What can I say? This guy is a legend and it was so good to see him in Oz again. He blew my mind one night in 1986 when as a 16 year old I saw "The Straits" at Olympic Park in Melbourne. I have listened to MK's music every day since (19 years) and I was also at the "On Every Street Tour" in the nineties. His new stuff is great, but being DS obsessed I was hanging out for my fix. Telegraph Road delivered. A fanstastic rendition of the song, proving that he still has all the skills. My only dissapointment is that there was only one show in Melbourne. ps: What a fantastic website this is and Guy Fletchers site has also been great. You get a shiver in the Dark!

I was lucky enough to attend the Melbourne concert last week (i've been waiting 4 months since I bought the tickets). I can honestly say that the experience was one of the greatest of my life. Mark Knopfler confirmed, to me, that he is simply the best guitarist that I've ever heard. After hearing Mark play live in concert I'm definately convinced of this, and of the fact that CD recordings really don't do the man and the band any great justice. I thought Mark's music was fantastic on CD but hearing it live was just an out-of-this-world experience. I was disappointed that he never got around to playing Lady Writer as I was hanging out to hear that song again but was excited by some of his newer music. Like many of the people posting to this list, I'm a hardcore fan of his instrumental songs when playing with Dire Straits but was initally disappointed with his latest album, Shangri-La. After hearing him play a number of these songs live, I must say that I have since found a new passion for his newer music. Although it is not as instrumental and is of a completely different nature to previous releases, I have found many of the songs catchy after a few plays, namely 'Boom, Like That' (which was great live), Song for Sonny Liston and Donegon's Gone. It's a shame that the new album didn't have one or two instrumentals (like What It Is and Telegraph Road) but I suppose Mark's music has developed a different style these days and whilst it's different and perhaps largely unfamiliar, it's still brilliant stuff. Being a Dire Straits cum Mark Knopfler fan, I have always, like most people, hung on to the favourites from the Dire Straits era, in particular Telegraph Road - which seems to be his masterpeace. My opinion of this has now changed - I heard MK play 'What it is' live a this concert and have not been able to stop playing it since. This is, in my humble opinion, one of the greatest songs I believe MK has produced. It may not be by much, but I believe this song has taken the mantlepiece from Telegraph Road. It amazed me, and saddened me in some ways, to see MK in concert because it made me realize that the man is ageing quickly and although that is not an immediate issue, it raises the unfortunate question on just how much longer he has before he decides enough is enough. Looking around at the audience at the concert, I was also somewhat concerned at the older age group. Whilst rock music like the Rolling Stones (as a loose example) comes and goes with age, I truely believe that the type of music MK produces is timeless and should appeal, generally, to all types of generations. It is of particular concern that the newer generations are spoilt for choice with different types of music and largely computer-generated crap. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my techno here and there and modern rock but I miss the true musicians. Too much music these days is created and altered by computer and digital editing that we are starting to loose touch with what music is by definition. To see MK and the band live was to experience true music. Sure, it was beefed up by electronics but fundamentally, it's still pure rock and roll. Nothing excites me more than hearing a band making their own music with real instruments. I suppose in many ways that's why MK (and the supporting band) just blows me out of the water. MK and the band never fail to amaze me with their continuous love and passion for they do and they seems to get as much enjoyment out of playing the music as the audience does, and the crowd feeds off that. It's been 14 years since MK and the band last came to Melbourne (as Dire Straits) and unfortunately I was only 12 at the time so was unable to attend. I bought my tickets the day they were released and got seats 8 rows back. I was disappointed that security wouldn't let me stand up the front with the small crowd that had gathered (it wasn't like it was a head-banging Metallica concert or anything) but nevertheless it was pure heaven after waiting so long to hear a live performance. It must have been disappointing for Mark to only sell out one show in Melbourne. If I remember correctly, his last visit sold out 14 nights in a row (still, I believe, a record in its own right for Melbourne). I has hope and pray that Mark doesn't take offence and continues to bring his music and the band out here again. It might not be overly profitable - but god damn we love to hear it. I am extremely tempted to travel to the US later in the year just to hear them play again. It was a long fourteen year wait, but the memories will be for a lifetime. Hope to see you guys back again really soon - keep up the good work! Stuart

What a great concert. The sound was fantastic and so was the lighting. My wife and I were only 2 rows behind the mixing & lighting desk , so i guess we were getting the sound and volume that the sound engineres would like it to be . The croud was great, there were a few laughs and a bit of joking around with Mark & the croud. He sure has mellowed since we last saw him in Melbourne for the "On every Street" Concerts some time in the early 1990's , (1991 i think) Anyway we had a great time in 2005 Cheers Tony

Well, the roar that went up from the crowd when Mark appeared, bespectacled and cradling one of the most coveted Les Pauls on the planet, breaking into the slowly building lead to Why Aye Man, said it all really. On his first visit to Melbourne since OES, which I was far too young to see unfortunately, Mark gave us a mixture of his greatest hits and brilliant new tunes. As said previously, the setlist was same as Perth, despite the call for requests Mark made, but what a setlist! Highlights for me personally were Romeo and Juliet (the National was so well amplified that every note sang), What It Is (extended blissful solo), Sultans (the best version of this you will ever see or hear), Donegan's Gone (the novelty value of Mark on slide was brilliant, as was he), Boneparte (Richard was fab on bozouki), Telegraph Road (the solo numbed by ears) and Money for Nothing (Single Les Paul by Mark with Richard on some sort of percussive instrument, but the sound was massive. Cranked distortion and LOUD!!!) but everything was great. Mark's voice was darn good for a man with the flu, although there was the odd cough between songs. Explained he'd had himself looked at by a Doctor in Melbourne and that he was indebted to 'Libby and her Chicken soup', so hooray for Libby! Every band member played beautifully, and the mix of sound was just perfect. The piano of Guy and Matt was beautifully clear, Chad's drumming was phenomenally fast and powerful, and Richard and Glenn were great too, obviously enjoying themselves up on stage. And of course the man himself treated guitarists in the crowd to a show of skill, finesse and style you won't see from anybody else. A treat for all music lovers, and all fans of Mark. How I envy those of you who'll get to see him multiple times in Europe and the States!

The long wait for MK to tour down under was worth it! The dude can certainly play guitar. The crowd slowly built up, and by 8.15pm MK wandered onto stage, and began his over 2 hour set (identical to Perth's set, BTW). A very different experience to the "On Every Street" tour of the 1990's - the stage was very sparse, only the instruments on stage. No major lighting effects. But who cares!! I went to see MK make that guitar cry and make it sing. MK started off with "Why Aye Man", and then onto a crowd favourite - "Walk Of Life". The crowd certainly got more excited by the old Dire Straits numbers, but the newer songs also got a warm response. MK invited the audience to ask for songs, but the list didn't deviate from the setlist. "What It Is" and "Sailing To Philadelphia" soon followed, both exciting songs, even more so live. One of the reasons I love seeing MK live, is that the songs become even more exciting and different. MK had brought over brilliant musicians, and they all played their parts throughout the night. The drummer was excellent, as were the bass guitarist/celloist, other guitarist, keyboard player, and of course, Guy Fletcher. "The Trawlerman's Song" was next, the new single from "Shangri-La", and it seemed even better than the album version. The keyboard began a slow intro, and the crowd began to murmur. Off to the side MK changed guitars, and soon the beautiful start of "Romeo & Juliet" began, and the crowd went wild. They soon went wilder, 'cause "Sultans of Swing" followed. Now that song rocks!! Another person mentioned that it seemed like Dire Straits of old, before it became a "20 piece"! Just two guitars, bass, and drums, but what a song! Awesome outro as well - the kind of song that just goes on and on, but no-one really wants to end. That led to the slower part of the concert, and the crew set up a chair for MK. MK has been struggling with the flu of late, and he jokingly asked for a "honey & lemon" drink - and soon one was wheeled out to him! The other guitarist sat next to him, and the drummer moved to the front of stage, onto a smaller set of drums. "Done With Bonaparte", "Song For Sonny Liston", "Donegan's Gone" and "Rudiger" made up the "quiet" part of the set. All songs from MK's solo albums, but all well done. Next followed one of my personal favourites, "Speedway To Nazareth". The album version is very country, but has one of the best rocking outros I've been blessed to hear. The live version was different - more rock than country, and the ending was cool, but LOUD. MK then talked about the next song, saying that he started thinking about it after hearing a quote about putting a hose in someone's mouth if the competition was struggling (or something along those lines!). Of course, he was referring to "Boom, Like That", and again, it was well done. Some people may have been disappointed that so many of the songs were from his solo albums (especially since the ads had promised 80% Dire Straits), but I loved every song that was played (not that I wouldn't have loved to hear some of my favourites, "Darling Pretty", and "Coyote" for example). But the crowd soon got their Dire Straits fix with the next song, "Telegraph Road". A 12-minute masterpiece! MK then thanked the crowd and left, and people began the chant for more. As those who've seen the Perth setlist know, MK did two encores, and the whole "chant for encore" thing is a little passe. But stroke the ego we must, so we did, and soon MK was out there again, ready to rock. The first encore was all Dire Straits - "Brothers In Arms", "Money For Nothing" and "So Far Away". The crowd was happy! I liked the live "Money For Nothing" version, but I was really hanging out for my all time favourite Dire Straits' song - "So Far Away". Don't ask me why I like it so much, I just do! I was well rewarded for my patience. MK again thanked the crowd, and made his farewells. Another chant, and another encore! The second encore started with an accordian playing "The Mist Covered Mountains", from the "Local Hero" soundtrack, and then the grand finale was "Going Home", the theme from that soundtrack. All-in-all a fantastic night (2 hours and 15 minutes) of Dire Straits and MK's solo songs. The guy may be older now, but he's still one of (if not) the best guitarists in the world. Being able to see him play live was an experience I won't forget, at least till I go senile...

A fantastic show - beautiful weather and good crowd. The set list was basically the same as Bangalore show. Great opening versions of Why Aye Man, Walk of Life and What it is. Sailing to Philadelphia was beautiful. Romeo and Sultans two of the highglights - the crowd really responded after Sultans - a hot version - no slowed section in the playout, just full on build up and playout. The "sit down section" seemed to slow the show but the version of Sonny Liston sounded very powerful as a three piece. Boom Like That was great - the cheap Silvertone ( I think thats what it was) sounded really crisp and good) and Telegraph Road really thundered along. So did Speedway from Nazareth - huge drums sounds a very good vocal harmonies.Rudiger was well played too. Great sound from the Les Paul in this one. Speaking of guitars - the new red Fender Strat had a beautiful sound to- they look good in red.Mark also used an old maple neck sunburst strat with a vibtrato arm for So Far Away and some other tracks. The encores started with Brothers in Arms and Mark played this really nicely. Ended with Wild Theme just Mark and Guy and this was lovely but too short - extend, extend it. It was a great show seeing a group of musicians playing good songs really well - no hype, justb great playing. Mark is playing great guitar - great sounds, great feel and he is getting into it. Be sure to see one of these shows when they get to you.