Haggard, Silver Church, 08.05.11

So once more I’m lucky enough to see this amazing band live. I don’t think there’s much I could say about them that I haven’t said already, but I have a pressing need to praise them a bit more. They are sooooo awesome!

The way they sing complicated instrumental/ orchestral parts without a conductor, in dim lights and with currents that blow away their music sheets in the middle of the song, the way they all smile to each other and to the audience and headbang together and hug each other and wink to each other and generally have fun together on stage and show that they’re a real team, the way Su metaphorically breaks glasses with her incredible voice, the way she headbangs like crazy and makes funny faces and hugs Claudio and teases the bass player by standing really close to him and starring at him while he’s playing, the way Asis gets you into every mood he wants… everything is just perfect. A Haggard concert is always an amazing experience and no matter how many times I see them, I don’t think I’m ever gonna get enough of it. 

Last night I stayed in the front row and the stage was really small and there was no fence or separating space so I could literally touch them. It was so nice to see Su looking straight at me so many times and then giving me a huge smile when she saw I was looking at her and singing along. Her and Claudio came to us at the end of the show and started to hug and fool around in order for us to take pictures. And they’re so cute because you have Su and Asis and Claudio and the violinists and flute and oboe players who are all full of life and joking and flirting with each other and headbanging and fooling around and then you have Hans and the cello guy who seem so shy and slightly embarrassed when people cheer for them (I looked straight at the cello player and smiled and he blushed a bit and looked quickly in another direction, it was so cute). 

By the way, the flute and oboe girls were from Romania once more, I guess they really liked them last year, they even dedicated The day as heaven wept to Catalina’s parents who were in the audience (I suppose it was because it has a rather important flute part). 

On the downside (to not be completely fangirlish), they *really* need to improve their sound part. It was the third time we had to wait for hours and the concert was seriously delayed because they had technical difficulties and one hour after the show was supposed to start (the show, not the access), they were still on the stage having a soundcheck and we were outside in the pouring rain and cold. And they still had some issues with the sound, the acoustic guitar wasn’t plugged properly, they had some scratching mycrophonies from time to time and Asis had to explain to the technician how to plug the guitar because he was incapable of doing it properly (in the middle of the concert, mind you). However nothing took away our excitement (and theirs). They’re really loved here and they’re always welcomed with reaaaaally loud cheers and huge excitement. And for some reason, they’re always genuinely overwhelmed and surprised by it, like they don’t already know how much we love them (Asis even said last night that they were expecting a great night, but they didn’t imagine it was going to be that good and he really seemed honest when he said it). What I’m trying to say is that it’s so nice they keep their honesty and modesty and they are so incredibly normal and down to earth. I still don’t understand why they’re not more popular, they are the most underrated band I know. 

Oh, right, and Su is the most amazing woman in the whole world. She wins the female performers contest by a thousand miles. And giving serious competition to all the guys out there too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so full of life and good mood and energy, she is soooooo adorable and fun to watch! And her voice… my God, her voice!