Frejus (13-Jun-89) + Den Haag (10-Jun-89)

DISC D637 comprising tracks 1-10 (with 11 as audio bonus) of 15-song 10 June ‘89 Den Haag show plus 12 of 16 songs from Frejus, France, three days later.
SOUND Selecting PLAY ALL on the menu pitches you straight into the middle of You Go Your Way, Den Haag, and the first thing you’re liable to notice is a prominent flittering noise in your right ear sounding for all the world like a trapped moth. This goes on for two long minutes before abruptly disappearing. As soon as it does, set the volume at Shake-Windows/Rattle-Walls then sit back and get ready to be blown away by a pair of top-notch audience tapes, both super-good.
IMAGE Two more films to add to a long series of hand-held, stage-front specials (for others, see D167.su, D302.su, D366.su, D385, D390.su, D394.su etc). Both a bit rocky, both a few heads, Frejus (see screenshots) in notably better shape than Den Haag (includes more quality GE footage too), but both consistently extremely enjoyable. What’s more, shot in the same straightforward style and only three days apart, the two make a splendid natural pair, together presenting something like one long, grand concert with very little duplication (only Heaven’s Door plus the twice-cut H61). Wonderful, indispensable stuff.
RUNNING TIME Den Haag 44:25, Frejus 62:00, bonus 6:45, overall 113 minutes. Haag: You Go Your Way (with buzz) has front-end missing, end is clipped off Shelter and last verse plus play-out is all that remains of H61. Frejus: H61 is main casualty again (first half gone); first few words also clipped off Boots. All other songs complete.
PERFORMANCE Engaging and enthralling by turns. Bob looks in good spirits at both gigs, though at Frejus in particular, but, beware - seeing him sing of corkscrews to his heart with a big dopey grin on his face is a touch disconcerting! GE, too, forcibly reminds us once more of all he brought to the table. Arguably, in fact, it was he as much as anyone who saw the NET properly launched and on its way - for it’s hard to imagine D prevailing as he did without his first (and best?) sideman giving such magnificent, enduring support.
HIGHLIGHTS Nothing falls flat, so it’s really unfair to pick. The two covers jump out from the set-list, of course, and Pontchartrain is every bit as fine as you’ll have dared hope. As for Peace In The Valley, although D’s command of the lyric is less than total, it’s still a one-off not to be missed. Much like this disc, in fact.
COMMENT (1) Having made his NET debut at Dublin a week earlier, Den Haag was young Tony G’s second time out with the band. Sixteen years on, no less furtive and ferrety-looking, seen-'em-come, seen-'em-go, still there, stage-right, he remains. (2) We all know D has a way with words - and not just writing them, but singing them too. The example perhaps most often cited is his rendering in Jim Jones of New South Wales. Well, for more of the same, listen to him sing the word sorrow here in T Man - a spine-tingling, magic moment. (3) Right through until Frejus H61/LARS, the camera never seems to catch the drummer all night. Then, when at last it does, you note that there’s not one of them but two and, what's more, the nearest of the pair looks remarkably like Ringo Starr! (Yes, a brief guest appearance.) (4) Finally, the short Man Gave Names (the menu says God Gave Names...) has only two verses (no lake/implied-snake ending). Neither of tonight’s named beasties features on the original Slow Train recording and the first one especially is a laugh-out-loud surprise!
DANKE V
STARS A superb addition to any collection. Don’t miss it. Five, of course.