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Concert Review
- TYA at "Lagerhalle Osnabrück", Germany:
On
our way to this gig we picked up our good friend Reinhard Pieper
who lives in the area. When we arrived at the venue the place was
already full and the line for buying tickets was already
overflowing out the door and people were gathered out in the
street awaiting entry.
Inside,
as expected was crowded as well, trying to find the entrance to
the backstage area was a little tricky, as they were three deep
standing in front of the door. We met Leo and Barney, and soon
after Joe, Ric and Chick entered the room. There wasn’t much
time for hanging around and chatting, as they were due on stage in
short order. Everyone knows his place and takes the proper
position in line, to climb the three stairs and jump onto the
stage. Upon seeing the band members the audience erupts into a
friendly roar of approval and anticipation.
There’s
something special about this venue and the people in attendance.
This is our second visit here and the happy vibe is still in full
effect, just as it was on the first occasion. It’s a kind of
mutual arrangement, with a communal atmosphere and nothing but the
spirit of fun filling the air.
The
set kicks off perfectly and it’s full steam ahead for the rest
of the evening. I stand alongside Barney, who half way through the
show is using a video camera to capture some moments that I
conclude may make its way into the long awaited for TYA-DVD.
I
step outside the room to visit Tom who is managing the
merchandise area out front. I kid around with Tom and ask him
where my copy of the new “Roadworks” cd is hiding, his reply
is it’s on its way, and will be available in a few weeks time,
the shipment was due a few gigs down the road.
Some
folks wonder why it is that Ten Years After like to play Europe
and especially Germany so very often, and the answer is simple,
they’re loved and appreciated here. We have a whole network of
Ten Years After friends and supporters
that keep track of their activities, follow their progress
and come out to a concert to show their support in person. Such a
simple and workable concept for band and audience. It’s so
unlike my experience back in the States where many people come out
looking for the nostalgia and spectacle aspect only, that they
miss the real fun and spirit of the moment. They’re unable to
see the forest through the trees syndrome as it were. Here in
Germany, the people understand the value and significance and they
respond with a deep rooted sincerity and reverence unlike anywhere
else in the world.
This
particular audience, venue and or location for some reason seems
to reflect that exact feeling.
The
band is continuing on through their set, the audience is involved
with every aspect of the performance and is responding in unison.
Brigitte is just one amongst many other photographers standing in
the front row and struggling to find the optimum
photographic position to be in. Between the enthusiastic
wild dancers, the elbows of others to her left and right and all
the other distractions of a crowd this size, she manages to get
off some great and wonderful shots of the band in action.
Also
in the crowd is another person we are looking forward to meeting,
Hans Abry. Hans and I exchanged a few emails and made plans to
attend this concert together and meet in person. He recognized
Brigitte and after the concert we all joined in a lively friendly
conversation to compare notes and exchange stories.
After
the band plays the obligatory “I’m Going Home” and after two
or three encores the show is over.
Joe’s
adrenaline level is sky high, Ric, Leo and Chick are soaked right
through their clothes, but walk off the stage with the same calm,
cool demeanour that they approach and end every gig with….seasoned
professionals they are. They
towel off, clean up a little, change clothes and then head out to
Tom’s special area to greet and meet their fans…up close and
personal.
It’s
a happy family affair and everyone leaves satisfied.
We
all file out of the backstage area and into the concert hall
proper, which is now a vacant area of ticket stubs, cigarette
butts, and empty beer bottles. What has just taken place here is
no longer visible to the naked eye, but every person in attendance
was a participant and eye witness and will carry with them the
memory and experience to pass on to others along the way.
Hans Abry, Reinhard Pieper, Dave, Wolfgang
Pilgram
Our
sincere thanks to Leo Lyons, Ric Lee, Chick Churchill, Joe Gooch,
Tom Lyons, Wolfgang, Barney, Reinhard Pieper, Hans Abry, Carlo
Korte - the organizer of this concert, and the
great staff at the Lagerhalle in Osnabrück, Germany.
Please also visit:
Hans Abry's
Website
 and his Photo
Gallery of TYA
| Our
Thanks to Carlo Korte for bringing TYA back again to
Osnabrück
Carlo's Konzerte Website |
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