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Post Info TOPIC: CASA DE CARNE London 2 August 08


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CASA DE CARNE London 2 August 08




 
It was a wonderful last night of the UK shows ..

We stand under a canopy of clear blue summer evening sky, Meat is glimpsed in the wings and a huge cheer goes up .. the smoke machine billows faux smoka across the violet and indigo lights illuminating the high stage, and the insistent beat of the Indian war chant signals the start of the show .. John takes his place at the drums and starts to earn his name "The Hammer" .. and
 
... on they come .. each to their appointed standing mic at the front of the stage .. Meat making his entrance last, wearing the 2008 signature black stetson. I said some shows ago that this delivery of The Boy's Bad News! was such a spectacular in your face start to the show .. and tonight is no exception .. Meat seems full of coiled energy .. moving from one player t the next, giving Randy a huge bite on the arm .. and threatening Paul with the same .. This may be a cover .. but to have the full ensemble (apart from John who hammers out the beat) ranged across the very front of stage kind makes such an immediate connection with the audience .. I think it's the best and most impactful opening of all the tours Meat's done over the decades.

The lights change to bursts of red and yellow, the players run to their appointed places, as Meat strides back and forth side to side of the stage, looking out into the audience searchingly .. his two stiff figers pointing to his eyes and then out to the audience .. I see you! .. this space is MINE!!!! It alwys seems to me that this is the moment he takes control of the whole space we're in .. it's his .. and he's going to command us and take us to the place he will create for the next two hours .. Tonight he puts such passion into Frying Pan .. crouching low and clutching his shirt and pants leg in that unique style .. huge passionate notes reaching out to every corner of the place .. and then softly repeating "I wanna take you .. oh I wanna take you ....." .. the press photographers are darting back and forth like a flock of birds, all trying to capture the perfect picture of this amazing man as he gives the performance of his life .. ending with incredibly long notes of "FIRE!!! FIRE!!! FIRE!!!!!!!"

Then more prowling back and forth and a huge version of Lemon ..  "Do you want your F***ing money back??" .. No we don't .. not with an electrifying show like this playing out before us!!!! And on to Bad For Good, delivered with incredible energy .. and again I love the way he at times he raises his heels from the floor and punches out those big notes.

In the introduction for Dead Ringer he parodies different dance steps as he tries the hat this way and that .. Mr Cool .. lol .. with that big silly grin :) Tonight as he opens the cooler he realises he still has the pull handle up .. so the lid won't completely open .. "DUH!" he smacks his head .. Tonight as Patti and CC come on he gives them the bums rush .. so they go over to the far side and start pointing out likely blokes and giggling .. which draws Meat across to make his play, but when he winds his arms round Patti to open her bottle of beer the foam shoots up wildly and then subsides .. Patti giggles and he laughs .. the inference being obvious and the audience roar with laughter ..

45 Seconds of Ecstasy is stunning as CC and Meat stand entwined on stage .. Meat rolling his head back and then resting it on CC's shoulder .. they sway back and forth, side to side .. just a fantastic piece of theatre ..

And now the lights change to blue, red and purple as Patti comes back in her long black coat, eyes flashing with betrayed angst as she calls for someone to bring her A Bible and A Beer .. It's a superb song delivered so powerfully as she strides from side to side of the stage .. and we see the emotions playing out on Meat's face and in his body language .. from slightly irritated defensiveness to realisation and remorse .. leading in to the raw and searing Blind As A Bat. Did he get all the words right? I have no idea .. did he get every note nailed? I didn't notice .. The passion and emotion make this a highlight of the show as her love guides him home to where he belongs ...  The two songs make a stunning set piece which is riveting ...

The band's instrumental gets a huge round of well deserved applause.. and then Meat's back dressed for Paradise ..  the audience go wild as they hear the opening bars of this huge classic so loved by everyone ..  and Patti gets a huge roar as she makes her entrance, and they go into the routine that gets everyone singing throughout the arena. No pause for chat tonight .. but Meat takes Patti to centre stage and asks her if she'd offer her throat to the man in Room 210 .. "now everybody knows which room you're in!!" she says .. and we get the chorus of Two Out of Three ..  louder, louder, louder Meat exhorts us .. and at the end has the band start it over again because we kind of tailed away without a proper finish .. This time we do OK and he applauds us :)

I hear the opening chords of Rock and Roll Dreams .. wonder if we're going to lose AFL tonight ..  Meat's sounded a little hoarse when he's spoken, althoug the songs have been belted out .. He seems to be having a bit of trouble with his cans, and doesn't seem happy in R&RD .. I notice they've added a new starburst spotlight for this song .. and again I think how spectacular the lighting is throughout the show, and how the colours echo and reinforce the mood of each song ..

But now I see Meat putting on the black coat .. Yes! We're getting AFL .. and whatever problems he may have been having are long gone .. He delivers this with such passion and so strongly it catches my heart .. and nails those long notes .. with a stunning finish that brings the biggest roar of approval yet. Later my taxi driver will ask me who I saw in concert .. and I say Meat Loaf .. and he replies "Meat Loaf!! Oh the man's top drawer!! The best!!!" Right now I just thank my lucky stars that I am on this planet at the same time as this amazing man .. and am able to hear him sing AFL tonight ...

And now the introduction for that song which always has me at once elated but at the same time feeling a pang of sadness, because the time has rushed by and we're at the close of the show .. Meat's signature song ..  Bat Out Of Hell. He looks out at us .. touched his hand to his lips and his heart .. and then delivers it with such passion, intensity and power  .. His voice is strong and sure .. and as the thousands here tonight take it round the arena, Meat paces us with those expressive hands  .. and delivers those final long notes as powerfully as I've heard him ...

They don't leave the stage but move into the final encore numbers .. Roadhouse Blues accompanied by the inflatables (and Meat plays .. punching the arm of the Paul inflatable repeatedly) .. and then Why Don't We Do It In The Road? ..  Meat looks out at us and holds up two thumbs asking us if it went well .. and gets the thumbs up back .. and suddenly makes for the stairs at the side of the stage and does a victory run across the pit and back reaching out to touch our hands .. and as he stands once more on the steps Patti starts singing "Now get your ass back on the stage! Come get your ass back on the stage!" Just a wonderful end ..

Meat has already introduced the band with pride, has thanked us from the bottom of his heart and adjured us to never ever stop rocking .. He thanks us again .. They all line up and we applaud and cheer .. and as they leave I see John patting Meat on the back ..

I don't know how Meat felt as the show unfolded .. and I'm sure he will identify every tiny thing he'd have liked to have done better when he listens to the board tapes .. But he must have looked out and seen on the faces of the thousands there tonight that it was a triumph. He's had a marvellous run of shows in the UK, and this closing show will surely stay in the memories of all of us.

Tonight he came out and lifted us on a magnificent ride of Rock and Roll from brilliant start to resounding finish. He promised us he was in better voice than he's been for years .. and he's right. But he's so much more than a voice, however wonderful that is .. and it has been. He's simply a phenomenon .. someone who when he sets foot on stage owns it and his audience, can reach out and touch our hearts and lift our souls in a unique way, and for a couple of hours take us on a ride we'll be reliving for so long .. passion, tenderness, humour, pathos, joy .. it's all there in an overwhelming abundance ..

Yes .. the man's top drawer!!!!!


-- Edited by Caryl at 00:46, 2008-08-04

-- Edited by Caryl at 02:00, 2008-08-05

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First photos from the show:

London03.jpg


London02.jpg

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London01.jpgLondon01.jpg

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thank you Dame for your as always wonderful review about a as always wonderful man ... and thank loaf at least the press is still able to take pictures to post and be received as news alerts... i received these via a meatie news alert... as i know you did as well... thank you so much for posting them for those who don't have themselves signed up to receive meatie news alerts and press photos ...

i love you Dame and thanks again !!!

t... XO


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Her wings would scarcely carry her now, but in reply she alighted on his shoulder and gave his nose a loving bite. She whispered in his ear "You silly ass," and then, tottering to her chamber, lay down on the bed.


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and wow Dame... look at that... you have about 30 some odd viewings of your posting... and yet... not one stinkin' thanks but mine... hinh ...

t... XO


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Her wings would scarcely carry her now, but in reply she alighted on his shoulder and gave his nose a loving bite. She whispered in his ear "You silly ass," and then, tottering to her chamber, lay down on the bed.


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Thank you for the wonderful review Caryl and making me feel like I was right there with you aww

And thank you for the wonderful press pics ... he looks gorgeous !
Vicki

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tink wrote:

thank you Dame for your as always wonderful review about a as always wonderful man ... and thank loaf at least the press is still able to take pictures to post and be received as news alerts... i received these via a meatie news alert... as i know you did as well... thank you so much for posting them for those who don't have themselves signed up to receive meatie news alerts and press photos ...

i love you Dame and thanks again !!!

t... XO



Thank you :) .. and thanks Vicki. Of course it shouldn't be necessary to point out these loverly pictures are officially authorised press photos taken at Meat's request/with his permission. Indeed it's a sad state of affairs that we should feel any need to do this.

I haven't taken my camera to a show since he withdrew permission for fans to take photos during the performance. He has always been so generous in allowing it, even though the venues and tickets have stipulated no photos or recordings, that if he asks us to now abide by that restriction, I woudn't dream of doing anything against his wishes.

But it is lovely that we still have photos in the press to see, and to share with those who weren't able to attend a show to help bring a review to life :)

And here are a few more:

ScreenShot005.jpg


ScreenShot004B.jpg


aa3e470f.jpg



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Very nice pics and great review Caryl, thanx
xx Nadine

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Well I said there were a flock of photographers, all skittering back and forth in front of the stage like a flock of sanderlings on a beach .. lol ..  and here are some more fruits of their labours :))

London07B.jpg


London08.jpg


London09B.jpg


London10.jpg


London20.jpg


London22.jpg


London23.jpg


London21.jpg

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Thanks for the great pics!!!!!!

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Glad you like them Mel :)  And here's a couple more:

London24.jpg



London25.jpg


But this is still my favourite :)))

London20.jpg

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Absolutely stunning pictures Caryl, thanks for that.

Carole

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And a few more ....

London28B.jpgLondon28B.jpg


London26.jpg


MeatLoaf0022.png
London26.jpg

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Thanks Caryl, more beautiful pictures, just love the tongue in the last one I won't tell you what naughty thoughts are going through my head at that one.
Carole

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