Reviews of Live Shows 2007 - WARNING: Spoilers!

[arieleleven]

Back from the gig in London, just arrived to my hotel after waiting for quite a long time at the stage door.

Loved every minute of the gig (unlike the guy next to me that was sleeping here and there LOL!) Awesome sound and loved how some songs were quite changed. I was a bit far on the side, but could see David very well and Steve a bit blocked, but still saw him.

Thanks to everyone that I met, Steerspike (thanks for the DD stuff!!!) and Tallulahtaurus with whom I had dinner and lots of laughs, Sonic that was by chance sitting behind me and Melazska, that was met so briefly, but glad we met anyway! But special mention goes to Bridget, that not only was waiting for me with a happy bd bunch of balloons, but that also got me a Happy BD card signed by Steve and other members of the band! You are great dear!!!

So she and I were the only survivors of the bunch in the end (and my patient parents). It was funny when we saw Rich inside and he said "I remember you" to me, LOL! I talked to Tim as well and he was real nice and kind So good to see him again!

So in the end we got to see Keith (such a fun guy!) and then David (with whom I couldn't get a pic, but signed my tour book) and Steve that signed a few things for me and we talked about his cancelled gig in Madrid earlier this year. He wished me happy bd, and I think he kissed my cheek then as well, but the moment is a blur, LOL!

Real exciting night, will say more when I go back. I hope any of the few pics I took turns out. Will let you know!

*off to bed real happy!*

Oh sweetheart, I am beyond thrilled for you. This is undoubtedly the happiest birthday I believe I have ever heard of anyone ever having, lol!! Bridget is truly the kindest person to walk the planet -- you must have nearly fainted when you saw the card signed by everyone! And then getting to chat with everyone and then getting a kiss from Steve?!! Like I said: the best birthday ever celebrated by anyone, ever. Period!

I cannot wait to see your photos!!

Much love and big hugs!

xxxxx

[Lady Arcadia]

You lucky thing SisterLondon!!! I am sooo jealous!!

[Melaszka]

Back from the gig in London, just arrived to my hotel after waiting for quite a long time at the stage door.

Loved every minute of the gig (unlike the guy next to me that was sleeping here and there LOL!) Awesome sound and loved how some songs were quite changed. I was a bit far on the side, but could see David very well and Steve a bit blocked, but still saw him.

Thanks to everyone that I met, Steerspike (thanks for the DD stuff!!!) and Tallulahtaurus with whom I had dinner and lots of laughs, Sonic that was by chance sitting behind me and Melazska, that was met so briefly, but glad we met anyway! But special mention goes to Bridget, that not only was waiting for me with a happy bd bunch of balloons, but that also got me a Happy BD card signed by Steve and other members of the band! You are great dear!!!

So she and I were the only survivors of the bunch in the end (and my patient parents). It was funny when we saw Rich inside and he said "I remember you" to me, LOL! I talked to Tim as well and he was real nice and kind So good to see him again!

So in the end we got to see Keith (such a fun guy!) and then David (with whom I couldn't get a pic, but signed my tour book) and Steve that signed a few things for me and we talked about his cancelled gig in Madrid earlier this year. He wished me happy bd, and I think he kissed my cheek then as well, but the moment is a blur, LOL!

Real exciting night, will say more when I go back. I hope any of the few pics I took turns out. Will let you know!

*off to bed real happy!*

That's so brilliant! I'm so glad that the horrid man was lying and that you got to meet them all when they came out of the door that "he's not going to come out of"! Sounds like the best birthday ever. And it was great to meet you, too.

[Poisoned_Apathy]

That's so great Isa!!!

I'm very excited cause my gig is just in a week!!! But, I won't met anybody there...I'm going sooo alone But that fact that I'm going to see David makes me forget about everything!!!!

[camphorvan]

I was going to write something last night, but it was too late and I needed sleep.

I was really tired travelling up to London from Hertfordshire for the concert. I used to commute, but seriously couldn't bare it these days. I find London too busy: the whirl and the rush...

I didn't manage to get to the concert with enough time to spare to go find Waggymammypapabear's so I settled for a pint of Guiness and a few cigerettes outside. Sorry to those I failed to meet; I would have really loved to meet you.

My patience and equilibrium have been sorely tested of late and I was out of sorts anyway, so I wasn't in the best mood to see a concert. I was quite impatient for it to get going. When the band walked on stage though, it was like I was back at St. Elizabeth's Hall in '95, or the Albert Hall in '93. Sylvian concerts seem to be milestones in a way for me; this was what I was at that time, but the music always remains - comforting.

Overall, the concert was pleasing, even if I was incredibly annoyed by the extremely irritating people going to and from the bar, clinking bottles as they went. Acceptable in an arena setting maybe, but an enclosed auditorium in such an intense performance? No. It's distracting to the performers and the audience. I was dying for a wee wee but held on. Principles and all that. If anyone was going to distract the band, I was determined not to be a part of it. Even if it meant I was in the Gentlemen's for a good ten minutes following the performance..hmmm...too much information.

Apart from that, the only minor annoyance was the use of backing tapes. Hard to perform some of the material without them maybe, but I felt some of it was not needed as the band were really competent.

Real highlights for me were Before the Bullfight, Ride, the two songs from Secrets, The Librarian and Wanderlust - shivers down the spine indeed. His voice just seemed so incredibly powerful during certain points in the show, although some songs (Ghosts etc) I didn't really like the arrangements for.

The person who really stood out for me, apart from David obviously, was Jansen. Such an incredibly talented drummer. He could have really done some 'showing off pub jazz drumming', but he is a consumate musician - able to hold back, but still be incredibly impressive.

The semi-acoustic David used for most of the show I felt really added to the overall sound, rather than using his Tele. On one occasion when he did use it (I can't remember which song), he put down a fairly impressive blues-type riff. Bless his lil' semi-acoustic solo he did as well.

On a personal note; the music 'went in' and resonated; a lot of the songs related to my own personal circumstances (as I'm sure they do others), so it was a bit like a rabbit being caught in the headlights for me at times.

Moving on...the tour-book was really good value for money I thought. Well produced and £20 for a book of that quality and a CD is good value. I was glad as I felt slightly disappointed with the tour 'bit of paper' and Trophies 3 last time around. I love the remix of Get The Hell out - funky!

Also really like the two new Sylvian songs; back to Blemish?! Photographs really stand out in the book format as opposed to the website.

Bizarrely, I saw Ken Livingstone at the front of the RFH and then he entered. I presumed he went to see the concert. Did anyone see him in the auditorium?

My only really big regret was that this foxy oriental woman came and sat next to me outside by the river while smoking a cigarette before the concert and I didn't make any attempt to make any kind of conversation. Typical of me really. Nervous about that sort of thing.

Anyhow, the lighting was really low I felt. I couldn't really see the band that clearly, but then I need another eye test....

[Steerpike]

Have to admit that for me this came nowhere near to the last Japan dates at the Hammersmith Odeon, but it was lovely to see Steve on stage even if he was in semi-darkness and could have been nearer the front! Er.. didn't really look at the rest of the stage much and even refused Brig's kind offer of a second row seat as it was on the other side from Steve and so David & part of the drum kit would be in the way

For me the best part of the day was meeting the folk from this site and being able to spend the whole day talking about Japan - Bliss I also enjoyed watching everyone elses reactions to the gig. SisterLondon. so glad you got to meet Steve. Typical, we kind of guessed they'd come out after we'd gone. I wonder if they were waiting until more people went. What a nasty security bloke that was. To lie like that was so low

[triskadekaphobia]

back from the London show and not read anything posted here yet.

....When I first heard of this tour, I thought what for ? Although some years had passed since Blemish I just did not feel this was the right time for a new tour.
Having seen the show and the pieces performed, I deeply this may be the last time. Wonderful if I am wrong, but that's my instinct.

David's voice was just better than ever, ever. Always a joy to be there with him. I don't think there was a big vibe from the audience which would be normal for a London shows, but regardless of that I felt Dave was just going through the motions. He barely spoke at all. I understand he finished the show 20 minutes early so I don't yet know if they cut some some stuff out.
Only disappointment - if I can say that - the guy on the grand piano - what did he do ?
Perhaps listening back or going to some more Euro shows I will appreciate him more, but for me he contributed very little.

Favourites - Sugarfuel was really good , Playground Martys a new Sylvian classic, Brilliant Trees, the Never Happen Again cover, Wanderlust, oh it all really!

Just hope it will happen again, but we must fully enjoy what we have been fortunate to experience.

[Melaszka]

OK, for what it's worth, my halfpennyworth about the concert.

Set list:

For me personally, this was an excellent set list, packed with crowd-pleasers - the hits just kept on coming! In fact, if only he'd managed to shove Damage in there somewhere (and perhaps Wave, Tainai Kaki and Forbidden Colours!) it would have been my absolute dream set list.

However, although it was great with me (and probably with other Sylvian solo hardcore fans ), it was quite heavily weighted towards Nine Horses material, and looking around me I noticed a lot of eyes glazing over during these numbers. So it may have been a little disappointing to casual fans or Japan fans who've only just discovered the solo stuff. Particularly since he'd advertised it as a final fling where he'd give material from his early solo career its last airing.

Having said that, though, I thought the Nine Horses stuff was amongst the most heartfelt and movingly performed material in the show

Sylvian:

Bless him, he's no showman, is he? He seemed very, very nervous, but he sang beautifully - I was repeatedly completely winded by his vocal mastery and just the beauty of his voice.

I did sense, though, that he really has had enough of much of this material. It's not that he didn't give himself to it 100%, because he did, but I really felt he couldn't emotionally engage with a lot of the BT/GTE and SOTB stuff anymore. It was technically perfect, but I'm not sure his heart was in it, and I suspect this was a concert where he tried to give the fans the material he thought they wanted to hear, rather than what he really wanted to sing. But that could have been just his nervousness.

I felt that he seemed a lot more excited and engaged by the Nine Horses stuff, especially The Librarian - were his daughters in the audience, because I really got the sense he was singing this straight from the heart driectly at them? Definitely one of my two biggest highlights.

And Wanderlust (which I've always loved) was fantastic - he really made the most of the band he had on that song and it was the only song that he seemed to be really, really having fun with (although that could have been his sense of relief that it was nearly over and he could go home soon!). My second big highlight.

I loved World Citizen (despite thinking I hated the song before I went in), despite not being sure about the Ghosts arrangement at first, I really warmed into it, and other highlights were Snow Borne Sorrow, Mother and Child and Brilliant Trees.

Reading through this it sounds far more negative than I felt. I loved this concert and concur heartily with the woman in front of me who lost all control of her emotions at one point and just shouted out "You're so wonderful!" at David.

The two hours flew by like seconds and I only wish he could have stayed on stage all night.

But, yes, his shoes were vile.

the Band:

Great. Man of the night for me (other than David) was defintiely Watanabe, though - what an exciting talent!

And, finally, most importantly, you guys:

I was sorry I got there late and didn't get to spend more time with you more, especially sisterlondon and Bridget, whom I only met briefly, but I'd like to thank you all, especially tallulahtaurus and steerpike - it's just so great to be able to dissect the concert with people who don't say "Savid who?" or stare at me blankly. And you're all so intelligent and fun and nice.

[Sylvie]

seems you had a great time in london. kisses and all! birthdays should be like that . my sister got me a birthday card signed by lloyd cole this year. apparently, he was very excited he had such young (?) fans. sad thing is, i am not really a fan....

any reviews from uk btw?

[godisinthesilences]

these last posts were from UK shows



Thank you all so much for sharing... especially camphovan. That was a lot of information you gave.
I keep looking forward to hearing more and more.....

[Sylvie]

sorry, i meant newspaper reviews.

[Melaszka]

The Times ripped him to shreds, poor babe:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article2474644.ece

[triskadekaphobia]

For the record here is a translation of the main points from the interview with David in swedish press -

basically he is saying he wants to make timeless music, and in pop the only examples he can think of are Brian Eno and Scott Walker, but David is following his own map. He wants to head into unknown terrain, and make music that doesn't wear out quickly.


He doesn't like interviews and says everything he wants to say is in his music.
He says he is naked in his music.


he thought Money For All was too poppy and wanted to give the song to someone else, but Steve and Burnt wanted it for Nine Horses.
And even though the song is sarcastic it is something he learned he doesn't want to do again.


He says he plans after this tour to close the book on his old songs and begin working again on the solo material he began after Blemish.

[Lady Arcadia]

It is great reading these reviews... man, I thought I could handle not going... I think I am wrong, soo wrong. Anyway, it sounds like they have been wonderful shows. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the concerts.

I am hoping (vainly I may beg to say), that this isn't the end of David's touring. I am hoping that after a couple new albums worth of material he will return, - even if it is just to play his new songs only. (Fingers crossed!)

[untitled]

Funny how it’s only now, a few days after the event that I am beginning to understand what the concert meant for me. One word keeps popping in to my head. “Closure”.

I think he’s right to let the back catalogue go. As wonderful as it was to see and hear it performed – it no longer seems to challenge him. I think, as other people are beginning to report on this site too, you could almost feel it in his performance. I think if he’d tried to give the fans what they wanted on this tour, we would have had Orpheus, Red Guitar and Nightporter. Instead, I think he wanted to dig out some stuff he hadn’t done in a while, to try and keep it fresh for himself as much as anyone else.

I love his CD’s to bits and will clearly play them for the rest of my life, but I’m happy for David to let them go. At least he’s not doing it in a Japan-esque fashion, by saying the material isn’t good. He’s just moving on.

I have to say, I am tremendously proud of both Batt brothers at the moment. They seem more confident, enthusiastic and proud of their current musical output, than ever before. I wish them well, wherever their journey takes them.