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Post Info TOPIC: CASA DE CARNE Nottingham 09 July


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CASA DE CARNE Nottingham 09 July




 
It was one of those nights I will always remember ..  I've loved every one of Meat's shows that I've been to during the last 30 years .. but some will forever stand out as something extraordinarily special, and this was one of them. He had a rapturous reception from the moment he stepped foot on stage, and it continued through to the long standing ovation he got at the end .. and that he deserved.

Pearl was an astounding opening act .. She is perfectly placed to have real and lasting success and capitalise on her recording contract .. An immensely powerful voice and performance, and I so look forward to hearing her again in York. She has such an impressive talent, voice and stage presence. She is her father's daughter, and if she doesn't make a huge name for herself there's no justice, nor any sense left in the music world imo.

But this early morning my ears are still ringing and my senses still filled by a performance from her father that must have made her proud, and I hope so very much made him proud too. I am still filled with wonder .. and will never forget this very special night.

Here is what I experienced in Nottingham this magical night ...

The stage is bathed in violet light and we hear the Indian war chant as we all leap to our feet .. I can see John in the shadows at the drums .. and then as it reaches a crescendo spotlights reveal him hammering the final crashing drum beats .. I can see the shadowy figures of the band taking their places .. and as the stage is flooded with the red and yhellow lights we see them ranged across the stage for the opening number, Meat enters, dresed in the familiar black with the twinkling buttons, wearing the black stetson and a huge smile .. It's such a different opening to previous tours and so effective .. Patti and CC are at either side, and Meat walks back and forth across the stage between them, pausing to give Paul a hefty bite on the arm .. We're off and Meat seems in top form ..
And as they all move back to theor places for Break It! I know we're in for a special night, because Meat is delivering it with more strength and ease than I have seen ..  and then as we begin the lead into Frying Pan and I see the false flames begin at the back of the stage he comes to front of stage and tels us how sorry he was that the Nottingham show last year had to be cancelled .. How many of us had booked to come? A huge cheer goes up around the arena, and he thanks us for coming back ..  and delivers Frying Pan perfectly .. he is in such good voice tonight. Each "Fire!" rings out loud, clear and true, and the low and yearning "I wanna take you .. Ohhhh .. I wanna take youuuuuuu" has such a deep resonance ....

Meat stalks back and forth across the stage as we hear the opening bars of Lemon ..  he looks out belligerently with that angry stare, pointing his finger in a repeated stabbing movement ..  and the angry frustration radiates from him right up to that final shove-it line which is delivered with such incredible ferocity, but note perfect ... followed by a Bad For Good which is the best I have ever heard live. Tonight he seems unstoppable .. at times crouched low, left hand clutching his pants and shirt just below his hip .. at times lifted on the balls of his feet .. he is really cooking tonight .. I can see tiny beads of sweat on his eyelashes, his short hair ruffled up with the light shining through it ..  and a perfect and passionate delivery ...

The opening songs set the scene and I let my mind create the story. It is to me a storyline painted with a very light brush .. Meat always says he wants us to find our own story in the words of a song, and this softly drawn outline allows us to do this, filling in the detail of the script, the only constraints being the limits of our imagination, as it leads us seamlessly through the show .. and allows those of us who are seeing several shows to create new chapters as we will. To me it creates a flow, and allthough I love the shows where Meat pulls a stool forward and chats to the audience, I understand that this would impede it ...

And our storyline moves on .. we are into the theatre that precedes Dead Ringer .. Meat comes to front of stage .. checks himself and grins .. to return for the cap .. :)   Pulls it on .. turns it round to the side .. his face a picture of boyish swagger ..  says to us he knows what we're thinking .. we wish he was wearing a G-string .. loud cheers .. then returns to say No, we are probably glad he isn't wearing a G-string ..  puts on the checked weskit .. and wheels his cooler round the stage, before getting his bottle of beer out and uncapping it ..  tonight he gets a great head of foam to spray over the audience .. and after his seductive opening of Patti's beer, and long-suffering provisin of one for CC, he and Patti indulge in a little dance and twist before breaking into the song ..

CC vamps her way to centre stage with 45 Seconds of Ectasy, peeling off her checked midriff shirt to reveal a sexy red basque top .. we're not talking simple underwear here .. this is stylish, sexy and hot! Meat is drawn to her ike a moth to a flame ...  the song is made even more sensual by their closeness and sinuous swaying back and forth .. It's an incredibly seductive duet, delivered perfectly right up to that final "If it had only been 50 seconds ..." followed by their best rendition of Amnesty yet ..

And Patti returns to give us Bible and a Beer. Tonight they act this out so very powerfully .. Patti stalks back and forth the stage, that huge voice appealing to us as she sings of the wrongs done to her ..  Meat stands silent .. at first seeming eye-rollinglu dismissive .. then standing quietly as if the words are starting to get through .. he covers his eyes .. and as the song concludes he seems to see at last the enormity of the wrong done her ..

And I am standing here so aware that he is an actor first and foremost, and such a talented one .. just his body stance, his facial expressions, those expressive hands, convey so much more than words ever could .. and again let each of us build the story .. I'm reminded Alex Guinness had that gift .. and there was one scene in Focus where just the expression playing over Meat's face told you a different story to the words, and so much about what his character was really thinking and feeling  .. and I watch the realisation and regret building in him which I know will pour forth in the next song ...

Blind As A Bat .. and yet again a song delivered as I have not heard him deliver it before except perhaps at the RAH .. such depth of passion and such strength in his voice  .. I stand here and the tears start in my eyes ..  It's such a beautiful song and tonight it touches me more than it has ever done .. I listen to that wonderful voice and watch those expressive hands clutched tight to his body and then flying out, palm down and fingers spread  .. onight I know I am in the presence of something very special, and it is overwhelming and beautiful ...

Paradise is as fresh and funny as ever ..  I always think of BOOH as entwined with Meat's DNA :) .. and tonight I am struck by the same thought with Meat and Patti and Paradise .. there is such an intuitive seamlessness about the theatre and delivery .. It has brought the audience to their feet throughout the arena of course .. and singing as one ..  and tonight I notice when Meat peers down at the setlist taped to the floor, running his finger down the song titles .. and finally says with confidence I was singing Paradise By The Dashboard Light .. he then adds .. and it's printed in black on white so it MUST be true .. and I think that's told us what he thinks of the press-pack-rats down on the South coast!!  And after the fat mother-in-law joke Patti says to him .. and you know what your middle finger was made for don't you? .. and with a final **** You!! . they are into the final argument, the presentation of "Miss Patti Rousseau" and a deserved ovation for this truly amazing woman ..

The opening chords of BOOH .. and back in an arena again the smoke effects and lights are so dramatic .. deep reds and purple behind Meat and green over the audience like an eerie mist over our heads. Never could I tire of hearing Meat sing this live, even though it signals we're nearing the end, and for an instant my heart falters .. but tonight it too is something extra special. Meat started note perfect and strong and this is undiminished .. He sails through the song and I remember him saying he felt he was now singing better than he had since the seventies, and realise I'm hearing this .. tonight I am transported back in time to those concerts so long ago .. tears again :) .. because he is so on perfect form and in his element ..  "And I'm dying at the bottom of a pit in a blazing sun" .. the lights are low and soft, and the words ring round the arena being taken up by everyone standing there ..  And as we reach the final lines, those long drawn out "Heee-lllllll" s just pour forth effortlessly, each held perfectly until the final one dies away ....

And tonight I see Kasim give Meat a huge and beautiful smile, because the man has been amazing throughout and has just delivered his signature song as strongly and perfectly as he ever has ..  Meat touches his hand to his lips and heart so many times tonight before he thanks us from the bottom of their hearts to our souls .. and as the lights go down on stage, I see Meat and Kasim return to sit quietly together on the set just in front of Patti's mic .. The audience applaud and cheer for so long .. and Meat just looks out at the thousands of us he has swept along on the crest of a wave of perfection tonight .. I've never seen him do this before .. I'm hoping he feels as proud of what he's achieved tonight as I feel a bursting pride on his behalf .. He must know he has achieved something extraordinary tonight .. was it his perfect show? I know in my heart he'll always be looking for something more to give, something more to achieve .. but tonight must have been as perfect as he could get .. until tomorrow in his seemingly endless quest ..

The encore set is superb .. Rock and Roll Dreams has note after note nailed, a superb solo from Dave on sax .. and we get that long, seemingly endless final note, again appearing to be effortless ..  followed by Roadhouse Blues and Lets Do It In The Road (with an unaccompanied chorus from the audience) .. the band in exceptionally celebratory mood, and Meat still power-housing his way through these covers ..

A final line up and Meat of course tells us to never, ever stop rocking  ..
Tonight has been amazing .. he has delivered every song perfectly and surely even to his demanding standard, and done so with an ease and confidence which leaves me breathless .. Around me (and later in the mile queue for paying in the carpark) I just hear words like Fantastic, mind-blowing, what a voice!, amazing ..

I have seen posts in other forums which poke comment at those who keep saying "the best yet"  Well I have news .. this WAS .. Those of us who go to a series of shows will generally see Meat get stronger and deliver better and better performances as a tour progresses .. It's who and what he is for heaven's sake .. But tonight he pulled something out of the hat that transcended my expectations ..  tonight he was simply the best and it was wonderful to experience it .. A St Crispins Day moment that will stay with me forever ..

Never, ever stop rocking? How could we with this amazing man in our world?

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-- Edited by Caryl at 02:59, 2008-07-10

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AAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW THERE'S MY STETSON

OH BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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