Concert # 14:2013.05.14, Ziggodome, Amsterdam, NL # SPOILER AHEAD #

[man on a track]

As we all seem to know the expectations and needs of an average concert goer familiar with DS (because noone can be so dull to attend an MK show for MK's solo's sake ), I dare say that SFA fits them better than SOS.
It's been sold more often, it's short and easy listening mainstream... 

[ingridswing]

Back home moat? See you soon 

[Ar (aka Enlight)]

Here's my review of the concert
"

                                                                 "
All by all, this was a great day and a wonderful concert!

Thanks for your review Klaas, appreciated

[3Strats]

Marbletown - that word will curse me 'till the day I die.

And there's a title for another song right there !

With the question of a DVD still "up in the air", I think he would drop Sultans because (and this argument has been used before)
there are other versions already available. - It was dropped from the "On The Night" Video (but probably due to time constraints).
Much as I'd like to hear Ruth Moody (although I don't think she's on at Newcastle), I'd rather he played a set that included Sultans
and although Marbletown is much better live than on the album, having heard it on the last 3 tours (2008 was my favourite version)
I wouldn't miss that at all !

Edit, I just picked my guitar up & played Sultans, & I feel much better now LOL 

[herlock]

Marbletown - that word will curse me 'till the day I die.

And there's a title for another song right there !

With the question of a DVD still "up in the air", I think he would drop Sultans because (and this argument has been used before)
there are other versions already available. - It was dropped from the "on The Night" Video (but probably due to time constraints).
Much as I'd like to hear Ruth Moody (although I don't think she's on at Newcastle), I'd rather he played a set that included Sultans
and although Marbletown is much better live than on the album, having heard it on the last 3 tours (2008 was my favourite version)
I wouldn't miss that at all !

Dropping SoS, TR and TOL from "On The Night" was a sad decision for us who like diversity.
I think Mark's logic was to get a live album as different as Alchemy as possible, and that the Alchemy versions were already excellent ones. Maybe after all he was not too happy with Chris Witten's drumming, see the "drummer" thread Too bad for those who like long sax breaks or "out of this world" solos....Still, he kept RAJ, PI and SR which were also present on Alchemy. Oh well... The Alchemy + On The Night combination is a good one, very good versions of everything, by any standard. Again only those who want diversity (I am one) are disappointed...
What I want on the DVD is not another bare bone SoS (I have plenty, starting with Old Grey Whistle test), or not even IDUAD with Ruth, I think the version with Emmylou on the RLRR DVD is quite definitive. What I want in priority is the songs we don't have on video: WII, HFB, MT, Piper, YTC, KOG... and maybe TR still, because we only have one (excellent but still alone) version on video !

[pjotry]

Review:
http://www.nu.nl/muziek/3464142/mark-knopfler-geeft-fans-geen-reden-klagen.html

Lars B.

What does it say..(in short)?

thanks to google translate:

The noise in the hall disappears abruptly as Knopfler announced. The famous riff of What It Is echoes through the room and knows with his seven band members the 63-year-old singer immediately set the tone. His distinctive guitar and voice experience still unaffected by the years of touring.



That is to mention. At least unique The setlist this tour is almost the same every show, with plenty of room for Knopfler's solo material. A disappointment for those who hoped for a night dire straits, but the band is no reason to make a boring evening of it.



concentration


The enthusiasm of the musicians radiates from. During the songs is striking how quiet the room is. No annoying chatter or cups falling, but pure concentration and respect for what is going on stage. Knopfler is known for his songs live just something else to play and this is no exception.

Much insulated causing a considerable stretch occurs in the playing of songs. Singer Ruth Moody may provide background vocals for a few songs. Fortunately the Dire Straits fans also get their money.



complain


Scoops like Sultans Of Swing and Money For Nothing remain, but with Romeo And Juliet and Telegraph Road there is no reason for them to complain. Almost without interaction - a single announcement or "thank you" - have been leaving the band after nearly two hours onstage.

Everyone left with the hope of more, though it's after So Far Away and Piper To The End really ended. After the mixed reactions: The one wanted to hear more of Dire Straits others took it as it was perfect. Everyone is agreed that Knopfler for a quality evening music has created.

[dannr1]

 

[TheTimeWasWrong]

I was far less exited about the concert then most of you who were in Amsterdam last night. The sound at the Ziggo Dome was terrible, by far the worst I've heard in many many years (I go to a lot of concerts, small and big venues). The overall volume was nice, could have been a little bit louder but is was okay, but the mix was horrible. Sporadic there was a lot of low/bass and there far too much high. Mike sounded crap on Father and Son, Jim's high notes on piano were terrible and MK's Pensa on Telegraph sounded like a 50 dollar guitar. There was absolutely no mid. All the mid frequencies, very important for guitars and pianos, were inaudible. I really blame the sound guys for this. I was so busy focussing on the sound and everything I could not hear, that I could not enjoy the show as much as I normally do. I have to say it got me a bit upset. By the way, did anyone notice that Glenn's upright bass didn't work on Privateering?

I also dare to say that it was MK's weakest concert I've seen so far. To put it in perspective, last night was my 8th MK concert since the turn of the century. I found his guitar playing weak in 2008, but it got a lot better during the GL tour. With Bob in 2011 his playing was superb, almost level Shangri-La tour. But yesterday I found his playing weak again. Strangely his acoustic skills are unparalleled (Privateering, Marbletown, R&J), but his solos on Hill Farmers Blues and I Used To Could were not very good. It got better in the second half of the set (Kingdom, Speedway, Telegraph).

But, there were highlights too, of course. Seattle and Kingdom Of Gold were stunning with Ruth, very happy to have heard those two. Speedway was great and So Far Away was very powerful. Piper To The End is a great song the finish with. I find it interesting how R&J still develops after 33 years, again they have made small changes to the arrangement and I really got a bit emotional during that song. It is a real gem. I think his current band is probably his best one. Jim on R&J is pure genius and Ian is by far the most skilled and sophisticated drummer he has worked with during his solo days. He takes the 'karaoke' out of Telegraph Road.

Overall I was happy to see MK again, I still think he and his skills are extremely rare and we are all very lucky that he still tours. Next time I'll be there of course and I hope the overall experience will be better.

[dmg]

A very honest interesting review, thanks. 

I have to agree and say his playing in 2011 was great.

[ingridswing]

What seats did you have TheTimeWasWrong? I sat frontrow, in front of Mike, and really can't second what you write here about the soundquality.

[Dutchessy]

Soundquality in the front was very good i think.

[man on a track]

Front row is never a reference when it comes to the acoustics of a venue.
In a good one, it's acoustcally better to not sit in the front row.

But the question was about the mixing, which again could be caused by the fact that Chuck sat next to the stage rather than mid-venue?
Just guessing...

[One Armed Bandit Man]

Hi there,
I totally agree with the remarks TheTimeWasWrong made.
I sat first ring, in the back left corner (as seen from the stage, "Guy's side") and  sound was poor there... When Jim played higher notes, I couldn't hear anything of Mark's guitar. As if there was a sort of interference: when you try to play a song too loud on speakers that are too small. Then during Marbletown, was Mike even attached to the PA, as I just saw him playing... ??
I really like to hear all those guitars, but when there were more than two, the others were inaudible. Only Richard's guitars were clear, every time.

Part of this is my own fault: I was too late with buying tickets, as I went with relatives, who had to "think and decide and ehhmmm, dunno yet etc". Then most of the floor seats were gone, and usually sound is better there, so next time I'll be on the floor!

[TheTimeWasWrong]

What seats did you have TheTimeWasWrong? I sat frontrow, in front of Mike, and really can't second what you write here about the soundquality.

We had tickets at the first floor, section 109. A friend of mine ordered the tickets (normally I do, but I had no internet connection that day) as soon as they were available, but he had no choice in selecting seats. We were with a group of 5 people, 3 of them had never seen MK before. They were impressed but admitted the sound was crap where we're located.

[ingridswing]

Yes, the ring isn't very good, sat there at concert of Paul Simon.
Mixing wasn't bad except some problems sometimes, indeed Privateering, but I saw Glenn was doing something with the cable during the song and it improved a little.