jorge/pato
le 05/04/2008
Mark Knopfler came back to Lisbon after his last visit in April 2005, brought his whole "terrific gang" (band)with him, and guess what(?!), there is also a new "hero" in town!His name: John McCusker!
Yes, I was last night in Campo Pequeno to see MK performing in Lisbon for the second time straight in four years, and I can tell you it was an excellent show, even better than last one, specially because there was a couple of songs("Our Shangri-la" and "Postcards from Paraguay") that Mark didn't play last time. But now, after my remarks, I think he probably read what I have written! I don't post the setlist, because it was exactly the same as in Madrid, the night before, and it is already in that concert's page.And what a nice setlist!
Mark used a lot of guitars during the show as usual, and many musics gained a new life with the added value of John's skill and instruments, making us traveling with those rich sounds.We can notice that Mark adopted some different approaches to some songs, specially from DS era, which may have surprised some guys, but not myself. In fact, we all grow up in several ways with life, mature ourselves, and so do the great musicians. With such a long and hard tour visiting so many cities as they can, almost playing everyday, nobody can expect that Mark plays the same tunes repeatedly, day by day, without introducing some variations in the way he touches the chords of his several guitars, because that is the way to keep concentrated, motivated and pushing himself to get along with that huge task of a long tour, trying always to deliver the goods in the best entertaining way he can.
There are still some people that keep stuck in the old times of Dire Straits, thinking or expecting more songs of that time, but they must understand that MK has now recorded his fifth or sixth solo album, and for me, the variety and quality of his solo works definitely show he is one of the best composers/guitar players of modern times, just one of a kind, and I really enjoy listening to these records and to his more recent songs, although I am a fan of DS times too!
MK does not need to jump or talking so much to the audience like in the past, because the excellence of his music and the way how he communicates with his guitar talk by himself!
The band was in good shape as always, and we can notice the connection and profissionalism of those guys, and the pleasure they have when they perform together.
Some problems with the lighting system of the venue were not enogh to disturb the show, and for a first time attending a live concert in the refurbished hall of Campo Pequeno, I found the accoustics quite good.
One thing is for sure, after one more great performance of MK in which we felt transported to a new unknown "dimension" during most of the songs played:I want to keep attending any MK performances each time he comes to my "neighbourhood" again!