Despite aging a year since the last concert here (last night!), Kasim had all the same energy, panache and talent!

This concert was touted as being broadcast on both television and the Internet but sadly Meat Loaf’s set was not web cast. Being a regular at these concerts, it was interesting to see the differences compared to other nights. There were six cameras instead of the usual three and, although the shots were better than previous screened concerts in this series, the producer still managed to miss some of the interesting parts of the show! Why do they not at least see the show first before recording it?!!

Although obviously not shown on television, the show started with the compere getting us to practice our applause before he came out again to formally start the concert!

It was the same set list as last night but, of course, Martin Fry had his gold lame suit on especially for the cameras! Tonight, when Patrick de Smeet played the intro to The Look Of Love, he stopped after a few bars and produced a Father Christmas cap before playing Jingle Bells into ABC’s hit!

Chris de Burgh’s set was as usual but, wherever we are, he lists all the local restaurants and bars that he knows in the town! Tonight he mentioned that he’d been to the Bayern-Munich football game this afternoon and made a joke about singing a song about Munich before singing “Munich was my first love and it will be my last” (the opening lines of John Miles’ song Music (Was My First Love)!

Unfortunately Meat Loaf really struggled to hit some of his notes tonight (not surprising considering how many concerts they’ve played this tour) so it’s no wonder that they’re not performing Bat Out Of Hell at all. As Kasim, Patti and Pearl’s vocals still sound so good, it tends to emphasis it more. Despite (or maybe because of that), Meat Loaf puts 100% into the visual aspect of his set.

Rather than standing at the front again, I opted tonight to sit on the “expensive bleachers” as Meat Loaf later called them so I was behind the sound and lighting desks which was fascinating to watch (although obviously not when Kasim was on stage!). During Home By Now / No Matter What, some kid was hoisted onto her father’s shoulders so I couldn’t see Kasim at all. Instead I could concentrate more on his singing plus I watched the video screens. Obviously there were no close-ups of Kasim but the producer must have taken rather a shine to Pearl as he focused on her a lot (not once on Patti) and I was amazed at how much her stage presence has improved.

Thankfully the kid was removed for the rest of the set so I could see Kasim’s two handed behind the back counting again! During that Mark Alexander will also clap with one of the violinists too (he hasn’t learnt how to do it behind his back yet though!).

When we disappointed Meat with our singing of the word “Light”, he continued the mass walkout for longer than normal so that almost all the orchestra and choir were off the stage before they returned!

I could be totally wrong on this but it appeared to me that during Yellow Submarine most of the “stars” went up to Kasim and wished him a happy birthday. Certainly Chris de Burgh, John Miles and Martin Fry all went over and spoke to Kasim and he definitely said “thank you” to each one. Afterwards he joined some of them for their high kicking routine (although they did it slower than in Rotterdam).

Roll on tomorow night…..!

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