Now it's getting aquard for me, because of the simple reason, that I personally never did like the music of the Simple Minds. That's also, why I've never seen 'em playing live before, even I did quite a few interviews with the frontman Jim Kerr over the past years. That's why it's probably time now to see a show of the brits. You might have made this certain experience as well, disliking an artist on CD, but the gig is great. Or the other way round, - the show is shite but on CD it sounds perfect. 

But you've gotta be neutral as a journalist and not beeing influenced too much by your own personal taste of music. And because I did miss this band in my concert experience anyway, so this is it. Even the event happens in our so behated venue 'Zenith', and thanks to the absolute snowdisaster here in munich, it takes me more than a hour to get there - one way! But on the other hand, 3.000 other people took the way as well to here and now, despite the weather.

One thing I'd luv to mention here for once. It's the the fact to see,listen and feel a concert so much more intensively, when you're just inches away from the stage in the photo pit. Unfortunately it's most of the times only for the length of 3 songs, and also as photographer, you've gotta concentrate so much on shooting good pics. that  the pleasure is not that big again. 
And they start the set with a simple 'hello, how are you' asked by Jim Kerr, who seems to have jumped across at least six timezones, with his cheak grin. Though the scotsman,who lives mainly on Sizily now a days , is in his late fourties already. Never mind,  you've gotta give him  a huge aura on stage. He's the best prove, that it doesn't need costumes and big Picasso make up to draw the audiance a 100percent to his person. Jim knows how to act. He moves, waves, kneels down and lies down on the floor.

He does everything just not standing there like a statue. And all that in a casual jeanslook with a little belly, sneaking out sometime under his shirt. Let's get it straight. The man has more sex apeal on stage like most of those long haired rockers in glam style. Believe it or not. But again, it's probably just us photographers who can see and feel this so intensively close. - Just before the show, standing at the backdoor, a slight shade passed quickly through the entrance into the dressing room and noone even noticed him. 

Back onto stage, the rest of the band, - yeah of course they are here as well, acting in the shade of the frontman. The Simple Minds are a classical popband. One Mastermind Charlie Burchill on guitar, bass, keys and drums all behind the almighty presence of the frontman. And the fans love him for that. Of course also in this case, the new album 'Black & White 0505050' has main priority. With the track 'home' Jim Kerr has created a song, which is most probably one of the best singles, coming out over the past months. A piece of music, which is actually not quite typically for the Simple Minds. But it's got an intensity and power, that you wish it never ends. And I almost forget to take pics, beeing so exited. It is one of those moments, where you start to shiver and feel a certain kind of exitment. Unfortunately  these moments don't last very long either and you keep falling down rather quickly from the top of satisfaction. The mere is a greatest hits package, bringing back the memories of the glory eighties (see setlist). But again, for me the difficult thing over all is to associate with the truly brilliant music of the Simple Minds, exept some tracks including the just mentioned 'Home'. It's more a matter of taste in my case. The other weak point is surely the fact, as soon as you stand outside the golden centerpoint, the sound is a complete disaster. But that's not the fault of the band. Our great Zenith venue is contributing it's best, to let us swear the hell out and even more dislike the place. 

Over all, now I've seen the Simple Minds finally playing live, have felt Jim Kerr's sex appeal (which I didn't feel before during all those interviews - here  is another new one) and I still pretty weary about the band's sound. Last but not least it has been a solid trip in the past-Present tense. Long live Jim Kerr.
 
                                                                    more  Photos here