The Briery Gap, Macroom
Saturday, 28 January 2006
Just wanted to write a note about the gig in Macroom on Saturday night in Cork.
We arrived down with a mini troop for the event some Luka 'Virgins' others
big fan's. I was so excited beforehand waiting in anticipation for Luka to come out.
I really enjoyed the fella and girl who supported Luka. She had an amazing power in
her voice and a beautiful sweetness too. The songs told stories of love, heartache
and empowerment. Well done I say.
Then Luka came out and started off the evening in the theme of spring. It was lovely
hearing him and the Spanish guitar again, it was like coming home. The audience were
starting to get warmed up and eagerly joined in on "I am not at war with anyone".
A fine bit of singing was heard by all. Luka kindly sang a new song that he had been learning,
"Blackwater Side". He told us that years ago in the 'Moore' house Anne, his
sister would sing this song. Thanks for that Luka. As the gig progressed the audience were
flying along singing to any song they could and we did a lovely version of "Sunny
Sailor Boy".
The encore brought a lovely surprise of Luka singing "I need love". Wow,
it was such a sensual rendition of the song, it was amazing! Then he followed it by
"Black is the Colour".
What a fantastic first gig of the year and may the year only get better.
- Brigid
Folkfestival Dranouter
Friday, 4 August 2006
DRANOUTER FOLKFESTIVAL NEW TRADITION
At the Dranouter Festival, I'm always a bit hungry. Hungry for music. Eager
to discover bands that have never performed in Belgium before, or bands that
are so unknown to me that I wouldn't pay an expensive ticket to see a dedicated
concert. On a festival, the situation is completely different. You pay for the
entire festival, and in order to get maximum value for money, I start getting
hungry-for-more-music on the very moment the festival opens.
We were actually running from one tent to the other. First we enjoyed David
Munnely band & some guests. We hurried to the main stage to witness an
excellent replacement-performance of Novastar-genius Joost Zwegers. The last
notes still echoing across the festival area, we took a little sprint to
catch as much as possible from Call of the Mountain. A very nice Folk and
world music mix, which almost made us forget that we had to leave the
performance to be in time for Luka Bloom. So we took our festival bag,
stumbled across what seemed like a million feet in the Clubstage tent and
ran back to the Kayam main stage. Just in time to find a still acceptable
location in the audience.
This may come as a shock to you, but I hardly knew Luka Bloom. His name
sounded quite familiar, but I couldn't remember a single title of his tracks,
and I didn't know that he actually is Christy Moore's brother. (By the way:
note for the Dranouter guys: I missed Christy Moore last year.
Eh... we want Moore... come-on... there's always place for one Moore...
Maybe even for more Moore's :-)).
Now you know this, you will be able to forgive me not having remembered the
correct play list. Very hard when you don't know the titles.
So I was very curious what this concert would bring me. If it would be able
to do something about that never ending need for nice music...
When Luka entered the stage, it filled up in a magical way. The Kayam Main
stage is LARGE! And yet, Luka Bloom only needed his guitar and his voice to
make you feel at home. A very warm and cosy feeling started to push away
the evening cold, which was slowly crawling inside the huge tent. He put a
spell on the spots and changed them into what felt like a thousand candles.
"I'm not at war" opened the concert, and if everybody in the
world could sing this very line without lying, this would be a peaceful planet
after all...
The audience was enjoying Luka Bloom in a major way. Silent and respectful
when they had to listen; applauding enthusiastically and singing along
whenever needed. The very sober performance with only his voice, a guitar,
and for some tracks a clarinet/saxophone caused goose bumps on several
occasions, and I discovered that Luka Bloom is Big when it comes to writing.
He has some wonderful deep texts, and his music is at least as good. During
the concert, I even discovered some tracks that I actually knew (but of
course did not associate with his name). Most of the songs where completely
new to me (shame on me - blush). Some tracks I remember though: "City
of Chicago", "Gypsy Music", "Exploring The Blue",
"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are" about his friend Mohamed;
"Monsoon", which turned me from 'just a listener' into a brand new
Luka Bloom fan. He went on telling that in the late eighties, early nineties,
he had his six minutes of fame with a song... And he became so tired of it,
that he didn't play it for almost 5 years. Then he started "I need
love", which most people probably will remember in the original LL
Cool J.-version (which was actually considered as the first pop-rap crossover
track). Oh... and I really should not forget to mention the magnificent
"Rainbow Day" and "I'm a Bogman". The talented
singer/songwriter tried to explain what a bogman actually is. In Dutch it
sounds like "Ik ben een turfsteker", and he even succeeded to
translate that in German and Finnish as well, though I have to say... I couldn't
verify the Finnish... (though I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt -
oh... and couldn't care less if it was pronounced incorrectly).
Sunny Sailor Boy was one of the goose bump moments that made me shiver
from the bottom of my back to the center of my brain. He learned us how
to sing ooo-wa-oo-naah in some variations, that fitted surprisingly well into
the track. Even when I tried to sing along, the fans (the entire audience must
have been transformed into fans by that moment) kept on going as if I wasn't
THAT bad... very sweet. Thanks!
Anyway, Luka (Since I'm a fan now, I can say Luka, can't I?) already mentioned
that it had been a long time since he said to an audience that they "were
the best singers he ever played for", and the audience prooved him
damn right by ooo-wa-oo-naah-ing Sunny Sailor Boy to a higher level. Mr
Bloom received a nice bucket of flowers (read 'Bouquet' to keep up
appearances) to indicate that the official gig-time was over. Off the stage
he went... while the audience-choir still tried to fill the enormous concert
tent with a sober, yet intense ooo-wa-oo-naah, repeating the only line of
text the master had teached them. Some people started applauding, some
others started singing louder, and at last, Luka Bloom entered the stage
again, making the crowd go nuts of joy. When he reached for the microphone,
the cheering ssshussst a bit and the talented performer said "Thank you...
I just went of the stage to better hear you singing."
Luka Bloom finished the marvelous concert with a splendid version of "You
Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time", but to all the people that arrived at
that very moment I just HAVE to say... you should have been here at a better
time! More specific: the very first note of this wonderful Luka Bloom
concert...
PS: One more thing. It does not happen very often that I have two similar
experiences of this magnitude at one festival, but less that 48 hours later,
Seth Lakeman also impressed me in a major way. Although quite different from
Luka Bloom, he is certainly very talented as well. They both gave this
festival that 'little bit extra' that made Dranouter 2006 to a good
Dranouter year!
© Koen Vervoort - 14/08/2006
Thanks to Petra Van Zuuren.
Räucherei, Kiel
Saturday, 9 September 2006
I am still so excited, you wouldn't believe it!
It was a great show! Unbelievable really! When Luka went out after having sung
for 1.5 hours (!) the house really rocked! I thought it would fall down, really.
But let me start at the beginning!
I had a seat in the third row (there were seats despite saying "standing
place" on the ticket). When I arrived approx. half an hour before the
show there were already people sitting in the little room. I was really surprised.
All in all there were perhaps - I'm pretty bad at this - 100 in the room. The
rows were filled, some people were standing and some were on the balcony.
Sabrina came first, of course. She looked so sweet in her white t-shirt,
jeans and the hair up. And of course her lovely dimples ;-) She said right
away that she had not sung in Germany before - and people from the
audience shouted "Welcome!" That was really nice, wasn't it?
And we made her feel really welcome, and she was really good. I had
already liked her voice and the way she plays the guitar when I saw her
first in Belgium. I didn't like that she almost only sang sad/depressing songs.
But this time it was totally different. It was just a lovely start! People
were impressed by her (she also sang a fantastic song by Nina Simone!).
I think people also fell for her because she was soo nervous (a man at
the bar said so later, too. I had said: "It was such a good concert,
wasn't it?" And he said: "Yes, the man gave us a great show,
we were all in a good mood. But the girl before, she was also good.
She was so nervous because it was her first show." Sweet, isn't it?
The man serving also clapped when Luka was outside, I noticed).
Anyway, Sabrina was fab! I bought her cd and I am looking forward
to hearing it when I am home again ;-)
Now to Luka ;-)
He asked the audience to welcome him after he had said his name ;-)
The audience really did give him a great welcome. Luka said/showed it
again and again during the show that the audience was great! And we were
really great (have never been so proud about a thing like that *giggles).
Luka sang the following:
1. I am not at war - Surprised me that he started with it!
2. Here and now - He said it's more important (regarding the first song!) to be here and now.
3. Innocence
4. Love is a place I dream of
5. Primavera
6. Miracle Cure
7. A song he had learned from his sister a year ago. There's not much forgiveness in
that song he said. It's about a woman - perhaps called "Down by the black water side",
at least he sang this twice. This song sounds more traditional...but really nice.
The way he sings it, it reminds me of the way Sabrina sings...
8. Make you feel my love - Making jokes about being the Irish Bob Dylan,
people announced him so in Switzerland
9. In between you and me (cannot think of the title right now)
Made the joke that he would dress up, wear lipstick and mascara
to look like someone from the Cure = gothic like :-)
The audience wouldn't stop clapping here. It was just great!
10. New song!!
He didn't say what it is called, here are some sentences from the song:
"I'll hope I love you enough to let you go."
"...no sweeter places in the world than the places we have been to"
"See you soon" (perhaps the title, repeated it from time to time)
This song is very nice but sad, of course. It sounds like somebody is going
to die or has died. It is a nice song but it was a bit too abrupt for my taste.
First the great Dylan-song (very lively, audience really with Luka) and then this one...
11. Peace on earth - He remained that silent/thoughtful
12. Diamond mountain - Because it came after these two "sad" songs -
at least I felt this way - Diamond mountain was also quite sad for me.
13. June - Just great, making me feel more at ease again.
The audience was rocking, too ;-)
14. I'm a bogman - Talked about the Finnish, Dutch and Flamish version of that title,
and then Luka talked about a girl he had asked what this would be called in Polish.
Luka said she said something that sounded so sexy he wouldn't believe it ;-)))
15. City of Chicago
16. No matter where you go, there you are
17. I need love
18. Sunny sailor boy - The audience was absolutely great, I hadn't expected that really.
Luka went out for a few seconds and came back!
1st encore
Exploring the blue
Pablo
Rainbow day - The people were so encouraged because Luka had said that they
were so good singing along with Sunny Sailor Boy that they even now sang along!
He played a very quick style!
You couldn't have come at a better time - Here people also sang along.
2nd encore
Don't be so hard on yourself
Luka did a fantastic job! So the people really stamped their feet on the
floor, clapped their hands like mad...it was an electrifying atmosphere!
The show stopped at 10:45 pm, Luka all in sweat. He had changed
his shirt for a t-shirt after he went out after the first encore. His
voice is really good again. I wasn't sure whether he had absolutely
revovered, but he has!
So everyone who is going to hear/see him soon - you can all be sure there
will be a great Luka coming to the show! And of course a great Sabrina!
- Gudrun Spanka
Der Club, Heiligenhaus
Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Luka's concert in Heiligenhaus - a little town in North Rhine-Westfalia,
between Düsseldorf and Essen - took place at the Club, a small
and intimate place with good acoustics. It was a very warm and sunny
day yesterday, so already before the show began the temperature in
the venue was very high, and later it was only increasing... but as
we know, he likes that... :-)
Sabrina began 15 minutes earlier than announced, at 8:15 pm. She
was very nervous again, but also here she was well received by the
audience and got a lot of applause!!
At 9 pm Luka came out and introduced himself. He spoke a lot of
German, especially during the first part of the show, and his introduction
began with "Meine lieben Heiligenhausener!" He started
again with the songs "I am not at war with anyone" and
"Hier und Jetzt" (-> Here and Now) and he said, he
would do that as long as the trouble in the world goes on, so it seems,
he has to go on doing that forever...
Then came some songs from the Innocence album, "Innocence" and
"Miracle Cure", and "Primavera" got a never ending applause!!
"Diamond Mountain", the Bob Dylan song "Make You Feel My
Love" and the Cure's "In Between Days"... so far the familiar songs!
Then a big surprise, because now he did not sing one of the "new"
songs I already knew from the US setlists! We were so lucky and got to hear
some completely new songs in Heiligenhaus, rarely performed live before!
The first song was written in the beginning of August during the
madness in Lebanon, maybe also called "Lebanon", though
I don't know for sure if that is the correct title of the song.
The second song called "The Lighthouse" was written in Cork in June
(a song line "May I be happy, may I be well" and in another
verse he changed it to "May you be happy, may you be well")
The third new song "Eastbound Train" - only performed in his
bathroom before - was of course about trains, travelling and life and so...
("You never know the way life goes!").
And finally the very emotional song "See you Soon"! This
song already known from the US setlists. Some really beautiful new songs,
sometimes very sad and moving, but never depressing, and
always a wonderful guitar playing!
After the four new songs he returned to the old hits:
"I'm a Bogman", "I Need Love" (including a new
"whistling part"!!), "The City of Chicago", and
"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are",
each of the songs a real highlight!!!
He finished with a wonderful version of "Sunny Sailor Boy",
played for the mermaids in Heiligenhaus and Sabrina Dinan!
The encore songs were "Exploring the Blue", "Rainbow Day",
"You Couldn't Have Come at a Better Time" and "Black is the Colour"!
It was a wonderful show, a nice place and a lovely audience!
- Rena
Empore, Buchholz
Thursday, 14 September 2006
Yes! We were in Buchholz Empore, which is quite near to my hometown and
I went to school in Buchholz for a couple of years. Though I've never been in
"Empore" before... In the beginning I liked the venue, they've torn
the first 6 rows to place some round tables with 4 or 5 chairs, velvet table
cloth in different colours and candles on every table! It looked really nice.
So my friend and I sat in the first "real" row and had a wonderful
view to the stage.
Sabrina performed first, for about half an hour, then there was a break of
15 min and the entertainer let us know that we might buy some drinks
before listening to the master himself!
Luka performed some very new songs, only played once or twice before and
I liked them all!! Loved to sing and hum the older songs - as usual - but the
audience was quite different to all other venues I've been to before. So I
did not dare to sing... only Sunny Sailor Boy *lol*
That's the thing why I did not like it in Empore that much, think it was not
the warm singing atmosphere as in the Fabrik maybe! Nothing to say
about the songs and the performing, but the location... hmmm....!
Others might have another opinion!
What I liked a lot: Luka played "peace on earth" for a little girl
of about 12 years in remembrance of the children in Beslan! And also the
sunflowers on stage were for her! Such a lovely gesture!
This is just a short review of the show in Buchholz!
Right now thinking of all the people who are in the Fabrik in Hamburg right
now - it's 19:15 and everything should be ready for entrance!
- Anika
Empore, Buchholz
Thursday, 14 September 2006
Also for us it was the first time at the Empore in Buchholz. When we entered
the room it was a really big surprise to see that our rows of seats were removed,
but actually the little round tables and chairs were a great alternative. The hall
looked more intimate and the candle light gave the room in front of the stage
a very lovely and cozy touch!
We were sharing our table with a very nice couple from Buchholz.
They only knew about Luka that he was playing the guitar....
Well, I think they were not disappointed... :-)
The audience gave Sabrina and Luka a very warm welcome.
After he had fixed a few technical problems of the sound system in
the beginning of the show Luka's performance was nearly perfect and
he played once again a wonderful selection of so many great songs,
new and old favourites!!
Loved to hear again the new songs "Lebanon",
"Eastbound Train" and "See You Soon".
Then he played another new song that I had never heard before,
"Blackwater Side". There was a wonderful introduction
to the song, a family story, and he said, it would be a "women
song" - sort of "all men are bastards" song - and
he really ENJOYS singing it!
I think we all really ENJOYED hearing it! :-)
Also so brilliant again was his celebration of being a "Bogman",
"June" and "Rainbow Days"!!
Yes, he couldn't have come at a better time... :-)
- Rena
> setlist & photos
Music Hall, Worpswede
Saturday, 16 September 2006
Here comes the latest bog news: Luka played a wonderful concert here in the
middle of "Devils Bog" in Worpswede. Lucky for me, the parents
live just 8 km down the road and surprised me with the entrance ticket for
my birthday.
The venue is an old style club, nothing really changed from when I was in
there for the last time (around 1979) a pub type huge old room with a bar in the
back and a little stage. Usually a standing or dancing venue, they had put little
round tables out tonight and it was packed! I reckon we were about 500 people,
all ears for lovely Sabrina opening the night.
Gosh she's good! And what a pretty, overwhelming smile!!! Even though
the people were waiting for Luka to start, they all heard her out and gave
her some nice rounds of applause.
Then Luka started round 10 and after the first song even the last one at the
bar was hanging on his lips and the busy room calmed down, all eager to
listen and look. Luka was in a very chatty mood, yes there was one song
which was about 2 minutes shorter than the introduction leading up to it :-)
I love the 3 new songs very much, even though the Eastbound Train is a wee
bit "American" for my taste, but that's just between us, sung by Luka,
it was just lovely. June's lyrics were forgotten by the singer, but I thought that
was o.k. at a lovely September day like today. All in all a lovely concert.
I am glad I came!
Here comes the setlist:
1) I am not at war
2) Here and Now
3) Innocence
4) Primavera
5) Diamond Mountain
6) Lebanon
7) Eastbound Train
8) See ye soon (that's at least how I would call it)
9) Make you feel my love
10) the Robert Smith Song - the title always escapes me
11) June
12) Bogman
13) Thank you for bringing me here
14) City of Chicago
15) I need love
16) No matter where you go, there you are
17) Sunny Sailor Boy
1st encore
Exploring the blue / Gone to Pablo / Rainbow Day / You couldn't have come at a better time
2nd encore
Perfect Groove / You / Black is the colour
May the rest of the German shows see Luka at good health and in such a good mood!
- Sabine
Music Hall, Worpswede
Saturday, 16 September 2006
The gig in Worpswede was really good! (see Sabine's review)
It was a little too hot in that place for me, though ;-) But I wasn't alone with
that, Rena and Erwin had to share this "lovely" warmth, too ;-)
I just wanted to say that I am very impressed by Luka's new song
"Lebanon". The sound of the word "Lebanon" itself
is just lovely, and made me feel touched when sung by Luka. So melodious!
And the text of this song is very sensitive again (Luka transports
the depth of the situation, i.e. shows us the feeling of the people
involved; I am thinking about an old man in that song, trying to
keep his grace - what a strong picture!) - just lovely. I hope that
everybody will soon have the chance to listen to this song, too!
The song "Eastbound train" (if that is the title) was nice,
too, but absolutely different from "See you soon" and
"Lebanon". A quick rhythm, and the meaning is not
yet clear to me ;-) I must listen to it again...
The most impressive "old" song this time for me was
"Black is the colour". Luka "played" with his
voice like in "Primavera" (high pitch). That was very
impressive. At least for me!
By the way, Worpswede is a beautiful spot! I felt so good being there.
The landscape, the people...great! I feel a bit like having been on
holiday for a looooong time ;-)
I wish everyone who is going to see and hear Luka a great time! Enjoy!
- Gudrun
Kantine, Köln
Tuesday, 19 September 2006
The Kantine in Köln was a new venue for Luka and for us as well.
Outside the city centre it is located in an industrial area, and in addition
to the music hall it has a nice beer garden. Also here a lot of high round
tables with candles were arranged in the hall, and a good crowd filled the
room when Sabrina Dinan opened the show at approx. 8 pm.
She began with some songs from her new CD "Heading For The Hills".
The CD was just finished before the beginning of the tour in Germany.
The songs were: "What The Devil's Dealt", "Dancing Shoes",
"The Train Song" and "Captains Little Mama".
Then she went on with Nina Simone's song "Love Me Or Leave Me".
Before she started with singing she asked if there were any Nina Somone fans
in the audience and when nobody answered, she said, "NO?? sh*t.." :-)
Her version of the song was so beautiful, that it may have even made some
new fans for Nina Simone's music!
The last two songs of her set were new and not named yet, both very
beautiful too (a favourite song line that stucks in my head,
"I come to your rescue even I am late, because you are
my soulmate").
She was also talking about her touring in Germany and how much she
loves it, and it seems everyone in the audience loved her too!
She got a lot of applause for her performance.
After a break of 15 minutes in which Sabrina was selling her and Luka's CDs,
Luka came out. He played a very powerful concert, full of energy!
Opening in German - this time "Meine lieben Kölners!" and
that he would be happy to be in Cologne again! - the set of course started
again with "I Am Not At War With Anyone" and all we have is the
"Here and Now", followed by the title track of his latest album
"Innocence", the wonderful introduction to "Diamond Mountain"
was again two minutes longer than the song itself, and "Primavera".
The three new songs he played tonight were "Lebanon",
"Eastbound Train" - once again joined by the audience to the
end of the song: "You never know the way life goes!" -
and finally "See you Soon".
Then back to the "hits" again, the two cover songs "Make You
Feel My Love" and "In Between Days", followed by "June"
and the instrumental "Peace on Earth", dedicated to the children of Beslan.
"The City of Chicago" came again with a great story,
"No Matter Where You Go, There You Are", "Sunny Sailor Boy",
dedicated to the "junge Meerfrauen in Köln", "I'm a Bogman"
another highlight, followed by some Landei-Rap "I Need Love"!
The first encore included "Exploring the Blue", "You",
"Don't Be So Hard On Yourself", "Rainbow Day" and
"You Couldn't Have Come at a Better Time".
When the applause didn't stop, he came out for a second encore:
"Perfect Groove" and finally a very beautiful version of
"Raglan Road" - for him one of the greatest Irish love
songs - was the perfect closing song of the night!
- Rena
> setlist
Het Depot, Leuven
Sunday, 8 October 2006
The last show of the tour took place in Leuven, a nice little town near Brussels.
When the doors opened at 8 pm, a lot of people were already waiting in front
of the venue. The arrangement in the hall of the Muziekcentrum Het Depot
was different to the other places we went to. There was a large space just
in front of the stage for the standing audience and several rows of seats
like in a theatre in the back, so the distance between the stage and the
seated part of the venue was relatively huge. People were pouring in and
most of the seats were taken very soon, and some people slowly filled the
space in front of the stage.
The Belgian singer Marjan Debaene
was the first opening act. She introduced some songs from her new album
"Wolfish Times". I am not familiar with her music, so I don't remember
the name of the songs she played, but she was very good and at the end of
her set she got a lot of applause.
When Sabrina Dinan entered the
stage it seemed the audience was not too excited about a second (unannounced)
support act, but that changed very quickly during her wonderful performance.
She began with "What The Devil's Dealt" from her new CD
"Heading For The Hills", followed by "Dancing Shoes",
"The Train Song" and "Captains Little Mama".
When she finished with a great cover version of Marvin Gaye's song
"Sexual Healing", she got a lot of applause as well.
The space in front of the stage looked still a bit empty, and people were
still moving around during the performances of the support acts,
maybe a bit distracting for the performing artists and the seated audience too.
After a short intermission Luka came out, and now more people than before
filled the standing area in front of the stage. He did his usual introduction
"My name is Luka Bloom..." and he received a very warm and
enthusiastic welcome from the crowd!
He told us about his beautiful memory of a performance at the
Marktrock Festival
ten years ago. It was 1am in the morning at the Old Market Square
(Oude Markt)
in Leuven and he was waiting to go on stage after Iggy Pop ~ (called
the 'Godfather of Punk') ~ who was so unbelievably loud and powerful!
He said, he didn't know how to survive a festival audience at 1am in
the morning after Iggy Pop! He was so nervous, that he had problems
to tune his guitar and he only wanted to go home!!
But then he went out and started to play ~ started playing
"Sunny Sailor Boy" ~ and thousands of people were
singing "Ooh-wah Ooh-wah, Ooh-wah Ooh-wah"
and he felt save!!
He continued to play the melody when he dedicated this first song
to all the people in front of him, "who preferred to be close to the
action and to him than to be comfortable in their seats!"
and he invited more people to come to the front because he would play
much better when he can smell the audience!
It's a little risk to play this song already in the beginning of a concert,
because normally the audience has not really warmed up yet and hesitates
to sing along, but it went very well in Leuven and he was very pleased with
the result: "even the men in Leuven seemed to be in touch with
their inner mermaid!"
He went on with his "regular" opening song of the tour
"I Am Not At War With Anyone", before he brought back
the summer to Leuven by celebrating his favourite month of the year in
Ireland, "June" - I always love the way it pulls me in!! :-)
Talking about becoming fifty and releasing an album called "Innocence"
last year was the introduction to the title track of the album.
His first visit to Australia in 1992 and the connection of people to places in
Ireland where they have never been to were the inspiration for him to write
the next song, "Diamond Mountain" - judging the reaction of the
audience this song seems to be a huge favourite of many, many fans!!
After playing "Primavera", another favourite, it was time for some
of the new songs: "Lebanon" and "See You Soon",
before he promised to do "all his hits" - warning that it might
become a very short night! :-)
Bob Dylan's wonderful love song "Make You Feel My Love" and Robert
Smith's "In Between Days", the Cure's "Gothic folk song" -
so different they are, he always likes performing the two songs together like twins.
After the cover songs he played the lovely instrumental
"Peace on Earth", dedicated to the children of Beslan.
His next song "The City of Chicago" was written in 20 minutes in 1984,
and it was so painless for him that he thought the song was not good. Two weeks
later his brother Christy heard him singing this song and as we all know, he took
it over immediately and made it to a very popular and well-known song!
After getting his permission last year he finally recorded it himself... :-) I LOVE IT!!
Another new song, "Eastbound Train" - "a light little song
with a little bit of darkness in it" - his favourite songs. For two months
he was only singing it in his bathroom at home, but of course one day he had
to try it on human beings. It happened in Heiligenhaus,
at one of the first shows in Germany a few weeks ago.
He played it during the soundcheck and Sabrina liked it, so he decided
to play it that night (and he has been playing it ever since)!
The audience liked it too, they even sang along to the end of the song:
"You never know the way life goes" ~
but "of course no pressure on the people in Leuven!" :-)
When he played "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are" -
a "celebration of immigration", insprired by his friend
Mohamed who now lives in Galway - the great rhythm of the song made
some people clapping and tonight he didn't mind.
Then he finished the main set with a brilliant version of "I Need Love" -
getting a spontaneous applause after the new whistling part, and a long and
overwhelming applause at the end of the song!!
The first encore started with a costume change and some favourite oldies:
"Exploring The Blue" and "Gone To Pablo".
A wonderful version of "Rainbow Day" and
"You Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time" followed,
and again some people started clapping during the songs and again no complaints...
it ended with a standing ovation!!
When he came back for a second encore people started shouting requests - his choice was:
"Perfect Groove" - "together we'll find the rhythm, get into
the song, the night could be long!"
It was a special night in Leuven, the last night of the tour and a full moon night,
and it was also a very special night of his life. On the 8th of October 1956 his father
died very sudden and unexpected when he was only 18 months old.
It's taken me so long to see
The man is alive, alive and breathing
The man is alive in me
"The Man is Alive" - it took him 35 years to write this song and he dedicated
it to his family back home!
The night sometimes seems dangerous, we wonder what it hides
It sometimes brings us closer and forever changes our lives.
This song is also one of my most favourite songs, rarely performed live. I had not
expected to hear it tonight, but that he played it and the reason why made this
great concert to a very special one. It was a wonderful and unforgettable way
to end the show and the tour!
- Rena
Whelan's, Dublin
Monday, 27 November 2006
Rena, Erwin and I made our typical pilgrimage to
Dublin to enjoy ourselves together, go sightseeing,
and of course to see Luka. We love it when Luka is
playing in Dublin and we have vacation days to spend --
it makes for an irresistible excuse to get away!
We'd been to Whelan's on other occasions to see
various gigs, and comfortably enjoy ourselves there.
More than a mere welcoming essence, you get the
feeling of being enfolded into this pub's spirit and
soul, entering into a moment where collective memories
of past, present and future innately exist,
mischievously winking at the present participants.
Perhaps this is typical of old Irish pubs.
Arriving early, there was already a full queue waiting
for the doors to open. This happened to be a long line
of folks who had purchased from Ticketmaster. We did
try earlier in the day to pick up the actual tickets
from the box office, which was open and staffed, but
the disinterested clerk sent us up to St. Stephen's
Green Mall to the Ticketmaster outlet, which, in turn,
sent us back to the box office. Oh, well.
Just before the doors opened, a horde of people quite
smugly pushed ahead of the queue and entered the
venue. They had actual ticket-in-hand, whereas we
plebeians had to scroll past the ticket window to
obtain ours. When we entered, we found tables and
chairs were in place and had now all been occupied.
So, we walked around looking for a good place to stand.
Many thanks to Rena who recorded the set list. She
wrote me a copy before we left Dublin.
1) Here and Now
2) Love Is a Place I Dream Of
3) I Am Not at War
4) Innocence
5) Sunny Sailor Boy
6) Blackwater Side
7) Primavera
8) Make You Feel My Love
9) In Between Days
10) Lebanon
11) See You Soon
12) Eastbound Train
13) Peace on Earth
14) Diamond Mountain
15) City of Chicago
16) No Matter Where You Go, There You Are
17) Water Ballerina
18) I Need Love
* * *
19) Cold Comfort
20) The Man is Alive / Hill of Allen
21) Exploring the Blue
22) Don't Be So Hard on Yourself
23) Ciara
24) Rainbow Day
25) You Couldn't Have Come at a Better Time
* * *
26) Monsoon
27) If I Were a Carpenter
It was quite a stunning presentation, with a wonderful
mix of old, new and in-between. The crowd much revered
this Priest of Love, adoring him with smiling faces
and bright eyes. That was the intimate circle. The
crowd that hugged the bar were fans as well, but they
were more interested in a night out with good music
rather than to pay homage to this artist.
Well, so what. They put up a little pubby raucous
during the intermittent whistling of I Need Love. Luka
didn't flinch, but did have to hold his hand up to
signal that the light-hearted taunting during this
part of the song was inappropriate. It took a bit for
them to get the general idea and quiet down.
The crowd glorified Sunny Sailor Boy, welcoming it
with surprise and delight. Surprise, because, after
all these years of singing it, we think, perhaps, he
must sooner or later give it up, and yet here it is,
one more time! And delight, because it offers the
chance for each and every one in the audience to
lovingly respond to this dear man who is tenderly
caressing them with his music, his eyes, his
attentiveness. Luka jokes lately about 'the 2 or 3
people in the audience who don't know this song', but
newcomer or seasoned admirer, no one in his
congregation leaves this song feeling less than
sublimely impassioned.
Eastbound Train also has a lovely refrain! Luka taught
us to sing it with the patience and care of a loving
father to a child. When we mastered it he sang a
backup to the refrain, in much the same style as Don't
Be Afraid of the Light That Shines Within You. We
continued this sacramental, mesmerizing, 'in-and-with'
chant for a long, long time. ah, this priest of ours..
Alrighty, then -- his turn to confess! He admitted that
he felt conflicted between playing two songs that were
similar, and asked us to decide which one we'd like to
hear. It was Diamond Mountain vs. Water Ballerina.
Everyone yelled out. Diamond Mountain! and then sat
back to enjoy it thoroughly.
But, it wasn't too long before he played Water
Ballerina, anyway! He said his sister Eilish was in
the audience and he wanted to play it for her, as she
was celebrating her birthday this week. He went on to
tease about her age, in the way only a little brother
can do. We enjoyed that outspoken reverie, and
wondered where she was in the audience. I passed her
on the way out, and was greeted by her sweet face and
cheerful eyes.
Chatting on about sister Anne, as well, he introduced
Blackwater Side. Assuaging his conscience for 'stealing
her song', he gave her a loving review: how she sings
it so beautifully. But, then grinch-ishly, 'now he's
'got it' and she'll have to find a new one to sing!'
He spoke of her with much affection, and I think I'd
really love to hear her singing on a future CD of his!
By the end of his set, from Diamond Mountain through
to I Need Love, the crowd was fully engorged -- overstuffed
yet unsatiated. He left the stage and returned immediately
for an encore. The audience could no longer contain their
individual reverent, pious adoration. All passion broke loose:
vivacity, warmth, heart-felt affection wove its way
significantly among us, encircling us with sure, warm
and loving arms, drawing us closer to the inner core
of the night's magic. The music was loud and wonderful
(and Paul Scully looking dashing at the soundboard!)
and everyone was singing-loudly! It just happened - it
was gorgeous to be in a crowd singing Luka songs,
singing our hearts out, and, oh, yeh, with Luka there,
too! And you could sing however you wanted, and as
loudly and as joyously as you wanted, and suddenly I
stopped, remembering a night in BB Kings where other
patrons shushed the singers. no! this wasn't happening
at Whelan's! Wow! I'm actually singing Ciara with Luka
in my happy, harmonious way and these wonderful people
here with me are all singing, too. To make a note of
the frenzy. he was well into Ciara before I even
recognized what song it was. Well, he no longer plays
Delirious. but he sure brought us to that state!
When Our Priest left the stage, he was clapped back
on. The crowd was insistent. After that frenzied
finale, he was at a loss as to what to sing. Someone
called out 'Monsoon!'. He was delighted, and remarked:
Good choice! Indeed. It was a monsoon, right here,
right now.
- Deborah Sandford
> photos by Niall
> photos by Erwin
