Last night, I just wanted to listen to one or two songs, but then I was listening to the complete show at once with headphones, even Romeo, Telegraph Road and Brothers In Arms were not skipped - it was about 3:00 am when I was through.
Some observations:
Some dissonances during Coyote, but great guitar by Mark. You could see that he was "on" from this song on.
Hill Farmer: Everybody talks about goosebumps these days, at every occasion. I always thought of Goosebumps because of cold temperature and prefer more the term "shiver" as Mark used it in his first song... So I really got shivers when I heard this solo. Really phantastic.
Romeo had an unusual loud National sound, Mark was playing some interesting stuff.
Sultans was very unusual and special: Mark sang in a very "moody", rough way - which I like very much - and played some good licks. However, the very last part, the usual ending, was cut, Mark just gave a hint of the usual final. His introduction of Phil Cunningham was very nice and friendly, you could really hear how much Mark loved his appearance. So did I. Phil was on the record and therefore with them in the studio, which gives him another standing than some guests from the last tours like let's say Bonnie Raitt or Joe Brown. Mark said:
"Phil played on the record, but now we gonna play some tunes that Phil doesn`t know.." with some laughter in his voice. Phil did a good job which made Mark say
"Well, done, Phil!" - A very rare praise from the master in front of a great audience, notable without any doubt!
I talked about Donegan and Marbletown in my last post. Listened to both of them several times now and it is really a great 20 minutes of live atmosphere. When Mark introduces Matt Rollings and talks his usual "Food-Chain-Art-Tatum"-stuff, he mentions a new reference:
The Monster Mash by Bobby Boris Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers-Five"... A nice variation and some band I never heard of before... of course...
Outstanding was also Piper to the End. I love this song in general but this version was another touching and emotional one.
Funny that I was not able to understand at least one cheer or shouting from the audience. This accent kills you I am sure. At one point Mark speaks it, too: After Bonaparte, he said to Phil "
You've pleeyd beforr - one or two taimes" with a scottish accent...
Sorry for my long explanations. I short: Glasgow Show 2010: Very recommendable!
LE
