Just a few impressions from Nuremberg (11/09/2021). The Justin Sullivan gig was my first after a year and a half COVID hiatus, and I thoroughly enjoyed it…
Greetings Sydowski,
Not sure if we've ever conversed on here before either, but I want to thank you SO very much for dropping in to share your impressions, thoughts, findings, experience, etc., with us. I find reading
'fan' reviews moreso important, validating, enjoyable, rewarding than reading those of some fancy-schmancy journalist, who might be writing a review in some paper
(or whatever), just to earn a pay cheque or worse, for all the wrong reasons, to get some incredible perk that might come with the job.
In the past, I found that too many of them were way off-the-mark and questionable anyway. Perhaps the reviews were written by folk who didn't like, get or grasp NMA's material, repertoire, live shows, following, etc.. Things are changing a bit though, these days. NMA have had some good reviews for their newer material. Though when it comes to radio, there's a lot more catching up to do. Disc jockeys still tend to focus predominantly on all things "Thunder and Consolation". Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that album... immensely. But c'mon radio stations, disc jockeys, journalists... NMA have released 11 terrific studio albums since that one!! Which, if one pauses to take a look, was actually just their fourth. There are still NMA fans out there in the world that have no clue that NMA went on to release not one, not 3, not 5, but 11 full-length studio albums.Pleasant temperatures (only a few drops of rain)
beautiful location
around 200 very attentive people in the crowd, seated at tables,
JS in high spirits,
and a very enthusiastic seal in the neighboring zoo, who barked diligently during song breaks and provided some laughs.
What the 'eck, a barking seal? In a neighbouring zoo?! LMAO!! No way, you've gotta be kidding, lol.
I guess it felt left out, y'know... 'cause I guess it
'was uninvited' 'n all.
"arr, arr, arr!" pada-pum
forgive me, couldn't resist the seriously cheesy joke!
Hey, here's some awesome NMA trivia for those who might not have heard...
NMA's apparently played at a festival gig with actual, real, proper chickens running around the grounds!!!
ROTFLMAO! Can you even imagine it? I mean seriously, just picture it for one cool split second...
Justin's completely centred, in-check...
his penetrating full-on wild-eyed-gaze is upon the hungry, loyal, anticipating audience...
he's driven, intensely-focused,
readying himself up for that most crucial, pivotal, noted-musical-cue, for him to crash in to sing his part...
just as the rest of the guys Michael, Dean, Marshall and Ceri are striking
and pounding the fcuk out of their musical instruments,
with such impeccable, precision, ferocity, vigor and speed,
the tune for which they have begun to play...
that noted-musical-cue comes ever-so-swiftly clamoring-in...
Justin grips his mic with fists so unassailably tight,
breaks into the audible space between the band and the crowd,
of beaming, glistening fans...
and like the crack of lightning and rumbling roar of thunder itself,
Justin pulls his mic in towards himself, just right 'n tight enough, close enough to channel and summon the 'GODs' of old...
everyone's psyched, everyone's pumped...
it's chaos, it's pandemonium -- out there in the mosh pit, all muddied folk, revved-up for the gig...
Justin parts his firm 'n full, yet soft dew-kissed-lips -- like a soothsayer, prophet,
calling on / drawing-in his / their faithful devotees...
he sings into his mic, with eyes-closed-oh-so-tight...
"Here Comes The wWaaarrrrrRRRr!",
as a flock of 6 cackling, clucking chickens go passing across the field,
like nothing's happening, just casually nodding their heads
back 'n forth, back 'n forth, back 'n forth -- rather amusingly, quite surprisingly in rhythm with the raging tune,
pecking away at the festival grounds,
just looking for their next meal.For the record, it didn't happen that way, at all. I'm just having a little fun with the bit of NMA trivia.
And yeah, I genuinely can't tell a story or joke... not even if my life depended on it. But there's just something about the thought of NMA playing at a gig with chickens running amuck in the mosh pit too, that's actually pretty cool... very cute and totally endearing, sweet, plausible. Particularly enjoyed the Nuremburg setlist + barking seal story! Hopefully it didn't cause too much of a kerfuffle or spoil the mood for JS or anyone.
Justin‘s voice was very room-filling (despite playing an open air gig),
deep and at the same time very clear (at NMA concerts it sometimes sounds much rougher),
and his guitar playing sounded very clean. The combination was simply beautiful.
I love, love, LOVE Mr. Sullivan's voice! Especially, on both "Navigating By The Stars" and "Surrounded". It is his greatest, natural and innate blessing, gift, instrument. It certainly is as warm and captivating as the
bee's knees. He can conquer and shift tectonic plates, move mountains, bend and fold water with it.
It's what drew me in all those years ago, then came the music, the face, the smokin'
HOT body.
'hmmm-yesss', as stunning Kate would tenderly whisper. He's definitely in a league
all of his own...
The setlist as far as I remember it:
1. Maps
2. Changing of the Light
3. Amundsen
4. Coming With Me
5. Unforgiven
6. No Greater Love
7. Rip Tides
8. Strogoula
9. Marrakesh
10. Over the Wire
11. Clean Horizon
12. Stone and Heather
13. Where I Am
14. Passing Through
15. You Weren't There
16. Bad Old World
17. Eyes Get Used to the Darkness
18. 1975
19. Sun on Water
20. Die Trying
21. Fate
22. Snelsmore Wood
Magic
Ohhh, Sydowski, I'm sure it was so much more than magic.
Thank you SO very much for sharing your in-depth impressions, the Nuremburg setlist, the mentioning of the barking seal... just all of it, everything. Your contribution to these here page, truly made my day! Stay safe, enjoy the rest of yours, Sydowski. And I hope you'll get to attend another JS solo date or two, soon. Cheers!
Ohhh, Mr. Sullivan please consider doing a live solo stream, too?
Please? Please? Please? Sometime before year's end, perhaps?
and also one or two or three solo concerts in France would be cool, too!
Hey!
Who knows, Guillaume, his lady-love lives there! So why not then? He would definitely have a warm place to stay, no need for hotels or Air B&Bs! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and the French contingent, Guillaume! Stay safe and hope you thoroughly enjoy the rest of your day, too, Guillaume.
Actually, I'd like to extend those very same wishes, to every floater / poster here.
Happy gigging, resting, listening, reading, and / or posting... to all!
Stay safe and take care of yourselves and each other.
