review of the tucson show

[charles]

Well, this is surely one show I'll never forget!

This was show number five for Patsy and I. We had tickets in the sixth row to the right of Matthias. Not bad seats. We saw Toshiko and Rolf sitting right in the front row where they belong. Are there any more dedicated fans anywhere? They are on tour again and it was good to see them and chat a bit. We also saw Teri and her friend Patrica from Phoenix. We had met Teri at the show in Phoenix in 2005.

So it was time for the show to start and there was NOBODY sitting in the second row in the center section. When I bought our tickets online I noticed that these seats had been marked "unavailable" instead of sold so it was time to make a move. Patsy and I moved quickly to the second row, just ahead of about 300 other people with the same intention. Our decent seats just turned into about as good as it gets! And then we turned around to see Elizabeth, who we'd also met in Phoenix. So a bunch of members of the forum were right up front, which was very cool.

I've never sat that close at a Scorpions show before and the big difference this time was seeing how the band interacts with the close-up crowd. Klaus, Rudolf and Matthias all connect with individuals in the crowd. I pointed at both Klaus and Matthias at different times and they pointed back. I saw lots of that sort of interaction. They are so connected with their audience.

I thought the show itself was great. They played Hour One, Humanity and 321 from the new album and also a nice variety of songs from Lovedrive through Love at First Sting as well as some songs from later albums. Klaus' voice was wonderful as always. Rudolf was active and in great form. Matthias was incredible both in his playing and in his performance in general. So much energy... how old did you say these guys are?

I would have rate this show as my favorite so far, but it's going to take a bit to beat this performance after what happened at the end of the show. We had brought a couple of inflatable toy guitars -flying V's- to the show to wave at the band. Patsy gave one to Toshiko just before the show started and I blew up the other one and waved it at times during the show. At the beginning of the encore the whole band was front and center and I thought it would be a great time to see if they would play my guitar. I gave it a toss and it landed at Klaus'
feet. Much to my delight he picked it up, laughing and said "now I have one too. " The next song started ("Still Loving You", no less!) and he is playing air guitar on this red inflatable flying V! I was snapping pictures as fast as my little digital would let me. And then Klaus handed the guitar back in the audience and, instead of keeping it, the person who had it handed to him just handed it back to me. Only at a Scorpions concert.

Now, if that were all of this story I'd remember it forever. But when I got home this evening and started looking at the almost 400 hundred pictures that I took I discovered that among the dozen or so that were really good and in focus was one with Rudolf pointing from across stage at Klaus and laughing as he was playing the inflatable guitar while they played "Still Loving You". I've got some other good pictures too which I will share after I get some sleep.

If I can sleep...wow, what a rush. Now how old did you say those guys are again...

[charles]

Actually it was only almost 400 pictures. It's been a long day, night and morning.

[rudiray]

Great review Charles................sounds like the show was great. Excellent. Can`t wait to see a few pics when you get the chance to post them. Get some rest.

[mzzkatz]

How funny is that!! Can't wait to see those pictures!! The guys are soooo wonderful with the fans and Scorps fans are THE BEST!! Pawel tossed a pick at me and I missed, all those around knew it was for me....short while later someone handed it to me. Got to love the Family of Spiders!!

[Gabi6912]

Excellent review Charles, with a big enthousism.
I am glad for you too to enjoy an unforgettable show and tobe together with some Fosmembers.
It is as so great always as the show it self lol.

[Stormchaser]

Wish I could have been there with you this time my friend! Thanks for sharing the experience, and you're so right about being up close. Once you're up front you never want to be anywhere else again. You said it best, you feel connected and it's an entirely different experience altogether. Nothing like seeing the tandem guitar assault during Blackout less than 10 feet in front of you, talk about an adrenalin rush Sounds like you made the most of it, looking forward the the pictures!

[Gabi6912]

Mike my dearest american friend,
I can't believe that you couldn1't get to any show now, but ok, I am sure that 2008 will be your year again just like 2004 was, as I remember.

[Gaby]

Great review!
lol,I liked so much!

Thank you for your sharing with us.

[AnnieinSoKal]

Oh WOW, what a fantastic review-thanks for sharing! I love the inflatable guitar story!

[Stormchaser]

Originally posted by Gabi
Mike my dearest american friend,
I can't believe that you couldn1't get to any show now, but ok, I am sure that 2008 will be your year again just like 2004 was, as I remember.
[/quote:quote
Thanks Gabi, I really wanted to fly out west like in 2004 & 2005 but my schedule this time just wouldn't permit. I met a lot of great people on those trips and that made the experiences even more special. Scorps fans are the nicest people, I hope to meet many more in 2008!

Arizona really was a gas...hey Charles, did they play Arizona again?

[CHRIS]

Charles, I'm glad you and Patsy had a good time at the Tucson show. I was going to try and make this show too, but couldn't pull it off.
Hope to see you both next year if the band comes through Phoenix.





ARE THERE ANY RECORDINGS OF THE PAST 4 SHOWS ??

[kimpgapro]

Charles, awesome review! Sounds like another amazing show....can't wait to see the photos!

[charles]

Here are the pictures:

[url]http://www.sunsites.org[/quote:url]

[angel68]

thanks for the great review and the pics Charles. I love the story when Klaus was playing the little red flying V and it looks so great on the pics

[rudiray]

those are great pics.............looks like the show went great.

[rudi]

can anyone can post the setlist for this show?

[Toshiko]

Rudi from Greece is seeking for the Tucson show's set-list?

1:Hour 1
2:Bad Boys Running Wild
3:Love'em or Leave'em
4:The Zoo
5:Deep and Dark
6:Coast to Coast
7:Send Me An Angel
8:Holiday
9:Humanity
10:Make It Real
11:I'm Leaving You
12:Tease Me Please Me
13:321
14:Pawel+James Solo
15:Blackout
16:Big City Nights
17:dynamite
18:Still Loving You
19:No One Like You
20:Rock You Like A Hurricane
21:When the Smoke Is Going Down

[rudi]

hey thanks toshiko!!!

[Toshiko]

You're very welcome, Rudi.