Ed @ O2 Academy in London Options

[Johan]

Hi everyone,

As no one opened a thread for this concert, I thought i might as well do it.

First off, me and my girlfriend travelled all the way from Sweden to see him do the show in London. I must admit, when i first saw the place i was getting very sceptic about the whole thing. It was really a small place, and my biggest worry was that Ed would just think this was insulting and not really do his best or enjoy the show himself. I mean, singing at woodstock compared to this must be a huge change.

Here's the songs they played, although for sure not in the correct order here;

Just in Time
All over you
Drive
The Great Beyond
I Alone
In Your Light
Heaven
Grace
Zion
Fire on the mountain
Selling the drama
The dolphins Cry
Drink (everlasting love)
Lightning Crashes
The beauty of gray (this was really a surprise!)
Dance with you (this i did not expect either!)



Now my review. First of all, when me and my girlfriend were going home, we both made the very same conclusion. This was by far, THE best concert we've ever been to - both of us!

I think many of you (especially you all bitter Ed-haters in this forum) will just think i'm a fan that can never be changed, and no matter how Ed would play we'd love it. Well, that's just not the case here! The feeling that we had during the concert, and after the concert was just so full of emotions. Not only because the band played well over my expectations, and not only because Ed just sung better than i've ever hear him before. It was just the whole picture of the whole concert in whole, that made us just so amazed.

As i stated, i was worried - when the concert began, that the small place would affect Ed negativly. It certainly did not, i would more say the opposite. The whole show felt so intimate, and Ed seemed to be so satisfied with the audiance, he really gave everyone the show of his life. Another thing that i noticed was that from the beginning, the audience was very quiet, and felt like the were looking at the show with a suspicious mind, thinking that this will never be like a live concert. But oh my, did he changed everyones mind. After a couple of songs, everyone were jumping, singing along, and it was just impossible NOT to rock on together with Ed as he so professionally enchanted everyone with his energy and love.

I've seen U2 live a couple of times, i've seen Guns N Roses back in the early 90's live a few times, i've been to huge concerts with huge bands so I reckon i have some to say about concerts in general.

So, i end this review the way i started it. This was by far, the most intimate, amazing, and best sounding concert i have ever been to. And that is an understatement - i kid you not.

PS.
I'm already trying to find a tickets to a new european country where we can go see him a second time.
DS.

//Johan

[Live inside]

Groningen (oosterpoort) there are still tickets availabel!!!!

[+Ed+]

Now that is the first very well put review about an Ed's gig

Thank you

[Nobody Knows]

[...] all bitter Ed-haters in this forum [...]

Me, me!

He played 8 'Live' songs and 8 songs from 'Alive'. Just sayin'.

[OutToDry]

Sounds like a great review. Yes, we can hate, but we can give praise too. Glad you had a great concert experience. Was the drummer Ramy Antoun? Perhaps the shows will be much better if he's not keeping time.

This post has been edited by OutToDry: Aug 29 2010, 6:05 am

[Johan]

He played 8 'Live' songs and 8 songs from 'Alive'. Just sayin'.

Yes, he did. But who cares? I'm not really a fan of the new album, but i must admit, hearing these songs live gave them really a new dimension and it just sounded great. As for the live-songs, it sounded great as well - it has a new sound to them definately, but that doesn't make them bad.

Sounds like a great review. Yes, we can hate, but we can give praise too. Glad you had a great concert experience. Was the drummer Ramy Antoun? Perhaps the shows will be much better if he's not keeping time.

To be honest, i am not sure. Adam Kowalczyk was there for sure, but i couldn't catch the names of the others. I've seen some clips of the drummer in the Ed Kowalczyk band and i too agree that he's quite medioker, but the show in London did sound amazing, especially the drums - so maybe he changed the drummer?

//Johan

[OutToDry]

We were looking to see a trend as it was stated Ramy didn't drum on the last show in England too. If that's the case, Ed's been reading here and took a hard look. I wish he wouldn't make those trailblazer statements how revolutionary Ramy's drumming is and how great he is, when most of the members here, who are musicians themselves called foul.

[Johan]

We were looking to see a trend as it was stated Ramy didn't drum on the last show in England too. If that's the case, Ed's been reading here and took a hard look. I wish he wouldn't make those trailblazer statements how revolutionary Ramy's drumming is and how great he is, when most of the members here, who are musicians themselves called foul.

Yeah, gotcha.
I'm not a drummer, so I should not be the one judgeing the difference here. But from the earlier records i heard (with Ramy drumming) the conclusion that i myself as, let's call it an amateur could take was that Ramy were hitting the symbals _all the time_ and it just sounded like a mash of everything together.

The drummer on the O2 Academy show however, had very distinct hits and it felt much more professional.

But then again, i'm not a drummer, so you need to take this as a amateurs conclusion.

//Johan

[SJN1279]

Thanks for the review Johan. Glad to see Fire on the Mountain made the setlist.

[Pokey]

Glad you enjoyed the show. Not glad to be labeled a "bitter" Ed hating for having a well constructed dislike of the man now for many reasons.

[Johan]

Glad you enjoyed the show. Not glad to be labeled a "bitter" Ed hating for having a well constructed dislike of the man now for many reasons.

This is what i mean though. I understand your feelings, i know i've had some doubts too. But it was just so obvious that Ed has put all that behind him and just made a great show. And you know what?

I am so happy, that i was able to also put everything behind me, and just enjoy the pure show - which was absolutely amazing. No question about that.

You know, growing up with in the 80's and 90's, i have gotten quite used to rock stars being total douches. That's just the way it is. Let me give you a great example of what i'm talking about;

I was a Guns N Roses fan for all my life, i went to see them in the early 90's when they were the complete band and i absolutely loved them (and still do!). Although, everyone who's somewhat interested in rock music, knows for a fact that Axl Rose was just a pure moron. He could show up 3 hours late to concerts, sometimes, he didn't show up at all.. Sometimes he showed up and played 2 songs, followed by a speach about someone in the audience and then just left, creating riots and such, you all know this.

So why am i comparing these two? Well, Axl Rose, as well as Ed went solo, and also "stole" GN'R's song and played them with a new band. The difference with Ed and Axl, is that when i went to see Axl doing solo (and again, pointing out i am a huge GNR fan), it was just pathetic, it was absolutely pathetic. No energy, no will, it was just a concert i wish i would've never seen.

That being said, no one can take away the music genious of Axl Rose. He wrote some great songs, and he sang them like no one else could.

So, as i said - i was worried at Ed's concert that i would experience yet another rock-star douche, being pathetic with his "new band". As i stated before, i already had a bit of critical eyes on the whole thing... But - i was blown away, i was just absolutely speachless of how great this concert was, and even my girlfriend who is not really a live/ed fan, said that it was her best concert ever, just by judging the way he interacted with the audience, his voice, and energy.

In other words, I am glad i could just for those hours there put everything behind me and enjoy Ed at his very very best i've seen him.... I guess it's like they say in the matrix movie

"Ignorance is bliss..."

And for me, that really helped me obtaining a concert memory of my life.

/Johan

[SecretInsomnia]

Hi everyone,

As no one opened a thread for this concert, I thought i might as well do it.

First off, me and my girlfriend travelled all the way from Sweden to see him do the show in London.

I always think it's very cool when (real!) fans travel to a whole differnt country just to see their favorites perform! Respect! (well I mean if it's a real distance - I have seen Live in belgium as well, but I live near the border, so that doesn't really count

Good review, thanks!

[Johan]

Here are some pictures from the concert - first one is me and my girlfriend just before the concert begun, incase someone at the forum was actually there - maybe they would recognize me :-)

The pictures are taking without zoom, so we were really standing at the front, yay!

http://img715.imageshack.us/i/p8260184.jpg/

http://img828.imageshack.us/i/p8260181e.jpg/

http://img690.imageshack.us/i/p8260182.jpg/

/Johan

This post has been edited by Johan: Aug 29 2010, 11:26 am

[baggieneil]

Johan your spot on.The gig was awesome.

[baggieneil]

I went and saw Live in Leuven.really strange going to another country to see a gig but well worth it.Shame everyone bloody smoked me and the mrs nearly chocked to death.lol