AUSTIN, TX (Friday, April 17, 1998)
The weather gods were smiling on Austin Texas tonight and kept the rains at bay while Dan Fogelberg regaled us with a relaxed humor and wit along with his excellent music. The Backyard is an outdoor venue seating approximately 2500 fans nestled in the hills west of Austin (the oak trees actually being the backdrop behind the stage). It was a full house as far as I could gather and Dan put on an excellent acoustic show. He was really bursting with energy and gave 110%. He was more talkative and more relaxed than the other two shows I have attended since this acoustic tour began last year. Yes, some of the "banter" was the same, but it was still funny and entertaining. Dan wore jeans, a white turtleneck, a black wind jacket and boots. He looked great!

Dan appeared to be enjoying himself immensely except for one small thing....the piano he was using (a rented one) had some major problem (not tuning, but Dan just couldn't get the sound he needed) and he was not happy about its performance at all. He played two songs on the piano, stopped in the middle a third and went back to "Mr. Guitar" where it was safe. I feel I personally benefited from that unfortunate piano incident, as I got to hear something different from the previous set list.

SET LIST:

NEXUS
HARD TO SAY
FOREFATHERS
THE LAST NAIL
TO THE MORNING
BEGGAR'S GAME
MAKE LOVE STAY
ROAD BENEATH MY WHEELS
IF I WERE A CARPENTER
I NEED YOU
THE REACH
RUN FOR THE ROSES (interrupted due to piano difficulty)
MORNING SKY
LONGER
LEADER OF THE BAND
PART OF THE PLAN

ENCORE: THERE'S A PLACE IN THE WORLD FOR A GAMBLER

He had an opening act, Eliza Gilkyson, with whom he had worked previously. She is a local musician and got a good response.

Dan didn't sing anything "new" but that is okay by me. He's still an excellent performer and will always be the best musician in my book! I also will have the pleasure of attending the show in Houston as well....it can't get much better than this!
Deborah J

RICHARDSON, TX (Saturday, April 18, 1998)
Wildflower Arts and Music Festival
Dan Fogelberg (solo acoustic) with opening act Christopher Cross (w/band)

This was an outdoor festival seating event presented as part of the City of Richardson's annual Wildflower Arts and Music Festival. The weather, which a few days earlier had been expected to be rainy, turned out to be a Texas-perfect spring day. Temps in the 70s cooling to the 50/60s during Dan's performance. Picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs were welcomed and children were plentiful. My wife and almost 10-year old daughter were with me. They're both major DanFans as well. This would be our daughter's 4th Dan concert! Her 1st was opening night in San Antonio in 1995; then Sante Fe in summer '97, Dallas Bronco Bowl in Oct '97. We arrived about two hours early and were able to the closest available lawn space at center stage. In front of us was a set of about 15 rows of chairs that were for VIP guests of the show's corporate sponsor, but we were still very close and could see magnificently. Tickets were an amazingly reasonable $8.

Christopher Cross was the opener for Dan. Cross along with his band, played a fine set that lasted one hour and 15 minutes. I had never heard Cross live before and the set was very enjoyable. His voice and lead guitar work were outstanding. For interested fans, there is a new web site "ChristopherCross.com". Cross's band consisted of longtime collaborator Rob Meurer (keyboards), Jody Cortez (drums), Chas Thompson (bass), and Gigi Worth (percussion/guitar). Later Dan complimented the quality of the band and Chris's performance.

There was a 45 minute set change, with quite a bit of time alloted to checking out the electric piano (Kurzweil PC88), probably because of the problems Dan had the night before in Austin. The guitar and keyboard techs went over it with a fine-toothed comb! Finally, Dan came on stage following the usual, recorded "Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome Dan Fogelberg!". Dan wore a faded Levis, a white turtleneck shirt, tan boots, and a black jacket. His hair was just over collar length, maybe a little longer than we he was in Dallas in October at the Bronco Bowl. Dan did not have his old wooden chair and table (he was using rental equipment for this brief tour). A grand piano was on the stage, but during the set-up, the crew raised the lid, looked inside it, then promptly closed it, put a cover over it and moved it to the back of the stage!

The set list was:
1) Nexus -- (on Guild 12-string)
2) Hard to Say -- (Martin 6-string)
3) The Last Nail -- (changed to a different Martin 6-string)
4) To The Morning -- (piano)
5) Beggar's Game -- (piano)
6) Make Love Stay -- (Martin 6-string)
7) Road Beneath My Wheels -- (same Martin 6-string)
8) If I Were A Carpenter -- (different Martin 6-string)
9) I Need You -- (Yamaha high-strung 6-string)
10) The Reach -- (Guild 12-string)
11) Run For The Roses -- (piano)
12) Morning Sky -- (Martin 6-string)
13) Longer -- (same Martin 6-string)
14) Leader Of The Band -- (different Martin 6-string w/black pick-guard)
15) Part Of The Plan -- (Ibanez 12-string)
16) <encore> Same Old Lang Syne -- (piano)

The show lasted from 9:15 to 11:00, one hour and 45 minutes. Much of Dan's between-song talk was what we've heard before. Some noteworthy or different bits -- After Beggar's Game, Dan mentioned that he was playing just three shows this time out and would be back on the road in July. He mentioned that while he was off, he was going to try to "parole the band". I assume this means he may have the band back with him on the summer tour. Before "Road Beneath My Wheels" he asked, "ya'll like blues don't you?" then replied jokingly, "I don't do any!". Same type of thing before "Morning Sky" -- "... like Bluegrass? -- sorry, I don't do it!". The piano intro to "Run For The Roses" was a riff from "My Old Kentucky Home". As in other recent shows, Dan commented before doing "Make Love Stay" that it was probably the only song that used the word "exhumed". He implored everyone to listen carefully for it. Well, when he got to that line in the song, the crowd cheered. Dan responded by completely stopping, holding up his arms in recognition, and saying "Thank you -- REALLY" and laughing before continuing from where he left off!

I have to say that although "Longer" is a fine song and was used in my wedding, I have grown somewhat tired of hearing it in concert. However, this night I noted that Dan's guitar work on it was spectacularly clear and clean. Together with his vocals, it was a splendid performance. Other favorites this night were "I Need You" -- that high-strung sound and Dan's vocal work were spell-binding. The crowd was obviously in awe. The other highlight for me was "Part of the Plan". Dan's crisp and powerful chords on the intro were especially effective as, during the silences, the sound rang and echoed between the office buildings that surround the area. At the end, Dan did some majorly hard strumming that was reminiscent of Richie Havens -- I thought he was going to break several strings (but didn't)!

After the show, a group of 15-20 diehard (yea, that includes me) waited outside Dan's bus for autographs. The bus was on the other side of a hedgerow that was about 4 feet high and 5 feet thick. After some time, Dan appeared and -- reaching across the hedge -- graciously signed autographs for everyone, chatted, and answered various questions. He was very relaxed and not in a rush. I have heard the various comments from fans that Dan is not respectful of his fans, but I have not encountered that behavior and this night certainly showed again that Dan does try to accommodate his fans. Finally, Dan said they had to leave so they could drive to Houston for the next night's show. It was about midnight when they left. What a wonderful evening we had!
Wynn

HOUSTON, TX (Sunday, April 19, 1998)

Date: Thu, Apr 23, 1998 14:18 EDT

I've held off posting my reaction to Dan's Sunday night concert appearance in Houston until now because I wanted some time to think about what I saw Sunday night. So here goes.

First, I won't rehash the set list or the bulk of the stories and jokes he told between songs. Those have already been covered by a couple of pretty good posts describing the Houston show and the one in Austin that preceeded it Friday night.

I will say that I though Dan gave an excellent performance Sunday night, and that his concert was well worth seeing. You may be surprised hearing that from me, since I have become known of late in this folder for giving Dan no end of grief about his release of the boxed set and the fact that he hasn't put out really good new material in quite some time now. But the fact remains that Sunday night, his mood and manner, his sense of humor, and most of all his talent and artistry showed itself as being intact. Dan still has "it" onstage for any of you who might be doubting that of lately. He most definitely still has that incredible talent.

As for the length of the show, I will tell you that Dan walked onstage at 9:02pm and played straight through until 10:44pm. Throw in the encore and the show basically ended at 11:00pm straight up. I doubt I would ever ask to see more from Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor or Jackson Browne.

Once onstage it became readily apparent that his musical talent is still 100%...if he wants it to be. He hit high notes I never thought he'd ever sing again, he coaxed things out of his guitars that were a joy to hear, and through it all he was in a really great mood - smiling, laughing and joking around onstage. He stood up and bowed to the applause after every song, occasionally breaking into a sheepish grin when the audience gave him standing ovations for some of his bigger hits played towards the end of the show. He said more than once, "You've been a really great audience."

In addition, he seemed to almost be having fun trading barbs and zingers with the audience. Several times he spoke directly to persons in the audience who had called out something to him. He did so politely, and with his truly unique sense of humor showing through. He didn't seem to mind people calling out song requests, and when he eventually did break into the "See this? This is a Set List" schtick, from the 4th row dead center I could tell it really WAS the set list he was holding up...

Yes, Dan is still blessed with "it" in terms of his musicianship and artistry onstage. The greater question to me is now that he has successfully demonstrated in one Texas weekend of shows that he can be his old creative self again, will he choose to allow himself to let the "it" shine through again and drive him to something new, something more creative and ultimately, more successful than what we've seen in the recent past.

A few other tidbits from Sunday night that nobody has reported so far...

Dan doing a brief impression of Elvis Presley playing Edvard Grieg at the piano...his comment that "To The Morning" was one of the very first songs he ever wrote - that wasn't stupid...somebody in the audience asking him to sing "Plaster of Paris" and Dan breaking into laughter with a strange look on his face when he heard that...his telling the audience that he came up with the arrangement of "If I Were A Carpenter" one night a the ranch while "sitting in front of the 'fayur'" and then tacking on that "'fayur' is Texan for fire, but then you already knew that didn't you?"...his comment at the end of the show that he was glad be back in Texas again, and that Texas audiences had always been really good to him.
TT


Just returned to Austin from attending Dan's concert last night in Houston. The show was wonderful! The acoustics were great! I loved the theatre having big video screens on either side of the stage to see Dan up close! He wasn't as talkative or as animated as he was in Austin and he appeared a little tired, but he gave it all he had. That was enough to keep everyone at the edge of their seats and in awe of his talent! Sure saw a lot of smiles and heard lots of positive comments from the full house upon leaving.

He subbed "Longer" for "Forefathers". I guess he surprised himself with his impromptu rendition of it on Friday night, decided it was a good thing and kept it in! He was definitely happier with this piano after the bad incident in Austin.

Set List: Nexus, Hard To Say, The Last Nail, To The Morning, Beggars Game, Make Love Stay, Road Beneath My Wheels, If I Were A Carpenter, I Need You, The Reach, Run For The Roses, Morning Sky, Longer, Leader Of The Band, Part Of The Plan, Encore: Same Old Lang Syne.

Dan wore light blue jeans, a light purple banded collar shirt, gray striped sport jacket, and boots. Dicarded the jacket after a few songs...

Well, I guess it is back to the CD's for awhile. You'd think 2 Dan concerts in three days would appease me, but I am kicking myself for not going to Richardson!!! Maybe a miracle will happen and I'll get to see him somewhere in July too! Here's hoping....
Deb


I thought Sunday's concert was the Best Ever! Dan is such an awesome talent, and it was great to hear all of my favorites. He is truly gifted and seemed to give his all for a long concert. I kept thinking he would take a break, but he kept going. I also appreciated how much banter he had with the audience this time. I had never seen that much talk out of him before. It enhanced his performance. The Aerial Theatre was great, too. It was an intimate setting, although the lighting completely blacked out his face. The TV's were a help. The only down-side was Eliza Gilkyson's vulgar language. Old-fashioned or not, I didn't care to hear it! But I can't wait to see Dan the next time around!!!
Susan


Dear DanFans:

My husband and I were there also. It was good. There are some I would have liked and a couple I could have done without, but overall I agree it was the best he has done in a while. He opened with Nexus, closed with Part of the Plan, and did Same Old Lang Syne for the encore. (That was one I would have rather been replaced, just tired of it.) In between, in no particular order, he played:

Morning Sky
To the Morning
The Last Nail
Beggar's Game
Longer (another one I would not have missed)
Run for the Roses (the last one I would not have missed)
Hard to Say
Leader of the Band
The Reach
Make Love Stay
If I Was A Carpenter (Tim Hardin)
I Need You (George Harrison)

I may have forgotten one or two, but I don't think so.

I was hoping for something from each album possible. Missing was Windows and Walls, Netherlands, and Exiles. A great time, but I will disagree slightly on the acoustics. We had the chance tosee him in the Music Hall (soon to be torn down) here in Houston MANY years ago. The Music Hall is near perfect acoustically, and this one was not quite as good, but Dan was definitely more personable.

Most memorable line: Talking about Elvis and how he has sold more records since his death than when he was alive and a conversation with his manager when he first heard that Elvis died:
Manager: Did you hear that Elvis died?
Dan: No, that's too bad or something like that.
Manager: Yeah, good career move!

Anyway - a great night. Was wishing for a second encore, but no luck.
Lostman

ASPEN, CO (Saturday, July 4, 1998)

Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998

Since I missed DF in Minnesota last year, I decided that my wife and I needed to see him twice this year. The logic of this escaped her as well. Being new residents of Colorado, the situation presented itself to see him on consecutive nights in Aspen, on July 4, and in SilverCreek on July 5, as part of the Michael Martin Murphey's WestFest events. I will review each separately.

What a delightful day we had in Aspen. Our three children were safely at our cousin's house, and we drove the three+ hours from Denver to Aspen. It rained during the day, which caused us to huddle under the eaves a bit, but then it cleared off and got hot and sunny. Aspen is a beautiful mountain town, lots of unique older buildings, and good shopping and food opportunities. We watched a rugby match, bought some cycling shirts we have not been able to find elsewhere, and ate chips and drank Corona and margaritas with another couple from Denver. Aspen is a great place to visit. Very dog and child friendly.

The concert was venued at the Music Tent, a large tent on the NW corner of town. At one point DF commented that it sounded like he was playing in a tent, then he smiled at the sponsors and noted that it was a very fine tent. Dan wore his black sport jacket over a gray long sleeve shirt, and wore sandals. He opened with Nexus, and played the set that we are all familiar with from his previous legs. In general, though, having seen him about 15 times, he is in the best voice I have ever heard, and the guitar playing is spectacular. The renewed vigor in his music is both invigorating and awe-inspiring. He hits notes that he never tried before, and emotes well in his phrasing. He dedicated "The Reach" to Jacques and John Denver, saying that he met John Denver only once, at JD'S 1984 New Year's Eve party. DF noted that he seemed like a genuine person, one who gave much to the world.

Speaking of Aspen, DF says he has had plenty of good times in Aspen, at least that's what people tell him, since he does not remember much at all. When an audience member noted that an event was occurring on Smuggler street in Aspen, Dan responded that the only smuggler he knows is Buffett.

DF played a new instrumental, an as of yet untitled piece he has named "Santa Fe" (just wanted to see if we were paying attention). "Don't Lose Heart" was stirring. He closed with "Same Auld Lang Syne", keeping his promise to have people to the fireworks by nine. All in all, he played what we would expect to hear, but the quality and effort made it seem unexpected.

I did a first for me. I waited outside the door that he exited from. About ten of us were waiting for him, including this poor lady who came from Florida to see him, and wanted an autograph. When DF emerged, he spoke with two ladies that must have been friends of friends, signed one autograph without realizing, then apologized and said that he had to take his manager's children to the fireworks and could not sign, although ordinarily he would sign for all of us. He then went back inside and we gave up. WE walked back to our car through the entire city of Aspen, with the fireworks being shot from the near mountains seemingly over the rooftops of the city. Spectacular close to a wonderful day.
H. Merwin (Mernie) Budde

SILVER CREEK, CO (Sunday, July 5, 1998)

Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998

DF and his crew had trouble getting from Aspen to SilverCreek, which is about thirty minutes North of Winter Park. They planned to arrive in the morning, spend a leisurely day at the hotel adjoining the field where the concert stage was set up, and then play. Instead, they arrived two hours before the concert, and slept until twenty minutes before the hour-long performance.

He opened with "Morning Sky", and promised the fans a more Western feel to the show, and he wore cowboy boots and a long sleeve sweatshirt type shirt, with sunglasses to see while facing the intense late afternoon/early evening sun. So, his jazz and instrumental pieces were jettisoned for the sake of the CW audience. The fans, seated in lawn chairs or lying on blankets on the cow pasture (I saw the cow pies to prove its former or future use) seemed to be hugely involved. He played "The Reach", "Hard to Say" ("Every time the skies begin to snow, you ski."), "Run for the Roses", and pulled "High Country Snows" and "Go Down Easy" out of the bag. The blues number went over particularly well.

The fact that our three children were with us and acting like kids will act, and the festival nature of the event made it seem distracting and disjointed. Lots of people heading home as the clouds rolled in and looked ominous, and much general movement. But, DF played well and seemed to be enjoying himself. He called CO his favorite crowds to play before, and closed with the always fun to hear "There's a Place in the World (For a Gambler)", with much participation from the audience. Overall, the set list was more enjoyable than the previous night trying to appeal to the upscale souls in Aspen, but Aspen can't be beat for a day in the music of Dan Fogelberg.

500+ miles of difficult driving later, I am home and tired, but damn happy I made the effort. Even my wife is glad we saw him twice. One show without the other would have left the experience incomplete.

A final note on WestFest. CW is not my genre, but WF is a great show. The artists are very approachable, the setting very peaceful, and the appreciation of the audience seemed very sincere. MMM spent two or more hours signing autographs and mingling, as did Suzy Boguss. A lesson to be learned for other musical types. They had a play area for kids, and lots of exhibits to learn about Western culture. The closing of the event with an Indian prayer by an Indian chief uncle of MMM was particularly classy.
H. Merwin (Mernie) Budde

CHICAGO, IL (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)
Date: July 8, 1998

I had a long drive home today to muse upon why the concert last night was such a high for me...

I wish I could bottle up last night's concert and send it to each of you....it was indescribably wonderful. I'm not quite sure why that is--the set list really hasn't changed that much, as y'all can see, but it went beyond that. To me, this was one of those magical evenings when the performer really had the audience (well, at least this member of it) in the palm of his hand, so to speak--the energy and the sense of pure joy that suffused every piece of music would have enabled him to play just about anything. I'm sure there are detractors out there who question whether that sense of joy is put on for the audience, but it seemed pretty real to me, and it was impossible not to be affected by that.

The memory of last night's concert at Ravinia will keep me coming back for a long, long time; it made me want to listen again, and for that, I'm very grateful.

"with a heart full of light, and a head full of songs,"
Mar

Date: July 8,1998

I think Dan's concert at Ravinia (Chicago) was excellent! He looked good. He sounded great. His musical talent shined. The Ravinia park is a perfect setting for his concert. Dan was very relaxed and friendly. It felt as though he had gathered a bunch of friends into his living room (there were some family members in the audience). The time went by much too quickly.
Wilma

COLUMBUS, OH (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)
Date: Thu, 09 Jul 1998 20:32:03

Won't go over the play list. It was basically the same as the shows in Texas. As most people have mentioned Dan seemed very happy and really on top of the game musically. It was an incredible show. I drove down from Cleveland and thought it was better than the show in Cleveland last year. (of course it rained at that show and Dan was pretty exposed to the elements) Dan joked with the audience, mostly about the bug spray he was given. He seemed to get a kick out of the name, "Pleasantly Protected". He got a great reception and thanked the audience for being so good. Overall I think he was happy with himself and the event. He sounded great. I am kicking myself for not going on to Dayton to hear another show. But in the past Dan seemed to get tired after a few days in a row, so I opted for the earlier show.
Patty

DAYTON, OH - Fraze Pavilion (Thursday, July 9, 1998)
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998

This venue seats about 3000 people. It was full. The air was cool. A beautiful night with a full moon. Janis played her set with a smile. It was a bit less energetic than in Columbus the previous night. But, oh, it is good to be back in touch with her work.

Dan was introduced by my favorite seven words: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Dan Fogelberg. The crowd in Dayton seemed more conservative than in Columbus and Dan was layed back and in great voice. The set list was similar to Columbus. Changes since the fall shows included Crow, Don't Lose Heart, and Forefathers. He told a story about being interviewed in Dayton by some guy, Dan wasn't even sure what organization the guy was with, but, supposedly this guy tells Dan the makers of Viagra want to license with song Longer as the theme song for the product.

While Dan was playing Make Love Stay in Columbus, folks got rowdy when exhumed came around. In Dayton, folks politely responded. As Dan played the song, and as the second "exhumed" came around, a wonderful shooting star came overhead from east to west in the sky. It was great to be under the full moon, stars, and that extraordinary shooting star.

In Columbus, as the guitar guy brought Dan the classical guitar, Dan waved it off and went straight to the piano. I noticed it and figured Dan was reading the audience and had changed the set list. In Dayton, he did play the classical guitar including Santa Fe, selections from the Christmas music he is writing plus Greensleeves, and Todos Santos. Spectacular. I am looking forward to the CD that is supposedly to be available in 1999 according to an article in the Columbus Dispatch on the day of Dan's appearance.

The mood of the night in Dayton was one which seemed to have Dan playing for a small circle of close friends. His singing and playing seemed flawless. He held those 3000 people in the silences between phrases.

A reference to the strange green light in his Mother's home as he introduced To the Morning prompted the lighting engineer to shine a green spot on Dan. It surprised him and laughed. I thought he might slide off the piano bench in surprise. He seemed to keep up a friendly banter with crew members and some of the folks down front with whom he could speak directly.

I have heard Dan is 11 concerts now. Columbus was memorable because I found it was the best reception that central Ohioans have ever given Dan. And he responded with not one but two encores. First - Same Old Lang Syne; second - There's a Place in the World for the Gambler. Folks sang their hearts out around me. Dayton was memorable because it was such an easy evening with Dan at his best.

Deann Ward

WALLINGFORD, CT - Oakdale Theatre (Saturday, July 11, 1998)
Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998

Dan was the man that night. I saw him last year at the South Shore Music Circus (front row) and was in awe at the sight and sound of the man who inspired my own music, whose every album I own, and who's music had made such an impact on me. This was the first time I had ever gotten to see Dan. It was truly special.

However, nothing could compare to Dan's performance at Oakdale. When I heard Dan was going to be there I decided to call a young lady I had not seen since High School (16 years) with whom I used to sit and listen to Dan. I asked her to join me and she consented.

What we got was nothing short of amazing. Even in a venue as large as Oakdale, Dan shined like no one else could. Our seats were 30 rows away, yet I felt closer to Dan then last year.

I won't review all of his music, but suffice it to say that his comment about quitting smoking was proven in the quality of his voice. Last year he mentioned at the concert that he did not take requests because so many of his old songs were out of his range, but he proved himself wrong this night. Last year he hit his high notes, but you could hear he was straining. This year he hung those notes from the rafters. They echo'd accross the theatre sending chills down my spine.

My friend and I, in tears most of the time, spent the concert with smiles accross our faces at the familiar tunes and melodic voice echoing around us. It was truly inspiring.

Craig

BOSTON, MA - Harbor Lights Pavilion (Sunday, July 12, 1998)
July 15, 1998 19:57:54

Dan came back to play what he called one of his favorite American cities last night, and what a night it was. Dan played the Harborlights pavillion in Boston last night. On a crystal clear night with the lights of Bostons skyscrapers glimmering off the water, and the smell of the ocean in the air. It was picture perfect to say the least. Dan opted for the smaller South shore music circus in Cohasset last year but this year he was back in the capital city, and did not dissapoint The two shows were different as well. Dan was not very animated in Cohasset last summer, this year he may as well have been on VH1 storytellers. He talked between most every tune with the crowd, told jokes, and carried on with the boaters in the harbor behind him, who blew airhorns in approval. The set was similar to last years tour. "Nexus" opened, All innocent age hits were played. "Part of the plan", "Make Love Stay", "Don't Lose heart":, :"If I were a carpenter", annd George Harrisons "I need You" were all played better than last year. Practice does make perfect! As for heart stopping moments, "To the morning" with tales of Peoria in 1970 sent warm chills down the spine, and enraptured even those who were unfamiliar with it. To hear this song is worth the price of admission alone, and if you have seen Dan perform this, you know exactly what I am talking about. The big surprise of the night was "Lazy Susan." of course it was much more stripped down than the version on Twin Sons, but a huge tret none the less. Left off the tour last year but back in all it's glory was "Longer" which Dan said the people at Viagra want to use as their theme song! Old fans were pleased with return versions of "Morning Sky" and a looong psychedelic intro to "Part of the Plan" which makes us old fans wonder why "Home Free" "Souveniers" "Captured Angel" and "Netherlands" continue to be largely ignored no matter how much we continue to beg. Maybe one day he will do a mini club tour and ,..........well enough dreaming. "Old Lang Syne" closed the show, and of course the crowd went bannanas. Dan took his bows to a standing ovation, and thus completed another special night. Thanks Dan.

I have included a few lines of a friend I took with me and her opinion of the show. This is her review --

Being a newcomer to the musical world of Dan Fogleberg, I embraced the concert with ambiguity and curiosity. Not knowing what to expect, I kept my mind open and free as he played through each song. It didn't take long to realize that this man was of obvious talent and admiration. His music is such that it draws the audience into it. The trance like notes of his guitar captured my every thought. Fogelberg's charismatic aurora is passed through to his music. He leaves you hanging on to each note, eagerly awaiting the note to follow. I was impressed by his magnificent musical power and can't think of another artist who has this effect. I recommend Fogelberg to music lovers around the world. He will leave you relaxed, satisfied and soulfully happy! -- Heather Jensen

Matt Crowley

Thu, 13 Aug 1998

First of all, I want to wish Dan a very happy 47th birthday!

In reading all the great reviews of Dan's recent concerts, I echo the thoughts of many others in saying that Dan gave a wonderful performance - this one at the Harborlights Pavilion in Boston. This being my fourth concert, I feel that every one I've seen seems to get better. Although the songs were, for the most part, the same as last year at Cohasset, MA (which disappointed me a little), I thoroughly enjoyed it. The night was beautiful, and this Pavilion has a wonderful view of the harbor around the stage. There was a beautiful sunset, as Dan serenaded us. What could be better?

Somehow Dan managed to look younger than ever and very handsome from my fourth row seat. He was in casual jeans, shirt, jacket and sandals. His voice and guitar solos were strong and very powerful, and I found myself really enjoying songs that I've grown a little tired of, such as Longer and AuldLang Syne. Longer, in particular, was sung with such feeling that it sounded like a new rendition. I love Celtic music and his Christmas album is something I'm looking forward to. He played a few Celtic guitar solos from this future album, and they were truly beautiful.

Since Dan has been my favorite artist for over twenty years, I already know what a wonderful talent he is, but what I also loved about this concert was his sense of humor. He talked quite a bit to the audience, and I found him very natural and down-to-earth. I tend to think of Dan as being "between the world of men and make-believe," but this concert made me feel differently. I loved hearing him joke with the audience, and I found myself really laughing at some of the things he was saying. When he discovered boats in the harbor could hear his concert, he asked them to sound their horns if they were listening...after they did, he informed them they owe him $35.00 . Also, he found it mystifying that after he mentioned his grandmother's age, everyone applauded. He said that he really finds it strange when he watches "Letterman" and the "stars" mention that they have just had a baby, and everyone breaks into an enthusiastic applause. How true - how many of the "every day" people get the same response from that announcement! He repeated this a couple of times and made it seem as if he were stuck in a sort of "Twilight Zone" moment. (You really had to be there!!) One negative point for me -I don't use profanity, so I don't particularly like hearing it from someone I respect so much, however, I realize I'm in the minority, and it didn't take away from Dan's very witty, somewhat sarcastic (like my own) humor when he used it. Wouldn't it be great if he did a question and answer session after the concert?! It would mean a great deal to his fans, however, I realize that the concerts, while exhilarating, must also be very tiring for him.

I know I'm somewhat of a perfectionist, not easily impressed, a bit stoic, and certainly not a follower, but Dan Fogelberg - this is perfection - A+.

It is my sincere wish that all of his fans have the opportunity to see him perform in concert.

Dianne
 
Stanhope, NJ - Waterloo Village (July 17, 1998)

Well...... For not having seen Dan in years, this was a very special night
for me. As I sat there in my seat next to my son and his girlfriend, I was a
bit giddy and nervous (like a teen ager!..) Finally, after all these years, I
get to see him again!... As the lights lowered and everyone started clapping
and cheering, he approched the stage! = ) Ahhhh.. there he is! That
magnificant
singer/songwriter. He changed a bit, a little older, but still as
breathtaking as ever. As he began, I watched his face, I watched his hands, I
watched the way he moved, and I then started to relax... He seemed to be in
a good mood, and I felt the audience really admired him. Right in the
beginning, a big old flying moth went circling right near him, and he was
like "Whoa!.. what was that!".. and looked over at the can of Bug Spray and
started
spraying himself and the stage area...and yes, he told the little joke about
his can of "Pleasantly Protected".. He did not do much story telling, but
answered the audience back and forth with some humor. At one point, the
audience started yelling out songs, not just one or two...but for almost 5
min! Dan just sat back, folded his arms and made this smiley smirking face
like..."OK, I'll wait".. I actually think it disturbed him a bit, but thats
when
he finally picked up the set list, and said, "See this?, this is a set list.
These are the songs I will be singing and rehearsed.".. I sat in the 3rd row
and had a great view. I watched his hands again, as he played a few
instumentals, and I watched my son, get into it! = ) To the Morning, I
started to tear up...it was always a special song to me. But once he played
LONGER, I had to let go.. (and yes, he did do the Viagra Joke) There were no
Christmas songs, but that was okay for me. I dont know if it was just around
My area...but I really did not see too many head bopping, shoulder swaying,
fans. I on the other hand, could not stop being a part of this magic moment!
He did one encore, which was an excellent bluesy Auld Lang Syne... All in
All, I thought it was a great show. People even taking pictures, did not seem
to bother him or security at all. I met up with a few onliners, which was
nice. You want the set list you say?? Okay...this was it.
Nexus
Hard to Say
ForeFathers
To The Morning
Don't Lose Heart
Make Love Stay
Instrumental
Road Beneath My Wheels
Instrumental
I Need You
The Reach
Santa Fe
Todos Santos
Run For the Roses
Morning Sky
Longer
Leader of the Band
Part of the Plan
Auld Lang Syne
Oh....another funny part was when Dan was at the Piano, getting ready to
play, it sounded like 2 GUYS yelled out "We Love You Dan!"... LOL Dan smiles
and says, "What was that all about?!" and then yells back in a Valley Type
accent, "I love you too Man! "...and then asks the audience if they are
selling Beer here!.. LOL
Anyway...Can you tell I had a Great time! = ) Thanks DAN!!....

Cathy

ATLANTA, GA (Tuesday, July 21, 1998)
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 19:52:24

Dan played at Chastain Park, a small/medium outdoor amphitheater. It's a perfect venue for this kind of concert -- candlelit, surrounded by trees, under the stars (under the rain for a little while). I thought Dan was excellent.

Unfortunately, the crowd was awful. This was a concert for the long-time Fogelberg afficionado, not the casual fan. Apparently, a lot of people did not get the message that this is a solo accoustic tour. They were disappointed that he was not rocking with a band. (And one of the most vocally disappointed was sitting right next to me!) In addition to that, Chastain Park sells season tickets to their concert series, so a lot of people come every week regardless of who's playing. So there seemed to be a lot of people who didn't really know who or what they were listening to and treated the music like background to their outdoor picnic.

But enough about that (besides some people have told me that I must have been in a bad section -- the audience was not that rude all over the park.)

This was a very special concert to me (and, I think, to anyone who really appreciates Dan's music). It had a very personal feeling -- like he was sitting at home playing, and we were all there. Because he was alone onstage, he interacted with the audience much more than I've seen in the past. He even took a couple of requests that he hadn't planned to play ("Old Tennessee").

He spent most of the time on the guitar, but also did some great piano numbers. I'm amazed at how music he can get out of a single guitar! I don't remember the whole set list, but the ones that stand out in my memory were:

"To the Morning" -- one of my all-time favorites, and the piano sounded very clear
"Part of the Plan" -- he did an alternate opening, kind of like the way it starts on "Greetings from the West", so you're not sure what song it is until he starts the lyrics.
"Same Old Lang Syne" -- this song is very personal to me, and he sang it with a lot of emotion. It was the encore.
"Forefathers"
"Captured Angel" -- another personal favorite

He said he had been at home working on a Christmas album, and it got so absurd playing Christmas music in the summer, that he really looked forward to getting back on tour! The Christmas album will not be out for this year, but should make Christmas, 1999. He said it won't be your typical carols ("Jingle Bells", "Here comes Santa Claus"). It's more traditional medeival/renaissance style Christmas music with a Celtic influence. He played a couple of instrumental pieces from it which were very good. One was "Greensleeves". I'm definitely looking forward to the release of that album.

The best part of the concert was that Dan really appeared to be enjoying himself. He was so relaxed and comfortable about the whole evening. He just got to come out on stage and play and sing for 2 hours. This show was about the music, not about flashy production. When you take away the high volume, the light shows, and the rocking band, all that's left is the man and his music. In this forum, the deep poetry of his lyrics and the unbelievable talent and power of his playing really shone through.

I strongly recommend this tour to anyone who has followed Fogelberg for many years and been touched by his music. I've seen him 12-15 times over the last 20 years, and this concert will stand out in my memory as a very special experience.

Pat

Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 23:10:00

Dan Fogelberg's Performance in Atlanta's Chastain Park:
July 21, 1998 - A hot, muggy midsummer evening at an Atlanta amphitheater - you wouldn't catch me outdoors if it weren't for the chance to see Dan Fogelberg in concert for the first time. My hubby and I arrived several hours early and managed to sneak in, hoping for a chance to catch him on a sound check. No luck there except that we got to know an usher who upgraded our seats to be much closer to the stage. (I also had a guard slip Dan a note saying that a girl from his hometown in Illinois would love to meet him.)

A welcome rain arrived after the opening act and lasted for about half an hour. In the midst of this, Dan bounced on-stage, looking like a young kid in faded jeans, an iridescent violet long-sleeved shirt, and sandals, and ever-so-handsome. His hair was feathered and just above the collar.

He dove right into "Nexus" without an introduction and, boy, was he intense. Then he told us that "?tonight, it's just you and me" (Aahhh, my heart was melting?)

A man of words, Dan was very articulate and witty. The crowd loved him, shouting requests all evening. Against his nature, he gave in to a request for "Old Tennessee". Everyone went wild with the mention of Georgia. As a current Tennessean, I enjoyed this expressive solo performance and found that it sounded much richer than in the original version.

Dan's voice was in tip-top shape all night, with depth, clarity, fervor, and an impressive range. His performance of "Forefathers" was particularly moving. Of course the hits were all well-received, especially "Longer". He explained that he's always had a love-hate relationship with this song and that right now, he was "lovin' it". This was the only song during which he was honored with complete silence from the audience.

Dan deviated a bit from the previous set list, with several omissions but some delightful additions including "Captured Angel". The resulting mix was truly eclectic. He seemed to enjoy improvising, offering something for every taste. The bluegrass "Morning Sky", the rocker "Part of the Plan", and the blues "Road Beneath My Wheels" (and I'm not even a blues fan but I thoroughly enjoyed it!) attested to his versatility and talent. It was an unexpected treat to hear him play several classical guitar melodies from "No Resemblance Whatsoever" and (surprise!) his upcoming Christmas album. He joked that MTV would have to wait for this release, as it won't be ready by this Christmas. I'll be standing in line!

My only disappointment was his notable omission of "Beggar's Game". I consider this his most passionate song and was so looking forward to seeing him play it on the piano. To my dismay, he only played three on the piano: "To the Morning", "Run for the Roses", and his awaited encore, "Same Old Lang Syne".

Dan played right up until the city-regulated 11:00PM, shrugging and pointing at his watch as though he were being hauled off-stage. During the encore, I waited by the security entrance, hoping for the slight chance that he had read my note and agreed to let me backstage. But in what seemed like a conspiracy, all of the event staff kept saying he was "long gone" and that he'd "left before the music stopped". I found this rather puzzling. Particularly after an elderly couple who had left out the back entrance told me that they had just seen him in the RV. Nonetheless, I gave up, probably too early. I decided that if he was trying so hard to keep his privacy, he deserved that respect. (Maybe next time he'll soften up.)

I want to say thanks, Dan, for a lifetime of beautiful music and memories and an unforgettable performance.

Maria from Pekin

Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 11:14:43

Oh my goodness what a concert.

I didn't pay close enough attention to the reviews and I had no idea that this tour was going to be acoustic. The whole time I was trying to think of what the band was going to sound like when he opened with Nexus or when he did such songs as The Reach. What a surprise to find him stroll out on stage by himself and his guitar.

I saw him at Chastain theater (an outdoor venue built in a hillside in the old/upscale neighborhood of Atlanta....by far my favorite venue in the southeast United States). We got some welcomed drizzle for the first 15-20 minutes, but it was enjoyable seeing as the heat index that day in Atlanta was about 102. Dan looked great, sandals, jeans and a button down shirt, and a sound that was the best that I have ever heard in the last ten years of seeing entertainers at Chastain such as James Taylor, Don Henley, Moody Blues, Bryan Adams and even Frank Sinatra.

His 6 string guitars sounded like a 12 string, and when he played his 12 string, it sounded and felt like the sound was surrounding you. Then when his voice joined in behind the guitar, it was like we were sitting in a surround sound theater. (I need to point out that at Chastain, they do use some side-mounted speakers for better sound).

The thing that became amazing to me and even better than I could have imagined was the reaction of the crowd. Chastain is all reserved seating and they allow you to bring coolers, food, beer and wine, table trays and usually about 70% of the crowd will have candles. After the sun goes down behind the magnolias, it becomes a very magical place. Problem with that cook-out/picnic type of setting, it usually lends itself to people talking throughout the show (I read a review of his visit to Chastain last year and that was the downfall of the show). However, this time the crowd was perfect. When he did such ballads as Make Love Stay, Longer or Hard To say...the crowd was absolutely quiet. I have never experienced that at any concert that I can remember.

All in all, it was a perfect evening and I was really pleased to see him in an acoustic environment. One last thing, he did do some new music and he played portions of some songs that he was working on before he hit the road. He is doing a Christmas album of old celtic and classical guitar songs. He really shinned as a classicly trained guitarist (you could see why some many people like Joe Walsh, Gerry Beckley, and Graham Nash wanted to play with him overthe years). However, he said it will not be released until Christmas of 1999. As he put it, "I had to cut the recording short to come out on the road", and I am very glad he did.
Mike Singer

TAMPA, FL (Friday, July 24, 1998)
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 01:26:40

I wasn't planning on submitting a review of this show, because the set lists and the comments have been very much the same from concert to concert. I am very pleased to say that this show was different, especially compared to the last two times Dan has played this area, in Tampa in '96 and in Clearwater last summer. Those two shows were about 80 - 90 minutes in length, with his now outdated introduction, a predictable set list (of about 14 songs), and the same old jokes. While those were, as always, great perfomances by Dan, they seemed to lack the spark from the previous times I had seen him live (eight times, dating back to 1979). In tonight's show, with the exception of some first-song jitters (he crossed up a lyric in 'Nexus'), Dan was at his finest. He played 22 songs, over two hours, without a break. The only time I've seen him play more was a full moon night in St. Louis in 1991, the night he recorded his live album 'Greetings From The West', when he played three-plus hours so he would have plenty of material to choose from. (A lot of great songs from that night didn't make it on the album or video). Anyway, as anyone who's seen him recently can verify, he's much more relaxed now than in the past. He definitely jokes around more with the crowd, and his voice sounds as good as it ever did. And, thankfully, he traded in his old, recorded introduction for a newer one (it could have even been a live intro). The first few songs were the same as in recent shows, with 'Nexus' followed by 'Hard To Say' and 'Forefathers', the latter with a long intro about his 104 year-old grandmother. I wanted and expected to hear 'The Last Nail' next, but was surprised with a nice rendition of 'Captured Angel' , followed by 'To The Morning' and 'Don't Lose Heart' on the piano, then 'Make Love Stay', 'Road Beneath My Wheels', 'I Need You', and 'The Reach'. Here's where it got a little different. He mentioned his current project, a Christmas album, and played three instrumentals from that, including 'Greensleeves'. From what I've read, this album won't be out in time for this Christmas, but I hope I'm wrong. He the threw in a few more instrumentals, including 'Santa Fe', 'Todos Santos', and 'Lazy Susan'. He finished off with 'Run For The Roses', 'Morning Sky, 'Longer' (very strong vocal on this one), 'Leader Of The Band', 'Part Of The Plan', and closed with 'Same Old Lang Syne'. As always, there were songs I expected to hear but didn't, notably the afore-mentioned 'The Last Nail' and 'Beggar's Game'. I still miss hearing 'The Innocent Age' and 'There's A Place In The World For A Gambler', both of which he last played around here in 1994. Haven't heard him sing 'Netherlands' since '79. All in all, this was an all-around great show tonight. Go see him if he comes to your town.

BTRUDEL@aol.com

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