| Set List: BStage: There Will Never Be Another Tonight (Acoustic/Band combo) Please Forgive Me (Acoustic) The Best Of Me Can't Stop This Thing We Started Somebody Open Road 18 Til I Die Let's Make A Night To Remember Back To You I Think About You Summer Of '69 Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? Everything I Do... Cuts Like A Knife When You're Gone It's Only Love (Acoustic/Band combo) Heaven The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You BStage: Rock 'N Me (Steve Miller Band) Seven Nights To Rock I Got A Woman (Ray Charles) She's Only Happy When She's Dancin' Cloud Number Nine Run To You Straight From The Heart When You Love Someone All For Love Capture stills taken
from the DVD:
|
The Show: When the Spring 2007 tour dates were announced a few months prior to the shows, there was hope in many fans minds (such as mine) that since the tour was returning to some major BA markets for a second, third or even fourth time since the release of the Room Service CD, that these Spring 2007 dates would co-incide with new material to perform and promote. Sadly, it did not work out that way. As a result, I thought that if BA returns to these major support centers such as Italy, England and Germany without any new material, it's unfair to his fans to see pretty much the same show he's been putting on for the past few years. Happily, BA felt the same way. And on March 23, 2007 at Mazdaplace in Milan, Italy (where he performed in 2004 and 2005), he came out by re-tooling the set, the length, the staging and the overall feel of a BA show. What a welcome treat! To start with...the BStage returns for the first time since 2002 and the first time with a five piece band since 1997. Plus, the show BEGINS on the Bstage for the first time since 1997 London shows. During the encores, BStage rookie Norm looks up after the first song ends and asks "what's next?" Clearly, the Bstage has been planned to be very loose for its first time back in the show. Songs are rearranged with more acoustic guitar (intentional), some encounter sound difficulties (not intentional) and the Bstage features two first-time ever live performances by BA. Overall, it's a superb 27 song performance that goes well past the two hour mark and makes it one of the best shows of BA's career since the turn of the century. It's also one of the most surprising shows to us set-list watchers since the Tokyo 2005 gig. The venue holds approximately 6000 fans who are visibly less energetic as the infamous 1997 show in Milan which is also on DVD. It's obvious although BA may be 18 til he dies, his fans are not acting like a bunch of 18 year olds anymore at his shows. The Songs: The main set featured the recently revived Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman, I Think About You and for the first time...It's Only Love performed mostly with BA on acoustic and Keith on electric. Back on the BStage for the encores, BA unleashes the premiere live performances of two cover songs: Steve Miller's Rock 'N Me and Ray Charles I Got A Woman. While the first song sounds rough and barely rehearsed, the later sounds strong as if the band has played it a number times in soundcheck. Either way, it's great to hear some new material in the show...even is it's not original material The Recording: Using a tri-pod and a digital camcorder from the rear right (Keith's side) of the arena results in a superb product and the best audience-filimed show since Tokyo in 2005. Very steady, clear and great location for the Bstage performances. Another gem to come from Milan.
|
