#08 DTRW TOUR - May 06 2019 - Arkea Arena, Bordeaux, France #SPOILER#

[Love Expresso]

Moan as much as you like please. We have made a point and a rule about "'moaning" a long time ago. Some people have just not the ability to stand the truth and call it negativity immediately as soon as a critical or let's just say.. A DIFFERENT THOUGHT is uttered. A forum without different opinions looses its right to exist, it's what a forum is made for. If those people who still live in their bubblegum world (and say Move on at every occasion as they want to avoid more discussion) can't stand different opinions, it's their problem, not yours. It's a question of maturity to handle different opinions. I totally get where you are coming from and agree to what you say as I know WHERE it is coming from and from what point of view. From a heart full of holes so to say.

LE

[hunter]

I'd like to make a point with those claiming I've been moaning recently.  I have actually been opening my heart to you with many emotions going through me right now.  Some frustration, anger but probably sadness most of all.  I think we're all in the same boat on here but some express ourselves differently for various reasons.  I just want our man to go out with the bang he deserves and not go out with a whimper playing songs like MM, Bonaparte, Postcards, NDT and HFOH.  To be honest most competent artists could do these with this band.  Mark is worthy of so much more and the gems he has removed means there is very little left to the shows.  Can any Knopfler fan really be happy at him going out like this?  If he had done a tour of a dozen dates would he have dropped all these songs?  This would've been the best option for him.

I understand where you're coming from, and there's nothing more I'd like to see than Mark go out with a bang, playing the old hits with vigor and energy. But apparently he is not able to. After playing a good 90 minutes, his hands are tired. Even slow BIA was a piece of work for him last night. So echoing the words of others here, it is what it is. It's honest and emotional and heartfelt, and we really can't ask for more.

[dmg]

Moan as much as you like please. We have made a point and a rule about "'moaning" a long time ago. Some people have just not the ability to stand the truth and call it negativity immediately as soon as a critical or let's just say.. A DIFFERENT THOUGHT is uttered. A forum without different opinions looses its right to exist, it's what a forum is made for. If those people who still live in their bubblegum world (and say Move on at every occasion as they want to avoid more discussion) can't stand different opinions, it's their problem, not yours. It's a question of maturity to handle different opinions. I totally get where you are coming from and agree to what you say as I know WHERE it is coming from and from what point of view. From a heart full of holes so to say.

LE

Thanks LE & hunter.  Although I still wouldn't tag it moaning!  I can't really understand big fans that are happy with the big final goodbye going out with a whimper.  Wouldn't it be so good if he went out with what we could all agree on what was a good tour.  He seems "on it" this tour I think, compared to 2015 but the good songs keep falling by the wayside and there's nothing left showcasing what he can do.  He did it for the first few shows so has he decided to pace himself?  If so would he have not been better to do maybe a dozen shows on a UK or European tour instead; quality over quantity.

[superval99]

This from Guy's diary today:

 Sound check was lengthy as we wanted to run a few things we’re not currently playing in the set, to keep them fresh.

[hunter]

there's nothing left showcasing what he can do.

This is where I think you have it wrong. Yes, there's little left showcasing what he used to be able to do (used to could ), but he does what he can as a 69 year old man. And I think that's fully acceptable. Mark is more than flashy guitar wizardry, even if that's what caught the attention of a lot of us in the first place. It's been downhill guitarwise for a few years now, so to expect him to suddenly be restored to former glory is unrealistic.

[hunter]

This from Guy's diary today:

 Sound check was lengthy as we wanted to run a few things we’re not currently playing in the set, to keep them fresh.

Hear, hear!

[Dutchessy]

[Dutchessy]

This from Guy's diary today:

 Sound check was lengthy as we wanted to run a few things we’re not currently playing in the set, to keep them fresh.

That's good news!

Trapper Man and Back on the Dancefloor?  Let's hope they will be included soon. It's ok for me if they keep changing all the songs from concert to concert. So i think TR and SB will return sometimes as well.

[Knopflerfan]

http://guyfletcher.co.uk/6th-may-2019-bordeaux/

[superval99]

there's nothing left showcasing what he can do.

This is where I think you have it wrong. Yes, there's little left showcasing what he used to be able to do (used to could ), but he does what he can as a 69 year old man. And I think that's fully acceptable. Mark is more than flashy guitar wizardry, even if that's what caught the attention of a lot of us in the first place. It's been downhill guitarwise for a few years now, so to expect him to suddenly be restored to former glory is unrealistic.

I agree, hunter.   I would love MK to play all of the songs I love and go out with a bang, but it's obvious to me that he tires very easily, especially towards the end of the show, so hearing that beautiful rendition of BIA, even though it wasn't perfect, made it even more special and moving for me.

We don't actually know what is wrong with MK healthwise, but it doesn't seem to be just an age problem, although it is one of the reasons. Only time will tell. 

[Robson]

there's nothing left showcasing what he can do.

This is where I think you have it wrong. Yes, there's little left showcasing what he used to be able to do (used to could ), but he does what he can as a 69 year old man. And I think that's fully acceptable. Mark is more than flashy guitar wizardry, even if that's what caught the attention of a lot of us in the first place. It's been downhill guitarwise for a few years now, so to expect him to suddenly be restored to former glory is unrealistic.

I agree, hunter.   I would love MK to play all of the songs I love and go out with a bang, but it's obvious to me that he tires very easily, especially towards the end of the show, so hearing that beautiful rendition of BIA, even though it wasn't perfect, made it even more special and moving for me.

We don't actually know what is wrong with MK healthwise, but it doesn't seem to be just an age problem, although it is one of the reasons. Only time will tell.

And I agree again.

[TheTimeWasWrong]

Trapper Man and Back on the Dancefloor?  Let's hope they will be included soon. It's ok for me if they keep changing all the songs from concert to concert. So i think TR and SB will return sometimes as well.

I thought he was really struggling with SB the last few shows, more than in the first shows, I doubt it will return.

I've been thinking a lot about the teleprompter, he kind of needed it for BIA which is weird after performing that song over 700 times. I have a feeling there's something wrong with MK, yes he's getting older but he's also getting more sentimental on a personal level, just listen to the last verse of Pale Imitation, there is something going on affecting his performances that we don't know about. But of course I could be completely wrong.

Still looking forward to Amsterdam!

[Knopflerfan]

Trapper Man and Back on the Dancefloor?  Let's hope they will be included soon. It's ok for me if they keep changing all the songs from concert to concert. So i think TR and SB will return sometimes as well.

I thought he was really struggling with SB the last few shows, more than in the first shows, I doubt it will return.

I've been thinking a lot about the teleprompter, he kind of needed it for BIA which is weird after performing that song over 700 times. I have a feeling there's something wrong with MK, yes he's getting older but he's also getting more sentimental on a personal level, just listen to the last verse of Pale Imitation, there is something going on affecting his performances that we don't know about. But of course I could be completely wrong.

Still looking forward to Amsterdam!

I'm convinced too that there is more than meets the eye if you know what I mean?....I noted the large gulp of air during BIA...

[hunter]

Trapper Man and Back on the Dancefloor?  Let's hope they will be included soon. It's ok for me if they keep changing all the songs from concert to concert. So i think TR and SB will return sometimes as well.

I thought he was really struggling with SB the last few shows, more than in the first shows, I doubt it will return.

I've been thinking a lot about the teleprompter, he kind of needed it for BIA which is weird after performing that song over 700 times. I have a feeling there's something wrong with MK, yes he's getting older but he's also getting more sentimental on a personal level, just listen to the last verse of Pale Imitation, there is something going on affecting his performances that we don't know about. But of course I could be completely wrong.

Still looking forward to Amsterdam!

I'm convinced too that there is more than meets the eye of you know what I mean....I noted the large gulp of air during BIA...

I also noted how slowly he entered the stage for BIA. Maybe we are "seeing" more than is actually there, but overall I feel a bit uneasy about the whole thing. Hope we are wrong.

[PensaGhost]

I demand that mark plays down to the waterline on bagpipes, euphonium, and tuba. If it doesn't happen I will find this completely unacceptable and will take his lack of pipe and brass lessons as a personal affront to me, I mean how dare he not dredge up a song from 40 years ago and do something that is beyond his current capabilities just for my personal pleasure.....

Anyone see what I did there?   

playing TR and Silvertown is not beyond his personal capabilities , he played them few days ago,
if you can't see what's going on I am sorry for you