Concert review
London Docklands Arena, London, UK - 6 April 2001
By Hereward Cooper

Arriving 1/2 an hour early only to see a que of people strenching around the building already was quite shocking. The only way of reaching the Docklands Arena was by foot (i think not) or by the London Underground. After a short 1/2 hour wait the doors opened and the people poured in, only to be confronted with another 1 1/2 wait! We managed to find a spot in the center, one from the front (but just as good as).

It was exciting for something to actually happend after a while but Reef was what I expected, they were ok but the crowd wheren't there for them, so it didn't really work, also you couldn't hear the vocals coz somebody must of screwed up the bass settings.

Yet another wait of 1/2 an hour but by now we where getting used to it! Being at the front we could see the stage being disassembled, and a drum kit/keyboards/decks appear from behind a black sheet, TV cameras appearing from behind some sheets as well.

After a suprising lack of action on the stage the thin mesh curtian drops from the roof. Zero Zero cuts in and the crowd of 8,000, which be now have appeared from nowhere (coz when reef woz on it was quite empty) go mental. The outlines of some people run across the stage, you see the backing singers get into place and then there she is, like a ghostly figure, with haunting vocals she singings 'yeeaahhh' over zerozero, and then repeats here self. By this time the crowd has lost control. The curtian drops and there she is in a white t-shirt and rainbow sholders. In demand kicks in.

I won't list the set list as everybody knows what it is already. Though there is one slight change "Put Your Arms Around Me" was replaced by "So In Love With You". Shar said she had never played it in London before!

Also the story about her being regonized by the Cabby as Elvis was meantioned but even better was the fact that she said the that morning she had been visted by the 'Offical Elvis Fan Club', as they thought that she may be 'communicating' with him! She then said that she wished that she should of told them to release Suspicious Minds as there next single!

Any way the concert went on and the time came to get a young male on stage. She said that one young man in the audience (me of course) has very attractive. And one bloke shouts out "Thanks!". Shar replies with it wasn't you but a bloke 15 feet away from you, though i know your ego would strench that far! She was in a very good mood as she was back in the UK!

She got a bloke called Joe up on stage, and comented on his crap trousers (white and orange checked). Joe said "I'll get my top of if you get yours off". Shar replies with "theres only one answer "In your fucking dreams", Joe replies with "Yes, every night". They then proced to girate together, and the backing singers gave Joe some dress tips and then got intimate. Shar told him to go and burn his trousers. The usall songs followed and all ending in the same 2 enchors.

I must say that being at the front was alot beter than being seated, thought i think i prefered Semisonic to Reef. After the concert it was a nightmare 8,000 people getting on the tube at 11:00!!!! Thanks Texas (if you read this)

Hereward Cooper
Somerset, UK


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