To the Planet Edge 1999
July 18
September 23 |
Every post-1993 Sisters tour started unexpectedly (with notable exception
of Event Horizon), and the 1999 venture
continued the tradition. Announced on July 10th, this concert caught the
fans unprepared, as did the announcement of USA tour in "September/October"
few days later
-- which, though didn't keep some of European fans from selling their soul
to get to Portugal, left most of them bitter aftertaste and no life Sisters
fix in last year of the old millennium. The 07/18 evening's depression hit
Europe like plague.
A couple of notes though: the first Sisters Portugal gig since 1991/02/26-27 concerts in Lisbon and Oporto took place not in Braga itself but in nearby Vieira do Minho, and not on 07/18 but on 07/19, 00:30 local time. The hour and 50 minutes long performance continued tradition of 1998's Summer tour by not delivering any new material and sticking to Event Horizon's setlist (with notable exceptions of Alice, played for first and last time this tour, one of few Body Electric performances and absence of Anaconda and War on Drugs, both dropped off the regular setlist). It was the second Sisters gig since 1985 without their lights man Nigel Holborough, who was busy and unable to play on such short notice (similar circumstances kept him from appearing in Roskilde in 1998). The lights were taken care of by female who's previous work record reportedly includes Robbie Williams tours (some reports state lights were better than usual -- not to say that Nigel's work is bad). Other bands in the festival were Hipnótica (first stage), Bizarra Locomotiva, Cello and Belle Case Hotel (second stage). July 16th, first of the three festival days, was headlined by Eldritch's hero Iggy Pop. And lastly there was no Sisters' merchandise stand, probably because of the short notice. |
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Setlist | Reviews | ||
Setlist
Thanks to Zor Gabor (zor-gabor@ip.pt) |
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Setlist | Reviews | ||
Reviews
Written by Jose Pacheco (jddp@civil.ist.utl.pt)
for Dominion mailing list
First of all the audience of mostly a Sisters one, most of them (including
myself) went to the festival just on Sunday to see the Sisters. The stage
had a building of metal tubes (someone called it the Temple of Love) and
it was most of the time filled with a deep dry smoke.
After a long intro which at first seemed like Afterhours the Sisters
finally showed up. As on the last tour the Sisters were, besides ANDREW
ELDRITCH of course, composed by ADAM PEARSON and MICHAEL VARJAK. Andrew
was dressed with a white hi-neck long sleeve, white jacket and the traditional
dark sun-glasses. Although the voice seemed a little rusty, at least at
the beginning, Andrew stage presence was the same (if not better) as in
the old days. He moved constantly around the stage, twisting his body to
the sound of the music.
The sound wasn't great, I believe it never is on open air events.
The band sounded good, although a little too much Vising-Thing'esque
for my taste, even on the old songs.
For me the highlights of the night were the Giving Ground rendition, the
long Dominion/Mother Russia version and most of all the Comfortably Numb/Some
Kind of Stranger medley (I'm not very impartial, since this is one of my
Sisters favorite songs).
Written by Robin Colman (sisters@pandora.be)
for Dominion mailing list
I did see the Portugal gig, and I did not count them, but I guess there
were about 5999 other visitors...
The location was wonderful on a lake with a beach, although hard to
get (30 km from Braga on small roads).
The Sisters were all in a good mood, which will be confirmed by the
people who got in early and saw the soundcheck with Andrew in fluor-green
(I think) longsleeve.
The day was long and the support bands were unknown to not-Portuguese...
'cello - bizarra locomotiva - belle chase hotel' don't ask me how they
were.
Sisters came on stage at 12.30 night. All band members were the same. For the more knowledged people in here: Robbo is not longer the
tour manager.
There were NO new tracks played.
Written by Bruno Simões (brunosimon@hotmail.com)
for The Sisters of Mercy Tours site
I've been in Festival Ilha do ermal, and I've seen The Sisters
of Mercy in the main stage.
It was brilliant! Von in is best! Adam and Mike didn't help at
all but the mysticism that evolved Eldritch was unique!
I've been there as a reporter and I interviewed Adam. Von declined
the invitation.
Written by Peter Lankester (Peter.Lankester@village.uunet.be)
for Dominion mailing list
Andrew introduced Romeo Down as: "A song about murder and social disease..."(did I get that right ?!?)
Peter also gets the credit for the festival website
link; you gotta wonder how people find such things
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