Marillion.com Tour Europe 1999
Monday 22, November M and I woke early to get to Schiphol to pick up Kelly Fox who was jet setting in from Wes Fest the day before, for a week of Marillion gigs. She arrived on time and after a short break at home we headed to Groningen at good 2.5 hours from home (240km). We arrived early to find the boys were not even there yet with the exception of H who had come in the night before. Chatted with the crew a bit and went to find some dinner, oddly we found an American/Mexican restaurant that was even better than most of the Mexican stuff I have tasted in North America as well. Arriving back to the Oosterport Venue to find many people had arrived and that the gig was sold out.
I had deliberately not listened to any of the talk about the lighting set up or the special effects and was I pleasantly surprised. The 3D lights with the guaze screen were great and the band was in top form. My only complaint was that I was sitting off stage left and the venue was giving me an annoying flange effect bouncing off the cement from Rothery's guitars. And found out later that Stuart was not exactly happy with the mix either. Oh well it was the first of 5 gigs to go so I was not really complaining. The one thing I did notice was that the crowd was really quiet and it seemed they needed to be prompted into reacting. This is not to say that there were not a few of us out there that managed to yell our appreciation without prompting. Its was not until the end and second encore when the Kayleigh and Lavender and Slainte Mhath were played that they seemed to have some life kicked into them and then sadly it was too late.
I was told later by a Dutch friend that it is the way of the people of north Holland, they and I quote "need to be convinced twice of something before they believe it's good". After the show Pete and H came out to say hi to a few people, Pete found a grand piano wedged under a staircase and he and H did a little Jazzy number for those of us left. Getting home in zombie state and having to blow up the air mattress for Kelly was hard work at 2am but we managed whilst giggling all the while.
Tilburg, 013
November, 23 was Tilburg, 1-hour away (just under100km) at the 013; it took us 1 ¾ hours to get there because of traffic (grrr, the most annoying thing about this country). Nice new venue, something you just don't see very often anymore, and it was packed to the roof. Myself, Kelly and a few staff from the Web Holland found ourselves under Rothery's side of the stage again until M told us from his view in the photo pit that stage right was practically empty so we scooted through the photo pit to the other side. Really enjoyed the show being really close to Pete and having tons of room to move. I was really impressed with the venue/staff and drinks as well (a Stoli and Orange was only 5 guilders 50 and it was the real stuff.)
The show got off to a great start. I also heard the explanation why photographers were only allowed in the pit for the first three songs, due to the special effects and roadies in the pit. Sadly two of those are with the gauze curtain up and the last encores and King are always better as far as lighting goes.
The nicest part of the show was the few set list surprises, Afraid of Sunrise, and the Space back to back. AoSunrise was one that had never been played in Holland before. T'was fab indeed and they got a huge response for it, the Brave encore bit was so well done and emotional that I had tears rolling down my cheeks. Though we were stage right, the sound was good, the mood was good and there were few technical upsets. All the while we were also trying to decide what to give Rothers for his Birthday on Thursday at the Paradiso, we had thought about a bottle of wine or liqueur but it seemed that something Dutch was in order. Having a few kookie ideas we decided to ask Mark afterwards what he thought of some of them.
Howard the merchandise guy had his best night yet from the tour. Mark told us the 'uncool as F!&*' and 'Fashion Unconscious' were not moving as well as they were in the UK, we told him it was because the Dutch did not get the joke or pun they were intended as. As we were leaving we passed H surrounded by fans seemingly in his element. One other nice thing about the gig was that they were giving away the tour promotional posters.
Enschede Music Center
November, 24th we got up and left fairly early for the gig (205 Km) as we were supposed to meet up with Mark for a quick chat. Sadly we were late and he had forgotten about a TV interview that he and Pete were to do; not to mention that a guy named Ary was coming in to jam with the band during soundcheck. He had made a wish on the local radio station to play with his favorite band. The guys did a bit of a worm up and monitor check before and we got a little tease of Lulu acapello from H, a song that we had waited to hear live since the album was released. Then it was Ary's turn to play with them they did Easter, and not badly at all if I do say so myself I mean no one can touch Rothery on that solo but kudos to Ary anyway.
The Music Center was right in the center of Enschede a nice new venue with good acoustics. We had decided on a present for Rothery and had slipped out to get it and a bite to eat, slipping back in to grab some good spots in front of Stuart; who said "look at what I have been reduced to do. I am forced to stand on some box due to the fact that the Dutch are so bloody tall not to mention they love to walk around crunching plastic cups!"
The best surprise of the night was, just before the gig started I saw that my dear friends the Crosslands had made it after all with Tammy from the Web NA. They had planned on surprising Rothery for his birthday the next night, but then had run into him after checking into their hotel. After sitting through yet another sadly boring set by Noon we decided to stand behind Stuart and the lighting tech where we had the best seats in the house, and our view of the lighting set up and mix was perfect. I was glad we got to see it as there was a good chance that was the last time they ever do it again live due to the fact that 2/3 of the band are not in agreement of how it comes across live. It was by far the most well rounded show as of yet. A quick peek backstage to say, hi&bye. I chatted with the Boom Boom Boys for a while and then after saying goodnight to the guys, left for our longish ride home. Kelly and I had a nice nightcap and caught up on tons of the gossip that we had not yet gotten too in our busy schedule.
Amsterdam, Paradiso
November 25th, Kelly and I planned on getting up early so we could do some sight seeing in Amsterdam but did not manage to leave before 2pm. We took the train in, as M had to be there at 6am for that annoying thing called work. Unfortunately Kelly did not get to see much of Amsterdam other than from Central Station through the Leidschplein shopping area to the Paradiso. Stopping along the way to pick up supplies for the present. We got to the Paradiso slipped in to pick up M said our hellos to the Web UK folks who had come over for the gig. And headed off to Tig Barra our favorite Irish Pub to get to work on the Clogs for Rothery and meet up with some friends.
We had bought some paint and Kelly with her rock-steady hand painted on the right clog Web Holland and a lovely tulip, I had painted the Dutch flag on the other, much to Henk's utter dismay and disgust had painted yellow instead of white. He slipped out and got some liquid paper/white out to correct the monstrosity that I had created. He had put it to the effect of I might as well have painted stars and stripes on the maple leaf for the same effect. Point taken, We then pulled red and blue jiffy's and had each web and honorary members sign the shoes. We arrived at the Paradiso and I had to track down the web-Holland members I had not yet ran into whilst Kelly and M found great seats front and center of the balcony. After yet another set by Noon who I did not watch (been there seen that one too many times). It is not that they were bad, I just found after 4 nights of the same songs, routine and droning vocals I had definitely had enough. The bass player and guitar player stood out the most from the quartet and I'm guessing with a little more work they might do quite well. Mostly though it was just not for me. I was thinking of being at my favorite place in front of the mixing desk but then realized that I could not easily get out to track down people to sign the clogs. So decided to hang out in the lobby where it definitely was not as hot or crowded.
So I spent the evening hanging out with the merchandise guys, and chatting with various people who came and when all night. The show sounded great and from what I was told looked great as well, sometime during the encore the web UK presented Rothery with a bottle of something and a card on stage, whilst the Dutch audience sang in multilayered gusto" Lang Zal Hij Leven" (translated means "long shall he live"), after whitch H aked "What the Hell was that?". There were no surprises on the set list due to the fact I had a peek at Stuart's before the show. They did play 80days at the second encore. And then somehow it was over. One thing about the Paradiso is that the crowds seem to have more gusto than anywhere else I have been in Holland, I also saw some people in the crowd that I recognize from the "not on the dot" project. One in particular a self-proclaimed "oldest Marillion fan out there at 73 years of age", good on ya mate!
Rothery came out to the lobby to chat awhile and then we went back to give him his present. He was beaming ear to ear and told me, "well if you cant get spoiled on your Birthday then when can you?" After un-wrapping the Clogs he looked absolutely tickled by the gesture. I met with some resistance at first about the idea I think due mostly that many Dutch are solely thought of as clog wearing (cloggies) windmill living, Gouda eating and tulip picking people, and maybe find it slightly embarrassing. No matter it was fun and well received by both Rother's and the rest of the fan club when they saw the finished product, right Henk?? Some people have asked why the Web Holland did not give him something onstage like the others. To be as honest as possible, quite a few of us felt strongly against interrupting the show and in general getting up to be in the spotlight. I did take a picture and I know that the Boom Boom Boys were also there and have caught it on film. So I do have proof that indeed the Web Holland did give him something, he even told us that he will try them on when he gets home to the UK. We then plan to include the manual written for Clogs, when translated is very humorous.
We chatted a bit with everyone and then left to find a club or pub to continue the evenings festivities. We did not find the one we were looking for but did find Rothery and a few others in a very small and VERY loud jazz joint. Mark and company decided to find someplace not so loud and left, we stayed for one drink and also decided to hit the road as the next day was the only day off from the tour that week. There was work to be done before we were to drive to Germany to cut the 6+ hour travel time more than in half before Hamburg.
Kelly finally got to see a bit of Delft, take some pictures of some canals, churches and old buildings. We went home had a bite of dinner and left for Bremen en route listening to .com for the first time that week in the car, and discussing the songs. We were saddened by the thought that there was a very good chance that Lulu would never be played again live, and wondered why BBR was not on any set list (that answer to be given later by one very cheeky Mr. Mosley).
Hamburg Docks
November 27th we left for Hamburg (543.4 Km) to be in time for the acoustic set and autograph session at Saturn Hamburg with fresh eyes and minds after a good night sleep. It was smooth driving the whole 1.5 hours to Hamburg until we arrived in a very long jam just on the outskirts of the city. The cars went as far as the eye could see and we felt this impending feeling of doom that we would miss the 3 song mini set they were to do. Over Forty-five min later it turned out it was a stall at the Ausfahrt (exit) off the autobahn for Berlin. We all had that growing suspicion that we had not only missed the set but our friends we were to meet there as well, Jen fellow Canuck and John Sowerby (who was to be attending his first ever Marillion gig). Now, there is something I don't understand how one can live in England his whole life love the band since script and not have ever seen a M or Fish gig??? That doesn't matter now we got there, raced up the escalators nearing the top heard dot com being played and realized that we were early! We had actually beaten the band there.
I knew they were flying in from Amsterdam that day but had imagined that they would have been early. With quite a crowd already gathered it took but a few min to locate the people we knew
and then they 5 min later they arrived. I slipped over to Mark to say hi and
ask how the rest of the night had progressed on Thursday. He told me that at
6am they went for "breakfast" in a café. Oh, I asked, "and what did you
have for "breakfast" then?"
To witch he replied, " I thought I might try Mushrooms"
.. And speaking from experience asked did he try the Hawaiian ones? "Why
yes!" was his rather surprised reply. "I'll bet you have been up the whole
day Friday then" He laughed and said, "yes it was quite the experience". We
proceeded to watch the great three-song set and then the crowd of people
waiting to get autographs. I always liked meeting people you have seen on
the Freaks and such for years, and got to say hi to Muppet, and tell him I
thought his pictures online were fantastic.
John and two of his Norwegian Friends were also a pleasure to meet. We then decided to get Kelly to her Hotel as she was ending her whirlwind tour the next day and flying back to D.C. I had my reservations about this gig as I was also in Hamburg last year and the crowd were less than well behaved, it seemed that H had a bit a 'Toronto ' feeling about the place as well. We went for a falafel and to the gig to say hi to the Web Germany folks and of course see if Howard needed some help.
I must say that the Web Germany are amazingly well organized and put together team. After living in Germany for several years I have a deep and well found respect for Germany, I think the word I am looking for is efficiency, they do things well, their trains are on time, their autobahns are well kept and they are extremely good drivers. Being one of my main complaints about living in Holland. You try to be courteous on the road and in public places and they are rude, pushy and extremely aggressive. But this is not a Holland vs. Germany discussion, I am sure that will happen next year enough when Holland and Belgium host the World Cup.
Back to the gig, Howard was a little rushed and asked if we could watch the stand while he had his dinner, I got to meet the Web-mistress from web-Germany, catch up a bit with Jen and in general have fun. We once again decided to grab places in front of Stuart and hunkered down to watch the opening act Blackpool. They were a nice chance from the previous week and not bad either.
The crowd seemed really riled up and ready to go by the time the guys got on stage. It turned out to be my favorite gig that week, The band seemed to really being enjoying themselves, H even gave us a tease of Fake Plastic Trees; while the crowd yelled "DO IT DO IT!!" (sadly he did'nt). The night went really well with the exception of the band had to be gone by 11 because they were opening the club as a disco, witch is crazy as I know from living in Germany that no one even goes out till way after 1am, Naja! But we slipped back to say good bye to the guys and thank them for a great week. H confirmed my suspicion that it went really well and he enjoyed it immensely.
¤ I must make this comment on H, something M and I had both noticed since Groningen that he had a very calm and relaxed demeanor around him. He did not get rattled by hecklers and in fact he seemed to take the Onkle's approach to them nor did he did not get to upset when his mic stand fell over in Enschede or any of the other technical problems. He was very calm and relaxed all around it was great to see.
Back to the gig the next person to chat with was Ian, where Kelly and I asked, 'When will we get to hear BiBR', to that he then replied "well you have the CD don't you?" Very funny man that Mosley. Said by to Mark and Steve and went our merry way to say bye to the rest, John and Kelly who were to stay in Hamburg and leave the next day. Jen who had just arrived the morning before (thanks again for the Presidents Choice, white chedder and macaroni ? it was yummy!)and was staying for the duration of the tour, lucky girl!
We came home Sunday exhausted and it has taken me a whole week to recover, roughly 2700km later, 4-5 packs of ciggies, 4 packs of cinnamon gum, several drinks packs of chips and chocolate bars, and oddly Lamb getting the most rotation on the CD player in the car amungst others of course, It was just wonderful and the perfect amount of gigs. We did 3 of the 4 Zodiac gigs in July and that was also about perfect. Hope to see some of the same and some new faces in early 2000.