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It
doesn't happen very often, but then again it does - now and then... that
an american Country Superstar gets lost here in Europe. For what anyway....
as across the ocean in his home country, that Star counts a 10 to 50.000
crowd, and over here his or her name is hardly known at all, exept to a
small Country Music Fan Society. Yes of course, if the name is Willie
Nelson, who by the way has also toured Europe recently , then the risk
ain't very big. Because Old Willie is a legend and even known most
average music lovers here. But who the hell is Toby Keith?! The answer
to that can only be provided by the just mentioned small Country
Music fan circle. Mr. Keith has come over for 5 shows here in Europe,
which ain't that much, is it?! And he's celebrating his debut here in
Munich, Bavaria at a sold out show - yes!!! But that again is pretty
much relative as our Kesselhouse here has only a capacity of about 1.500
- max. 2.000 souls. Just opposite the Kesselhouse in the far bigger Zenith venue denish shooting stars Volbeat are on tonight, also sold out. And that means 3 times as many, as here at our club. Well it's like a madhouse outside between the two buildings, but thanks to a solid organisation both events don't get in each other's way.
Though, it could be quite useful, if you get pushed and squeezed from your neighbour behind you in the audiance, then you just step back and.... well the effect would be enormous.. In
any case it seems, as if every Buffalo Bill and Billy The Kid fan in
Bavaria has found his/her way to this even here. Because it's them, who
know Toby Keith's music not only since yesterday but from his very first
release back in 1993. This artist, who celebrated his 50th birthday last
July, got already 17 studioalbums, quite a few Best of Compilations and
61 Singles on the market. And he has sold more than 30 Million Albums so
far mainly in the US. Halleluja, those are dimensions, most rockstars
over here can only dream about. And I think, I don't have to mention all
the platin and other awards in the past. |
At least now there is so much more movement within the audiance compared to the beginning of the evening. And the mood rises up about 150 percent, well, as far as this is possible in here. Because thanks to narrow space in here due to sold out status, the circle to move is pretty tight. I for my part can't complain, as mentioned before. And the stage light is a
pure delight and as every photographer can only wish. You don't need to
switch around buttons on your cam, you just press the button and that's
it - as you can see here... And using a fisheye you even get the whole
stage with most particiats onto one image... Fortunately the stage is
big enought for these 10 or so musicians. |
But it's Toby himself who takes most place up there, that's what it seems, with his gracile shape (the one, usually football players have got, and that's what he used to be in the past) The rest of the band is surrounding him in sort of a circle and is not only consisting of the usual bass, guitar and drums, but also a fidle and a horn section. And last but not least there is this pretty female background nitingale, who seems like the icing on the cake. Well, let's put it that way, Toby Keith truly got some very good songs in his cataloge, and those are rockin' like hell.
Performing live it's a
little different. Because while the show is going on, you realize where
the rabbit is jumping as we say so... And that's much more Country than
Rock. Of course, that's what it should be and most of the european
Countrymusic fans are very happy with it. |
I for my part
think it's a solid and very professional performance. And towards the
end it's even getting more energetic,as Mr.Keith throws away his guitar
and steps in front on the edge of the stage to get in touch with the
audiance. Well as far as the pit allows to do so.- By the way, the setlist is shortened for one song because of time reasons, as the set has to be finished by 10.30. Not because it has to be because of some authorities orders, but because of the simple reason, that our Country Music audiance doesn't meet the 6.000 Volbeat fans from next door, who will be leaving 30 minutes later. - Here at our show we get one more encore within this 90 minutes concert and this one is named 'Little Less Talk'. After that the magic is finally finished. However, it's been nice and our Cowoby fashion victims in the audiance are proud to have had the possibillity to show all their outfits again in the public. For Toby Keith himself it's been certainly a different experience playing in such a small frame and not in front of a huge crowd. And let's wait and see, whether he will return some time in the future. But first of all Toby is nominated for the upcoming Grammy Awards for: 'Best Touring Artist Of The Year'. And that means something, exspecially in America. Cross fingers that he's gonna make it. Good luck! That's it for now my friends of good ol' Country Music and I say 'howdy and give my car the spores to get outta here before parking slot - traffic jam is rolling along..... http://www.tobykeith.com |
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