Manfred Mann's Earthband - On The Road September 2000

Friday 22, Saturday 23 September, Hagen and Lingen, Germany

Posted by Wil

Karin, Thomas, Reinhard, Erika, Graeme, Lois, Uschi, Iris, Reinhard 2, Thomas A and myself had a wonderful weekend in Hagen and Linden. In Linden we also met the sister of Reinhard. Graeme an Lois got over from England for the fifth (?) time this year and it was nice to see them again.

Hagen

The first gig was in Hagen on friday evening and we would meet at the Mercure hotel in the centre of Hagen. Karin made the arrangements for all of us. As ever we went to the gig very early, Reinhard has to stand in the front row and wants to get in first I've been told. We were able to get in through the backdoor (Reinhard 2 without a ticket).

Graeme, Lois and myself got ourselves something to eat in the Italian restaurant next door, a lovely meal and a nice chat. The band was there as well and we congratulated Mick with his birthday.

Here we met Thomas for the first time, he was the only one that would not stay overnight. It was not a very big hall, I think about 1500 people were there. It was the first performance after the Eschweiler gig. There was no supporting act so at 8.15 the first sounds of the Earth band reached our ears. No surprise saying it was Shelter from the Storm. The rest of the set was as usual, except Nothing ever happens. Ian told us that Noel has forgotten the words!!!!!!!!!

After the gig we were invited for a little birthday party to celebrate Mick's birthday. We went back to the hotel to get our presents and drove to the other Mercure hotel at the other site of town. Mick, Steve and Noel were there and we had a wonderful evening.

At 2.30 we got back at the hotel to get a short sleep. We had some problems with the right room numbers and the keys but in the end everything went ok. ( or not?) The next morning we got breakfast at 9.30. Karin an Thomas were the early ones. Reinhard and Erika the last to join us.

Lingen

And then, to Lingen, a two hour drive and Reinhard who got awake at the right moment (so we were able to miss a traffic jam). At three o'clock we arrived at a lovely hotel near the Emslandhallen. Reinhard's sister was there and she would join us for the rest of the day and to see the Earth band for the first time live.

We got ourselves something to eat in the centre of the nice city and after that we got back to the hotel to have a shower. Thomas changed his mind and was also coming to this gig so the family was complete. Again Reinhard wanted to leave early, at six o'clock. The doors opened at 7 and it was only a five minute walk. But Reinhard was standing in front. It took Lois a little bit longer to prepare and Reinhard 2, Thomas, Graeme and myself got ourselves a drink first before leaving for the gig.

A perfect atmosphere and a wonderful audience. This has to be one of the best gigs this year. The setlist was the same as the day before, but again the band was able to make it different. The sound was better than the day before and we had a wunderbar evening again. Thanks Manfred for the nice solo's in Martha's and Davy's, it was a pleasure listening.

Much to early the weekend ended and I (and Thomas) had to drive home. Karin and Thomas were the first to leave because they had to get up early to bring someone to Kassel (did you make it in time?). Leaving the other family members, saying goodbye is becoming harder and harder. Iris I hope you understand (it wasn't the breakfast, just the phantasy). Sorry to Uschi for not saying goodbye, I will make it up next time. Graeme you're a real Englishman and I'm glad to know you. Lois you look wonderful (and it was a woman). Reinhard and Erika being so kind every time. Karin and Thomas hopefully you will join us more next time. Thomas as a youngster a die-hard. Reinhard, perfect for the atmosphere, we'll get a beer again next time. Angela, Peter, Dieter, Nigel, Jens, Graeme Y and all the others, we've missed you.

Thanks for the lovely weekend

Wil

Hagen and Lingen 22.9./23.9.00

Posted by Thomas and Karin

Hi Wil,

thanks for the great report! You were so quick that we can only make some additions to complete it a bit :-)

First: Sorry but we cannot be everywhere at the same time because we are only two people. And if you have to arrange and organize something the time is over much too soon. It was another weekend we will never forget and it`s always fantastic to meet all of you and to spend some time together (including the Dutch greetings... :-) ). And the very best was the fact that we could manage it this time to let all members of the fan family take part in Mick`s birthday party - but exactly for the organization of that party we needed some time before the Hagen gig and so we were so late at the gig.

Thanks to Reinhard and Erika for being there always so early and giving us others the chance to join you later in the front row! As you know we were often in the past so early at the gigs, too, and we know what that means to wait some hours infront of the doors and in the frontrow only to save the places there! You were as ever the soul of our team and I enjoyed it very much to stand next to Reinhard because there is always the mood I like during the gigs :-).

Another big Thank you to you, Mick, for spending so much time with your fans and for another wonderful gig weekend. It was your belated birthday weekend, not only because of the little party after the Hagen gig but in our opinion you created yourself the best present last night in Lingen: The Hagen gig in the night before was really great but yesterday in Lingen your guitar was incredibly!

Close your eyes standing in the audience and listen to that music which seems to come from another star and you feel like in a dream...

There were some little changes in the keyboard and guitar solos in that two gigs - very nice, some of them seemed to be not ready yet but very interesting to see the development of the songs. The whole band was in top form - Noel, did you like your audience choir in SOS in Hagen? It was one of the best I ever heard... We agree with Wil: the mood has been fantastic in both gigs. Yesterday after the last song the audience started spontaneous to sing Mighty Quinn again - the band had already left the stage and the lights had been turned out but the people stood there in the darkness and sang and sang and nobody left the hall!

And it`s always great for us to see Manfred and his band on stage enjoying the enthusiastic audience and giving the very best music back to us as an answer - everybody on stage was perfect again and played not only for but also WITH the audience!

To answer your question, Wil: Yes, we got the train in Kassel today in the morning - we started at 6 and were as always much too early at the station :-) I`ve never seen before such an empty highway like today - sometimes I thought we were in the wrong movie! So we drove a new record - I hope the other red car will win it`s race today in Indianapolis, too... :-)

Greetings to all we met there, especially to the man with the best shirt of the evening (Thomas A.!) and to Graeme and Lois who will hopefully have a good journey back to England. Hope to see you all soon again!

K & T.

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