Munich,
Germany, 8th July 2002
Set
List
I
Can't Let Go / Here I Go Again / Jennifer Eccles / Just One Look / Bus Stop / On
a Carousel / Sorry Suzanne / Yes I Will / Look Through Any Window / Blackbird /
Blowin' In
The Wind / Carrie Ann / Stop! Stop! Stop! / The Air That I Breathe
Blackberry
Way / Tiger Feet / Long Cool Woman / He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother / It's In
Every One of Us
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Munich’s
Tollwood
festival seems almost continuous, with the Summer one having been in full swing
for weeks already by the time we arrived, and the plans for Winter 2002 and
Summer 2003 now well under way.
The
festival is held in the sprawling Olympiapark,
which was host to the Olympics in 1972 and located
in a quiet and central part of the city called München-Schwabing. I’d
checked into a hotel just around the corner, so decided to make my way down to
the festival site mid-afternoon to explore. It was absolutely roasting hot as I
made my way down to the leafy park, and the festivities were in full swing by
the time I arrived.
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The concert venue itself was an
enormous big-top style tent (the biggest yet!) surrounded by a bustling mass of
craft and food stalls. I had trouble locating it to start with, but soon found
my way by following the familiar strains of the band’s sound check. The
interior was huge, with rows of seats at the back, bars at the front, and masses
of standing room. Following sound check Carl and I explored the craft fair for a
while, amazed by the quality and diversity of goods on sale.
Evening
came, and the big-top filled with eager punters, all bagging their spots at the
front of the stage early on.
The
Hollies were very eagerly
anticipated tonight. The support act was a very loud and interesting
percussionist who got the crowd going nicely. Our boys took to the stage at
8.15pm to thunderous applause and gave another tremendous performance, despite
the rising heat inside the tent. The set list was the same as Gaffenburg,
with the addition of 'Blackbird'.
The
hits went down a storm in this bigger venue, which really did seem to be full of
many genuine fans tonight. Ray’s 'Blackbird' was very well received with some
of the crowd copying his finger clicking in amusement. I always make a point at
looking around at the faces of the crowd at these festivals, and tonight they
were glowing, not only with the heat, but out of sheer appreciation and
enjoyment. Carl’s German was as well-received as ever, as he counted in the
intro of 'Long Cool Woman' and
demanded that the crowd jump with him during 'I
Can’t Let Go' and 'Stop
Stop Stop'. This huge crowd
really did jump too, it must have looked great from the stage.
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'Air'
and 'Heavy' carried their usual
amazing emotional charge, with a seemingly traditional sway of cigarette
lighters through the whole audience. 'It’s
In Every One of Us'
went down particularly well. As Ray, Alan and Tony joined Carl around the
microphone, their voices mingling and soaring alongside his, the harmonies
swelling and filling the tent, an audible wave of admiration travelled
through the crowd. It is never certain how this a capella prayer-style
piece will be received, especially by a large crowd, but it was a sure hit
tonight. |
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A
beautiful end to another terrific evening out in Germany.
Review and photos
by Helen Macdonald
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