Fischer-Z

Been to see Fischer-Z a few times over the last year or 2. The concerts in Paradiso Amsterdam and Tivoli Utrecht in 2018 were absolutely sensational, really brought the house down.
Oosterpoort Groningen 2018 was a bit flat, and unfortunately Tivoli Utrecht this time around was VERY flat. Not a lot of energy, autopilot. John missed quite a few of his lines throughout the concert.
Concert started off with John solo on stage, only to find his guitar wasn't tuned to the song he had planned to do. He improvised and did another song but had to call the band to help out halfway through the track. If this was planned, it looked very spontaneous and unrehearsed indeed.
I'm never a fan of bandmembers clapping their hands above their head to encourage the audience to start clapping (shouldn't be necessary) but new (and old) bassplayer David Purdye frequently felt the need to do so.
One encore of 3 or 4 tracks, band hurrying off the stage, lights and music on straight away. As if to say "Go home quickly please, we're not coming back"

Wasn't all doom and gloom. As usual there was a mixture of old and new. Some nice new songs, and with Adrien on keyboards quite a few of the old ones seem to sound better. And Sid's grimaces on the drums, beating the hell out of them just for the fun of it always brings a smile, even when the concert itself does not.

Personal highlight was Man in someone else's skin, off one of John's early solo albums.

Pity I caught them on an apparently bad night. The new stuff and the new sound deserves better

Absolutely brilliant night at Paradiso!

Expectations weren't too high beforehand to be honest. John Watts was my absolute hero at the end of the seventies, beginning of the eighties, and it's always a bit of a risk to see them 35 years on. No energy, on automatic pilot, going through the motions ... ?

No way!
John & Fischer Z 2018 were really full of energy, fresh and really gave it a go.
The sound is not just an eighties rewind but has been updated with all sorts of subtle modern effects that add to the great eighties songs instead of ruining them.
Setlist was a mix of about 25% new songs form Building Bridges and a most welcome truckload of old classics.
Personal highlight probably Battalions of strangers and John solo in I know it now. Superb versions of Red skies over Paradise, Marliese, Limbo and in England. Hadn't heard Wax dolls, Room service and Berlin in ages!

Can't wait to see them again. Tivoli Utrecht in may 2018, here I come!

One of the best gigs I've been to in a long time. Every number was well received and executed by the band. Each member added more than their fair share to the performance, each technically excellent. John Watts vitality and freshness came across throughout the whole evening.
Thoroughly enjoyable

Very good Conert, real professionals and the Music of their new Album is also quality proof ! I very much enjoyed everything they played.
Marliese was, of course, super and their last song they played : Wax Dolls was great !

The show was amazing despite having problems with the keyboard. John Watts is a talented and engaging songwriter who continues to challenge and energise his audience. The show was fantastic!

Amazing!!!! One of the best gigs I’ve ever seen! I will definitely be seeing them again, hopefully not ‘So long’ away... Even with technical faults a fantastic show all round