Manfred Mann's EarthBand - On the Road December 2002
Tuesday 10 December, Kulturfabrik, Mechernich (the Minimoog is back!)
Posted by Thorsten and Birgit Hi family,
It was 21:00 when MMEB reached the stage and started to play. The setlist was the same than ever. One special thing was to hear castles again.
Thanks to you all. In the hall there where nearly 700 or 800 people, but the audience was like the weather outside. Very cold. We just saw some
known faces and a lot of uninterested looking faces. They warmed up with the last 2 or 3 songs. The band themself where very good again; like
ever. Manfred got some very fine solo. And the best thing for me was, that Manfred's Minimoog is back on stage. For me it sounds much better than the North.
One thing that I liked was the man (called the iceman) who makes a sculpure from ice. Just look on the pictures. Here is where you can find them: http://www.mmeb-tour.de
Perhaps this was our last gig for this year so we will wish all of you, the band and the team merry christmas and a happy new year. See you all next year on a lot of gigs and remember: Keep on rockin' (-G)!!! Best regards
yesterday we were at the MMEB-Gig in Mechernich-Firmenich. The gig started in an old factory, where they are presenting art. Also there is a
discotheque included. The doors opened at 19.00. and some minutes later we where in the hall. As the opener there where two guys playing.
They where called J&R UNPLUGGED. One with a electronic bass and one with a gitarre. At 20.00 the artists changed and now the band
UNDERDOG reached the stage. They made music in the style of Deep Purple. Very loud but not so bad. They played 'till 20:45.
Thorsten and Birgit
Wednesday 11 December, Saal Wilhelmshohe, Lingen
Posted by Karin and Thomas Hi,
First the same band like the evening before, Underdog, played on stage - really good old (harder) rock, and, Thorsten, they were not too loud in Lingen. Funny thing - the man on the bass played his gig in a MMEB-shirt, very cool :-)
At 9.20 p.m. it was time for MMEB - and they played again a very good gig. The usual setlist, this time also in Lingen with Castles. We enjoyed this
song very much, we did not hear it since some months. I had found a very good place in the second row, when the gig started. It was a bit
strange there, the first row stood around 3 m from the stage, although there were no fences or so. (???) But they used the free space to dance,
and so there was a lot of action around me :-). And in Castles then happened what we already had in Herxheim - Mick started into a wonderful
solo and suddenly he, together with Geoff, played just on another level - it was to me just like the same feeling like I had activated the turbo in my
car!!! It was just fantastic, and the same happended later again in the guitar solo of Demolition Man - they started with Mick`s "normal" solo playing -
and ended up in a storm of brilliant harmonies. Oh yes, even if there had been only these two moment it was it worth to drive our 580 km to Lingen
that day! But of course also the rest of the concert was great. Steve was in top form, too, I enjoyed his playing yesterday very much. And we got
again a keyboard from Manfred which is much stronger and more powerful than in the summer. I enjoyed especially She Was...
In the beginning of Redemption Song Manfred told the audience he needed a bit of time to check something in the keyboards. He tried them a bit
together with Ian whilst Mick`s job was it to fill the break for the audience - he did it funny as we know him :-) Then the keyboard problem seemed to be solved and the gig went on.
In all we saw another great gig. Today in Hamburg the mood will be for 100 % better, we are sure. (But the mood in the hall had been good,
yesterday, too.) The Fabrik is wellknown to us for it`s wonderful sound and fantastic mood, and as we had been told it is sold out again :-) So we
are looking forward to tonite - an Earth Band in top form and with Geoff Dunn on drums in the Fabrik in Hamburg - it is a mixture which must be great... Best regards K & T
we are sitting here in our hotel in Hamburg and found a wonderful service there - a free internet PC :-) So here are some words about the night in
Lingen. Yes, it was still very cold, but inside of the "Saal Wilhelmshöhe" we got a warm Welcome from the crew of the hall :-) It is a nice hall, may
be for around 1000 people, but at the end there had been only 400 at the gig. Like I could hear from several visitors there was no promotion in
Lingen for the gig, although - we saw a lot of posters... However, the visitors of the evening enjoyed their gig very much, and so the mood was good.
Thursday 12 December, Fabrik, Hamburg
Posted by Karin and Thomas Hi, what did I write today in the afternoon? We expected a great gig? Now we are just back in the hotel, and we got - a concert which could top
even Herxheim some weeks ago, at least in the mood and the audience. It was outstanding what was going on in the Fabrik today in Hamburg!
The hall was wellknown to us from the last year, and also the very friendly and enthusiastic audience here in Hamburg. And it was almost sold
out, around 1200 people, and many, many of them saw already their second or third or more gigs :-) WE had no supporting band, and so the Earth
Band started at 9:30 p.m., just like yesterday without any intros, but directly with Shelter. And already in Shelter the crowd started to sing. The
next one, castles, caused the first applause after the solo - yes, Mick and Geoff did it again and started the turbo, and the audience enjoyed that
so much! I had this time the job at the merchandising, it was Thomas`evening to spend it infront of the stage, and so I could not concentrate on the
music the whole time. It was the first gig in my life when always, even in all songs, people wanted to buy something - and always when a
fantastic keyboard or guitar part was over, lots of visitors came back to the stand :-) But of course I heard what was going on in that hall, I heard
the high-speed guitar/drums in Castles and Father as well as in Demolition Man and Davy. An, believe it or not - I had a lot of customers around the
stand when Manfred and Mick started into the duell in Father - and all of them kept suddenly quiet, stopped talking, layed the CDs down and
concentrated on the music!!! And even there, at the very last end of the hall, we all could fell that fascinacion, and all together we celebrated the
band after Father - it was just great to me, we were like a big family but had never met each other before. So look what such a band can do with the audience!
They had a choir there, it couldn`t be better, and I had so much to talk and to answer questions about MMEB that I`m feeling now just like I had sang
the whole gig :-) What shall we say, sorry to all of you who could not be there or did not found the time - you missed the best gig of the year!!!
Tomorrow our band will play without us at this private gig, the Presseball in Bonn - we wish them a safe journey and a nice evening there, and we are looking forward to Iserlohn on Saturday.
I`m still so excited, I fear I can not sleep tonite, I can`t get that gig out of my head. So many thanks to band and crew for all, and greetings to all the fans and friends K & T
Christmas tour-reviews
Posted by Karin and Thomas Hi, it is a pleasure to read your reports, The "Gs" and Panther family, and many thanx for the articles, Thomas! And special greetings to you, Lothar,
for the quick one about Munich yesterday! Back home from 8 of the 11 gigs of this tour we want to make some additions and give some details about the gigs which had not been reported up to now.
The article which was found by Thomas A. is in German but describes very good what happened there in Iserlohn. It was a great mood in the
Parkhalle which was filled by around 1000 people. They played there without any support ( :-) ) and the sound was okay. It was the last gig (to us,
because we had not been in Oldenburg) of that tour which was played without any intro and started directly with Shelter. The audience was so
excited and stood so closed that I had difficulties to get closer to the stage during the gig. The band, still on top form, played another fantastic
concert with wonderful solos and a powerful moog, but after Hamburg we would set this gig on the 6th place if we should assess "our" 8 gigs (If
you count everything together - the hall, the organisation there, the team of the hall, the sound, the audience... The band was always good, so the differences were at the end made by the atmosphere.)
The Lingen gig for example was well done by the band, but the audience was not soo active there, and so this one would get place 7 in our row.
Walldürn gets the last place in our (very subjective) row, it was a gig in a big gym like also Zwingenberg and Oberderdingen, but with the worst
sound and the "coolest" audience - of course except of the few members of the fan family :-) It looked a bit strange too me from the further back to see this big hall only half filled...
The first place is now very difficult to us. Still yesterday in the morning it was Hamburg, no doubt - but meanwhile Munich took place and it was so
great there! The mood was just as great like in Hamburg, the audience stood close also around our stand in the last corners of the hall (about 1100,
a completely filled hall) and we had another fantastic choir there, and all hands were up in the air... What a gig at the end of that tour! To me the
best Father version of the tour, and great solos from Mick and Manfred in Castles, Martha, Carol, Dancing, Father, DemoMan and Mighty. Noel sang
a fantastic gig yesterday - we are always wondering what is possible to a voice :-) And - since Offenburg they have that new intro tape before
Shelter, a wonderful keyboard sound wich is then taken over live by Manfred whilst the band enters the stage and the music goes into the first
chords of Shelter - we like that very much and there is only one critical word to say: The intro is too short!!! We could listen to it for 5 mins or
longer... :-) On the other hand the solos had been a bit more powerful in Hamburg. So the decision which was the best gig is very difficult now and we do not want to make it. They had been both outstanding concerts. Offenburg, 17.12.02:
Zwingenberg, 18.12.: Oberderdingen on 20.12. gets place 5 from us, although there was nothing wrong - it was a real great gig in a nice hall with a fantastic audience -
there were only so many gigs which had been even a bit better in that tour :-) I could spend that one in the frontrow and enjoyed that fact very much...
In all - it was the best MMEB tour we saw up to now. Just like Lothar and Panther wrote - there was such a power, such an energy on stage, it
was unbelievable. Thank you, Geoff! And even at the last concert in Munich, after 10 gigs, they played so fresh and with so much fun like after a
holiday time. We heard a lot of enthusiastic opinions at our stand and sold lots of CDs - it`s Christmas time :-)
The first day with the new intro, fantastic gig, nice hall, great audience in a very good mood (around 600 people). Mick with outstanding solos in
Carol and Father and Manfred with a full keyboard sound which we enjoyed very much. The sound was okay, so we got another real rock festival there. And no support :-)Place 3 in our row.
Another gym, this time well filled with a good sound and a great mood. You really missed something there, and we missed you, Jens. The band still
playing with lots of power and the two supports, young rock bands (Twinset from Worms and EleVate from Karlsruhe) were very good. We
enjoyed that gig very much. Manfred played there before Mighty a long piece of "Do wah diddy", very nice. He did it once again the next day in Walldürn but not so extensive like in Zwingenberg. We would give place 4 for this concert.
The music was absolutely great - only one piece we do not like: They changed Dancing, after Manfred`s solo, when they start with the
Springsteen part again. This is what we mean, Lothar, it sounds to us strange there, it is a real break inside and the drums are too hard at this point - the former version of the summer and also from Herxheim and the first
Tuesday 17 December, Offenburg Germany
Posted by Strangerinusall
I had the pleasure to attend for the Offenburg gig last night. By now the most aggressive performance I ever witnessed by the Earthband. Saw
Manfred foot-stamping and pushing the band to a maximum - and the band easily followed his demands. I personally liked the drum work very much
and the various new arrangements of all the well-known songs. Can´t wait for the next MMEB show!!! Congrats to the band and the audience having had the pleasure to be there!
Posted by Paul Hi Santa Family oO:-)*** with two wonderful Christmas gigs we finished our MMEB year 2002 last night :-))
The gig at Walldürn started on Thursday at 8.00 p.m. with two (!!) supporting bands. First band very loud with a young girl on vocals and the music
like a mix of Dalbello and Cranberries. Second supporter not too loud but much more impressive and more professionally, a band of Aschaffenburg.
10.15 p.m. the MMEB gig started with the "new" intro: No more lights in the front of the hall, Manfred entering stage in the darkness and starting with his typically sound. Then the band following and the lights are switching on.
Next morning we started our car and drove to Oberderdingen which is only two hours away from Walldürn. Good that the weather forecast didn't
come true and there was no frozen ice on the road. At 8.00 p.m. the very good supporting band "Phil" started the evening and the hall was filled up
with more than 1000 people. "Phil" played all the hits of Phil Collins in excellent quality and did a great show. We wish you all Merry Xmas with a lot of food o-<:-{{{ Pink Santa Panther & Mrs. Santa :-)
The whole band in a very good Christmas mood, the big hall filled up to about 70 % with 700 people. Of course the new setlist (look at the
Christmas gig reports the days before) and a very good show. Manfred from the beginning jumping, singing and smiling and all the others too
:-)))))) Not drummer Geoff as he was working very concentrated in the back, very powerfully and absolutely fantastic.
Mick with his guitar magic and great soli, Noel with a voice of perfection and Steve with his great base guitar sound (and a very erotical net shirt - don't worry Steve, this was much more interesting for the girls).
Time was running so fast and after a watch-check between Manfred and Noel they finished the gig at midnight with Mighty - everybody of the
crowd was happy and singing the MMEB songs. Very untypically was to see so less family members at Walldürn - "only" the famous Sunday Shop had been present.
At 10 p.m. MMEB started the Christmas gig at Oberderdingen and the crowd was singing and clapping from the beginning. The band and the crew
again very, very good - and this after being on stage since ten days every night. Great compliment to all :-))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Very good lights and smoke effects, absolutely great guitar magic show of mick by playing guitar with fingers, hands and legs ;-) Noel from the
beginning communicating to everybody in the great crowd and each one was happy to be there. And Manfred with his own very good style and
again a powerfully keyboard and moog show. Geoff once again so good that we hope he will celebrate his 10th jubilee with MMEB in 2012 :-)) Oh yes, Steve seems to be the new voice of MMEB as he had a microphone fight against Mick several times.
And this time a big family with Sundays, Uschi, Goros, Christiane + Heiko and some more (sorry I'm now 43 years old, sometimes little problems
with names - but nothing more). A great finish with Santa Noel (hoooooooooo, hoooooooooo, hooooooooooooooooooooooo) and an electrical playing MMEB. Thanks to this wonderfully Christmas gift and see you of in March 2003 (better before).
We've shot lots of photos and will try to get this back from our film-lab before Christmas - we will try to load them up to our new homepage
www.bossenmaier.de If the pics are online available we will place a separate message on this message board.
Saturday 21 December, München, Germany
Posted by Lothar Hi Karin and all members of the wwwboard.Yesterday another great concert with drive which I heard from the Earthband in the late 70's and beginning 80's. Lothar
The beginning of the concert was on ticket at 8.30 pm but what a surprise our manfred wasn't there and it was 8.55pm. I Think there was was a mistake on the tickets, but the crowds were getting nervous.
Unti 9.03pm manfred startet with a new Intro and we are surprised what's going on at the drums. The new drummer - whow. Setlist were the
same as Hamburg. The concert was domaind from the new drummer. The group members have drive which I heard the last 5 years never. The
version of Demolition, Davy and Mighty is rocking - whow. Father becomes a new feeling and the sound from martha i doesn't ever hear.
A great evening with 110 minutes great music. Thank you Earthband.
Karin Dancing was in this version great I don't understand the words before the concert.
All members of Earthband, Karin, Thomas, Paul, The G's,Heiko and Christian( The drive this time in concert likes SAS-Band) and all others of the
board merry christmas see you next year
Posted by Paul on December 21, 2002 Hi Santa Family oO:-)***
with two wonderful Christmas gigs we finished our MMEB year 2002 last night :-))
The gig at Walldürn started on Thursday at 8.00 p.m. with two (!!) supporting bands. First band very loud with a young girl on vocals and the music
like a mix of Dalbello and Cranberries. Second supporter not too loud but much more impressive and more professionally, a band of Aschaffenburg.
10.15 p.m. the MMEB gig started with the "new" intro: No more lights in the front of the hall, Manfred entering stage in the darkness and starting with his typically sound. Then the band following and the lights are switching on.
The whole band in a very good Christmas mood, the big hall filled up to about 70 % with 700 people. Of course the new setlist (look at the
Christmas gig reports the days before) and a very good show. Manfred from the beginning jumping, singing and smiling and all the others too
:-)))))) Not drummer Geoff as he was working very concentrated in the back, very powerfully and absolutely fantastic.
Mick with his guitar magic and great soli, Noel with a voice of perfection and Steve with his great base guitar sound (and a very erotical net shirt - don't worry Steve, this was much more interesting for the girls).
Time was running so fast and after a watch-check between Manfred and Noel they finished the gig at midnight with Mighty - everybody of the
crowd was happy and singing the MMEB songs. Very untypically was to see so less family members at Walldürn - "only" the famous Sunday Shop had been present.
Next moring we started our car and drove to Oberderdingen which is only two hours away from Walldürn. Good that the weather forecast didn't
come true and there was no frozen ice on the road. At 8.00 p.m. the very good supporting band "Phil" started the evening and the hall was filled up
with more than 1000 people. "Phil" played all the hits of Phil Collins in excellent quality and did a great show.
At 10 p.m. MMEB started the Christmas gig at Oberderdingen and the crowd was singing and clapping from the beginning. The band and the crew
again very, very good - and this after being on stage since ten days every night. Great compliment to all :-))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Very good lights and smoke effects, absolutely great guitar magic show of mick by playing guitar with fingers, hands and legs ;-) Noel from the
beginning communicating to everybody in the great crowd and each one was happy to be there. And Manfred with his own very good style and
again a powerfully keyboard and moog show. Geoff once again so good that we hope he will celebrate his 10th jubilee with MMEB in 2012 :-)) Oh yes, Steve seems to be the new voice of MMEB as he had a microphone fight against Mick several times.
And this time a big family with Sundays, Uschi, Goros, Christiane + Heiko and some more (sorry I'm now 43 years old, sometimes little problems
with names - but nothing more). A great finish with Santa Noel (hoooooooooo, hoooooooooo, hooooooooooooooooooooooo) and an electrical playing MMEB. Thanks to this wonderfully Christmas gift and see you of in March 2003 (better before).
We've shot lots of photos and will try to get this back from our film-lab before Christmas - we will try to load them up to our new homepage
www.bossenmaier.de If the pics are online available we will place a separate message on this message board.
We wish you all Merry Xmas with a lot of food o-<:-{{{
Pink Santa Panther & Mrs. Santa :-)
New article (Munich concert)
Posted by Thomas Altebäumer on December 25, 2002 Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Letzte Mohikaner
Selten war die Muffathalle so voll wie beim Gastspiel von Manfred Mann und seiner Earth Band. Der 62-jährige Südafrikaner ist der letzte
Mohikaner der Bombastrocker hinter ihren Keyboard- und Syntheziser-Türmen, und wer mit dieser Musik in den siebziger Jahren groß geworden
ist, für den war dieser Termin ein Muss, selbst wenn er damals kreativere Kollegen wie Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Pink Floyd, Rick Wakemans Yes oder Genesis bevorzugt hat.
Und der Nostalgiker wurde bestens mit der typischen Mischung aus wabernden Bässen, kreischenden Gitarren, sphärischen
Synthesizer-Spielereien und hymnischen Gesängen versorgt. Noch etwas blutleer bei der ersten, für Earth-Band-Maßstäbe brandneuen Nummer
„Shelter From The Storm"(aus dem Album „Soft Vengeance" von 1997), was nur belegt, dass die kreative Phase der Band irgendwann in den
Achtzigern endete. Ohnehin war Mann schon immer der König der Coverversion. Wie kein anderer hat er es verstanden, fremdes Material
aufzustylen und wie selbst komponiert klingen zu lassen. Die Liste der in der Muffathalle gespielten Hits veranschaulicht das: „Father Of Day,
Father Of Night" stammt ebenso von Bob Dylan wie „Mighty Quinn", „Demolition Man" von Sting, „Blinded By The Light" von Bruce Springsteen,
„Don't Kill It, Carol" von Mike Heron und der „Redemption Song" natürlich von Bob Marley.
Die Show aber stimmt auch heute noch. Ur-Mitglied Mick Rogers bedient die Gitarre souverän, und sein Gesang ist ausdrucksvoll wie eh und je.
Lead- Sänger Noel McCalla klingt verblüffend nach dem in Rente gegangenen Chris Thompson, hat aber stimmlich sogar mehr zu bieten. Und Mann
selbst gibt dem Mini-Moog die Sporen wie zu den besten Zeiten. All dies akustisch wie optisch ordentlich in Szene gesetzt. Diese „alten Herren" sind keine Abzocker, sondern erstaunlich vitale Zeitreisende.
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