Nighttown,
Rotterdam
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Seven & seven is
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Photos by Peter Visser and Ed, The Freedom Man
The setlist was along the usual format and finished with a realy rousing version of "Singing Cowboy"
I would have to say that the audience (apart from maybe a hardcore of about a dozenpeople) didn't really appreciate what was happening.Arthur said at one point "what's wrong,do you not get many rock bands here?" he also said If you don't clap a bit louder then this will be the last song.
This was the 3rd time I had seen Arthur and the boys in a week and while I really enjoyed it I felt the show was wasted on the majority of the audience. Sure Arthur forgot the words a couple of times they even played a song again because it didn't sound right but the guy was enjoying himself, so much so that at one point Rusty pointed out to him that was a gig going on and maybe he should join in (He was busy having a chat with a guy in the crowd)
At one point he gave his tambourine to a dutch guy in the crowd (who was enjoying his self)and another time he gave it to a girl in the crowd.He actually invited the girl to come on stage and explain how you figure out a woman!! but she declined.
I tried to have a chat with Mike before the gig started but he shook my hand and held up a small hand written note which said "Can't talk I've got a throat infection" you could see a couple of times during the gig he was struggling and rubbing his throat but it certainly didn't stop him playing his guitar.With each show I have noticed that there has been more and more guitar solo's by Mike and at Nighttown it was "Jimi Hendrix eat you heart out" he was immense. I'm certainly OK with guitar solo's but I guess the Love conventionalists may frown about this slightly.The main thing is that Arthur really seems to be enjoying himself and that's what matters.
This was the first time my wife had seen, or really heard ,Arthur and she thought it was the best concert she had ever been to. "His voice is absolutely amazing" - enough said.
Keith Stodart
Well for the rest.It was a pretty good show.Although a few times Arthur forgot the words from a few songs and had to ask Rusty for the next line.He was in a good mood.I am glad to have heard August and God humor man.So this show was more like a show for friends.Arthur was fooling around a lot, and gave his tambourine a couple of times to people in the audience.Al and Al it was a fun show and I have seen a different Arthur then in Utrecht and Amsterdam.
Ed, The Freedom Man
Went to the Rotterdam concert on Fridaynight and it was fabulous.
Arthur played non-stop for two hours and almost all of the songs that played on concerts
this year. The crowd was not too large as it was a last minute notice (I heard about it
only wednesday) but there were about 200 people at least.
Arthur was in a good, talkative mood and I must say this concert was much better than the
concert I saw in Amsterdam some months ago.
Peter Visser
Nighttown definitely was a memorable concert. The people at Nighttown had made some beautiful 'LOVE-decorations' in the concerthall. Funny thing was that the band did nst start out with 'My Little Red Book' but with '7 & 7 is'. The songlist by the other review is not correct. Arthur was in a particular good mood and joking and dancing a lot. He was playing guitar in the first 4 songs and a few later in the concert. There was a very good version of Signed D.C. with great harp solo and missing last line. At one time he asked the audience what 'Thank you' is in danish(!) but used a clear 'dankuwel', the right dutch version. The concert definitely was different from the one in Amsterdam late May but not necessarily better of worse. Sometimes it looked a bit more soulful and there were less guitar-solo's I think. It was a long concert and there was no encore. Before and after sixties-songs were played by Dj's.
Sjoerd Leenstra
I went to the friday concert in Nightown in Rotterdam without any
expectations and guess what happened: The band warmed up with "7 and 7 is" and i
got thrilled, wow. I knew Arthur Lee and love from listening to their first three albums
and by listening to it i recogniced the musical sthrenght and creativity of Arthur Lee and
Love. How i was amazed how Arthur's vocal sounded. And what a band very musical and in
balance (not only thanks to the sound engineer!). How they took care of the Forever
changes songs was very good, and after "Everybody's gotta live/ Instant karma"
the timing of "My flash on you" shook up the crowd, fantastic! This was one of
the best concerts i ever heard in my live! I hope they visit the Netherlands again.
Cees
