Reviews of Live Shows 2007 - WARNING: Spoilers!

[Bridget]

Joyce, thank you for your wonderful review. Great that you could share it with your sister!

Chrissyyyyyyy, we must meet again soon.. miss you...

[godisinthesilences]

saw some reviews of the hong kong show... apparently it was great. Hope someone posts the reviews they have here and hopefully some pics too!

[natsume]

Osaka. I can echo what some others have said, that perhaps they should not have relied on such extensive backing tapes, or something else nit-picky, but really, I have never seen Sylvian more relaxed, and what could be better? He had a glowing smile throughout much of the show. And the voice. It is only getting better with age. Not all singers can say that.

It was the exact same setlist as Hong Kong. The Osaka crowd was a bit subdued, as I am finding Japanese audiences can be, although this kind of reception seems to suit Sylvian. The sound was great. Jansen was spot on. Although this was just the quartet, I did not feel that Watanabe was showcased as much as he could have been, except of course in Mother & Child.

These short versions of Brilliant Trees, Riverman, and Before the Bullfight stood out for me. He was not afraid to give them different phrasing and color, and I felt that he was fully committed to these reinterpretations. Ride was the only song from that era that felt a bit phoned in to me.

I was particularly struck by Brilliant Trees. It is such an amazing song, such a perfect melding of music and words, and seeing the 49 year old Sylvian sing these lyrics, that hold perhaps more meaning now as when he wrote them, was quite moving.

[godisinthesilences]

nice review good to hear it was a good show. Hhmm shame to hear you found ride to be "phoned in". from the other shows i've found it to be quite nice.... I'm sure he's happy the tour is nearly done. Haven't heard much about the nov. 1st make up show.... anyone know anything?

[heartofdavid]

Once again, thank you all for sharing the pics and reviews! JoyceHK, you photos are beautiful!

[JoyceHK]

Thanks again to all the appreciation to the photos. Hoping I'll soon have time to upload some more, but the best are already there.

I enjoyed really much the reviews you guys given here so I felt obliged to share mine after the HK gig, and it's so wonderful that I couldn't let myself not saying anything about it.

saw some reviews of the hong kong show... apparently it was great. Hope someone posts the reviews they have here and hopefully some pics too!

Can you please post the sources of/links to those reviews here?

Joyce

[javier]

From the Japan-Pioneers board:
--------------------------------------

David was visibly ill in Tokyo and played a shortened set which was very
disappointing however understandable.

and.....

Just arrived home from the Tokyo show, which unfortunately was cut
significantly short by Sylvian a little over halfway through, due to
illness.

What he did perform was absolutely stunning, one would never have
suspected he was in such bad health.

The setlist:

01 Wonderful World
02 It'll Never Happen Again
03 World Citizen
04 The Day The Earth Stole Heaven
05 Ride
06 Playground Martyrs - Transit
07 Fire In The Forest - Ghosts
08 Snow Borne Sorrow
09 Jean The Birdman
10 Sugarfuel
11 The Librarian

No encore.


After Snow Borne Sorrow, Sylvian announced that due to a cold he would
have to "cut a couple of songs from the setlist", but I daresay very
few in the audience imagined that 3 songs later it would all be over.
Of course the audience reacted graciously, as it was through no fault
of Sylvian. However the mood afterwards in the hall foyer was
distinctly solemn and disconsolate.

Having paid over 50 Euros for what turned out to be only around an
hour of music, and with no apology, it was understandable that a great
number of the audience left feeling rather dissatisfied.
-------------------------------------

I was there. What he did sounded great to me, but he was regularly coughing between songs.
I have to say that if he was ill enough to have to cut a third of the show, then he probably shouldn't have taken to the stage at all.

I'm assuming David tried his best and just wasn't up to it, but it's still really unfair on we fans paying full price for half of a show.

There was no explanation at the end. The band walked off after The Librarian, and as usual the audience clapped and clapped for an encore, but the hall lights were already on, and nobody seemed to believe that it could be finished. The band hadn't taken any bows or acknowledged the audience. And then the ushers started asking people to leave.

Everyone was left "hanging". I felt that at least the tour manager could have come out and explained/apologised, or perhaps the other band members. There was no sense of resolution at all. Instead the audience was left confused and I saw no smiling faces. It was all very strange.

[Burnsjed]

That must have been disappointing.
they could have at least made it clear to everyone there.

[natsume]

That is very unfortunate about Tokyo. The night before was so strong, I hope he didn't use all his energy for that one show. He seemed in fine form Monday night, although he did have to keep wiping his nose and mouth between songs, which made me think he had perhaps a lingering runny nose. Traveling to Asia from Europe is a bit of a hall, and he had already just been sick. Despite how much that would have sucked, maybe they should have rescheduled the end of the tour completely.

[sisterlondon]

Oh my, now that makes me appreciate the Madrid gig even more In any case I already treasure that day, but now for more reasons!

Forgot to say, hope that David will be fine real soon!

[Waves]

Feel sooo sorry for those fans, who will now have no opportunaty to see him!!!
What an unfortunate ending of his tour! Even no Moscow-show...
Must be giving them an uncomfortable feeling, with all preparations, travelling and all. I imagined finishing the tour in Japan would have been absolutely great for him and the band.
Hope they mainly remember the good shows and the enthousiasm of the fans in the end.

Wishing him all the best to recover!

[Meyrav]

That sounds very disappointing...for the fans and for the band, but I do think they had to apologize at the end of this "show" or to explain them what happend!
I feel so sorry for the fans(and i'm not even talking about fans that came from out of Japan). I think I would go mad...

[Adrian]

with al the great musicianship in the band, couldn't the three of them have delivered an impromptu, improvised instrumental setlet of 20-30 minutes? Most fans in Tokyo would have been thrilled I'm sure to see such a one-off. Sylvian might have even joined in noodling around on guitar or something...

[godisinthesilences]

hhmm somehow i can't feel too sorry for the fans... they at least got to see him. I'd pay a million dollars to just stand in a room with him for 5 minutes. (if i had a million dollars that is ).

I know that here in the usa there are terribly debilitating viruses and viral infections going around. You just start to feel better from one thing and then get slammed with the next onslaught of illness.

I am sorry but I feel more sorry for sylvian and the band who've been all travelling and performing while not feeling at their best. When most of us call in sick no one really minds too much, but if you call in sick to a concert people make it out like the world is coming to an end. I am quite certain the artist's realize the consequences.

Sure an apology would have been nice... even expected, but when you're loopy sick saying sorry for that seems an afterthought. I hope we don't slag off on david too badly over his (what i'm sure was an accidental oversite) of non apology.

I'm happy for those who got to even spend 1 minute in the same room with his musical genius... So no pity from me i'm afraid.

[Meyrav]

In that case....then maybe Steve could replace David?
Urghhh I had too much beers for one night...