Review:I'm grateful to Jokin Garcia for this personal review.
The event
took place in a stadium called "Multiusos del Sar",a kind of basket
court with a capacity of about 7,000 people. The band had spent previous
night visiting the old side of Santiago de Compostela, a Celtic city
in the north of Spain, that according to them has a kind of magic, and
it is true. They enjoyed Galician food and the quiet and antique streets
and squares of the city. Roxys gig took place on Friday 29th June.
It was preceeded by a short performance of Paul Young, which started
at 21.45 h. with a flashy Madonnas cover: "Music". While the stadium
was being filled, the British singer remembered famous popular songs,
like "Senza una donna" from Zuccero Fornaciari, or the unforgettable
"Dont dream its over" of Crowded House.. He also played some of his
own great hits, like "Every time you go away".
The Roxy Music concert started at about 23 h. with "Re-make/Re-model"
and with an unremembered Bryan Ferry playing keyboards while singing,
like in the early times. The stadium was full so far and people got
very excited. Bryan was wearing a bright black suit and white shirt,
and when "Ladytron" started I got surprised by the cheap guitar that
Phil Manzanera was playing. People didnt expect him to strike it against
the floor and to tread on it at the energetic end of the song! It was
so funny and ironic! People were delighted in silence with the beauty
of "While My Heart Is Still Beating". Bryan was in the middle of the
scene and focusing the attention with his (more and more!) beautiful
voice. With "Out Of The Blue" all the people took out their Spanish
heart and played palms. Bryan was so glad, he was laughing and imitating
the public. He said "thank you" in Galician and in Spanish many times,
he couldnt hide that he really loves Spanish public. People really
enjoyed Lucy Wilkins, the young girl playing violin at the end of this
song. One moment for the old continent with "A Song For Europe", a song
that could perfectly fit with Santiago de Compostela. No one doubts
that this is Andy Mackays song, people got delighted with him all
across the concert, but specially in this touching song. All the lights
and
eyes looking for the best european saxophonist, so serious, so professional...and
so superb!
All the flesh and blood got impressed with "My Only Love", with Chris
Speddings and Phils fantastic guitars, but specially with "Oh Yeah!".
This song hadnt been played live by the band in many years, and people
got really surprised and excited, playing palms and raising the band
to heaven. Few songs like this can show the chemistry between Bryan,
Andy and Phil. And which Roxy Music song is more Spanish than "Both
Ends Burning"? All the Spanish people got burning with it! Impossible
to do better for Andy, and new impressing combination of Chris and Phils
guitars. Then a moment of quietness and silence with Andys and Lucy
Wilkinss performance of "Tara", a really beautiful and instrumental
song, while Bryan got dressed with a fashionable silver grey bright
suit. I think this was the most exciting moment of the gig, when Bryan
appeared on stage and "More Than This" began to sound. All the people
were jumping, singing and dancing this unique song, that is well known
in Spain because it was used in a very famous TV spot. All the band
seemed very excited with Spanish people all the time.
And now a little moment to remember John Lennon and "Jealous Guy"...
There were people of all ages among the public, but all of them did
know this hit that has become a Roxys hymn. Bryan was so incredible,
how well he sang and moved, and another ocasion to enjoy Andys amazing
sax. This was a good moment to get crazy and sing and shout "Editions
Of You", but specially to enjoy Bryan playing keyboards while singing
it. Who knows what tomorrow might bring?...Paul Thompsons strength
all across the gig...Astonishing! Then the moment of saying goodbye
arrived. The band did it going to Acapulco and playing "Virginia Plain".
We couldnt stop singing and enjoying Andys performance. He looked
so glad playing this glamorous song. Lots of people found something
new that night! And when we thought all this music trip had finished,
the band returned to stage to play "Love Is The Drug". This was really
the only and best drug for all, the love for Roxy Music.
Then Bryan advised us for a new sensation, a fabulous creation, "Do
The Strand"! No more for the tango, neither for fandango, only for Phils
Spanish and lovely guitar, for Andys impressive sax, and for all of
us dancing all night. The end of the gig arrived with "For Your Pleasure".
While going across the song, all the band were leaving the stage one
by one salutating the excited public. Paul Thompson was the last one
to leave, he wouldnt want to! People really enjoyed Roxy, although
lots of them didnt know some songs. All of us did miss some specially
loved hits, like "Avalon", "Street Life" or "Mother Of Pearl", but
actually any Roxy Music song is a treasure for us. In fact, that night
was a
trip to the seventies, a dream that all of us were waiting for so many
time.
Review:I'm grateful to Luis A. Rivas for this review.
Fue
sin duda, el mejor concierto del ao. En la nica actuacin que Roxy Music ofreci en Espaa (Santiago de Compostela, estadio Multiusos do
Sar), Bryan Ferry y compaa demostraron que son una de las bandas ms
importantes y representativas de la historia del rock. A pesar de la
mala acstica del recinto, fue un espectculo extraordinario, al que
acudi gente de todas las edades y de todos los lugares de Espaa, incluso
del extranjero. Todos los msicos estuvieron a una sensacional altura,
sobresaliendo Andy McKay con su sublime interpretacin en "Tara" y el
solo de violn de Lucy en "Both Ends Burning". Al inicio del concierto,
Phil Manzanera (que habla un ms que correcto castellano) tir su guitarra
varias veces contra el suelo. Los temas ms aplaudidos por los espectadores
fueron "More Than This" y "Jealous Guy" (en este pas son los temas
ms conocidos de la discografa de Roxy Music) Todos echamos en falta
que el grupo no interpretase "Avalon". Como telonero, actu Paul Young,
que interpret los mejores temas de su repertorio, entre ellos "Every
Time You Go Away", aunque por momentos anduvo escaso de voz. En resumen:
un concierto extraordinario que nos dej un gran sabor de boca y que
vino a confirmar la extraordinaria impresin que siempre he tenido
de Bryan Ferry: AN AUTHENTIC GENTLEMAN AND A WONDERFUL PERSON. Todos
los
componentes del grupo quedaron encantados con la ciudad de Santiago
y sobre todo, con la comida.
English Translation.
This
was without a doubt, the best concert of the year. In the only performance
that Roxy Music gave in Spain (Santiago de Compostela, stage Multipurpose
do Sar), Bryan Ferry and company demonstrated that they are one
of the
most important and representative bands of the history of rock. In
spite of the bad acoustics of the enclosure, it was an extraordinary
spectacle,
to which people of ages and areas of Spain, and even foreigners.
All the musicians performed to a sensational level, Andy Mackay
excelling
with a sublime interpretation in " Tara " and Lucy's solo violin in
" Both Ends the Burning ". At the beginning of the concert, Phil Manzanera
(who speaks perfect Castilian) threw his guitar several times against
the ground. The songs most applauded by the spectators were " More Than
This " and " Jealous Guy " (in this country they are the best known
songs in Roxy Music's catalogue) All that was lacking was that the group
did not interpret " Avalon ". Opening act Paul Young interpreted the
best songs in his repertoire, among them " Every Time You Go Away ",
although at times his voice was a little lacking. In summary: an
extraordinary
concert that left us with a great taste in our mouths, and that came
to confirm the extraordinary impression I have always had of Bryan Ferry:
AN
AUTHENTIC GENTLEMAN AND A WONDERFUL PERSON.
All the group were captivated by the city of Santiago and with the
food. |