Walls Came Down Black Maria Open My eyes Lunatic Fringe I Saw The Light Mad Afraid Mercenary Gun Courage Weakness Strike Pissin Today Bardo Mountaintop Panic Manup
Couldn't I just Tell You
Review by SueW:
I had a really beautiful drive down yesterday from Bonn. It was long as it took about 8 hours but I went through a lot of Germany and then right through Switzerland. We don't have mountains in London(!) or anywhere near me so the scenery was really dramatic and pretty with snow on the mountain tops and loads of tunnels through The Alps including one that was about 9 miles long!
I'm staying just outside Milan (or Milanooo as my SatNav calls it!) and the drive into the city was more stressful. I have a relatively big car and all these little Italian cars were nipping all over the road and doing U-turns just wherever they liked! As I'm driving on the wrong side of the road for me, plus I'm sitting on the opposite side of the car to everyone else and there are trams and tram-tracks and cobbles to drive on, plus all the signs are in Italian, I was very relieved when I managed to find both the venue and somewhere to park!
It was a beautiful venue that could probably hold about 1,500 people. Unfortunately when I arrived there were only 22 people there, plus I counted 8 security or tech guys! It was due to start at 9.00pm with doors opening at 7.30pm but I got there at about 8.00pm and the opening act (Eugene Francis Jr again) was only about three songs from the end of his set. He didn't seem to get such a rapport with the audience tonight but he gave out a load of badges at the end of his set.
The hall had a sprung wooden floor and loads of lights but unfortunately they weren't used very well tonight - Kasim especially seemed to be mainly lit like the green hulk! There were some seat / steps at the back where I sat until the encore. They obviously get a few big names at this venue - Duffy who is quite big back in UK is playing here soon.
Todd called us the crème de la crème for attending this gig and said that we were an exclusive crowd as not only were we the only people to see him in Milan but we were the only people to see him in all of Italy too! Even though it was a small crowd, he played the full set with as much enthusiasm as he played the Manchester and Edinburgh gigs that I saw.
Jesse broke a string during Love In Action. Most people there seemed to know that song.
Kasim seemed to be having a few technical problems with his keyboard tonight but that didn't stop him smiling and making eye contact a lot with the crowd. In contrast to Bonn, his keyboards could clearly be heard. As could his voice (wonderful!) - he sounded very distinctive in the background vocals.
Todd told the Blues / crop-sharer story as usual but I did wonder how many people there understood the word "indigenous"!
Strike was very popular again tonight with almost everybody at the front singing and doing the action. Mountaintop was also popular with people joining in the "higher, higher part".
There were some steps along the front of the stage so Todd walked down them a few times to play the guitar right in front of the crowd.
I did notice that Kasim was very careful about moving his guitar chord out of the way before the four of them did the scissor kicks during CIJTY!
Somebody called out for Just One Victory just before they played it and he was obviously very happy to hear it. Most people there obviously knew that song.
Both Kasim and Rachel were introduced as it being their first time in Italy! (I calculated that this is the 16th country where I've seen Kasim.)
Considering that when I saw Kasim with Todd in US last December, I had to sit near the back each time as it was so crowded, it made a nice change to get near the front but it must be discouraging for Todd to be playing in front of such small audiences. (Although I always wondered why he was playing Italy!) However this was still a great gig.
And now it's an 8 hour drive for me (back over The Alps) to Paris!
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