So, a short review. (Btw sorry about 'Kingdomce come' in my first post, of course I meant K. of gold, as I said the anticipation was stellar...
)
So yesterday I got my first autograph from Mark, yay!! As 'the convoy' was getting into the back entrance it stopped and Mark was very nice and signed stuff from the fans. Paul Cockford was like I imagined him, acting a bit like a gorilla. Strange to see Richard B. alone in one Mercedes and Jim Cox getting into the arena on foot (I guess it has something to do with his ear problem?)
Finally met some of the topnotch bigleagues fans, e.g. mister C from RCJS (a very nice guy) and saw mr. Poupystar in the crowd.
Also met these 2 great and very friendly Polish guys. Probably not hot news for you all, but it turns out there is quite a big MK community in Poland, they have their own forum (knopfler.pl) with around 400 regular visitors. They even had their own T-shirts made and from the look of it they are quite organised.
So it is cool for me to know that there is something going on in the former Eastern Europe, because I feel there is just the two of us in Slovakia (me and my friend) and nothing organised in Czech Rep. or Hungary either.
So, here is my opinion on Sultans. He didn't play it and I am glad. The last good version was maybe in 2001 for me, the newer ones I just couldn't enjoy so much. So why play it if it's going to be slow and with not as good solo guitar? (probably majority of the audience wouldn't notice this, but I am a guitarist and I do
)
Highlights of the show:
Cleaning my gun - man I love this song, I phoned mark beforehand and ordered it for the evening, and they delivered! Love Richard's 12string and John McC.'s telecaster. ENERGY!
Father and Son - a nice addition to the setlist and Mike is was really good
HFB - ENERGY! loved it
I used to could - very cool arrangement, Mark was good and Jim Cox was amazing!
Marbletown - cool as always (right dmg?
)
Speedway - da killa song, this one is so special, all the parts come into place, the arrangement, the chord progression, the singing, the power chords, and MK's solo is always top notch (unlike Sultans), works every time 110%
Telegraph road - played on Pensa! Loved the sound of it, nicer for me than Strat. This is another one that always works imho, so full of energy again.
BIA - great solo, love it how Ian Thomas plays drums here
So far away - although I was hoping for Going home, this version was the best version I've heard so far in concert. I don't usually enjoy this one as much, but it blew me away yesterday.
Good onew were also:
Gator, Haul, R&j, I Dug up, Postcards was much better than any other version I've heard so far (but it's Postcards so it can't be a highlight for me
)
All in all a stellar show, a great setlist, the guys were relax, was standing directly under Mark 2nd row, met great people, got MK's signature, what else could I wish for?
