Hello friends all over the world,
having had about a week to digest what happened to me, my wife and many fellow Seekerians last week I thought I should try to write my personal concert review.
I will try to do it song by song, especially for all our members who could not see them down-under or in the UK this year.
Generally said it was very much a so called "unplugged" concert. Apart from some keyboard accompaniments there were only acoustic instruments.
Song order
You Can Tell The World
Both Keith on his 12 string and Bruce played a fantastic rhythm guitar.
In Bournemouth Keith had some problems with the amplifier of his guitar, but seems to didn't bother too much about that, so Bruce played a little bit louder.
Love Is Kind Love Is Wine
This announcement of this song was used for a general welcome to the audience. In Bournemouth Judith made on stage a special remark about the visitors to the concert from all over the world, who get to know each other by an internet group. This made us very proud.
The acoustic version of this song was unusual but gave it a new dimension. Judith had some problems with her voice that evening, so she sang it a little bit differently. Really not bad.
When The Stars Begin To Fall
This was the first song producing a lump in my throat. Beautifully sung by an angel who found the way on that stage.
This Train
Bruce did a solid rhythm guitar and then there was Athol with his cool and relaxed acoustic bass playing.
It was the first song, where each of the members got some solo lines to sing. I (and not only me) was surprised about the "good singing job" Athol did. I think his vocal capabilities should have been used more often.
Judith was imitating with her voice a train whistle, which brought a bit of humour to it.
Morningtown Ride
What should I say about this song. Now definitely everybody of the audience sang along. It was pure excitement for everybody. With this song some first signs of tears in my eyes joined the lump in my throat. Next to me somebody from Denmark (guess who) was sitting, who was completely "lost" in this song, which was and still seems to be his most favoured one.
As an intermediate encore they sang the chorus once more.
When Will The Good Apples Fall
For this song, Judith left her usual place on stage (between Athol and Bruce) and went to the left side of the stage. An air of a little melancholy filled the concert hall when hearing her sing so beautifully. Again she got full audience support.
Red Rubber Ball
When introducing this song, it was pointed out, that it was a co-writing with Paul Simon.
Puff (The Magic Dragon)
They said they plaid this song as a tribute to Peter, Paul & Mary.
And it was really nice. They got special support in singing along by the smaller ones in the audience (i.e. age below 12)
The Light From The Lighthouse
This was and is a typical life song. They included the usual nonsense rhymes and Keith did some "stage show" by mimicking the stage attitudes of some rock heroes.
The interpretation as a whole was driving and forceful. My goodness what an energy they showed on stage.
Medley - This Little Light Of Mine, Open Up Them Pearly Gates, We Shall Not Be Moved etc
Again banjo-time for Keith and this medley was one of the highlights for me.
The instrumental skills of Athol, Bruce and Keith were clearly demonstrated.
Songs like this earn at least 200 - 300 % when being played live instead of in the studio.
Especially We shall not be moved with the absolute stunning and powerful vocals of Judith (despite voice problems in Bournemouth) were nearly two minutes of continuous goose bumps for me.
INTERVAL
I'll Never Find Another You
Hearing this song as a starter for the second part was a little bit of surprise.
Now I can say I heard that famous 12-string lick by Keith live and that was something.
With that song to start we all were back on our high feelings immediately. For me it is still and will still be the definite Seekers song.
From now on I was facing lumps in my throat, goose bumps and signs of water in my eyes more or less continuously.
With that song they made in London the announcement that Tom Springfield was in the audience.
Someday One Day
The good and uplifting atmosphere created by "Another you" continued.
What was so thrilling, not only with this song, was that you could always clearly identify the individual voices and instruments. There was no "sound mash".
Walk With Me
Beautiful and quite emotional. I was very happy that they played this song, which for me is the slightly melancholic counterpart of "Another you"
Shores Of Avalon
With this song I want to pay my tribute to the absolute stunning guitar work by Bruce. This was folk finger picking at its best. Keith concentrated on some musical accents with his 6 string.
If Keith was playing 6 string, it was mainly a small bodied one, whereas Bruce was mainly playing a full / big bodied acoustic guitar. Much too my surprise, his famous black acoustic guitar known from the 25-years-video, appeared only once and then played by Keith.
So the main guitar work in this song was done by good old Bruce, who also introduced this song. There were hardly any inaccuracies and even less mistakes to hear in his guitar play.
In this song the audience got also a verse to sing. This song is really a gemstone.
You're My Spirit
I was happy to hear this uplifting song, which was a return to more lively songs in the concert. Athol should have been involved in composing more often, if the results are like this.
Some words about Athol. He really is the anchorman on stage with his cool and relaxed playing of the acoustic bass. His slogan seems to be "No hurry just take it easy", he has such a laid back style of playing his instrument.
Colours Of My Life
Keith introduced this song giving a remark also to Graham Simpson's book with the same title. Judith welcomed the co-writer David Reilly in the audience in Bournemouth. Again a lot of sing along by the audience (as in nearly all the songs).
For Keith was this one of the songs, where he played his 12-string on very high notes, with a capodaster at least on the 7th or 8 th fret. His playing confirmed why I love the sound of a good played 12-string guitar so much.
Bush Girl
Judith sat herself on stool on the right side of the stage, got her solo light spot and then she sung again with her angel-like voice. The boys did a fantastic finger-picking job on her guitars.
I have never been a big fan of that song, but when Judith (in Bournemouth) sang it, just in front of my seat and only 5 meters away, there was something happening in me.
Myra
You have to hear this song live and see the fun the Seekers have when playing it. Really great and exciting, especially when also seeing Kayleigh dancing on the lap of Richard Veit . Pure fun and joy and excitement.
Athol gave the dancing of Kayleigh a special remark after the song in Bournemouth.
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
That song was a big surprise for me. Gospels are really some of the very very strong feet in the repertoire of the Seekers. Judith voice was sometimes sharp like a knife, then beautiful like an angel.
No need to say that Mr. 5-string Keith got a job on his banjo again, and did it well.
Ten Thousand Years Ago
Judith left the stage for this song and so it was the solo of the boys. A funny song, mainly living from the lyrics and the hidden and obvious humour in it.
In Germany we know this melody, too and we sing it along with a chorus starting "We are coming from the blue mountains, our teacher is a stupid as we .....".
At least the boys (including Athol again) could show their vocal capabilities.
This Is My Song
Keep A Dream In Your Pocket
The boys returned and mandolin time for Bruce. Played not much different to the live version on the video.
Georgy Girl
Keith took the whistling job at the beginning (maybe supported by the keyboard). The audience was slowly starting to stand. The excitement grew. Everybody sang along. And certainly the audience took over the job to sing "a little bit".
The bridge in the middle of the song was played without the 12-string lick. Really fantastic.
For me it was very very emotional and I hold the hand of my wife Bärbel for nearly all the song. Georgy Girl was back in 1967 my first Seekers song and single bought ever. I am so thankful that finally after 33 year I was lucky to experience this with my wife.
The Carnival Is Over
Into the applause for Georgy Girl the Seekers started to play that song.
The right song at the right place. Again very emotional, as I could read alone from the faces of Surfin' Seekers members surrounding me.
A World Of Our Own
This was the encore. And now, especially after the Bournemouth show I was lost in my feelings. I tried to sing along, but I failed several times. It was so moving. And to see how much also the Seekers enjoyed singing it and that also they were (at least a little bit) touched by the reaction from the audience.
As a little additional encore they sang the chorus once again.
This moment I will never forget in my life. I was holding the hand of my wife. What a great moment to share with someone, whom I am so close to.
To finish with, when they returned from behind the curtain for the encore applause we from the Surfin' Seekers had the great moment in Bournemouth to let Kayleigh present our bouquet of flowers.
And just one PS:
Some of our members could be considered as members of the "Banjo mafia" (including me). With the experience of these concerts we decided to rename us into "Plucked string mafia" and "welcomed" some new members: John F. from Canada and Jens K. from Denmark
Hope some of my remarks have been of interest for you.
Please excuse language insufficiencies here and there
regards
Peter Otten