Concert #42:2010.06.03, Royal Albert Hall, London, England

[marky49]

How many shows have you been to? I was at hundreds of MK shows...Don't get me wrong, but if you don't like it, don't go there! And, the rest of us gets better seats...

[herlock]

Not sure if approaching a musical event like an MK concert by percentage is the right way to judge it... 

The quality of the band is so much better than on the 2005 tour, and it is just one great musical experience! I however feel satisfied ONE HUNDRED % !! 

LE

Of course it is not the right way to judge it My post was provocative, just to show that numbers don't lie, and that objectively and quantitatively, MK is not on "autopilot" and keeps innovating.
Now, if we have a qualitative discussion, listening to RAH #1 i feel that overall the sound and arrangements are better than 2001, 2005 and 2008 combined - more energy, more complexity. I have just one reservation, maybe I still need some time to adjust to the new (well, since 2008) laid-back TR... 2005 still sounds a bit better to me (while Alchemy is too "rocking").
In terms of diversity 2010 is of course much better than 1996, but still, I would not say that the GL tour is on par with the '96 GH tour as far as sound is concered. This first tour was so energetic that SoS and TR are my absolute favourites, even better than any DS tour !

[ingridswing]

Nice statistics, it says that moarning is not right  

And what is improving everytime: the arrangments. Never heard Marbletown this way, the best musicians playing it so unbelievable well. I will miss Mike at the continent, he is adding a real great value to some songs.

And yes, I moarn sometime as well, Done with Bonaparte by example. But I've heard it 4 times now this tour and live ... I keep on loving it as well. And as said before, I heard the best live performances ever by MK the first 2 RAH-nights, didn't do the others.

[herlock]

And yes, I moarn sometime as well, Done with Bonaparte by example. But I've heard it 4 times now this tour and live ... I keep on loving it as well. And as said before, I heard the best live performances ever by MK the first 2 RAH-nights, didn't do the others.

If a chauvinist Frenchman like myself can love DWB, then anybody can. Especially the Brits
Btw did you notice the key for this song keeps going higher and higher ? makes it more liveful

[draad]

I am going to the last night at the RAH tonight, and I want to tell you all now that Mark and the boys were simply fantastic and everyone in the crowd had a brilliant time.

[goldenheart96]

And yes, I moarn sometime as well, Done with Bonaparte by example. But I've heard it 4 times now this tour and live ... I keep on loving it as well. And as said before, I heard the best live performances ever by MK the first 2 RAH-nights, didn't do the others.

If a chauvinist Frenchman like myself can love DWB, then anybody can. Especially the Brits
Btw did you notice the key for this song keeps going higher and higher ? makes it more liveful

Bonaparte gets on my nerves too but I have to say that Mike Mc Goldrick (hope I spelled it correctly, too lazy to look it up) really enhances the song for me. Pity he won't come to Germany with the rest of the band... Did I miss the reason for this, btw?

[ingridswing]

Yes Herlock it is higher again and Mike was playing Ulean pipes (do I write this well?) really superb on it.
Si I hope MK will employ him for some gigs at the continent again  

While writing this Goldenheart wrote about the same 

[Mossguitar]

I'm glad someone finally brought the numbers forward, because I'm really tired with all the moaners.

And just a couple of facts: For a musician it's normally not boring to play the same song over and over again. The more you know the song, the more you can improve, improvise and make it your part your own. I think it's the same for acting, for instance. And classical music. You rehearse hundreds of times and perform lots of times afterwords. You don't vary the play just because some spectators choose to watch multiple shows.

About clothing: I absolutely agree that MK and his band mates could have needed some advice when it comes to stage wear. But it's completely normal for an artist to wear similar (or exactly the same) stage clothes throughout a tour. If you check out pictures from Springsteens tour a couple of years ago, he wore the same black shirt, dark blue jeans, black belt and black boots throughout the whole tour. I saw him three times during that tour, and he told the same jokes every time. But who cares?!!! The shows were great, mistakes and all.

[ingridswing]

Agree Mossguitar! And clothes .... they should wear where they feel comfortable in. It makes them feel good, so they play better. We are not going to a fashionshow 

[dmg]

Well, whatever happened I think it's time for a rethink at the end of this tour. Whilst he's still playing well and the musicianship is fantastic, the set list needs a serious shaking up.
It's been pretty much the same since the Shangri-la tour, with the exception of a couple of new album tracks thrown in each time. The core of it is essentially the same, with the same few songs being played to run out the show and R and J and SOS in the middle etc.

Well let's compare tours on, let's say, a typical setlist (I won't go into the small variations)
GH vs. OES: 8 songs in common, 2 revived songs from previous tours, around 10 new ones; 50% (revived+new;) 50% DS, 50% solo
STP vs. GH: 9, 2, 7; 50%;40/60
SL vs. STP: 13, 0, 4;24%;40/60
KTGC vs. SL: 9,2,6; 47%;30/70
GL vs. KTGC: 10,2,5; 41%;30/70
Based on these numbers, we can safely say that:
1/The DS portion has been constantly reduced to be stabilized at 30%; a list of songs that captures the very best of DS history, SoS the one that started it all, TR the most beautiful prog rock song ever, BiA the most accomplished touching one, and RAJ.. well that's the one I would like to go in favor of ToL as a love song, but I allow things to be not 100% perfect. This reduction is a sign of moving forward rather than senility.
2/The least innovative tour was the acclaimed Shangri-La one, and  the GL tour is in the same line as the KTGC tour as far as innovation is concerned.

You can bring up statistics to prove anything if you want to - 85% of people know that!

[goldenheart96]

Agree Mossguitar! And clothes .... they should wear where they feel comfortable in. It makes them feel good, so they play better. We are not going to a fashionshow 

You are right of course. BUT the silly fangirl in me would love to see those unbuttoned white shirts again... 

[Rollergirl]

I am going to the last night at the RAH tonight, and I want to tell you all now that Mark and the boys were simply fantastic and everyone in the crowd had a brilliant time.

Have fun tonight!

[draad]

I am going to put in a very professional performance Rollergirl!

[ds1984]

Hi,

I attend all RAH shows and although I think Elian in excess in his words, but yesterday performance did provide many many mistakes during soloing on many songs. But this part of the game, Mark could play it the easy way and note for note everynight but he doesn't. Everynight is challenging for him and sometimes he's not in. The good thing is I have good hopes that tonight will be better.


To date for me best RAH shows were monday followed by tuesday one.

[Rollergirl]

I am going to put in a very professional performance Rollergirl!

I am sure you will!