Per Gessle’s Roxette – Zurich, Switzerland – 19th October 2018 – #7

Per and his band had no break between the concerts in Vienna and Zurich. Many fans went to see the gang either for the first time or for the one and only time to Zurich. They were excited about the show and to see how Per Gessle’s Roxette works. What they didn’t expect was that their ticket they bought for the standing area of the venue, which was clearly stated on the seatmap to be in front of the stage wouldn’t be valid for that place anymore, but to the back, behind appr. 20 rows of seats. I mean, what??? The organizers, most probably the production company decided to reorganize the whole venue last minute, not sharing any info previously. When people could enter the venue at 18:30 they wanted to go inside and enter the standing area in the front, but the staff didn’t let them enter the front part. There was a seperated area of appr. 20 rows of seats and the staff told those are already taken. That wasn’t shown on any seatmap before.The seats were not unnumbered,  but actually the balcony seats were moved to those front of stage places. So those who had tickets for the balcony could get close to the stage and sit there, while those who bought their tickets exactly because they wanted to stand as close to the stage as possible, they had to go behind all the seated people. What a mess! And there was no one to talk to, to get an explanation at least. At the venue, everyone blamed someone else. The staff said it was the artist’s management that wanted the venue to be rearranged, however, others said it was the production company’s decision. Of course the hardcores tried everything possible and some of them got ”lucky” being able to change their tickets to the new seated area. And it wasn’t front row, but mostly 3rd row and more to the back. Fans were totally disappointed, for an understandable reason… And can you imagine the disappointment of those who were not able to change their tickets and had to be standing in the back? A nightmare! It might have been the suggestion of the artist’s management to make the floor seated, but they confirmed they weren’t aware of the issue mentioned above. Probably, they thought it could be sorted out in the way they changed 2 Swedish venues from standing to seated already. Seated, but with unnumbered seats, so first comes, first serves. And that was announced weeks before the concerts will take place. But it seems that in Zurich the price of the balcony tickets were 10 CHF more expensive than the standing tickets and the organizers probably thought the only fair thing is to offer them the front of stage seats. But they didn’t think about being fair to those who bought their tickets for the standing area, in front of the stage. We all started worrying that if it could happen in Zurich, it can happen at any other venue during the rest of the tour. The management said they would keep an eye on it and make sure this would never happen again.

So that’s how the excitement of fans was partly killed in Zurich. Lee MacDougall was the support act there too and those who saw him for the first time say he was fun and he is a great musician. He really knows how to grab the audience’s attention and make them interested in his music.

Per didn’t change anything in the setlist. It was the (now usual) 20 songs.

Setlist:

1. The Look
2. Milk And Toast And Honey
3. Crash! Boom! Bang!
4. Dressed For Success
5. She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio)
6. Spending My Time
7. I’m Glad You Called
8. Small Town Talk
9. I Have A Party In My Head
10. It Must Have Been Love
11. Opportunity Nox
12. The Big L.
13. Fading Like A Flower
14. Doesn’t Make Sense
Band presentation
15. How Do You Do! (in a medley with No. 16)
16. Dangerous

Encore
17. Queen Of Rain
18. Joyride

Encore 2
19. Listen To Your Heart
20. The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye

Mr. G and all the band members were in top shape, they put all their energy into their performance. They for sure didn’t even realize something was wrong in the audience area. They tried to animate the crowd, showing signs to get up or clap, but it worked only partly. Never mind, their joy of being on stage made many magic friends still very happy and those who wanted to join the Joyride, just did so and had much fun. Tthere were lots of balloons in the air. They were probably coming from those fans who got stuck behind the newly added seats. It would have been nicer if they could throw the balloons in the air in the front.

People were standing up from their seats during the uptempo songs, but not all of them. During the ballads and talking they were sitting. No surprise. Those who originally bought their tickets for the balcony wanted to sit anyway…

Fun thing is that a few people requested Sommartider. In between the songs when it was quiet there were people shouting out for it here and there.

Åsa was there filming a lot during the concert and as I mentioned in my Vienna review, Anders Roos is coming to take pictures to 8 shows, so he was there in Zurich too.

 

Oh well… I said that after each seated gig on this tour so far that if those concerts are such a blast, I want more seated shows. But not the way it was arranged in Zurich. Hopefully, such a mess won’t ever happen again.

Per after the show:

T H A N K U Z U R I C H

Wow! What a great Friday night! Thanks so much for showing up and making all that glorious noise!!! Seventh gig of the tour and now this show is starting to make sense for real!! Love this band, Helena is truly amazing, Malin-My as well. Ola + Andreas are bringing their own magic and mix it with the gold stuff I’m so used to from my old war heroes Clarence, Chris + Magnus. What a privilege to play with these people. Lucky me. Day off tomorrow. Warsaw on Sunday. See y’all there! Badabam from P.

Pics in the article are taken by Sandra Knospe. Thanx for sharing them and also for all the info about the gig and management confirmation.

More photos:
daily-rock.com