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05/09/01 - XANTEN AMPHITHEATRE Review
by Maria Heutz:
We (my girlfriend Silke and I) arrived at 2 p. m. in Xanten.
The town has a great archaeological park with high walls and towers all around.
Inside you can find Roman thermals, temples, living and commercial buildings and
of course the amphitheatre where Bryan’s concert took place that evening.
We
had to buy tickets for a visit. Our concert tickets were only valid at 5 p. a.
Therefore Silke and I decided to do something to enlarge our horizon. Of course
we visited first the arena and were very disappointed. The ground there was mushy
(maybe from Bryan’s trucks?) Deep tyre tracks filled with rain water made
it impossible to stay, dance or spring.
Lance was still doing the sound check.
It sounded well but really no competition to Bryan.
At 5 p. a. all people had
to leave the arena area. We walked back to the entrance and we began to wait.
This is the stupidest time always. Minutes seems to be hours. The person up there
who controlled the weather had some understanding for us. After a few days with
rainy and cold weather it was okay. The weather was fine, not to cold and fortunately
no rain.
Finally the barriers were opened. We reached the second row at the
stage’s left side. The barriers there made it possible that we didn’t
stay in the mush like people behind us. First when we came back into the amphitheatre
we noticed that there were also others than Bryan’s instruments on stage.
At
7.30 p. a. a newer band (3 women and 3 men) named Lisa…. (I didn’t understand
the full name) opened with some songs. The leader Lisa was a very pretty lady.
She had a good voice, played well the guitar and was pleasant. She told us that
she isn’t Bryan but she met him backstage.
After a short interruption
and the stage’s preparation for Bryan three big white balloons were brought
out. (You know what’s to do with them when they were thrown into the crowd?)
Then Mickey, Keith and Bryan arrived. They started with Back to you. In my opinion
this is a real fantastic opener to say “Hello again” to the audience.
Then followed Do to you (Great! I hadn’t heard this song for ages.), 18 til
I die, Summer of 69. Surely the guys started to rock us.
The fabulous three
wore blue jeans pants and white t-shirts. Additional Bryan and Keith wore blue
jeans jackets. Bryan and also Keith looked very pale. Maybe this concerned to
the lighting.
Bryan didn’t perform many smooch songs. We only listened
to (Everything I do) I do it for you, I’m ready, Heaven and Into the fire.
He also included Please forgive me. But he is no more able to sing the whole song.
Probably he has played too often only half of the song at the end of his concerts.
And so he did in Xanten which was a pity.
He performed a quicker version of
Somebody, honoured Joe Cocker with When the night comes. Te songs from his unplugged
album he announced with a joke. He mentioned that this album just needed a night
to produce it. Normally he needs two years for a new album. (Doesn’t he know
how long we’re already waiting since his last one?)
The Blues jam (followed
by Let’s make a night to remember) was simply wonderful like always. His
“rrr” gets under one’s skin and get me goose pimples every time.
Also his gestures are simply unique, never mind his woman’s voice. My favourite
live song!!!
For the duet of When you’re gone he invited Linda on stage,
a young girl - maybe 14 years old. “Doctor” Lance brought the lyrics
but she knew the song by heart. So Bryan snatched away the piece of paper and
threw it heavenwards. Her voice was okay. They sounded well together. She was
a bit shy. You can always see this when the instrumental part of the song comes.
Bryan then always tries to teeter their bottoms together. She got two t-shirts
also for her girl friend Corinna who Bryan named “Cocola” or something
like this.
Naturally he played the “winners” Cuts like a knife, Can’t
stop this thing we started, Run to you, It’s only love and the well The only
thing that looks good on me is you. The rarer songs in Xanten were House arrest
and One night love affair.
During the encore he performed Cloud # 9 and The
best of me among two other songs which I have mentioned before. It seemed he was
harassed. Maybe he had a date after the show. There were rumours around about
a new girl friend next to him into his car in Hamburg the day before. He wasn’t
able to sing The best of me. He exchanged the words and a short time he couldn’t
sing a word. Obviously he was ignorant about the lyrics. Finally he managed it
but it had some kind of an awkward situation. But it also gave sceptics the information
that he played live and did no playback.
At the end he performed without the
ban but with his guitar The way you make me feel. Unfortunately I must say I found
Ronan’s performance sounded more melodic and tuneful and he gives the song
a better sense of touch than Bryan did this evening. Maybe it’s better to
do this song with the band’s background.
I took some nice photos with
little Bryans, Keiths and Mickeys on them. Once Bryan looked straight into my
camera but the shutter release didn’t work. It was too dark in that moment.
During a short interruption we started a wave (maybe you know this from the
waves people make in football/soccer stadiums). We then had to do it again because
Bryan wanted a photo of it for his mother’s album.
Best news was that
he’ll be back soon. Mickey told a fan in Hamburg the day before that it is
planned to come back in November. Great to know!! The next highlight is coming
soon!! Set List:
Back To You
House Arrest
18 Til I Die
Can't Stop This Thing We Started
Summer Of '69
It's
Only Love
Thought I'd Died And Gone To Heaven
Everything I Do
When
The Night Comes
Cuts Like A Knife
Do To You
Please Forgive Me
When You're Gone
Into The Fire
I'm Ready
Heaven
One Night
Love Affair
Blues Jam
The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
Cloud #9
Somebody
Run To You
The Best Of Me
The Way You Make
Me Feel | | |
