Can't agree. For me, this was one of my best shows. (Only second on this tour, 15th altogether since 1991, so I am not in this exclusive club of 10 GL-shows onwards...) Mark was in a very good, no, excellent mood, never saw him smiling so often. The interaction between the band members is really awesome!! Never noticed it that much, maybe it was because I had first row tickets for the first time. The whole show was really absolutely stunning. I understood the beginning of SFA as a "play" with the audience, because of their clapping they had this "loop"? The versions of STP, Coyote, Marbletown were longer than at my only other show, London first night, longer and better. Mark was really into soloing. I am still absolutely stunned and full of this energy. Somebody told me about two little mistakes he found in WII and SOS, and I came to the conclusion that this is a poor way of judging a concert: It is not a construction, something scientific or technical, it is all about FEELING. And I had the feeling that MK
was, although a little tired looking, really into it! He tried some new things during Telegraph Road, and Sultans was really great, I could not stay on my seat after that - the same with Isaac, who was sitting left of me! Isaac was really into it, too, it seemed. I thought maybe it is a good decision not to attend too many shows because some people seem to get ... used to the very high quality standard and that is a pity. This was a shared musical experience in the best meaning of the word. Therefore I cannot complain about the setlist, because this setlist really works great! Seeing John playing guitar on Coyote is worth the money alone. I am sure I said that after London and I am sure of this more than ever...
The Hamburg audience was really great, very often there was cheering and clapping, sometimes in the typical German way, but who cares, and not only because Mark called it "This very beautiful town". MK seemed to like the audience reaction, and so the whole band did. It seemed Mike had some flute sound problems during GL (again?), and during that song I thought that it indeed would have been better to see John play this - as he did on the album.
So, this was it for me. I love him more than ever, never thought of a blast like this. MK has it still, if the download is ready, I`ll get it and will have my new soundtrack for the next months.
Sultans, oh my god! How can anybody be so cool and say: Well, there was a little mistake at that and that - I can`t understand! Really! He blew that venue! One guy wanted to shake his hand, (wasn`t me)
and the security pushed him back slightly... MK seemed not to see that. I saw Guy saying "WOW" during Marbletown because John and Mike were going somewhere new and did not stop. Mark seemed busy
keeping up with them.
His singing during Piper to the End was really good and touching. I am not an autograph/rudiger/signature/guitar type of man, but after this show, I swear I would have been lucky to have this towel! This
evening will be in my mind for the rest of my life for sure. If I will never attend any more MK show, that would be ok because I have seen him yesterday.
Amen!
LE, from a internet cafe in Hamburg, so no chance of getting a reply from me before tomorrow...