Belfast 18th March 1999

Set List

Concert Review by Linda Holmes:

This was my first concert of the tour and I was rather apprehensive that I would not rate the new band as highly as the Mark / Steve / Pat version of the Neverland Express but I needn’t have worried as they sounded just as good (although not with so much stage presence). Damen had a couple of good solo spots and Tom sounded really good (and very confident on the piano and keyboards), unfortunately Ray was very much in the background as, apart from one duet part with Tom, he almost might not have been there. Patti and John were as steady as ever but the best surprise was that Kas seemed very exuberant and was bouncing all over the stage!

My fav part of the concert was the acoustic part in the encore as Kas sang the first verse of the Rolling Stones’ Honky Tonk Woman SOLO!!

Concert Review by Craig Wootton:

AT LAST

Well, this was the moment I have been waiting for, after four years of listening to his music only through c.d.’s and seeing him only on MTV and VH-1, I had finally got the chance to see him live. I still couldn’t believe I was going to see him. All the queuing up was worth it. After standing outside for two hours in the cold, I was right at the front. The support band were OK, although the King’s Hall was only starting to fill up. After they went off, I looked around me, the place was packed. Within half an hour, the place was full. The crowds were going wild. I felt so happy that the place was packed, and that people turned out to support Meat and all his hard work over the years.

INTRODUCTION

All the lights went off, and sound effects like something out of Jurassic Park was all that could be heard over the speakers. The stage didn’t look to be big at all. There were no instruments, and the stage was tiny. Something big was about to happen. And then, there it was. The place went up in cheers, everyone shouting "Meat Loaf, Meat Loaf." Then he came out from the side of the stage. I couldn’t believe I was actually looking at him. He was looking so well, so much thinner than he did a few years ago. His new, modern short hair cut only added to how greater he was looking. He simply sat down, on a rock/chair like thing, and started to sing home by Now/ No matter what. His voice blew me away. It was so strong, so loud and powerful. I was still trying to believe I was actually looking at the God of Rock. Then the curtain fell, and the stage became alive. It was so big. Parts were raised my stairways, and the whole thing was blue by the lights. The rigging of the speakers and all the lights was so tall. I have never seen anything like it. The sound system was great.

LET THE SHOW BEGIN

Everyone was playing a percussion instrument. Meat got handed a pair of Shaky things, Patti was playing a large drum thing, the guitars were banging something and so was Pearl. I wondered what song this was. Then the guitars came in. Damon lead them so brilliantly. But where had Meat gone. There he was, he had stepped of to get his guitar. All four guitarists now playing. Kasim was bouncing all over the stage,. This was the new intro. To "Life is a Lemon" this was followed by Dead ringer for love, and loads of other songs. I can’t even remember the order, the songs were so great, guitars were brilliant. There were so many songs.

PARADISE

Then a big glittery curtain fell from the skies, stretching across the whole stage. Meat words were, "Do go away, I’ll be right back." Then I could have sworn there were two Meat Loafs. As soon as he went into the curtain, he came out again, all dressed up in a tux. How did he do that. Paradise was played, and the role playing went on in front of the curtain between Meat and Patti. After the Phil Rizzuto play by play part, the arguments started. It was great. The best I have heard yet. It lasted for ages. Meat was great, and kept mocking Patti. It ended with Patti laughing "You ain’t go nothing to hit under the belt." The place went wild.

ACOUSTIC ENCORE

After that, the stage was cleared, and stools were brought out. Meat introduced each and every member of the band one by one. They came on and took their place on their stools. He asked what song they crowd wanted, and we all shouted all different songs. Finally he said he would play "For crying out loud" which he said he has not played since New York of 1979. I don’t know if this was true or not, but it added to the atmosphere. He played it really slowly, and with only a piano accompaniment. Near the end, Damon and others came in with slow guitars, and it was excellent.

MAKE WAY FOR THE DAUGHTER

After that, he asked for more requests, and he played some song by the Rolling Stones. He then played Midnight at the lost and found. All these songs were played acoustically, and they came of brilliantly. When he asked again for another request, the guy beside my shouted "Get your daughter to sing" Meat heard him and asked "What did you say!" the guy then shouted "I love your daughter" Meat asked "have you got any f***ing money?" the crowd went wild. The guy was wearing some strange shirt, to which Meat questioned. The guy jumped on stage. Bouncers jumped to pull him off, but Meat, calm as he was, simply let him come up. The guy got up and went over to Meat’s daughter. And hugged her. Meat quickly got up and pulled him off and set him down beside himself and the piano. Meat said his daughter was going to sing a solo with no instruments, and the guy could sing with her the second verse. She sang Mercedes Benz and the place went wild. She has such a great voice.

THE ENDING

After that, they started to play "You took the words right out my mouth". The guy got the opportunity to lead the ending bit to the audience. While this was going on the stage was reforming behind him, the stools were taken away, and Bat out of hell was started. The guy was lead off stage, but not until he was cheered again from the crowd. Bat out of hell was played, and well, what can I say. After the thousands of times I have heard it, it never sounds the same as it did then. It was excellent. Damon really did excel himself during the motor cycle bit in the middle, using the distortion lever to play the guitar. It was excellent. Then all of a sudden, a giant bat was released from the back of the stage, with the eyes shinning out over the audience. A giant rubber bat, it was so excellent. That was the last song played, and Meat and the rest of the band went home.

The whole concert was amazing, I had never expected it to be as good. Everyone was talking about it after. When I went into school the next day, everyone has also heard about how great it was over the radio. The place was full off "Maybe I should have went" Well, lets hope it isn’t to long before the get another chance.

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