put on while at home, but you can’t beat the live version. The best part where we all got wild was after “She’s Leaving Home”. We danced along to songs like "Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Birthday"." Live And Let Die” rocked. I wasn't prepared for the loud fire works tho. “Let It Be” came, and finally I am here with Paul (so are a bunch of other people) singing this classic song. And then there is the crowd song “ Hey Jude” which made shivers run down my back. One more ballad, The Long and Winding Road, (great song, tho I believe that no good version of it has ever been recorded, live is of course different tho) and two great rockers later and it's almost the end of the show. “Sgt. Pepper” and “the End” were great closing songs that leaves you on Cloud 9 for a long time. A great concert, and wonderful to be there with friends. The track list: Hello Goodbye Jet All My Loving Getting Better Let Me Roll It Bit of a folksy song then Paul stops (you know the usual bit, “no I am not going to play this song its silly”) Lonely Road Your Loving Flame Blackbird Every Night We Can Work It Out You Never Give Me Your Money/Carry That Weight The Fool On the Hill Here Today Something Eleanor Rigby Here There and Everywhere I've Just Seen A Face Calico Skies Two Of Us Michelle Band On The Run Back In The USSR Maybe I'm Amazed Let 'Em In She's Leaving Home Can't Buy Me Love Birthday Live and Let Die Let It Be Hey Jude Encore:
Long And Winding Road |
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A-ha has always been underrated, also as an live band. When I saw them at the Heineken Music Hall Tuesday at the Heineken Music Hall, in the Netherlands. The band was very spontaneous, and gave the public a great live show. From the opening off Forever Not Yours the first single from their new album Lifelines they had me in their grip. Fortunately the sound at the Music Hall was fantastic, that and the band great performance, Morten still has that great voice, made it an unforgettable night. The band played many songs from their latest two albums, Minor Earth, Major Sky being the one released in 2000, and the title track from that album was played next, (to be honest after that I don't know the order of the songs anymore). I still was surprised that Morten could reach those high notes so well during MEMS's, Summer Moved On, I shouldn't have worried. Some other new songs were Did Anyone Approach You? and Oranges On Apple Trees, another song that got the crowd going. And of course Lifelines. While still beautiful this is about the only song of which I prefer the album version. Some highlights for me was
the haunting Manhattan Skyline, Mags referring to September
the 11th and that the song took on an different meaning 15 years after
it had been written. Shivers running down my back during this song,
which became extra special to me. More evidence of that came when Morten took an break and Paul played a song from East Of The Sun West Of The Moon. Sycamore Leaves a song that on the album really rocks, but live even more. In my opinion they could have played the whole East of the sun album, such a good live album and really a step away from the old days, while still in the old days. The album is from 1990 only two years after Stay On These Roads. As it is we got one other song from the album a beautiful version of Crying In The Rain which Morten did together with Anneli Drecker. To my surprise really I thought they would do Turn The Lights Down from Lifelines. I don't mind since Lights isn't my favourite song from Lifelines, and this version of Crying In The Rain was wonderful to hear. From their album Stay On These Roads we got the title track in an great live version, and The Blood That Moves The Body. Not one of my favourite songs. but the live version sounded great. Mags got his moment on the Lifelines track Dragonfly, his song from a film. The crowd got to excited as we began singing the song to early, it got Mags a bit confused as he misses the real start of the song. He did say something about it but I couldn't hear exactly what, but we all got an laugh out of it and otherwise it was perfect. Finally I got to hear Mags singing the song. While it would not be fair to say that the audience reacted the most to the well known songs. Take On me was a blast from the past and really great live (heavier in approach), the audience really lifted the place up, and it was beautiful to be part of the Hunting High and Low sing along, during which Morten couldn't hold his laughter after someone, or perhaps the whole audience got off key, and he commented "Now for real please"!. Two more well known songs, The Sun Always Shines On TV and The Living Daylights, which had the crowd going seemingly non-stop singing, brings an end to this short (only 1 and half hour) but great show. Hoping to catch them next time hopefully soon.
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