Dan Fogelberg ~ Chastain 2002 Review ~ Ever On

I have been a fan of Dan Fogelberg's music for 30 yrs, seen him in concert many times, traveled 7 hrs to Atlanta to watch him again. For all of you who have tickets, you will not be disappointed. Dans voice is in great shape, his vocals were great all night, and the band is terrific, a great show. Dan started late, around 8:45, set list was the same as the Houston show with the exception of "Forefathers" and "Old Tennessee", two of my favorite Fogelberg songs, probably because of the late start to the show. Some favorites from the nites set list, "Hard to Say" a very funky intro to "Changing Horses" loved that, hope it shows up recorded someday, and stunning " To The Morning" played just great, it will really take you back in time, it was beautiful. "The Reach" is one of my favorites, it was real good. Dan ended the first set, said he would be back in 5 minutes, I think it was 1 minute, for solo acoustic set ending with my all time favorite "Leader of The Band" which was great. Last set was electric with some of the members of the band doing lead vocals on a few blues songs as well as nice version of Firefall song, ending the set with "Part of the Plan" ....Two encores, "Place in the World " with the crowd singing the chorus and ending with a tribute song to his idol George Harrison. Dan had fun all nite, talked to the crowd, he was enjoying the night. He really played and sang the nite away, well worth the travel to see him....... It was my first trip to Chastian Park, quite different from any venue I have ever been to. I have two words SHUT UP !!!! It's a concert, so try listening instead of TALKING, his name is Dan Fogleberg, 30 yr singer/songwriter if you didn't know, the talking and talking , GO to a Braves game if you want to talk, you missed a great show by a real talented Dan Fogelberg.....

Tim Ryan

Christian had us all psyched up with his report of opening night at Bass
Hall and then Teresa came to town with her version of Beau Rivage in Biloxi
so it was one excited crowd heading for Chastain this warm, sultry night!!

For those of you who haven't seen this venue, it is a charming outdoor
amphitheatre with walls of beautiful stonework surrounding the seating area.
For Dan's concert they assigned a good portion of the crowd to tables ~ we
had two of them and then grabbed another next to ours when the people didn't
show.

So now settled in with an array of food before us and the candles emitting a
soft glow of light, we were ready for some music! It started with a man
named Peter Searcy who, from what I could hear, was putting forth some nice
sounds. The crowd was rudely talking through his whole 20 minute set which
might have contributed to the length of it.

And then the main attraction! Dan and the band appeared to a hearty welcome
and started the show with Magic Every Moment. This song is never a
disappointment musically, I love this song, but his voice sounded a bit
rough as he started to sing. Don't know what happened between the first and
second songs (maybe he needed a drink) but when he started Heart Hotels it
sounded like heaven to me! It is another favorite of mine! During this time
the sunset made a final play and the candlelight took over.

For Changing Horses they started with an amazing long intro. Dan had said
this was a song from Souvenirs and we were all looking at each other trying
to figure out which song they were playing, as the first recognizable notes
to the song washed over us, the crowd cheered. It was a nice moment.

Nothing prepared me for hearing To The Morning. I knew he was supposed to
sing it but hearing it live for the first time since the late 70's brought
chills. He introduced this one as a tribute to the fans, said thank you for
buying all the CDs, the cassette tapes, the wax vinyls and the eight tracks
which brought a roar of approval from said fans! He played it lightly,
clearly, and the music took on an ethereal quality. As I listened I thought
back to the days of the first concerts, what an amazing first album he
created, and how wonderful it was to be alive at that moment surrounded by
people I love and listening to the first track of Home Free live. It was a
defining moment for me and a definite highlight to the concert!! I had
borrowed the binoculars so I could watch his face as he played and he was
giving it his all, many emotions passed over those closed eyes. I kept the
binoculars focused on his face for the whole song, I think it gifts him with
the same sense it brings to me.

My feelings carried on into Morning Sky. Just something about the music from
the first four albums touches me like none of the rest. I have many
favorites after these but the beginning brings such nostalgia of simpler
days and times to mind. The Reach is a good example of a later favorite.
Like Holly I was swaying to the feel of ocean waves and singing along. What
is it about that song that can send you into a dreamlike state of mind? It
has the same effect a visit to a forest does for me, no matter the problem,
I can listen to that song and it melts away, if only for a moment.

On to solo acoustic. I was sorry to see he wasn't going to play Believe In
Me for our crowd but the standbys were played with the same intensity as
last year. He does have a way of performing them as if they are a new
present for us each time. We all yelled "Kingston Springs" together for
Kevin after Make Love Stay even though the song Old Tennessee was eliminated
from our show. The people around us just stared and then started whispering
to each other as if they knew what we were doing. Don't think Dan was too
impressed with our display of loyalty.

The crowd became electric along with the final set! Started with an intro
from Dan saying this next song is my favorite from Firefall then he and Mark
Andes (also from Spirit, Jo Jo Gunn and others) got down to the tune of
Strange Way! Joe Vitale was featured playing a get your attention drum solo
and nice sounds from the flute. This whole band is worth the price of
admission many times over!! Next came the bluesy, heavy duty electric songs
Walking Blues and Blow Wind Blow. It was about this time a member of our
gathering leaned towards me and asked if that was really a white guy up
there. Very funny, but meant as a high compliment!! Empty Cages was played
with a whole new flair to it and a beautiful guitar solo by Robert McEntee
or maybe that was during Blow Wind Blow, anyway he was equally amazing while
showcasing his musical talent. I might have some of this a bit mixed up
because during this set I just let the music carry me away....

Dan tried to end the concert the way he started it last year with Part Of
The Plan but we weren't having any of that! He returned to play and answered
my prayers with GAMBLER!!!! This song, more than any other, transports me
back to the very early concerts, even when he opened for the Eagles. I
remember the whole audience with their arms wrapped around each other,
voices raised in song, lighters raised to let it shine. On this night you
could see it scattered throughout the crowd so it was different but the
same, it sounded just as good when Dan and the band stopped playing to hear
the audience sing. And the same because I was there with my family of
friends, standing, singing, swaying to the magic and absorbing, drinking,
reveling in the collective love of that space and time. Nothing, not a
single other concert experience has ever been able to replace or compare to
these moments for me. I have been to hundreds of concerts over these many
years.....

All good things must end and they went out with a whirl. Dan's wife joined
the band to sing back up and play the tambourine. While watching her through
the binoculars one thing stood out to me. I thought she looked like the type
of woman that you could become fast friends with, she just seemed so genuine
and lovely. The kind of person we have all met, one who smiles at you and
you think right away, I bet he/she is really nice! Dan told the crowd at the
end of the song "This is my Jean" and smiled sweetly at her. Then they were
gone and we were left to recover.

Not long after it ended Christian spotted Robert at the door to backstage
and we went down to meet him. He signed autographs, posed for pictures,
chatted with us about the music and left me with the same impression I
received from Jean. His gaze never wavered as he talked to you, he looked
right into your eyes and I got a sense of honest sincerity as he was
thanking us for coming to the concert. As he was shaking my hand I told him
this concert was the first of three I would be attending and he was
genuinely surprised that we were traveling to see Dan play. Come to think of
it, so am I! I don't travel the country to see any other performer, but then
all of you understand, don't you?

We stayed until the security guard insisted we leave and Robert told us
goodbye, that he had to go visit with his sister and brother-in-law who were
standing patiently waiting. Thank you Robert for your time, it was a nice
visit and a rare treat to speak with such a talented musician.

What is that saying Sherry? I believe it is similar to; for everything that
passes, something good remains behind......

~~Sylvia

Acoustic Set With Band

Magic Every Moment
Heart Hotels
Hard To Say
Changing Horses
To The Morning
Morning Sky
Run For The Roses
The Reach

Acoustic Set Solo

Make Love Stay
Same Old Lang Syne
Leader Of The Band

Electric Set With Band

Strange Way
Walking Blues
Blow Wind Blow
Empty Cages
Missing You
Part Of The Plan

Encores

There's A Place In The World For A Gambler!!!!!
If I Needed Someone

Chastain Park 2002

Hi EVERyONe.. Back from my Atlanta weekend. It was a great time and Dan gave us a very good show at Chastain.

One of our group members (that would be Teresa) came to Atlanta via Biloxi, where she saw Dan the night before. They had a shortened set list in Biloxi, the show there lasted only an hour and half, and so we were all a little worried that we would not get a full set list in Atlanta. Not too worry...Dan did not disappoint. We got the same set list as the Forth Worth opening night concert except for three songs: “ForeFathers“, “Believe in Me“, and “Old Tennessee“, (ok,, since 5 members of the group are inhabitants there, including the infamous KSK, there was some disappointment we didn’t hear that one)

The concert lasted about 2 hours by my watch and we got the two encores..Including the treasured “GAMBLER” Very exciting and satisfying indeed.

Dan was not very chatty but we later learned..(from none other than guitar player Robert McEntee ..More on that later..YIKES!) that Chastain has to adhere to an 11:00 curfew since it is located in a residential area. I believe this was probably one major reason for the slightly shortened set list and the lack of conversation with the audience.

The opening act was a fellow from Kentucky by the name of Peter Searcy. He played a very short set, only about 4 songs. My favorite of which was a Guitar rendition of George Gershwin’s Summertime. Quite nice really. Interesting version of an old classic, which he dedicated to his late Grandmother. Thanks Peter.

The crowd did thankfully settle down and Pay Attention! Once Dan took the stage. There was a good bit of socializing going on while Peter was performing, I’m afraid.

Dan started with Magic Every Moment..He had a lot of energy, but his voice sounded rather hoarse on a few of the songs in the first set. I noticed it especially on “To The Morning” He can’t hit the high notes like he could when he was 18..but “To the Morning” is such a wonderfully great song IMO that it really didn’t matter. Such a lovely, lovely piano piece, it moved me as always.

Besides that, he made up for not hitting those high notes by singing “The Blues” for us later in the show. Wow...Wow...Wow... He was really into it. “Walking Blues”, “Blow Wind Blow” and a rather bluesy rendition of “Empty Cages” were some of the best .The audience really responded to “Walking Blues”. Then Dan said “So...you like the Blues?..Me too” My thoughts are that we might hear more of this style in future releases. He got down, out and dirty with “Same Auld Lang Syne” as well. Very different take on that song..

The electric set was fantastic. Dan and the band were really jamming. With all those veteran musicians on the stage, this was a band that really knew what they were doing and it showed. I thumb my nose at all those critics who see Dan as only a soft, sentimental balladeer. Wish they all could have been there to see how sadly misinformed they are. Dan can jam! Personally, I love the ballads..but I also appreciate his great versatility as a musician and a songwriter. This tour definitely showcases that versatility.

“The Reach”, one of my favorites was a treat as always. I couldn’t help but sing along and rock back and forth (enjoying those ocean swells) with this one. Also a treat was the intro to Changing Horses, several minutes of fine picking, early in the show.

When Dan left the stage after “Part of the Plan”, very few people made for the exits. Most of us were on our feet,,,clapping and begging for MORE... I, for one, would have stood and clapped for 20 minutes if necessary to get the man back for Gambler. What can I say...he invited the audience to participate on this one and it was sooo wonderful to be there with my fellow fans swaying and singing along. The ultimate Dan concert experience. After Gambler, he left the stage again, but again, most of the audience stayed put and asked him for more. So after a short absence, he came back and said “Ok, we have time for one more” And he ended the show with a tribute to George Harrison, performing “If I Needed Someone”. We passed the binoculars around to get a look at Jean who came out and joined in the backup vocals and played the tambourine. She’s very attractive of course,,,and BTW...Dan was looking pretty fine himself..don’t you think so, ladies? Loved the shirt! Sorry about the sandals sunnyday but you know it was awfully hot. :)

Our little group of EO’s were the last to leave the theater I think. All but a few of us hung around near the stage door after the show. Dan and Jean exited pretty quick, so no chance to see them, but we got a nice bonus when Robert McEntee came out and conversed with us for several minutes and autographed our programs for us. Christian made a very nice attempt at trying to get an invitation backstage from Robert, explaining how we all came from everywhere, including himself from Germany, but wasn’t quite able close the deal. But Robert did speak with us all for several minutes and Christian was able to snap some shots of this... . I asked Robert if he enjoyed the performance and he said “Hell yea” Then I asked him, “Dan is incredible isn’t he?” and Robert said... “Oh yes, you asked the right question... Dan’s writing is incredible and I am still in awe of his writing.” He was very nice to us, seemed to genuinely enjoy mixing with us for a few minutes. He even went back to get a Sharpie to properly sign our programs with when the pen we offered up wouldn’t do the trick on the slick paper. And when I thanked him,,,he replied with a “my pleasure, darlin’” COOL! :-)

It was truly wonderful meeting others from the board. Would take too long to tell you all about that and what it meant to me..The whole weekend was memorable and we shared many a laugh.. Quite special. Can’t wait to do it again.

Oh yes, I think we made a few converts along the road too!

Back from Atlanta, and on a Dan high!!! (Chastain review) June 1, 2002		Karen Dan Fogelberg ~ Ever On Group

Hi everyone, I am back from Atlanta and still feeling very happy!! The show at Chastain was wonderful. I had never been at that venue -- what a beautiful place for a concert. The setting was really enchanting, and when it got dark and you could see all the candles in the audience, it was just wonderful! The show was similar to what I have read about the Bass Hall show in Texas -- sorry no detailed set list from me -- I was too mesmerized by Dan to take detailed notes . Dan's voice did start out a little shaky on the first number, Magic Every Moment, which had me concerned, but my fears were soon put to rest -- after that first song, his voice just got better and better. He sounded absolutely angelic on songs like To the Morning & Leader of the Band. And he really rocked during the electric set (wish my husband could have seen that) -- Dan can really play the electric guitar! It was a great show -- and Dan was in a good mood too. He seemed really and truly happy to be there playing for us. He said several times that he loved Atlanta, and "see you next time." He gave no indication that this would be the last tour for him. He wasn't too talkative (didn't give song explanations like he did in TX), but he was beaming with happiness all night (at least from where I was -- not too close but in the middle, and I used binoculars). And he was as humble as ever. After the first set with the band he said he was taking a 5 minute break and would be back to do some more (solo acoustic). Within 2 minutes he was back, walking on the stage without any fanfare at all, and no introduction. He just walked up to the famous chair and sat down. I am always struck by how humble the man is. And he was just amazing solo acoustic -- you could really hear his voice during that part of the show, and it was perfect. The friend that I went with had never seen Dan before (or listened to his music in a long time) and she thought he sounded great too! The show lasted just under 2 and 1/2 hours. At the end, his final encore was the dedication to George Harrison, and his wife Jean came onstage and sang with the band, and played the tambourine. Dan's last words before leaving the stage were to point to his wife and say "My wife Jean." He seemed happier than I'd ever seen him. I am so happy I decided to go to Atlanta to see Dan on this tour. I know I would have regretted it if I hadn't. It took some effort (flying to Atlanta and then back the next day) but it was well worth it. And last but not least, to EVERyONe who I met that night before the show -- it was a real pleasure meeting all of you and putting faces to the "names" even if only for a short time (sorry you couldn't make it Brett). I hope you all enjoyed the show as much as I did and had a great weekend together! Sunnyday, I'm sorry we didn't have much time to chat -- when I ran back to my seat at 8 I really thought Dan was coming on then (didn't know there was an opening act), and then I just stayed glued to my seat, not wanting to miss one moment of the show! I hope you had a fun family trip and your kids behaved (sorry you had to see those dreaded sandals again though!). For those of you who have upcoming tickets to see Dan, you are in for a treat -- enjoy!!!

Ah, Chastain - Another review...		Christian Dan Fogelberg ~ Ever On Group


Chastain... what a truly unique and wonderful place (which Dan still pronounces Shastain), especially in such great company. For those of you who´ve never been there or haven´t seen the Chastain website, I´m attaching a picture of the packed venue (the small guys in the spotlight to the right are you who-know-who and his band; for close-up shots please refer to my earlier Ft. Worth review). About 6,500 people came out to the Atlanta suburbs, packed (like we were) with ice chests, wine, food and – of course – candles for atmosphere. Dan´s show began at 8.50, and – as band member Robert McEntee told us after the show – due to neighborhood noise restrictions was cut down to 20 selections (instead of the 23 we heard in Ft. Worth); missing from the setlist were “Forefathers”, “Old Tennessee” and “Believe in Me”. We had been warned that some of the regulars at Chastain (we don´t really have comparabele places in Europe, but that also applies to the way they sell their tickets) might not have a clue who Dan was, but judging from the crowd reaction, if there were any ignorant people out there in the good seats, they were obviously as smitten by the performance as the real DanFans on the far-away seats. A warm southern night under bright stars, slightly more than two hours of excellent music (great sound system for an open-air venue!) and even live video coverage of the stage events on two giant monitors up left and right of the stage – which certainly made up for being so far away. I for one didn´t mind the on-stage choice shoes or shirts (even though I did wear boots and had left my sandals “home” for the occasion). As mentioned before, we also got to talk to Robert McEntee after the show (thanks for taking the time and getting the sharpie!) at length; he´s a veteran member of Dan´s band and has both played an Greetings From the West and the River of Souls album. I´m also including one of the snapshots he posed for. So, all in all – even though the performance was a little a shorter than the first one we got to see, it was just as energetic and great. Dan had to work the crowd a little harder for sure, but at least there was no trace of audience noise or hassles. Great show, great audience (especially around selected tables to the stage right and middle, haha)! I´d love to see DF at that venue again for sure, almost as good as Red Rocks, and it´s definitely a lot warmer than up in the Rockies. But I guess we´ll fly over to the States (any state!) for any future Dan tour, and that includes Nome/Alaska. Brett, you missed a treat! Christian Photos by Christian from Germany ~ T H A N K Y O U!!!