Here's a cool pre-review:
Dan Fogelberg is scheduled to play the Greek
Theatre in Los Angeles on July 24, 1999. Two years ago on August
3, 1997, I saw Fogelberg at the Greek also in a solo acoustic
format and wrote a review under the name of Bruce (my real name).
So this will be different, before my wife and I see Dan at the
Greek I thought I would write in some thoughts and some memories
about some previous Fogelberg shows that I've attented.
First of all some corrections from two years ago, I wrote that
during the first time I saw Fogelberg "he felt lost at the
Inglewood Forum". How do I know how he felt? The Forum is a
huge place to see Fogelberg and as a result of sitting in the
risers opposite the stage with the floor in between, I was the
one that felt lost. His concert there was outstanding and for
some reason I remember him playing "Tulsa Time" with
his band. Funny thing, Eric Clapton played the same song in
concert a few years later.
The show at the Forum was during the Window and Walls tour.
Whereas I felt lost seeing him at the Forum, two years later
during the High Country Snows tour I had seats in the sixth row.
Needless to say, what a difference. This show at the Universal
Amphitheatre featured an All-Star bluegrass band that played with
more enthusiasm than the Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA
championship. Fogelberg and the bluegrass played the entire
album.
Dan came on after a brief rest with a solo acoustic format for
the second half of the show. This was the first time I heard Make
Love Stay, and definitely not the last time This was also the
last time I saw Fogelberg with his full beard.
Later during that tour, I saw Fogelberg at the Irvine
Amphitheatre, playing with about half of the bluegrass band,
including Chris Hillman, and playing without his beard, oh well..
Next, with Exiles, Fogelberg was back with a full band at the
Universal Amphitheatre. This tour set the tone for many more
tours still to come. Dan would pretty much stick with his hits
while playing some new songs and working in and out of some older
classics.
Two years later, 1989 Dan was back at the Universal Amphitheatre
for one last time with another solo acoustic tour. I believe his
first one was his Innocent Age tour. This show convinced me that
this is the way I would rather see Fogelberg. What was
unbelievable was the granduer of the sound he was producing while
playing one instrument at a time.
The 90's in Los Angeles ushered Dan into the Greek Theatre in
Griffith Park. The Wild Places, in my opinion is one of his best
releases, and it showed in the concert, which Dan's St. Louis
show became his next release, Greetings From The West.
The next show was Fogelberg's 20th Anniversary with CBS records.
This was alot like the first show at the Greek except a highlight
"The Raven", which was one of those one time special
moments which you experience while seeing an artist a few times.
The next tour I missed. And then the show after that was the
August 3, 1997 show again at the Greek. Also when I wrote my
review I said that Fogelberg played Next Time. It was actually
"The Last Nail", which has become a personal favorite
of mine.
I know that there aren't many people who would write a review of
a concert that they have not been to yet, so I won't. I'll leave
that up to a certain music critic that writes for the LA Times.
None the less, as I listen to Dan's 25th Anniversary boxed set, I
am anticipating a wonderful Fogelberg concert this Saturday night
at the Greek and will continue to read the other submitted
reviews.
Bruce
And here's the review:
And now, here's Bruce's post concert review of Fogelberg at
the Greek - July 24, 1999...
Opening act Janis Ian was a pleasant surprise, performing about
six introspective songs including Society's Child and Seventeen.
One thing we realized at the Greek is that there is a 10:30 pm
curfew. Both Janis and Dan Fogelberg were punctual about starting
on time and ending on time and making sure that the audience new
that.
Janis played about 45 minutes and Fogelberg came on at 8:30pm
without an introduction, sat down and went right into his
acoustic opener Nexus. After performing an extended version of
Nexus, Dan mentioned how nice it was to be in Los Angeles and how
he was touring out in the west for a short amount of time.
Most noteable was the comment that he was in the Napa Valley,
then Las Vegas then Los Angeles on a cool night. Napa was 58
degrees and foggy and Vegas was 104 at night. He went from
"Cabernet to Cabaret" and pronounced it correctly too.
Captured Angel and Old Tennessee from "Captured Angel"
were followed by his Dan's story/song about his Forefathers from
The Wild Places.
This was a beautiful, cool night at the Greek Theatre in Los
Angeles. Dan really drew the audience with his interaction
between him and his audience. Dan went as far as to ask someone
to repeat what they said.
After Forefathers, Fogelberg went to his baby grand piano to play
what I thought was the most incredibly performed song of the
night, To The Morning, from Home Free. He introduced this song as
the songwriting that sealed his fate to become a songwriter and
performer.
Dan continued with Don't Lose Heart from his Portrait, 4 CD boxed
set.
Back to guitar Fogelberg exhumed Make Love Stay(it never died
because he performs it during every concert that I've attented)
and Believe In Me from Windows and Walls.
One of Fogelberg's most stirring and haunting songs is The Reach,
which is about his love for sailing and the sea. Performed on his
guitar, the bass strings seemed to reverberate from the rear
trees of the Greek.
Fogelberg has mentioned in previous articles that he would like
to perform with an orchestra. I believe this would be an
incredible song to perform with maybe the Boston Pops with Keith
Lockhart conducting. Hey Dan, I'm sure the Pops is looking for
their next performer to help out next July 4 in the Boston Common
Esplanade, hint, hint...
After switching guitars, from his two overworked
"union" roadies, a small bug got into the act, er, in
Dan's ear while he was tuning his guitar. This was not part of
some of his rehearsed comments. Dan mentioned something about not
being comfortable about bug in your head laying eggs in your
brain. Sounds like time for the blues and Road Beneath My Wheels.
After a stirring rendition of the blues and Wheels, Dan told a
story about traveling through Todos Santos, Baja California and
coming out of it with an instrumental that he performed on a
classical guitar. There really is a Todos Santos which is just
north of Cabo San Lucas.
Sir Paul McCartney's Eleanor Rigby was performed on the same
classical guitar with a "Brazilian" slant. Fogelberg
really arranged his own personal instrumental touch into Rigby.
Dan introduced Full Moon Mansion one of his earliest written
songs. This again was an acoustic guitar instrumental.
Another highlight of the evening was Fogelberg' announcement that
his new Christmas album was finished and that he finished it down
the street on Hollywood and Vine at Capitol Records studios. I
didn't catch the name of the new album but Dan said that they
would be mostly original Christmas songs with a renaissance
flavor and older musical instruments.
Dan's Christmas album parallels his High Country Snows album in
the sense that it will be consistent with a certain musical
style. Fortunately it will not be Fogelberg's version of White
Christmas, Rock Around the Christmas Tree, etc.
Now to set the stage, Fogelberg introduced one of the songs, The
First Christmas Morning. He literally set the stage. Being that
he was in Los Angeles in the middle of July, and that it didn't
feel much like Christmas, he produced a small lit Christmas tree
and a Christmas stocking for ambience. The song itself is just
beautiful.
This will be an original and classic Christmas album.
After asking his stage assistants to remove the Christmas tree
and stocking, Dan produced a small statue of a horse for guess
what, Run For the Roses.
On to the guitar for Morning Sky and his last song and a reminder
of the curfew. He suggested that everyone should stay past curfew
and be on CNN in the morning.
All great evenings must end and so did this memorable performance
at the Greek with Leader of the Band and for the encore, Same Old
Lang Syne.
It would be great is Fogelberg has recorded these solo acoustic
shows he has performed during the past three years for another
live CD release.
Bruce
I'm glad Dan decided to include L.A. in his limited 1999 tour.
This was my 10th Dan show & it's always a joy to see him
perform live. Compared to the 97 show, Dan seemed much more loose
& chatty. The setlist was very similar to 97. Hope his next
tour setlist gets a complete overhaul since he has a wealth of
great songs to choose from.
The new highlight this year was the preview of Christmas Morning
from the upcoming new album. Dan said he wrote half of it &
that it'll feature ancient instruments. Besides being a rabid Dan
fan, I'm also a a big fan of Xmas CDs; so I'm already impressed
with his concept for the album. It'd be great if he did a few
Xmas concerts featuring the new album!
So again, thanks to Dan for his continued artistry.
Saw Dan's show at the Greek in L.A. July 24.
This was my fourth time to see him, first time solo-acoustic.
I was pleasantly surprised with Janis Ian, who opened the show. A
lot of energy and a lot of talent. Several die-hard Janis fans
surrounded me up in Section B, which made the experience even
more pleasant.
Dan came on about 15 minutes later and launched right into
"Nexus" with a lot of enthusiasm and power. In fact, I
was quite taken with the power of the whole show, considering
there was no band. Dan's a Class A performer and made the
acoustic endeavor my favorite show yet! I was also pleased with
his chat--he spoke more than at any other show I've attended and
seemed relaxed--definitely in a good mood. Even when he grew
frustrated at the tuning on one of the guitars, he kept things
relaxed and humorous. Lots of laughter from the audience.
The set list was pretty much the same as other shows. One
difference--he dropped "Longer" and sang a tune off the
upcoming Christmas album--a real treat. Great crowd, too--thanks
to all who attended and thanks to Dan for another good one.
Mike
Foley
Big Bear Lake, CA
We had a wonderful time. When I was younger,
his music seemed to embody and inspire everything I wanted in a
partner, so it was fitting I attended with my husband on our 12th
wedding anniversary. Fogelberg shines in his mastery of his
instruments, and his instrumental pieces are superb...haunting
and mood enticing. It was hard to believe he could get so much
sound out of one instrument. He seemed a bit put out to have to
do the Christmas song, but the depth and beauty of the song blew
us away, as well his others. The personality he exhitbited
through various jokes and tidbits provided a greater glimpse into
a multi-level persona, which he gladly shows us in his lyrics. I
was thrilled to see him.
K.C.
Let me preface this by saying that I am no
reviewer I can only write how I am feeling after seeing Dan
perform for the first time but loving his music since the late
seventies. This was truly an experience to remember. Not only did
he bring back a lot of wonderful memories but his music is
better, richer and deeper than I remember. He did do a selection
from his new Christmas album which he said will contain many old
celtic Christmas pieces but the selection he played was entitled
"The First Christmas Day" and it is true to its title.
My husband and I are very impressed and pleased with the
direction Dan's music is taking and we can sincerely say his
music is not only part of our past but part of our present and
future music collection.
God bless you Dan, may you continue long and strong.
Kat
This is the 16th time I have seen Dan and I was
not disappointed. The acoustic shows are a favorite of my husband
and I. We were sitting the in front row which gave me a unique
perspective of Dan's incredible guitar playing ability. I was
amazed at the richness and depth of his voice after all these
years. It was a joy to hear Captured Angel and Old Tennesssee.
The old songs are still my favorites. Dan played an absolutely
stunning rendition of "To The Morning" and I have yet
to hear those wonderful high keys played as beautiful by anyone
else. I presented him with some yellow roses, which he accepted
with a smile.
It was good to hear an old acoustic guitar solo from his (and my)
alma mater days at University of Illinois. I hope someday he'll
release those old tunes, but I'd settle for an all-acoustic CD of
any kind.
"Believe in Me" was wonderfully moving, as was
Forefathers. But there is nothing quite like the moment when Dan
brings out his 12-string. Part of the Plan still provides lyrics
to live by, over 20 years later. He finished with a soulful Old
Lang Syne, but alas, it is never enough. I was lucky enough to
shake his hand when he left the stage. All I can say is it really
pays to get seats in the front row when Dan is around!
i feel like i should of grown out of this man's
music by now, but no go....
this was the 7th time i had seen him, and i made a promise to
myself i would go with or without a date.... no date. so i drove
up to LA from Orange County, and managed after waiting for some
people, not to show up for their seats, to get closer to the
stage, i got as close to Dan as i ever did, before..... I wonder
if HE know how really good he is..... I have loved his music for
20 years, so i guess that dates both Dan and I, too.....
"Part of the Plan" did me in and the funny thing is, I
typed it for a friend who could not go, framed it, and in the
mail it goes. But when I was at the store having it laminated, 2
younger ladies, said, "o, is that a poem, can i read
it" sure, i said, and no it's a song.... (probably older
than they were).... Really wanted to say, "o, ya, my husband
wrote that"...... well in my dreams, Dan.....
If you have a review to submit, please e-mail it to Wynn.
This page was last updated Tuesday, March 21, 2000