Benny and Celia

So glad you made it to the Bull's Head and we are
waiting to hear all about it!

Review coming up beginning of next week. Still recovering. One of the most memorable events of our lives, way beyond our expectations.

bennyb

yay! you made it! so glad to hear you liked the concert waiting for your report!

Coolhead, you made it !!!!

pleased to hear that you had a great time - looking forward to hearing all about it!

(01-16-2010 01:34 PM)bennyb Wrote:  Review coming up beginning of next week. Still recovering. One of the most memorable events of our lives, way beyond our expectations.

bennyb

But of course!

I hear that Kim was in the band that night too ....

He was. Alan explained that Bobby was at his sister's in the Bahamas. Do you know Kim?

bennyb

(01-17-2010 10:33 AM)bennyb Wrote:  He was. Alan explained that Bobby was at his sister's in the Bahamas. Do you know Kim?

bennyb

Yes I do. (I've mentioned him and Howie in a review I posted on this forum ....) I'll try and post a pic of me with Kim and Howie.
I'm really looking forward to hearing about Thursday night - sounds as if you had a fantastic time

This is very difficult to write about. You see, Celia and I had never seen Alan live and although our level of expectancy was very high, let me say that the show and the character by far exceeded in quality what we had imagined. Emotions ran very strong that night. Regularly, during the gig, we gripped each other hands because we were so moved.

We were fortunate enough to sit in the first row, right in front of him. He began, alone on the stage, by evoking a gentleman who is a regular at the Bull's Head but was not there that night because of a critical health condition. Alan then sang a song about life and death which he dedicated to him. What a start! It ripped my heart out.

Then the band came in and the show began. We laughed a lot, sang along, anticipated, received surprises, were puzzled at times, enjoyed the members of the band IMMENSELY (amazing solos and lots of fun with Zoot Money) and swore this was the first but not the last time we came to Bulls Head. Alan is an extraordinary communicator. He's spontaneous, funny, and his voice is THERE. Liked the recent photos and videos you've seen on Youtube, etc.? It's ten times better live.


After the concert, we were lucky enough to have a rather long chat with Alan. He is a true gentleman. Sorry, we don't have any photos or autographs, but it happened in such a way that pulling out our cameras and CDs would have been totally out of line.

There's so much to say...if you have any questions, please feel free.

bennyb

.....................................

wow, bennyb, what a story... Tell me more What songs did you like more? what were the funniest jokes Alan told from up there? is it ok to ask you what did you talk about after the show? Oh i'm so happy for you.

fantastic, bennyb, I'm so pleased you had a great time and were able to talk to Alan afterwards - yes, a camera can be intrusive at those times (I'm sure we all understand). I have the same comments / questions as Daria!

Please let me know when you are going to the Bulls Head again, I will do my best to be there too.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and emotions

Songs I liked best : I Put a Spell on You, of course, the O Lucky Man medley, Money, We've gotta get out of this place and then several softer, emotional songs that I did not know but that I thought Alan put a lot of feeling into. His voice conveys so intensely.
Jokes : the way he introduced his musicians, his remarks about YouTube and the internet (rolling his eyes), his reaction to a spotlight falling from the ceiling (in fact, I think he was displeased and worried about the safety issue), all with a very straight face. Un pince-sans-rire, we say in French.
Conversation after the show: Recollections of the Animal's concert in Paris at the Olympia, saying how much he likes Paris and goes twice a year, that, yes, Brussels is only a two-hour train ride from London (when I asked him:why gigs in the Netherlands and not in Belgium? we really ought to get him here), thanked us very warmly for having come to the show and did we enjoy it and several other subjects.
We are almost certainly going to the April 8th gig and more than just the two of us.
Celia, can you add something?

Sounds like a fantastic show! I can't wait now to get over to a Bulls Head show.

I'm sure that Kim is an amazing guitarist, but I have always been blown away by Bobby Tench on stage (not just with Alan but also with Van Morrison). So just think, the next time you see Alan in concert you may also have that new experience.

When you met Alan, did you tell him that you met on the forum? if so, how did he react to that?