A few comments from someone less smitten:
1) On the louder songs, MK's vocals were a bit low in the mix, I thought, and were not clear. On the quieter songs, they were perfect.
2) There were clearly more non-Brits at these weekend shows. On the 1 June, the "London town" reference in "Sultans" got barely any response, whereas, earlier in the week, it got a great roar.
3) Similarly, there was continental-style cheering after one song (again, not heard earlier in the week).
4) And, while I'm on the topic, the "bull run" was much less "gentlemanly" on the Friday and the Saturday at the RAH. Friday, we got a "BFS" trampling over me and my bags ("BFS" = Big Fat Slob). Saturday, two women [separately !!!] commented about how badly they were treated by the male fans down the front - and both said that the males concerned seemed to come from southern Europe, probably Italy. I should add that I met quite a few people during the tour, from all over the place including Europe, and found them to be pleasant, courteous and, aware that their great feeling for MK's music was not universally accepted, showing not only great camaraderie amongst themselves but also understanding for those who were just tagging along.
5) Further to a previous posting, Nigel Hitchcock did start to "step out" a bit in the later shows and I was pleased to hear it. There is scope there for a really honking solo or two [if he's at later shows - I have no idea but you guys will know]
6) The musicianship on "Marbletown" is just stunning - John McCusker is amazingly good.
7) For me, "Postcards from Paraguay" has really come into its own. Liked it every night - great rhythm, liked the way the instruments came in one-by-one [more or less] and the wry humour in the song came across.
8 ) Is it my imagination or are the set lists, after all the variety at the start of the tour, beginning to get into a bit of a rut again? If so, I hope this week's break will cause a bit of a re-think (and a bit of re-jigging)
9) Did I miss something but I didn't notice a charity for the final RAH show? If so, why not? There are a lot of deserving charities around? The young Teenage Cancer Trust guy was a terrific advert for that charity. By way of contrast, the "elephant" guy earlier in the week didn't really make out his case at all, in my view.
10) "R&J" was great; "Speedway" was improved by its relative brevity these days (too much "sound and fury" and to too little effect before); "Telegraph Road" is saved by an interesting "plot" in its lyrics and some memorable lines.
11) Yes, I did enjoy the shows, even though they can be somewhat "same-y" over several nights but, then, I'm a bit of a sucker for the Celtic/folkie/Americana influences and strands and much prefer that sound and "feel" to the "DS-onslaught" approach. [Sorry, folks, I know you disagree but I call it as I find it]
12) And we are now trying now to fit in an extra show towards the end of the tour.
