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What does a famous rhyme say?: The spice lies in the shortness, or should I rather say: small but wow still great! However, both are standing exactly for the man with the blackest voice in white Rock'n'Roll. And although Eric Burdon has reached an age of 69 years now, he has, apart from some visual aspects, (we all get older, don't we?) nothing lost of his vocal qualities. Well, to use one more clichee phrase, I want to repeat myself as often before: it is like good red wine. The older it is, the better it tastes. So I would compare Mr. Burdon not only with a classic Bordeaux or Cotes Du Rhone from 1985, but at least with a Baron (Mouton) De Rothschild from 1945. And that one has just been sold at Christies for $ 65.000,--  - one bottle I mean....
Anyway and however the talents of the former and now again Animals frontman go to, he is, as many other artists of his generation plagued by the desease, that in most parts of this world there is none request anymore exept here in Germany. And that's why many musicians, exspecially those from the Sixties concentrate on our beautiful Rock'n'Roll country and tour their butts off.  This doesn't mean necessarely, that they won't tour anywhere else. But they all won't get this love as we Gemans give to our beloved Oldies.
Now mind me, it's taken quite a few years now, until Little Eric has found his way back to Munich again. But last but not least he did it, though the promotional work show a huge lack, whoever is responsible for that. One thing is for sure, on the outside of the building are countless signs, telling the audiance, that photogaphing is strictly prohibited, even wih the smallest cam. (Guess the management is not aware of the fact, that you can't shoot pro - print pictures with those) And they are only fans, who seek for a memory for a great night out. However quite a few one still managed to bring their cams in to take shome shots.Unfortunatley no interview at this point either. Despite the fact, that there were 2 days off in Munich, the stress must have bee enormous for ignoring the all so important press.  Apart from that - this is not the Rolling Stones or U2 - And even those are more relaxed. Never mind....
Our Muffathalle is packed. And you can easily make out, that most of the audiance comes from a Youth 1960 'till about 1973 I would say. And those have come here to celebrate a party with their former idol and remember old times. They are about 1.000 people and a few more, who are stuck in a euphoric wave of sympathy on this very last gig of Eric Burdon's eurpean tour. 
No supportact provided, but there is no need for that. And the Animals come on stage aprox. 15 minutes last at 8.15 p.m. - It is said, that they have only waited, 'till all people are inside the venue. 
The Animals 2010 consist right now, apart from Eric Burdon himself,

of guitarist Billy Watts, Drummer Brannen Temple, Keyboardist Red Young and Bassist Terry Wilson. So there is literatualy noone left from the original line up from the Sixties, exept Burdon himself. No clue, why Burdon after many solo years calls his current background band - Animals again. But I presume this is due to promotional reasons. You can think about it, whatever
you want, but one thing is for sure - they are all first class musicians....
 

After a short intro, the mastro steps on stage and starts off with the Animlas classic tune 'When I Was Young'. That one shows off an almost symbolic character. And at least 800 of those 1.000 beeing in here feel related to that one. Also the second tune 'Don't Bring Me Down' (not the song of ELO) continues with this symbolic strategy and leads into the first highpoint of this gig with 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood', an evergreen, penned by Bennie enjamin, Gloria Caldwell and Sol Marcus, orginally recorded in 1964 by Nina Simone. But the most wellknown versions of thie piece of music are the Rocktrack by the Animals 1965, which went to no. 3 in the UK charts and on 15 in the Billboard Hitlists and the  Discoversion by Santa Esmeralda from the year 1977. The respond to that one is a 150% of course. At some tunes Eric Burdon changes the key, but that's not, because he can't sing the other's anymore, as within one second he's exchanging into the usual chord.
What I have to mention in any case, is the fact, that Eric Burdon is not only a great singer and musician, but also a huge showman with a even bigger aura and some underlining wit. He is truly very fit, and who knows,maybe that comes from his current wife, who is not even half his age and provides him a second spring, most of all what's up to his condition.  
Although I can't avoid a certain feeling, that, if Burdon was a Nobody... yeah well, forget it. But all that seems to give him wings, despite white hair and a belly which is neatly hidden below a posh scarf. 
Ther is of course one song which must never be missing within an Eric Burdon show, and that's the undestroyable 'House Of The Rising Sun'. A quick explanatin to that one as well:The oldest recording of this track, entitled back then - Rising Sun Blues is done by Clarence Ashley & Gwen Foster from 1933. The melody sounds a lot like a british kid's ballad which goes under the name 'Matthy Groves' and is noted first time in 'Wit And Drollery' in the year 1658. But nobody knows, who actually wrote this song, and I presume we will never know. Most probably it is just a continuing development of some folkmelody. But in any case and that's for sure, there are once again 2 versions which went to fame. One of them is the 
Bluesversion by the Animals recorded in 1964 and the other one is the 
Rockversion american Hardrockband Frijid Pink from 1970.
Well enough of all this music lections. At 'House Of The Rising Sun' Eric Burdon once again changes the chords now and the to give the track sort of an individuall and little different touch as usually.


And that's already the amen in the church of the official set - as expected. The encore is started with an extended drum solo, followed by the other musicians coming back again on stage one after the other and start playing again. Burdon comes last of course going straight for an impressing version of 'Outta This Place', followed by two more hymns from the huge repertoire of his back cataloge. And that's it for good.

The star of the evening jumps off stage and out the backstage door before the first fan can manage to be on place to have  his/her CDs signed. But bad luck - he has vanished in a cap almost faster than the speed of light. Once again thanks to a very tuff management, taking care, that there is no fan contact at all. 
Over all the result is: 2 hours full action with a topfit Eric Burdon, despite his 69, a lot of nostalgic going for back to the Sixties with the flair of the present and last but not least - if anybody come up and asks for  a new album or so.....
Well who does need that? an Eric Burdon surely not....

http://ericburdon.ning.com/