January 22, 2002,
at the LOGO
What a luck: for the very first time Kevin came to Hamburg, and played at the LOGO! On this occasion, he brought along The Road Trippers: bass guitarist Robert Reynolds and Paul Deakin on drums, both ex-Mavericks, the legendary Al Perkins, and the young Danish guitarist Rune Kjeldsen. The Scottish singer / songwriter Dean Owens of The Felsons came for opening the show.
Just in time when the doors were to be opened, one hour before the concert, we were still gathering outside the LOGO, and heard the last bits of the sound check before being asked in. The LOGO is located in the University part of town, near the city centre. The ceiling and the walls are painted black, the stage is eight meters (26 feet) wide, and 0,40 meters (a foot and a third) high. In the middle of the room, there are some bar stools with high tables, and on the side, there are two long tables with benches, so most people have to stand. But who can keep sitting during such a concert? As far as I'm concerned, I never sat down, as nervous as I was.
Together with five friends, we installed ourselves around one of the high tables in front of the stage, and the first thing we did was to get some drinks from the bar in the back part of the venue. Kevin and Robert dropped out of the backstage door, and were welcomed enthusiastically. In the meantime, the place had filled with some fifty music fans, and thus, the atmosphere felt quite intimately. Even Kai Ulatowski had come the 200 miles from Berlin, and had brought sample issues of his Western Mail. All were very curious about the music they were going to hear.
It was a great start for the evening: at 9.15 p.m. Dean entered the stage, presented himself, and said he did not speak any German, but he would speak slowly. He started with Strangers Again, a song from his first solo album The Droma Tapes, followed by the cover song Hometown Blues, and Born To Lose You of The Felsons' album Glad, then came the Townes van Zandt song White Freight Liner Blues. A great singer and personality as he is, he really got in touch with his audience, and we all told him that we understand him perfectly well. In spite of that, he even said some words in German to us, such as "danke schoen" and "bitte schoen".
His set continued with New Mexico, from his CD The Droma Tapes. He wrote this song in New Mexico, and it took him a long time to think of that title as he said. Then Al Perkins came on stage, and joined him for the next song Shine Like the Road After The Rain, a wonderful soft number, recorded on the first album of The Felsons called One Step Ahead Of The Posse, released in 1996. For some songs, Dean even played his harmonica.
Robert and Paul entered the stage, and Dean presented the two. The audience was excited and applauded a lot, and Dean understood that these two were well-known to those who had come. They played It's Not Love from Dean's new CD, and The Desert Song, a new number which Dean wrote in California. All clapped their hands to this song. Dean's set ended with a song of Buck Owens called Love's Gonna Live Here, a very rocking number. Then followed much applause and many shouted enthusiastically, as the crowd was in high spirits. It all sounded really great, with Robert on bass guitar, and Paul on drums.
During the break, Dean sold his CDs as well as Kevin's and he had brought his solo album The Droma Tapes along. This was a good opportunity for me to get to know him, as I know all his songs, and love them very much, but this was the first time I was able to see him play live.
After the break, Kevin finally took to the stage, introduced himself, being the first time on a German stage, and was welcomed like by a storm. He began with Red Blooded American Boy, and continued with I Can't Drive You From My Mind, which he wrote with Jon Randall and Rodney Crowell. Al accompanied him brilliantly. The audience listened with much attention, and was amazed by his music and his voice.
Now, Robert, Paul, and Rune entered the stage, and the band was complete. They opened the next part with Another Long Story. They had conquered the audience like in a storm, you could see that from the faces. Then followed Let's All Go To California, a song of which video was to be airing on Top of the Pops 2 on the BBC the night after. It's a wonderful song, the band worked together as it had been together for an eternity.
A big surprise for me, Kevin gave me a mention as a fan who had attended his shows right from the beginning, traveling to attend many shows in the UK and the Netherlands, and he asked the audience to clap their hands. I think I have to thank you, Kevin, for coming to play in my home town.
They continued with Your Kind Of Love, and then Robert told us that The Mavericks had played here in Hamburg several times, and that they are both happy to be here again. He said they would now play Kevin's version of the Mavericks song I Don't Even Know Your Name, which had also been recorded on Kevin's live album at the Bluebird Caf� in Nashville. Great, Kevin! After I Wish I Were Blind, things continued with the AC/DC song You Shook Me All Night Long, one of Kevin's favourite songs. Kevin waved to a girl, and asked her to lend him her hat. He put on that much too small hat, and said "One more chords", and he continued the song one more time. The guys were obviously enjoying themselves a lot, and their hearts were in, and that mood was transmitted to the audience.
After having performed Tennessee Girl, Robert introduced the talented 17-year-old guitarist Rune by saying that he's 6 years old, and that it would be such a tragedy that because of his age, they can't take him to the States. And they joked about putting Rune in the middle of the night life of Amsterdam. Robert continued: "We carry on now with a sentimental soft number", and Kevin sang Angel Tonight, accompanied by Rune.
Now it was Robert's turn, he sang Near Perfect Smile from the SWAG album Catch-All, and a new country rock song called Dragon Fly. Really cool, Robert! Al Perkins did some great work too.
Kevin called Dean back to the stage for his song Anything, best known and most popular song from his solo album. Robert asked us: "Is everybody happy and has a nice time this evening?" All confirmed that with an unanimous "Yes!!!" And he asked "Are you happy that you came now?" "Yes!!!" �"We are really very, very happy that we here this night as well" And Kevin started to sing Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy ... He sang more and more rapidly, and all clapped their hands along. What a great fun!
Dean continued the set now with Anything, saying "This song is for Lou who is a big fan." Thanks, Dean, for playing it for me! The long row of wonderful songs carried on with the rapid Gin Blossom song Cajun Song, and then came Melrose. When Dean sang Honky Tonk Woman, the audience joined in the song enthusiastically.
They wanted to finish with Ooh Las Vegas, but we wanted to hear more! They returned to the stage, and brought the show to an end with the great medley of American Girl and Not Fade Away. Their playing sent an energy that flowed from the band right through the audience, and the show ended with lots of applause, leaving everyone in an excited mood.
A few minutes later, the entire band returned, not on stage this time, but down among the crowd, signing autographs, posing for photos, and chatting. It was a wonderful addition to a fine show.
What a great night we have had, with a mixture of fantastic songs, the guys all in a very good mood, on great form, and with fine voices as usual, playing their hearts out, and we all enjoyed it very much. The band themselves are the nicest bunch of guys you could ever hope to meet.
We hope they will come back here soon, and let us once again say thanks a lot for coming.
Many thanks to everyone involved in the organization, the sound was brilliant.
Lou and Andreas
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Dean Owens' opening set
Strangers Again
Hometown Blues
Born To Lose You
White Freight Liner Blues
New Mexico
Dean and Al Perkins
Shine Like The Road After The Rain
Dean, Al, Robert & Paul
It's Not Love
The Desert Song
Love's Gonna Live Here
Kevin and Al
Red Blooded American Boy
I Can't Drive You From My Mind
Kevin & The Road Trippers
Another Long Story
Let's Go All To California
Your Kind Of Love
I Don't Even Know Your Name
I Wish I Were Blind
You Shook Me All Night Long
Tennessee Girl
Angel Tonight
Near Perfect Smile
Dragon Fly
Anything
Cajun Song
Melrose
Honky Tonk Woman
Ooh Las Vegas
Encore
Medley American Girl / Not Fade Aw
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