Beirut, Lebanon, May 02, 2009

Gig reviews, set lists, thoughts, comments and observations on the 2008/2009 Sisters tour, including the Autumn/Winter 2008 U.S. and European 2009 legs.
Bartek
Underneath the Rock
Posts: 6141
Joined: 17 Sep 2005, 10:47

here come the bold oldie
here come the Hizbollah


have fun! :)
User avatar
LouLou
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1074
Joined: 22 Dec 2006, 19:47
Location: "65"

have a S-T-O-N-K-I-N-G time! :D :D

looking forward to the reviews!

(and, if possible, a nice little recording) :wink:

PS - Andrew S, hope it all goes nice and smoothly at the airport :)
User avatar
Pista
Cureboi
Posts: 17626
Joined: 25 Jun 2006, 15:03
Location: Lost In A Forest
Contact:

Have a great show tonight folks.
If it's anything like Monday night, it will be awesome.
Cheers.
Steve
Just like the old days

TheCureCommunity
User avatar
Scardwel
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1096
Joined: 28 Jan 2002, 00:00
Location: York

To summarise:

Goog gig. Band all seemed fit and well thank fook. Sound was iffy near the front but better further back. Could hear the vocals well enough. Lights were incredible! Volume level was acceptable.
Usual setlist, with Something Fast replacing Romeo Down.
About 400 people there although the venue could hold many more than that.
Bizarre VIP section (complete with tables and chairs) on a raised area on the right hand side. What is this, the fucking BAFTA Awards? :? Apparently these tickets cost twice as much. I'd rather be in the pit thank you.
Beirut: Lovely city & great people - I will definitely be back sometime. :D
The Scene won't save you...
User avatar
Garbageman
Utterly Bastard Groovy Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 713
Joined: 31 Oct 2008, 00:16
Location: Cumming

Floorshow?
Like pushing a marsmallow into a piggy bank
User avatar
Andrew S
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1820
Joined: 05 May 2002, 01:00
Location: Glasgow

Garbageman wrote:Floorshow?
No Floorshow or Dr Jeep but I think they played a slightly longer set than usual. Can't remember exactly what though :) The gig itself was great, so I'm bloody glad I went!!! As Scardwel says, the sound was a bit patchy in places (Flood II didn't have its usual impact) but generally fine. Visually, it was utterly stunning! The lights were probably the best I've ever seen - lots of rotating effects and images flashing on the roof and walls. The smoke enhanced the overall effect, so there was this eerie shadow of Von hovering in front of him. Nice dark stage with lots of lit-up rolling fog. This, combined with the size of the venue made me think of the gigs they did in the early 90s that people remember so fondly.

Needless to say, the band were in a great mood for this one. Not too much chatter onstage but clearly enjoying themselves. The Lebanese crowd were very enthusiastic but it took a while for them to get really into it - probably not so familiar with the newer stuff. Lots of shouting and clapping but not much activity, which was probably just as well given the dodgy rail.

Beirut is a wonderful friendly city and I really wish I had more time to spend here. Definitely a place for them to play again me thinks
RIP Dale: 1994 - 2009
User avatar
sukhoi
Gonzoid Amphetamine Filth
Posts: 332
Joined: 07 Jul 2006, 14:35
Location: Prague

thanx for reviews!

and to Andrew S: quietly envying... But if they'll promise Floorshow for next Beirut gig, I'll come, maybe... :lol:
Right On Venom And Revenge
User avatar
Ozpat
From the Lowlands
Posts: 6758
Joined: 16 Aug 2005, 13:14
Location: In the place through which we wander.

Thanks for the reviews! :)
"as we walk on the floodland"
User avatar
Husek
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1062
Joined: 02 May 2006, 05:03
Location: Canada
Contact:

i'm still waiting for logic come back :rolleyes:
Project Personal Dok
Hardware: 100% (Single Hackintosh)
AU: 90%
Software: 90%
The Final Floorshow - My Own Sisters T-Shirt Shop
User avatar
Eva
Intercontinental Assassin
Posts: 1196
Joined: 26 Jan 2002, 00:00
Location: Zureich

Beirut was a surprise! It is a beautiful city with a very interesting mix of old and new buildings, arab and european looking ones, very nice people, and totally different from what I expected. My experiences with anything "oriental" or "arab" are limited to northern Africa, Algeria in particular, so I somehow expected Beirut to be similar to Algier. And I was so wrong! I think Rob told me later, that the Lebanese neither feel related to the Maghreb, nor to their Arab neighbours, but more to Europe. Besides, 40% of the Beirut population are Christians, and we stayed in the Christian quarter. Of course that might explain the lack of "arab" cafés I had expected. These were to be found at the other end of the bay, in the Muslim quarter which we visited on Sunday. However, I felt very safe wherever we were, and Beirut seems very relaxed despite the heavy presence of security people and armed soldiers, a bit too European for my liking though. Where I expected a Soukh (sp?) there were Missoni, Fendi, Bulgari and similar shops, and there was the most beautiful Mosque (sp?) I've ever seen right next to the Virgin Megastore where we got our tickets. It was harder for me to find genuine Lebanese food than to find the Golden M... And I didn't feel any of the existing tension related to the elections that are due in about a month.

The concert in my opion wasn't particularly bad, but it wasn't anywhere near the highlights of this tour. First: the sound was a blur. It was loud, I could hear Von well, but the rest of it was just one wall of sound and I couldn't distinguish any of the musical details I love so much. That might be due to my position in the front though. Besides, the venue wasn't the best ever, and as it was larger than the (comparable one) in Athens 09, it must have been much harder to mix the sound in decent quality. Second, the crowd. I'll give them the credits that they didn't know what to expect, but there were no cheers, nothing. Yes, the people on the VIP balcony got up at some point but I didn't hear any enthusiasm coming from that corner either. The only "cheer" was a few non-Lebanese girls in the front middle, whose badly timed screams amused me at first, cause I thought the band would pick up on them, but the further into the gig the more out-of-time these screams seemed. The band did their best though as usual. And the lights were great.
But how could anybody expect Dr Jeep to be played? First, they haven't played it for ages, second they're certainly not going to mention the Hezbollah (sp?) in Lebanon! I mean, they're finally there for the first time, and nobody has a clue as to how anybody would react to this song. It isn't Europe or the States after all.

Bottom line: For me the trip to Beirut was well worth its money, but not necessarily for the gig.
You can't fix stupid.
User avatar
euphoria
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1253
Joined: 11 Mar 2003, 19:39
Location: Berlin

Thank you all for your reviews of the Beirut concert :notworthy:

I was this close to seeing both Mideast gigs, but other things and Sisters saturation came in between :wink:

I'm not surprised about the enthusiastic words about Beirut as a city, and I'm not surprised to hear there was a VIP balcony (and I wouldn't be surprised if someone on that balcony payed privately for the whole event...I'm sure nobody earned any money on this concert with 400 people attending.)

Question: Were there any special T-Shirts on sale, or just leftovers from Mechanised Europe?
User avatar
paul
Overbomber
Posts: 3219
Joined: 02 Apr 2002, 01:00

Good to hear you had a great time, Eva and Eggi !
User avatar
Eva
Intercontinental Assassin
Posts: 1196
Joined: 26 Jan 2002, 00:00
Location: Zureich

euphoria wrote: Question: Were there any special T-Shirts on sale, or just leftovers from Mechanised Europe?
Yes there are. White print on black shirt: On front, same logo as the tour shirt 2009, on the back:
T W O T H O U S A N D N I N E
L E B A N O N
I S R A E L
B R A Z I L (or Argentina - whatever comes first)
A R G E N T I N A (")
M E X I C O
You can't fix stupid.
User avatar
eastmidswhizzkid
Faster Than The Light Of Speed
Posts: 9876
Joined: 24 Mar 2005, 00:01
Location: WhizzWorld
Contact:

nice reviews folks! thanks. :notworthy:

if the sisters were to ever play on the fucking moon you just know andrew s and eva would be there :lol: ...respect. :von:
Well I was handsome and I was strong
And I knew the words to every song.
"Did my singing please you?"
"No! The words you sang were wrong!"

:bat:
User avatar
euphoria
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1253
Joined: 11 Mar 2003, 19:39
Location: Berlin

Eva wrote: Yes there are. White print on black shirt: On front, same logo as the tour shirt 2009, on the back:
T W O T H O U S A N D N I N E
L E B A N O N
I S R A E L
...
Hey, that must be one cool shirt! Needless to say, that print was certainly more provocative in Lebanon than if they had played Dr Jeep.

Probably should have gone then - 5 hours flight just for a shirt ;-)
_emma_
Overbomber
Posts: 2014
Joined: 24 Oct 2003, 10:19

Eva wrote:The concert in my opion wasn't particularly bad, but it wasn't anywhere near the highlights of this tour.
I hate myself for thinking this way but to me it's a bit like a kind of a relief of some sort.
*ducks*
User avatar
Buelbringer
Road Kill
Posts: 55
Joined: 12 Oct 2008, 20:18
Location: Ganymede; Jupiter

eastmidswhizzkid wrote:
if the sisters were to ever play on the fucking moon you just know andrew s and eva would be there :lol: ...respect. :von:
Wasn't the moon gig postponed due to influenza as well? :innocent:
User avatar
Scardwel
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1096
Joined: 28 Jan 2002, 00:00
Location: York

I guess "Occupied Palestine" wouldn't look quite so cool on the back of the tour shirt! :wink:
The Scene won't save you...
User avatar
eastmidswhizzkid
Faster Than The Light Of Speed
Posts: 9876
Joined: 24 Mar 2005, 00:01
Location: WhizzWorld
Contact:

you know it, mate. :notworthy:
Well I was handsome and I was strong
And I knew the words to every song.
"Did my singing please you?"
"No! The words you sang were wrong!"

:bat:
User avatar
Eva
Intercontinental Assassin
Posts: 1196
Joined: 26 Jan 2002, 00:00
Location: Zureich

_emma_ wrote:
Eva wrote:The concert in my opion wasn't particularly bad, but it wasn't anywhere near the highlights of this tour.
I hate myself for thinking this way but to me it's a bit like a kind of a relief of some sort.
*ducks*
You're forgiven! :D Besides, you wouldn't have liked the flying at all. I mean it's all harmless and everything, but the plane starts in Beirut towards the sea, and due to the different temperatures land/sea there are rivalling airstreams, which make for a shaky and rough take-off. I didn't like it at all, and I'm still grateful to the unknown gentleman right next to us on the plane who explained everything and its consequences to us so calmly that we could relax. Apparently these planes can even fly through a hurricane without problems, and what we experienced this morning (and even a hurricane) wouldn't cause more reaction on a pilot's face than a tired smile... :eek:
You can't fix stupid.
_emma_
Overbomber
Posts: 2014
Joined: 24 Oct 2003, 10:19

Geeeeezus. Respect to those pilots. :eek: :notworthy:
Well, in such a case I'm really glad that I spent the Saturday in a local spa centre where I had jacuzzi, champagne and various beauty masks and stuff, all that with peacocks wandering around. :lol:
User avatar
AlexHawie
Road Kill
Posts: 1
Joined: 04 May 2009, 23:46
Location: Lebanon

Personally , I had a blast !! I've never ever imagined that i will one day see the Sisters of Mercy live , and my dream has been realised. Thx alot for making this happening.

The only problem is that this venue is really big. They do Techno concerts with more than 10 000 attendees at the forum the Beirut. Surely they could have done it in a big quality pub (like Tantra Kaslik that holds for 1000 or a little more persons.)

Overall , I really enjoyed it. Beautiful.
User avatar
7anthea7
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1134
Joined: 18 Mar 2006, 01:40
Location: beyond the event horizon
Contact:

Another person's dreams fulfilled - brilliant! And welcome to you, AlexHawie - enjoy the madhouse that is Heartland! :wink:
Who can begin conventional amiability the first thing in the morning?
It is the hour of savage instincts and natural tendencies.
--Elizabeth von Arnim
User avatar
Andrew S
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1820
Joined: 05 May 2002, 01:00
Location: Glasgow

Eva wrote:But how could anybody expect Dr Jeep to be played?
I was being flippant Eva!
RIP Dale: 1994 - 2009
User avatar
Andrew S
Slight Overbomber
Posts: 1820
Joined: 05 May 2002, 01:00
Location: Glasgow

AlexHawie wrote:The only problem is that this venue is really big. They do Techno concerts with more than 10 000 attendees at the forum the Beirut. Surely they could have done it in a big quality pub (like Tantra Kaslik that holds for 1000 or a little more persons.)
Yes a smaller venue would have been better and far nicer than the Forum, which bore more than a slight resemblance to my local conference hall - big and ugly with crap accoustics. As I'd already seen the photo of the venue, I didn't expect particularly good sound and didn't feel any disappointment. The only time it really struck me was during Flood II, which sounded unusally weak. On the plus side, I think the size of the venue helped with the lightshow, which was stunning.
RIP Dale: 1994 - 2009
Locked