SOPHIAMUSIC.NET - Sophia - Nov. 03 ’04: Fabrik, Hamburg (D) (+ string quartet) with The Album Leaf

Sophia - Nov. 03 ’04: Fabrik, Hamburg (D) (+ string quartet) with The Album Leaf

Review 1
So war es live.
Sophia, Fabrik. Nur so nebenbei: Steht man auf der umlaufenden Empore in der Fabrik und kann damit auch rückseitig auf die Bühne hinabschauen, gibt es Erstaunliches zu entdecken. Robin Proper-Sheppard hat einen Haarwirbel in Form einer "6" auf dem Hinterkopf. Nun gut. Bei etwas verwirbelter Laune spielt er dann auch mit seiner Band Sophia. Bedankt sich vor dem ersten Ton für das zahlreiche Kommen, fühlt sich dann von penetranten Zuschauern belästigt. Spricht vom Glück, dann von der Sinnlosigkeit. In Hemd und Pulli steht er da, gerne mal mit dem Rücken zum andächtigen Publikum. Bringt einen Querschnitt seiner drei Soloalben. Das fast poppige "Oh My Love" ist dabei. Das elegisch, schleppende "Swept Back". Der breitwandige "The River Song". Vier Streicher spielen am Rande dazu - bleiben eher unauffällig. Er kommt zu einer Zugabe wieder, alleine, an der Akustikgitarre. "Is it any wonder / that to me love has no meaning." Er wiederholt es immer wieder: "Love has no meaning. Love has no meaning". Dann geht er. Entlässt seine Zuschauer so in die kalte Nacht. Puh! Er trägt übrigens beige Cowboystiefel.
Volker Peschel, Hamburger Morgenpost, 5/11/2004

Review 2
So, on wednesday was the Sophia concert.
The concert we've been looking forward to for more than 3 months.
The concert we were most afraid of than any other concerts.
The concert of a band that probably means the most to us, D. and me.
I mean, we both have our favorite bands, there are lots of bands that mean alot to D. and there are quite a few bands that mean alot to me. But we only have two bands that mean alot to us. Sophia is one of them.

D. got me into Sophia at our last trip in summer. We had just arrived in Switzerland and I was as happy as one could be and I was excited and just hyperactive. And D. asked me if she could introduce me to a band she really likes. I asked what kind of music they'd be doing and she said, the songs would be really sad.
So I told her, I wouldnt want to listen to it. There I am extremely happy for once, I didnt want to feel melancholical again.
She didnt listen to me tho, which I am glad about. She put the cd into the cd player and we just listened. And didnt stop.
Sophia accompanied our entire tour.
In the morning, when we decided what we'd do that day ("Lucern or Zurich?"), we were usually listening to The Streets or Red Hot Chili Peppers. When we had an awesome day, we listened to Blink 182 when we came back to the place we stayed, but during the night, we were always listening to Sophia. Every night.

And then, one day, at the chiemsee, I found out, that I'd probably (I still cant give up this word that still means a little hope for me) never see A again.
I remember that day so clearly. It was somewhen in the early evening, it was still incredibly hot and D. went into the bathroom. I went up into our room, put Sophia into the cd player, a song called "So Slow", layed on my bed and started to cry. Since then I can hardly listen to that song without crying or at least feeling really sad.

On our way back home, from Munich to Hamburg, I've been listening to Sophia almost 10 hours in the row. I occasionally fell asleep, cause we hardly slept the night before and hitch hiking started to really exhaust us, and when I was awake I listened, stared outside and just wanted to die immediatly because under no circumstances did I want to return to Hamburg.

If you've read my Sophia Review from February this year, you know what happened. If not, I'll keep it short.
We started crying after the second song and almost didnt stop until the end of the show.
After the last song, we calmed down and then the band appeared again on stage, played "So Slow" and I couldnt help myself and started crying again.
We were a little embarrassed about our emotional outbreak, we didnt expect that to happen anyway, but now its too late to change it.

Anyway, as happy as we were to see Sophia twice this year as afraid have we been what would happen at this concert.
I feel much better than I did in February. But still I couldnt be sure what would happen, if I'd hear one of these songs.

When D. and I entered the venue we went to the stage immediatly to take the same place we had last year: sitting right at the stage.
After a while the support band appeared and I usually really dislike support acts cause I usually just want the main band to appear on stage as quickly as possible.

But this time even the support band was great. I knew before already that The Album Leaf would be the support and I knew some songs by them and liked them. And seeing them live was just great.
They are now #2 on my "Best Support Band List". Tiger Lou is still #1.
So, even the show by the support was really good and I enjoyed every song without thinking "Go Away!".
If it would have been my decision they could have played much longer or they could have played again after the Sophia concert.

Anyway, after the support and a long break in which D. and I got even more nervous, Sophia finally appeared on stage.

The concert was as awesome as expected. The perfect mixture between old and new songs, ballads and rock.
Almost all of our favorite songs were performed and D. and I occasionally sat there, arm in arm, hugging eachother.
But the best news: We didnt cry one single tear.
During "If only" we were close to it, as that is one of those songs. Especially for me ("if only I could believe that tomorrow when I wake from my sleep that you'll still be with me oh my love, my love will always be").
I think we got two or three enchores and finally also "So slow" was performed.
When Robin actually said, that the next song would be "So slow" D. and I started cheering as this is one of the songs we wanted to hear desperatly.
Robin looked at us and actually even remembered us. He told the audience that we'd be the "Birthday girls" and that one of us (me) had Birthday at the last concert. And I said that it would be D.s birthday today. At first he didnt believe it, but we said, it really is. Then he said "But you wont get a free fuckin' cd".
We were so surprised and excited that he actually remembered us, that we didnt even think of crying during "So Slow". We just sat there, arm in arm, laughed and smiled.

After the show, we went to Robin and talked abit with him. And D. convinced him that it would really be her birthday and that she is Scorpio. And he wrote "Happy Birthday" on one of her cds and on mine "See you on your next birthday!"
I also told him, that my review got published on his website and that I am really embarrassed about it. He told me not to be and that he read and liked it. And then I got really embarrassed. It was probably one of the worst and most girlish and hyperactive reviews I ever wrote.

While still standing around in the location Drew from the Album leaf came up to us and we started talking and before we actually realised what was going on, it was decided that we'd all go and have a drink somewhere.

Just some moments later the guys from The Album Leaf, Robin from Sophia, D. and me and countless other people were in a Bar, drinking and just having one big party.
We stayed in the bar until 6am.

Alright, I might have to say it again: We went and had some drinks with The Album Leaf and Sophia.
The Album Leaf and Sophia. Bar. Drinks. The whole night.
Now, how lucky can two girls just be? I doubt D. and I will ever be able to actually just beat that night.

We had so much fun. We were drinking and dancing and smoking way too much.
We were talking with all of the guys, we exchanged e-mail addresses with the guys from the Album Leaf and promised them to visit them soon in San Diego.

D. also got in a little trouble with Robin as he found out that it was NOT her birthday. They had a long discussion where a joke would end and a lie would begin. D. always said, she was just kidding. Robin called her a Liar.
I found that quite amusing.

Jesus, we were partying with The Album Leaf and Sophia.
Unbelievable.
But it was just a really awesome night. There was no reason to be afraid of the Sophia concert as we are in much better condition than in February.
And we start to dont embarrass over the fact that we cried so hard last time anymore.
One of the other fans remembered us and said, he found it really cute when we were crying last time and sitting arm in arm this time and that we would be the perfect audience as we express the emotions of the songs the best.
Oh well.

I'm still grinning when I am thinking back about that night. Its surely something D. and I will talk about for a very long time. And thats what we need so desperatly as there were so few highlights that are worth talking about this year.

I'm leaving for my hometown today and will be back Tuesday night.
I just need a break from all this stress (I got fired without a reason, my boss tells lies about me, doesnt give me my entire money and I am having an appointment with a lawyer already. More about that next time, I dont want to destroy this happy entry with bad news)
T.

Photo by Kerstin Schlitter