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Photos
and Concert Review by Anita Ranisch
Eschweiler
Musik Festival – EMF
28.8.2008 I
started my trip to EMF Eschweiler about 6.00 p.m.
right after work from Berlin-Tegel to Cologne and
arrived in Eschweiler around midnight with my "feathers
slightly ruffled up"! The plane was 2 hours
late, another hour waiting at Cologne for the next
train to Eschweiler, heavy rain there and no taxi
… Luckily for me I got in thanks to a local native
named Hans. He gave me a lift to my hotel and in
route we talked about the reason for my coming to
Eschweiler. He did know about Ten Years After, of
course. What a great band he used to listen to in
the sixties, seventies! But he learned from an EMF
flyer that Alvin Lee is no longer with the band.
"Do you really think it works without him?"
he asked me. I don't think so - I know it! There is
only one answer: go and see for yourself!
29.9.2008 I spent the sunny
day walking around till early afternoon. Then I
returned back to the hotel to rest my feet and
prepare for the festival in the evening. I was
promised a press-card by the organizer of the EMF (thanks
to Max Krieger Management GmbH) which I had to
collect from the office, so I started out again about 4
p.m. This office was near the stage. I got the
chance to watch TYA doing their sound check for
awhile. I was so glad so see them all again: Ric,
Chick, Leo, Joe, Tom, Wölfie, Sander and his
brother (?). Everyone was in a good mood, laughing,
fooling around, except for Wölfie - Seems that something
was wrong
with the sound system? It looked like this any way. I had a
short conversation with Joe and Chick. Joe told me about the
secret of this little white toy sitting on his amp.
I think the time before a gig is dedicated to
band-business and I didn't want to get on their
nerves. So I decided to have a big cup of ice-cream.
First act of the EMF was the
native band "Grenzgänger", then Tony
Spinner and his band entered the stage. You know,
the part time guitar player and high harmonies voice
of TOTO! They did a great job and have been the
right opener for Ten Years After. Especially I did
like their version of Led Zeppelins "Black
Dog".
TYA started their performance
in time at 9.15 p.m. with "Working On The
Road". The crowd was enthusiastic from the
beginning on! I saw a young man "dancing around"
while sitting in his wheel-chair! No songs from
"Evolution" on the set list apart from
"Angry Words". Leo again announced the
release of the CD for September, but Chick made it
more precise: could be October or November or
December or Easter of next year … Well, I think when
the CD is finished, we will get it! The sound really
wasn't as brilliant as usual, the big building
opposite the stage was most likely to blame for it.
After the show I spent some
time with Leo, Tom, Joe and Chick. Ric was busy as
usual. The warm summer night reminded me of this
night after the show at Rockhal/ Esch-sur-Alzette
one year ago. What a great time we all had there in
Luxembourg! I wonder if there will be another opportunity
to celebrate such a party again!
On the way back to my hotel I
found my new friend Hans sitting with some guys at
the "Kleiner Gürzenich". He proudly
showed me his copy of "Roadworks". "You're
right" he said to me "TYA is still alive,
still a fantastic band, better than ever! And the
new guy on guitar is a jewel, no, better than that
he's a wizard!. What ever, we all had a lot of fun and that's
what it's all about, isn't it !
Before we said good bye Hans
told me that he was going to watch the next TYA gig
in Verviers as well.
Hi
Anita,
Thank
you very much for your excellent review and photos from
your latest concert with
TEN YEARS AFTER!
Brigitte & Dave
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