Manfred Mann's Earthband - On The Road October 2000

Friday-Sunday, 6-8 October, Nafels, Pratteln, Herisau, Switzerland

Posted by Rene on October 09, 2000 at 16:19:53:

Hi everybody

What about MMEB in Switzerland, the three Swiss gigs "in one row"? Pat visited Doris and me in Burgdorf at Wednesday, October, 4. He had an awful bad cold. Doris and I had to work and the only thing he did during these two days was to solve riddles and drinking hot tea, drinking hot tea, drinking hot tea . . . After a first horrible day with fever and cough we had some fun together anyway.

On Friday morning, October, 6, Pat and I left for the first gig in Naefels. It took about two and a half hours driving (the MMEB van is not a Ferrari . . .). During the journey we were listening to a lot of powerful classical masterpieces, no MMEB sound . . .

The "Rock im Glarnerland" venue took place in a big hall for every kind of venues. Everything was really well organized. Thanks to all the helpers from the "Innerschweiz". It was absolutely not sold out. Just about 200-300 people in this big hall, it was enough place for about three times more people. The light and sound engineering desks were in the middle of the hall. The audience was standing from the stage until the engineering desk. Absolutely not overcrowded . . . The atmosphere was, sorry, very boring.

What about the gig itself? The Band just played the set and not more. The well known setlist: Intro, Shelter, Nothing, Castles, Martha, Carol, Angels, SOS, Father, Demo, Blinded - Redemption, Davy - Mighty. You see no surprises. I hope the setlist will change one day.. They played the set as usual, they are really professionals. But I missed the atmosphere, the fever. Just a gig - not more (like just another working day).

After the gig we drove to the hotel. All I remember is that it was just in the middle of nowhere . . . After a short night we left on Saturday morning the place in the middle of nowhere and drove all the way back to Pratteln the place of the second Swiss gig. Graeme wrote me that a lot of people were looking for me: I have been there! But I don't like the front row. I can see much more a lot of rows behind.

MMEB was in the "z7" just a year ago. It was another fantastic and enthusiastic atmosphere (incl. the Band). The "z7" may be a famous place like the Robin 2? I don't write about the gig itself. Please read the report from Karin and Thomas (colourful as usual). Karin and Thomas: I think we met after the gig in the hotel lobby. You remember? (Mick, Chris, Richard, Pat, Mat and the last one was me. Sorry, I didn't recognized you that you were Karin and Thomas. You did not have a description about me from Graeme? How did he describe me? . . . So we will meet at another gig hopefully.

"Early" in the morning all the way back into the far East of Switzerland to Herisau, the place of the third Swiss gig. During the journey no classical favourites but Sixties and Seventies handmade rock music. The gig took place in the Casino, a place for all kind of concerts. Not a very big place, a "bijou". I like that very much, it's much more "familiar". I think it was sold out, 400 people (forgive me if it is wrong). Pat had to change his lightning ideas, because they had not the well known lamp bars there. But he did another great colourful job. Of course, Ian, John, Mat and Chris also!! What's about the set? The supporting act was Susan Orus (you are right Karin). I did not heard the name before.

At 21.30 the Earthband started. The Band, the audience were absolutely fantastic. I describe it with the last Song: the long and never ending intro for the famous Mighty was Glenn Millers "In The Mood". Everybody was "In The Mood", the whole gig was "In The Mood". I don't like words like "fantastic", "enthusiastic" but it was. Especially the "neverending" handmade solos from Mick and Manfred, THANKS! It is nothing more to say.

Just two last notes: I missed in Herisau the SOS. Cancelled from the setlist? Noel got some problems with his voice. After the gig in Pratteln on Saturday morning he could not speak very easily. Take care of your voice, Noel, and if you are in Burgdorf again, let us know!!

Thanks to everybody who was involved with this three Swiss gigs.

Hope for another three Swiss gigs "in one row".

All the best from Switzerland

Rene

Pratteln Gig , 07/10/00

Posted by Thomas and Karin Sonntag

Hi,

After a long journey we had just returned from a (too short) visit to Switzerland to see the Earth Band in Pratteln. It´s really a bit crazy to drive a distance of 700 km from Thuringia to Pratteln for only one gig, but it was a special gig for us and so we decided on Thursday: Okay, let`s try it!

We started on early Saturday morning in a horrible rain, but after passing Heilbronn the weather was better, and when we reached the borderline to Switzerland in Basel the sun was shining :-) We had no problems on the way and needed only 6 hours for the 700 km. The next hour we spent in Basel and Pratteln to find the hotel and the hall! To be honest we must say we had difficulties with the signs in Switzerland - in Germany in every city you find signs with the number of the street you are driving on - but in Basel I turned the third round before I found back to the street number 12 (the way to Pratteln) because there are nowhere signs for the big directions! However, finally we found the way and - had in Pratteln to look for the "Z 7" - hall. Once more we took the wrong direction but needed only one more try to find the "Z 7". It looks from the outside not so attractive and lies in an industrial area, but the MMEB - lorry stood there - we were right. After that important discovery we returned to Basel to have a break at the hotel.

Around 7 we started again - and I was happy that we had looked at the way to Pratteln already in the afternoon in the daylight! The big car park of the "Z 7" was nearly completely filled when we arrived there, lots of other cars arrived just in the moment... And when we went into the hall the people stood inside already till the door in the back! Estimated 1100 had been there to see the Earth Band, many older fan T-Shirts, many discussions about former gigs around us when we moved through the waiting crowd to the front row. And there - who was that woman who looked just like Erika and the man next to her - that WERE Reinhard and Erika, and also Uschi and Iris! You can imagine the big "Hello" in the first row - we didn`t know from each other that we all would meet there and so the gig started for us with that very nice surprise. :-) By the way, we all hoped to meet you, Rene, there - had you been in Pratteln?

At 20.30 the support started, a good band ( I guess the name was Susan Orus?). The air was bad in that well filled old industrial hall, but the mood was good when they finished their performance. Another break, everybody was waiting now for the main act, and 21.45 the Earth Band gig began - as ever very good, as ever another version of the intro, then Shelter - and then - yes: Nothing was back. So we saw the gig in the full length, with wonderful solos from Manfred and Mick and a very nice lightshow done by Pat. My highlights were the guitar solos in Carol and Father - live always better than every CD music you can listen to at home!

And, to give an answer to our hot discussion on the board in the last week, Graeme Y. : Sorry to say but Father was again THE song which let the crowd getting really enthusiastic! Of course I agree with you, Graeme P., you wrote as ever just what I thought.

But I think to discuss here on the board the changes of the setlist is interesting for us and may be for the band, too - however we don`t believe that our opinion here has a real influence on the decision what will be cut and which songs will come in. Look back to our hitlist we made last winter - did we changed something with it? No. If there will be enough time to rehearse I hope we WILL get some other songs next year. Of course everybody of us has his own favourite song and the band would have to play the whole night if they wanted to play them all :-) And not every song is the right one for the stage - don`t forget, we are fans who know all the albums, but there are much more people at the gigs who only know the hitsongs like Mighty or Davy, and they want to get them! So we should think about our position because the band plays there not only for us few "insiders".

We both don`t want to discuss the setlist any longer - let`s wait till the next spring and then let`s see!

But back to the Pratteln gig. Just like already in Lingen the crowd there sang Mighty alone after the gig when the band had already left the stage. The mood was really great (although we think two weeks ago in Lingen it had been even a bit better). The two hours were over as ever much too soon for all in the hall. Many of the visitors stayed a bit after the gig, we, too - to have some small talk or discussions and of course a beer. Around midnight we both said Good Bye to the others who stayed at a hotel in Pratteln and left the hall - brr - the night outside was cold but the fresh air was wonderful - and drove back to our hotel in Basel.

The Sunday, after watching Schumacher`s great race in Japan on TV :-), we spent on the Autobahn to return home - the other gig in Herisau tonight will be another great one, too, that`s sure. The band is in top form! But we have to work on Monday and so we can only wait for the gig report of tonight.

One thing is sure: the weekend was the long journey worth, the band was wunderbar and the audience in Switzerland, too...

Best regards

K & T

Pratteln gig, critics in "Basler Zeitung"

Posted by Dealtrey Christopher

I saw this critics in the "Basler Zeitung"

Altbekannt Umjubeltes

Manfred Mann spielte im Z7

Was soll man zu Manfred Mann und seiner «Earth Band» noch sagen? Dass sie vor einem Vierteljahrhundert zu den ganz Grossen gehörten und wunderbare Klassiker wie «California» oder «Blinded By The Light» hervorbrachten? Dass sie einen unverkennbaren, ganz von Manfred Manns Moogs geprägten Sound hatten? Dass sie in den 80er Jahren der allgemeinen musikalischen Entwicklung nicht mehr standhalten konnten und deshalb unter die Räder kamen?

: Alle Jahre wieder

Das alles weiss man. Und wer das Konzertgeschehen in der Region mitverfolgt, wird auch bemerkt haben, dass sich die «Earth Band» nach ihrer Auflösung 1988 längst wieder formiert hat und seither als Nostalgietruppe fleissig herumtingelt. Also, was soll man dazu noch sagen? Dass die Ohrwürmer von einst noch immer berühren? Dass man sich bei deren Anhören noch immer wie fünfzehn fühlt, als man an Schulfesten Mafred Manns «Father Of Night, Father Of Day» laufen liess? Dass die Band noch immer spielen kann und trotz antiquiertem Ansatz nicht peinlich wirkt?

Auch das alles weiss man. Denn seit ihrem ersten Comeback-Konzert im Z7 vor rund drei Jahren sind Manfred Mann und seine «Earth Band» in der Region so etwas wie Stammgäste. Alle Jahre wieder hat das Basler Publikum die Möglichkeit, sich einen schönen Abend im Zeichen ihrer Hits aus den Siebzigern zu machen. Der letzte Auftritt in der Gegend liegt gerademal drei Monate zurück, als die «Earth Band» in Sissach auftrat.

Martha und Carol

: Also, die Qualitäten der alten «Earth Band» sind bekannt, diejenigen der wiederformierten ebenfalls. Was also gibt es da noch zu erzählen? Vielleicht, dass das Quintett bei seinem x-ten Konzert in Pratteln wieder 1100 Leute ins Z7 lockte - und diese restlos zu begeistern vermochte. Dass die Band mit einer stark verfremdeten Instrumentalversion ihrer ersten Single «Joybringer» begann, sich im ersten Drittel ansonsten aber auf weniger bekanntes Material beschränkte. Dass ein kitschig aufgeblasenes «Shelter From The Storm» dabei weniger überzeugte als eine auf den typischen Manfred-Mann-Stil getrimmte Version von «Nothing Ever Happens», einem Hit der schottischen Gruppe «Del Amitri». Dass Jubel ausbrach, als Sänger Noel McCalla mit «Martha's Madman» den zweiten Teil des Konzerts einleitete. Dass Hits wie «Don't Kill It Carol», «Demolition Man», «Davy's On The Road Again», «Blinded By The Light» oder «The Redemption Song» folgten. Oder, dass die Band als Zückerchen eine balladenhafte Fassung von Abbas «S.O.S.» präsentierte.

Das Publikum war aus dem Häuschen, der Veranstalter war zufrieden. Also: bis zum nächsten Mal, vielleicht schon in ein paar Monaten, wenn es wieder heisst: Z7 presents Manfred Mann!

Marko Lehtinen

Best Regards Christopher Dealtrey

Manfred Mann's Earthband im Colos-Saal: Die Halle zum Kochen gebracht

Ausgabe: Montag, 30.10.2000

Aschaffenburg ist eindeutig zu sauber

Aschaffenburg. Sehr britisch wirkt der Mann mit dem Hut und der runden Brille, der sich fast ein wenig hinter dem E-Piano im Aschaffenburger Colos-Saal versteckt. Dabei ist Michael Lubowitz gebürtiger Südafrikaner und eine Musiklegende. Manfred Mann lautet sein Pseudonym und er könnte auch Mathe-Lehrer sein oder jemand, der seinen Ruhestand mit Golfspielen verbringt. Doch der seit letzter Woche Sechzigjährige will vom Ruhestand nichts wissen. Viel lieber möchte er das machen, was er seit 35 Jahren macht: Musik. Und immer wieder die Säle rocken, wie auch am Samstag im Aschaffenburger Colos-Saal.

Brechend voll ist es an diesem Abend, die Luft zum Schneiden und es ist heiß. Richtig heiß, denn Manfred Mann's Earth Band bringt die Besucher ab Vierzig aufwärts zum Kochen. Ein Mann, das schüttere Haar schon angegraut, sitzt das ganze Konzert neben den Boxen. Die Lautstärke scheint ihm nichts aus zu machen.

Manfred Mann ist nicht der einzige Musikdino an diesem Abend, Gitarrist Mick Rogers sowie Steve Kinch im »shiny shirt« sind auch von Anfang an dabei gewesen. Klar, dass es an diesem Abend wieder mal die Klassiker sind, die das Blut des Publikums in Wallung bringen. Da wird lautstark geschrien erklingt »Davy's on the road again« oder »Blinded by the light«. Manfred Mann's on stage again. Erst seit 1992 spielt die Band wieder live.

Schwung kommt in den Saal, erklingt »Father of day, father of night«. Fast zehn Minuten spielt die erdige Band das Stück. Oft verwebt Manfred Mann's Earth Band an diesem Abend einzelne Motive bekannter Songs in eine großes Klangwerk. Das ist dann ein bisschen wie ein großes Musik-Rate-Quiz, wenn »Song of Freedom« erklingt. Genauso wenn die Alt-Herren-Combo zwischendrin kurz mit einer Version von ABBA's »SOS« irritieren, was aber ohne Grummeln akzeptiert wird.

Charismatisch ist Noel Mc Calla. Wild schüttelt er seine dunklen Rastas, füllt den Saal mit seiner warmen, souligen Stimme, lässt sein Organ kehlig grollen, röhrt wie ein Prediger und scheint am meisten Spaß von allen zu haben.

Es ist eines dieser leidenschaftlichen Konzerte. Der Südafrikaner Manfred Mann haut in die Tasten, klimpert mal jazzig-leicht, dann pathetisch-kompromisslos, Mick Rogers und Steve Kinch strahlen um die Wette und alle singen die Lieder mit, egal ob vor ihnen ein Mikro steht oder nicht. Versunken wird gespielt, immer das Publikum mit ein bezogen, da es ja fast alle Lieder auswendig mitsingen kann.

Zwischendrin plaudert der Altmeister mit Hut, der sonst im Hintergrund verweilt, erzählt, dass er und seine Bandkollegen sehr dreckige Städte mögen. »That's what we feel comfortable with« sagt er mit britischen Akzent. Klar: »Aschaffenburg ist too sauber!« Dagegen muss man was tun und deshalb spielen sie dann »Demolitionman«. Das rockt.

Zugaben werden ohne Ende gefordert. Das zweite Mal gehen die Musiker von der Bühne, das Publikum skandiert solange »Mighty Quinn« bis der Altmeister lächelnd auf die Bühne stapft und nach einem langen, verfremdeten, improvisierten Intro beginnt »Mighty Quinn« zu spielen, das Bob Dylan komponiert hat. Jetzt ist kein Mensch mehr zu halten.

Der Mann mit dem Hut dankt. Und falls man ihn in zwei Wochen sehen möchte, könne man gerne nach Moskau fahren, sagt er noch.fee

[Top]

[Top]