Hi LE, I assumed you'd all have listened to tapers by now? I haven't had chance to catch the multiple threads since I've been away.
Glad jaroen and shootingstar enjoyed as much as I did.
It was my first time seeing Mark - and as I am well acquainted with the Euro bob tour boots, there was no 'surprise ' factor except for the new album songs. When he sang YTC, that's when I got excited!
The sound was great (I was at the side/front) and Mark was in fine voice. I had a little sing along to the "..make a living in sheep.." probably much to the amusement of the folk around me!
Guitar wise, I felt MK let go occasionally, and as I said maybe enough to make a mistake (?) in HFB. I thought I heard a dud note in he middle of a run - which is unusual because normally a dud note would be more likely at the start of a phrase, or the end. Once fingers know where they are on the fretboard it's less likely to mess up, but mark was wailing and I appreciate that!
The guitars sounded great, the band is superb (even Guy), I now know why u lot go see multiple shows whenever u can!!
The Daddy Knoxeville thing was funny, even with a washboard solo! Got a big clap from the arena.
What amazed me was the whole crowd loved mark, I expected some heckling, after hearing the negative comments on ER from the last tour (up till today I've isolated myself from AMIT/ER so i could enjoy an unbiased concert).
When mark picked up a Gibson a fiddled before a song (sonny?hfb?) I heard someone shout out " I want my MTV" everyone laughed!
Lots of love for Mark where I was sitting and it seemed like quite a few people had come mainly because of him. I say that because once someone heard my accent and got my story .."..I'm hear to see Mark but Bob is a bonus.." I got a thumbs up from the American I was talking too! Plus all the little bits of chatter I heard, even a discussion at one point about the 'guts' to not play hits. Etc.
I heard NO disrespectful comments about MK - and then I was amazed at the negativity when bob started. Almost instantly there was a vibe of 'shock' in the crowd by the end of the first song. As someone has said, It's funny people don't know what to expect but having just released tempest to (IMO justified) rave reviews, maybe a lot of people expected that? Bobs live voice is no where near as enunciated as on Tempest. There was a little bit of love when the crowd understood Things have Changed.... Love the band!
Bye for now, hope the rest of the tour is great for fellow AMIT - I have Sacra tickets, but have been sidetracked by a family road trip, so will miss it. Who'd have thought he USA was so big?