Four albums into a successful solo career, Knopfler also played many of his songs from his days of leading the terminally uncool, but incredibly successful pop band Dire Straits. The tour, from a marketing point of view tied in nicely with the recent 20th century re-issue of Brother's in Arms, the band's most commercially successful album that the produced. Knopfler, like Bob Dylan, always one of his biggest influences has always had a voice that suited an older person. Now as a fifty five year old, he has at last grown into his voice. In the past, his songs have sometimes seemed more like exercises in guitar heroics. Although he is still an exceptional guitarist, having shared the stage with luminaries such as Eric Clapton, Hank Marvin, Elton John, Chet Atkins, Bob Dylan, and Van Morison to name just a few, his songs have grown in stature. Like Dylan, James Taylor, and even Bruce Springsteen his songs now contain the themes of travel and history. Songs such as "Boom, Like that" which tell the story of the growth of McDonald's, and "Song for Sonny Liston" about the boxing legend, as well as "Donegan's gone" about the skiffle pioneer, Lonnie Donegan, are stories and narrative as well as being very good songs. Knopfler and his six piece band played the full range of music. They went from the Northern chant of set opener "Way Aye Man" to the moody sophistication of the narrative "Rudiger" which tells the story of an obsessive autograph hunter. The rock beat of "What it is" with its Celtic theme also gave Knopfler the chance to show of some of his legendary guitar prowess. The band switched instruments, and became a little folk ensemble for "Done with Bonaparte". The three piece John Lee Hooker type groove of "Song for Sonny Liston", and the guitar, lap steel guitar and accordion version of "All that matters" were all very well received by the audience. However, the loudest applause was saved for such crowd pleasing anthems of "Walk of Life", "Sultans of Swing", "Money for Nothing" and "Romeo and Juliet". Finishing the set with "Telegraph Road", Knopfler and his band gave full vent to the 15 minute epic. The rolling, Bruce Hornsby type piano solo was a highlight, and the closing section of the song shows where Chris Rea took half of his career from. The band's encore was "Brothers in Arms" and "Money for Nothing". (A song, which ironically, made Mark Knopfler a very rich man). Their second encore was of "So Far Away" and a keyboard and guitar duet of "Going Home", which has always closed Knopfler's sets. |
