Enno Ladwig tells about the Hamburg Concert

Hi all you guys... I wanted to let you know what happened far away from most of you guys...- in Hamburg. Counting Crows were playing live in town today! It was so wonderful... So very very very very very cool! I loved it! I really did! (well is that a wonder?)

Anyways, today I listened to their cd all day, especially my hollywood grand show boot. I couldnīt wait for the moment to be there, and see them live for the second time... (My first time was in 1994 (November) when they played in Hamburg for their second time! I liked the concert back then, but todays concert was even cooler)

My brother (16) and I (19) left home at six. I drove to the next shoppingcenter and bought 2 mini-tapes. Then we drove to a frien (ole) and he got the little Recorder... We soon left and drove downtown, approx. 11 miles. However on the way to the venue, there was a very big traffic Jam... So we just made it to the location on time. When we arrived I passed all those waiting people and got to the very front. I met a friend at the door, he worked for the stage security, and I asked him for backsatge passes, but he coulnīt help... I also met the girl I got to know yesterday at the Wallflowers-concert. We said that we shall meet before the concert starts. In fact we did, and I think we will meet again, so that we can trade all the different things and recordings. (BTW: Some of the people on the list that are on it for a very long time, you might know her. She has been on this list for about 3 years, however she canīt read it at the moment, as she lives at an exchange family in Hamburg. She lives in Michigan. Her name is Erin... (if you know her, mail me)

At 10 minutes past 8 we were allowed into the location. We were the first to get in...So we stood just in the very very front. I stood second row, to give others a chance to see... We waited some time and then Adam came out and announced "Cake". I donīt know of any other band who does that. I have never seen a band to be on stage before the support... He was so cute.

Then he left and Cake started playing. Their set was very short, but it was very good. They played all their good songs, ending with "Iīll survive". Mc Crea said that they would now sing a very old and sad song... "We mean it - we really do"... Then they left - no time for encores...

During the break, someone Erin knew from the "Tragically Hip" concert 2 weeks ago gave her VIP passes. She was so excited... She was just like " Enno. can you believe it we got backstage passes! I just canīt believe it! WOW WOW WOW..." I couldnīt either...

Then The lights went off! The show was about to begin! I was so excited! Well, before they came in, we heard a song from cd " California Dreaming". As everybody knew it, the mood and feeling was so great. Everybody sang along... THEN they entered. Everybody was screaming and it was so cool... They didnīt say anything and started with "Recouvering the Satellites". I really like the song, but that "version" was not very good, as one could not understand any of Adams singing. (He explained later) The same with the second song " Angels of the silences".

Well hereīs the playlist:

Recovering the Satellites
Angels of the silences
Daylight Fading
Ghost train
Rain king
Children in Bloom
Mercury
Mr. Jones (new version to Marty)
Goodnight Elizabeth
Catapult
Time and Time again
Iīm not sleeping
A murder of one
----------------
Round here (extended - with some of barely out at tuesdays)
A Long december
Walkaways
---------------
Anna begins


When they sang "Daylight Fading" one could hear Adams Voice much better... During "Ghost train" (which had the beginning known from the b-track of "A long december") He reached out his hand and touched some hands (among them was mine)! RAin King had a new verse in it... (I donīt know what it was - iīll check it on the tape later). Then they palyed children, then mercury. That version was better than on the record. Normally I donīt like it that much, but That accoustic version was very cool...

After that they did the new version of Mr.Jones. It is very slow and very differnet from the old. ( changed lyrics: We all want to be big stars, but we have second thoughts about that) Then tehy had Elizabeth, then CAtapult, then Time and time again. That was followed by an amazing performance of "I am not sleeping" (man that was so good) and "a murder of one". They left the stage for the first time...

Just after a very short pause they came back to play Round here. (the longer version with some of "Barely out at Tuesdays") It was very very good... Then Adam went to the piano to play the beautiful "A long december". It kinda let into walkaways...( that song was even better than on the cd, although it so short)

They left for the second time, and I (as many others did too, thought it ws over. The light were turned on, and many left for the wardrobe. I waited a little longer when they came back to everybodies surprise. (The light were turned off again) They played Anna begins. They wanted to play some more ("omaha") but they were not allowed as tehy were much over the time ( they played an hour and 30 minues++) Before they left they gave away memorials. I got the drumpad! YES! MY brother got a "plectron" (thats the german name for it - its for the guitar) It has the little picture of the painted guy in the new cd on it...

After the show I went to collect my jacket. In there were both Album booklets! Then I went out and baught a T-shirt and a sticker. ( it was so fucking expencive! I paid 43 DM, about 25-30$!) Then I went out and baught another longsleev shirt!. ( a bootleg one ) Then my brother Ole and I went to the tour busses and looked if they were there. They werenīt so we went back in. We waited for only 10 minutes and then Adam came out! I approached him and we talked. For about 10 minutes! I asked him a lot of questins which are of great interest for us all!

But first I had my booklets, my t-Shirt, the ticket and the drum-thing signed! He signed a lot, but was friendly all the time. As Karin mentioned before! Unbelievable! After he had signed most of the stuff, we started to talk. I thanked him for the great show, and he seemed pleased. He just repeated of being so very very tired! Then I asked him about our idea of opening up a fanclub for Europe! He said great, wonderful! He doesnīt mind... ( well this are not the exact words, but the meaning is the same)

Then I told him about the problems that we could hardly hear his voice at the parts were the instruments were very loud. He answered that it was because of his monitorsound. Itw as at a very bad level... And I was too close to the stage... But he wanted to know when, so that he could change it in the future. (One on the list said so allready) Then I asked him about the Video that they are about to release: They are just about to release it! So itīll be there very very very soon. He said he had watched it last weeend. It is great, there is just one thing he didnīt like about it. It contained too few live recordings that they made at the same time when they filmed "Angels of the silences". So he told them to add in more. He said that he would get it again next week - watch it and give it back so they could copy it. Then it will be released. (he gave no exact date but promised it would be very soon) And he said that it is a documentary!

BTW today there was a guy from VH1 germany and he filmed at the very beginning! Iīll get the materieal as well, as a friend works for Vh1...and heīll give it to me I think..

Someone asked him about other places they are playing at, he only knew Frankfurt and munich, I had to tell him that I would see them in cologne next week. He seemed pleased...

One more thing I asked if they will ever play "have you seen me lately" live again. He said "yeah, well do so very very soon!" I hope they'll do in cologne!

Then he said that he wanted to meet a friend. So he left...(but didn't make it far, when he was stopped by other guys wanting signatures)

Well, Iīm almost at the end! Thanks for reading:
But here are some more things that might be of importance: They played on a drumset taht was labeled with many stickers. The biggest said "Engine 88". I wonder if they took their drums...

And Charlie I think he cut his hair - I donīt know if you knew that already... Erin finally got backstage, (at first she was told to be very important person, but not VIP with All Access.) Later someone let them in and talk to all the Crows. The only thing I know that they talked of is: the recording my brother made.

Its done on a very cheap mini-tape recorder, so I donīt expect anything. What I heard now, the quality is pretty poor, however one could mix it so that it becomes a bit better. I think it was Dave and Matt who asked Erin who taped it. She said it was my brother and dave answered: "Thats our man - yes, we like that! It should be done at a lot of more shows." And they said taht there is a new bootleg of a show in some town in great britain!

Thats all I know from their talkings...

There is one more very funny thing:

We went to the place I parked the car. It is at a very dark place with some weird people (sometimes). We said into the car and put all our memorials away. That took a little longer. Then someone in the car said oh, watch out 2 dark persons are coming towards us. So we all locked the doors. When they were close enough I realised that they were policeman. We opened the door, and they said: " good evening - Whatīs this supposed to be ? A party?" We replied:" well we just came back from the Counting Crows concert! We can proove it we have authographs. " One policeman asked" Did they play new stuff, or just songs from those 2 albums?" Wow, taht guy knew who they were! They are not so famous over here, so that is quite unnormal. Then they said:" Well it has been a nice day for you then, have lets hope it stays so, goodnight..."

Well did i make out a point or was this just absolute nonsense??

Wellīnow Iīm home, typin the longest mail I ever typed...

I hope you like the review! Mail me, I like to know what you thinK! I really do!

enno@alternetive.net
http://www.alternetive.com/enno/countingcrows