MADRID, MAY 31^ST

It’s obvious that some things have changed since last time we saw Roger live during the solotramp tour in Holland in 1998; and there is a simple reason for that: the company "SONY". The giant is taking out Roger music from a very deep hole, speaking from an advertising and publicity point of view.

He spent four days in Spain (one in Barcelona and three in Madrid) and It was incredible...four and five radio interviews a day, the press, some TV shows ( I am particularly disappointed he always perform the single "hungry" whis is not bad, but of course the less creative song of "Open the door"). Just a short contact at the doorway in front of the hotel, or a few words in the soundcheck besides the BIS interview, he showed a professional side that I had not perceived in the last years... working very hard and concentrated not to have any unexpected mistakes

For those who look forward to going back to first solotramp tours (1997/1998) soon; I must say we are in front of a rock star (at least that’s the image SONY wants to offer to the world music) which is fantastic because obviously the low budget he had after the lab album (R.O.P) wouldn’t last for ever; but now he is under a very stricted shedule that sometimes make him not to share all the time he´d wish with all the fans. Anyway we were seeking an interview (out of the official shedule) and we got 30 minutes which became 60 thank to Roger and Sony....you have all the details in Breakfast in Spain main site.

Roger during BIS interview

Two years without seeing Roger is too much time, but if you are rewarded with two fantastic shows: the first one in Sala Arena in Madrid (May, 31^st ) and the other one two weeks later in Madrid either....you think: "It was worthwile"....and then wonder " When again?".

The second show was a special performance broadcasted for Cadena 40 and a Satelite T.V. Channel that will be "in the air" next September. The list of the songs were very similar but there was an extra in this last show, Two special guests: the drummer of "Open the door" and a bass player made the songs sound more powerful and stronger than ever..."In jeopardy" sounded fantastic , I can’t imagine how it will work with a full band but It has to be something extraordinary. In fact it was the only song he played from "In the eye of the storm". "Hai Hai" not even existed; so he is definitively concentrated in the new songs and the old Supertramp hits. The new album loses a little bit without the rest of musicians, although in the first show he received the help of Carlos Nuñez playing the flute in "Along came Mary" and "Time waits for no one". I was astonished with the version of "Open the door" for the solotramp show, he has left out the beggining and as a result of this there is different song. "Open the door" will be the second single of the album in a radio edited version.

BIS with some friends in Cadena 40 show

This is the list of the songs (Madrid, Sala Arena)

1.-The meaning. As old legendary shows started with "School" Roger is beggining his concerts with an acoustic version of "The meaning" one of his favourite songs which never let him satisfied as it sounds in "Crisis What Crisis?".

2.-Take the long way home. If you are a little bit lucky and the co-producer of "OTD" is around the venue he will probably jump in with his harmonica to play the first notes of this classic.

Alan simon joined the party in "Take the long way home"

3.-In Jeopardy. The only track from "In the eye of the storm" sounded completely different in the second show supported by the drummer, incredible!! My personal opinion is he should leave out this song in his solo-tramp shows and replace it by the ballad "Lovers in the wind" because no other instruments are needed.

4.-Open the door. This song is the bomb. In both shows he did not included the first part of the song..in fact I think he played a radio-edited version. Roger has put a lot of expectations on this song, a innovation and evolution on his music career, Spanish guitar and some kind of weird (or at least unsual) instruments sounds in this little jewel.

Roger plays the title of the album

5.-Breakfast in America. Take a look at my girlfriend........

6.-Love is a thousand times. I heard this song for the first time in 1997 and thought this song has to be in the next album. I was right but never thought Roger would be able to make a wonderful arrangments that changed the song. This should have been the first single but as Rogers says "a ballad is too risky to promote a single in the radio". By the way It was written in the seventies.

7.-Easy does it/ Sister moonshine. Two classics that Roger shares with the audience; whistling in the first and doing the echoes in the second one.

8.-Hide in your shell. My all times favourite song that Roger plays only if his voice is in pretty good shape (he didn`t play it in the second show). This is one of the songs that make you not miss the rest of the band, just the keyboard and his powerful voice to realise Roger hasn't loose any vigour.

9.-Lord is it mine?. A little surprise for the fans who attended the first show.

10.-Along came Mary/Timewaits for no one. It sounded fantastic with the collaboration of Carlos Nuñez playing the flute. Did you know that Roger sings one song as a special guest in the last celtic music album from this Spaniard composer? "Time waits for no one" was rehearsed during the sound-check twice or three times until they got a pure sound. On the other hand "Along came Mary" and probably "Showdown" are the songs where all the fans recognize a bigger change between the first live version heard before and the definitive version included in a studio album with some celtics instruments added and new arrangements.

Roger plays "Along came Mary"...in a Roman ruins?

11.-Lone child. It was supposed to be in "Open the door" but Roger said It didn't work at the end. Anyway it's a good choice to include it in the tour and show off about his "little toy"; a crazy advance drums that gives out a strange psychodelic sound. Antonio was the volunteer once again in jumping up the stage as he did two years before in Hollad.

12.-Dreamer. Another classic from "Crime of the Century" where the public does Rick´s background voices. Like "Hide in your shell" offers the best of Roger making a big effort with his voice reaching a very sharp tune.

13.-Death and a zoo. A magic song, which Roger is pretty proud of. He doesn´t need a band because he has pre-recorded all the effects and animal sounds in his keyboards. The first time you hear it may seem quite odd, a radical break in the middle let you discover a new creative side that reachs the unexpected.

14.-Say Goodbye. My favourite track. Written in the past with his pump organ, like "The garden" offers a kind of mystic sound that disconnects with the rest of the album. The fans we had the chance to attend the Dutch Tour in 1998 and listened to this song played with "Grand Ma" were amazed of the result (I particularly cried the first time I heard it). Now "Grand Ma" has been substitued by the keyboards but the angelical voice keeps up your heart shrunk.

15.-Don’t leave me now. It was played in both concerts and I can tell with the drums is a completely different song. Some fans prefer "Know who you are" (which Roger doesn't like very much) but after "Say Goodbye" it was very well chosen for the show.

16.-It’s raining again. One of the favourites for the audience, everybody shouting, jumping, clapping hands,... Roger makes up almost everything so spontaneously: the saxo, chorus... the result was good, but too far from the studio album. Anyway everyone finished exhausted helping him with this difficult song.

17.-The logical song. Another one where the absence of the band is evident..but who cares? When I was young It seemed a life so wonderful, a miracle......

18.- Two of us. A classic ballad from the seventies with Roger on his guitar, don't you think this fantastic pic could have been taken in legendary 1979 Paris concert? By the way he made up a saxophone tune with his voice that didn't turn up in Paris version.

Roger plays "Two of us"

19.- Give a little bit. 1977 hit to finish the show. Brilliant end for a magic night. The oldest admirer figured out a few encores were coming up after the magnificent feeedback from the crazy fans who didn't stop singing not even for a sec during the whole night.

20.- School. The song that Supertramp used to start the old shows was almost a impossible task, but with a some imagination and a surrendered audience nothing is impossible. I can't describe it with a few words so recommend to download the song from the main menu and experince it by yourself.

21.- Fool’s overture. People had demanded this song from the beggining of the show and in spite of not having the suitable resources to play it, Roger played almost the whole song with an admirable energy. History recalls, how great the fall can be, while everybody´s waiting.....

Roger and his band giving thanks.

The second show was very similar, except he showed up with a bass player and a drummer. He left out "Dreamer", "Hide in your shell", "Love is a thousand times", "Lone child", "Along came Mary" and "Time waits for no one". Instead of these he played "Even in the quietest moments", "The garden" and "The more I look".

I expect you have made an idea about the event. Breakfast in Spain report.

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