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Following an invitation we went to Neúchatel, Switzerland, for the weekend of May 22/23 [2004]. On Saturday morning and after a good night’s sleep, we entered the hotel the band were staying in. People remembered us and we were kindly invited for breakfast. They were quite pleased to see some new faces: For two weeks they had had the same routine of getting up, rehearsing, lunch, rehearsing, supper and hitting the sack. Rehearsals took place in a gym in Neúchatel that had been rented for three weeks. The inside was an almost perfect setup and it seemed they were ready to perform in front of a huge audience here. The stage was complete, the lights set up, giant screens were hanging behind the stage and the sound was just fantastic. We were led to the place in the gym where we would have to stay while the rehearsals went on. So all the musicians strolled past us until a very unconspicuous Phil crossed our path. He greeted us with a “hi” and a grin in his usual relaxed way. It had been quite some time since his last concerts and he appeared to be very calm and content. Rehearsals began at noon for the songs, starting off with True Colors. We are convinced that this song is going to be an absolute highlight in the show, because he will perform it with five background singers. Gerald Albright climbed the gallery behind the stage and sang this song marvellously. It was a very impressive thing to hear Phil and his band in perfect sync again after seven years. Before lunch, several changes were made on Wear My Hat and Something Happened … . Phil remained onstage, where he booted up his laptop computer, sat behind the drums and continued to work on the whole set. He really does write down all the details after rehearsals so that he can talk them through with the other musicians the next day.
Come With Me, I Missed Again and No Way Out will also be performed on this tour. Phil’s famous In The Air Tonight will be bombastic again on this tour where the performance and the lightshow are truly fascinating. Phil ambles across the stage as usual, climbs the gallery and that’s when you begin to think that “either he jumps down to his drum kit or he’s going to miss the entry”. And all of a sudden it’s there, surrounded by white flashes and blue stage lights the sound really explodes. Sussudio is the final number of the regular set. The encores have also been finalized, at least according to some statements, It’s Not Too Late will be the first encore, a real treat before he leaves the stage. I spoke to Phil about this song. He said he was very happy with the way it turned out and that people reacted in a very positive way to it. (Me, I’d want to see the show just to hear this song.) After that it’s another brief Drum Thing that leads into the usual final number, Take Me Home, which will see Phil playing the congas. The second day followed the same schedule. Some songs were rehearsed again, amonst which I was pleased to note It’s Not Too Late. It’s a smashing encore and so very different from what you may imagine. We were permitted to join the band for lunch. Apparently you can’t do anything without a laptop in America. There were at least five of them on the tables and people were chatting with their folks at home via webcam, exchanging flight timetables, hotel accomodations and suchlike. Food was provided by a caterer the band brought with them. We could choose between several menus – they had really thought of everything. The band reconvened on stage at 2 p.m. But lo and behold, Phil had had the Formula One race in Monace broadcast on the big screens, so we watched the first couple of minutes of the race in a hell of a noise. Shortly after that, the band went through the whole set again. This time, Phil’s wife Orianne and his son Nicholas were in the gym watching the rehearsals, too. There were several times when Nicholas practised his “air drums” in quite an accomplished and exhilarating way. Phil’s dog Jack was racing up and down in front of the stage. There was a very cozy atmosphere and everybody was in a good mood. Right after the end of the show, when the steps for Wear My Hat had been changed yet again, Phil asked for the video material to be sent to Arnold McCuller a.s.a.p. so that he knows what he’s in for. Which means, of course, that he’s expected back for the North American leg of the tour. A summary? That’s difficult. We’re still fascinated by what we’ve seen and heard. We noticed that many songs sound similar to the way they were performed during previous tours in 1990 and 1997, to the point of a similar order in which they are played. We also noticed that Phil does not play anything from his personal favourite album Both Sides. As on the Both Sides tour, the first half of the set is the slower part, whereas things really get going in the second half. I think the new peaces have been integrated very well into the set. Audiences will enjoy them very much, I think. Phil really is a workaholic and he seemed to be very relaxed and looking forward to his farewell tour. Farewell tour? If you ask me, then, YES, it is. When I asked him in passing whether he’d play my favourite piece on his next tour, he stopped, turned around, pointed straight at me with a serious face and said: “Enjoy this tour. It is definitely going to be my last one.” That said, he disappeared behind the curtain leaving me rather shocked. Nevertheless LET’S LOOK FORWARD TO THIS TOUR! I was very proud to be there, and I would strongly advise you to see Phil at least for one show. Sadly, I’m convinced it is going to be his last tour. I saw a grateful and content smile in his eyes when I told him next day: “If you’re really quitting, you can be sure of one thing: You are quitting with the best show you’ve ever taken on tour.” Written and Photos by Andreas Bonder Translated by Martin Klinkhardt |
