REVIEWS

Focus World Tour, 2003

Sat, 17 May 2003 
From: "Tom Watson" <tomwatson75@hotmail.com>
To: NEUROTIKA HOMEPAGE


Hi Rodrigo,
I've been trying to get some thoughts together to tell you about last 
night. Focus played here in Glasgow for the first time since 1976 last 
night, and what a night it was!!
But first of all I have to tell you that I contacted Focus through 
their management in Holland and suggested Swing Guitars would be a good 
supporting act for the Focus presentation in Glasgow. The band heard our CD 
and saw our VCD demo and were very impressed, we were therefore invited to 
play support to Focus - can you imagine? My first Focus gig, my hometown, 
playing with them onstage...unbelievable....well I am sad to say it was, 
since the band had to inform us just a few days before the tour started that 
the venue had already arranged a support act. However, to try and compensate 
for this great disappointment, we were invited by the tour manager to come 
and have a drink and meet Focus afterwards!

Rodrigo, when I met Jan Akkerman last year at a festival at which we 
were both playing at I was tongue-tied (do you know this expression? It 
means I felt my tongue was tied in knots and couldn't speak any sense!). I 
made sure that I was prepared to meet Focus and NOT be like that. I 
remembered what you told me in your last e-mail about how Thijs van Leer is 
a very courteous guy, and so I spoke to Thijs about music and in particular 
(what else?) how much I love the Pedal Point album. I asked if he would sign 
the insert from the CD that I had brought with me and his face lit up in a 
huge smile. He called over to his partner (his wife?) and said "Look, look, 
Dona Nobis..can you believe this? This is my best work!". He then told a guy 
who was also in the conversation that this was his favourite of all his 
recordings and that he considered it to be the very best of his 
compositions.

Can you imagine how I felt at that moment, to speak to this great man 
and listen to him describe how he attempted to create a Mass using 
contemporary sounds and yet continue with a European tradition like many of 
the greatest composers in history. At that moment I realised that I was 
standing before, and talking to a musical genius whose like may not be 
repeated in our lifetimes. We talked a little bit more and when I suggested 
that Focus must come back to Scotland soon he said yes and "maybe we can get 
together and play". We said goodnight and walked out onto the street which 
overlooks the river, there was a full moon reflecting in the water and my 
mind was racing and "high" with everything that had happened that evening. I 
got home and could not sleep for hours, I lay in bed listening to Focus on 
my earphones until I was overcome by sleep, I didn't want the evening to 
end.

Reading back over what I've written it looks like some old English 
romantic novel, but it was a really magic night. The music was fantastic, 
Focus II, Eruption, Harem Scarem, Sylvia, Hocus Pocus, Focus III and the new 
tunes Neurotika, Rockin Rio, a couple of Bobbys and Jans tunes (the one with 
the handclaps like HOTK was amazing), but I was delighted when the opening 
chords of La Cathedrale de Strasbourg were played I never thought I would 
ever hear that beautiful song played live.......magical. And the rest of the 
people in this abolutely packed club agreed. The band could have played all 
night such was the reaction from the audience. Thijs said afterwards that 
they felt like they were playing at home such was the welcome they received 
in Glasgow, to which someone replied that it's because we had to wait a very 
long time to see you again!!! Unfortunately Thijs was unable to play any 
flute since he has a problem with his face at the moment about which he is 
getting treatment, but it prevents him from playing his flute this meant we 
did not get to hear House Of The King 8-(

Before I finish I must also tell you that as you said in your last 
email I mention your name to Thijs when we were talking. Believe me his face 
lit up when I told hime we knew one another through your website, I think he 
really appreciates the work you have done to keep the Focus story alive. 
Congratulations for this achievement 8-) Also he was telling some people to 
go and look up the Focus Tribute Homepage to find out about current events 
and of course the history of Focus.
I have to finish now, but I will keep in touch. 
Right I am going to work on my arrangement of House Of The King for 
Swing Guitars.......

Take Care,

Tom.

From: Paul Golder 
To: NEUROTIKA HOMEPAGE
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2003 
Subject: Focus on the radio


Hi, hope you don't mind me giving you some Focus news for your web readers.

We recorded Focus's set at Harlow Square on 23 May 2003 and will be broadcasting it on Phoenix FM in two parts on our Phoenix Live programme, with part one going out between 6 and 8 pm UK time on Wednesday 4 June.

Phoenix FM broadcasts to Brentwood and Billericay in Essex, UK on 87.7 FM but also streams on the internet at its website.

There is also a short review and an interview available for download - the link is http://www.phoenixfm.com/phoenixlive.htm

Kind Regards

Paul Golder
Station Manager
Phoenix FM

2003 / May / 24

Dear Fans
 
Just a short message from me- Drew Shimon of Aflagon Entertainments and Camden Underworld.
 
In case you didn't know, this Sunday, May 25th, the mighty FOCUS, featuring the great Mr Thijs van Leer, who most of you will remember appearing onstage with the Heep at the first Magician's Birthday Party, are headlining the Camden Underworld in London, England.  Their special guests are melodic prog masters LANDMARQ, a name which I am sure is familiar to many of you.  The doors open at 7pm. Tickets, which are available from Stargreen, Ticketweb, Way Ahead, the World's End bar next door, and also available on the night, are priced at £10 in advance and £12 on the door.
 
The Underworld is situated just opposite Camden Town tube station.
 
We hope you can make it, Focus fans and progsters everywhere!!  Please call the venue on 0207 267 3939, and for anyone from this webteam that wants a guest pass please call me on 07879 862329.  NB;This is my moblie number. Please do NOT advertise it!!
 
All the best and Keep on Ridin'
 
Drew Shimon
Aflagon Entertainments
Louis Rentrop
Webmaster
www.officialfocushomepage.nl

Saw the band at The Fleece in Bristol last night and I haven't enjoyed an evening so much for years. It was wonderful to hear the mix of old and new tracks from the latest album and the band were quite superb. I am sure there were some who thought that the old band members couldn't be replaced but Bobby, Jan and Bert were quite superb individually and as a unit they were stunning. Somebody said that if you closed your eyes and just listened you wouldn't know it was a new line-up, and that's the best compliment you could pay them. What was great as well was hat they obviusly enjoyed the gig as much as the audience and they were happy to stand and chat afterwards about the music, even though they had a long drive afterwards down to Brighton. This isn't an old band trying to jump on the nostalgia bandwagon, they really are a superb outfit and if you get the chance to see them at Brighton, Harlow or Camden grab it like a shot, it's a night to remember. 

Steve Small Clevedon, Somerset

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Cunningly crafted, their back Focus 8 what a return, New line-up the basic focus sound reborn, All the emotions in sound Who said real music was dead (let them be hit with slippers) Music to make love to, listen and be taken to a time when hardening of the ears was not a nescicity to enjoy good music. 

WF Bryan

Thanks to Louis Rentrop
Webmaster
www.officialfocushomepage.nl 

Hi everyone!

Focus is still on tour in the UK. Things are going really well. What can we say ? Here's a nice read of reviews by Focus fans:
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Saw Focus in Glasgow on 15/05/03 - excellent band performance, older material very good, but newer tacks like "Tamara's Move" & "De Ti O De Mi" every bit as good as clasic Focus such as "Eruption". Never though I'd hear these tracks live again (after Kelvin Hall& Apollo in early 70's). Look forward to Focus 9 & further tours.

Jan has added to Focus sound as much as Steve Morse has to Deep Purple. 
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Thanks for a brilliant concert in Edinburgh last Friday. You, and the rest of the band were excellent. It has been thirty years since I last saw Focus, and they have been through a lot of changes, but the current line up is as good as it's ever been. Well done. Please come back to Scotland soon. 
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Just to say a great big thanks for an absolutely brilliant gig last night. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you again very soon. Thanks again to you and the rest of the band 
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Just to say thank you so much for the concert in Cardiff last night - worth the 300 mile round trip. I'm a long time fan and have most of Thijs's stuff. I too went to see Jan Akkerman the week before and sympathise largely with Jimmy G's comments (though may be equipment comes into it here - Akkerman's superior amps, etc. May be you guys ought to listen to more jazz too??)
In Cardiff, however, I think we had a real humdinger of a show. At the end of the first half I was pleased, glad to be there but thinking this is a bit like a (very good) tribute band. Then came the second half. The whole band seemed to grow in stature. La Cathedrale/Harem Scarem was a highlight. As Thijs demonstrated the other three stand up very well as a band in their own right. I'm sure this is the way forward -not faithful reproductions of old stuff but taking it and running with it.
The missing flute was disappointing. I do hope the problem is overcomeable. The vocals were okay but age does things hey? We loved all that 'diddly doy' stuff anyway.
Thijs and the others were very kind with autographs and chat after too. Thijs was dismissive when I said I liked the hymn albums. I understand but they have their own integrity too. I'd love to get hold of that Puer Nobis if anyone has some details.
Thanks again for a superb night. Enjoy the break in the Peak district and the rest of the gigs. Do come back soon. 
Attended the Huntington Hall-worcester 6th may gig,WOW what a gig, had a real cracking time. thought the band were on peak form & played their hearts out {excellent performance}loved hearing old songs & new songs off FOCUS 8, especially: Tamaras move, brother. My evening ended on a even higher note, when BOBBY came over for a chat & introduced me to THIJS,JAN & BERT.[who id like to thank you very much indeed , for taking time out & for group photo taken & to THIJS for inviting me backstage on 19th may ' south street,reading gig[ am looking forward to it] till then, all my very best to you all ,keep up the good work & safe travels
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Was at the the gig at The Customs House, South Shields last night and had a great time. The band played great, and had a meet and signing session in the bar afterward, lovely down to earth people and very friendly. Overall one of the best gigs I've been to this year, please come back soon.
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Check the website for the last leg of the tour, don't miss it!!!
Louis Rentrop
Webmaster
www.officialfocushomepage.nl 

2003 / May / 06

Hi Everyone, 
As you know Focus is currently touring in the UK:
A few reviews for you:

I went to see FOCUS live at the Barfly in Liverpool on the 4th May and it really was the greatest concert i've ever seen. I didn't know what they would be like without Jan Akkerman on guitar but Jan Dumee is just as good, and the solos were unbelievable, Thijs sounds as good as ever and is a great entertainer. Thank you Focus for being generally all round great!! 

Anonymous surfer

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When Focus were in the UK singles charts in the early 70's, I was approaching my teenage years and never got the chance to see the band live in concert. Through my teenage years and twenties, I must have listened to my Focus LP's many hundreds of times - some tracks probably thousands of times.

I attended the Focus gig at Rotherham on Saturday night and after all this time, approached it with an open mind - I didn't want to have fulfilled an ambition but be disappointed. I hadn't managed to obtain a copy of '8' and hadn't heard any of it; I wanted the concert to be more than just the new tracks - yes, a trip down 'memory lane'.

I was not disappointed, the concert was fantastic - a great selection of the old and a good mix with the new. I'm looking forward to hearing '8' in full - Rock and Rio was a favourite on first impressions. I must say that Eruption was a real highlight of the evening for me - the 'heavy' section after Tommy was awesome - it was so good that I am hoping to make another later gig in the tour to hear it again. 

Colin Cotter

Nottingham

2003 / Apr / 11

FOCUS IN JAPAN - RECEIVED BY OLAVO TOMOHISA ITO (BRAZIL)

Mail arigatougozaimashita.
Focus no Concert ni ittekimashita.
Olavo san ga oshietekureta youni Heavy na sound de yokattuta desu.
Zannen nanoha Thijs no byouki ga naottenakute
flute ha hotondo kikemasendeshita.
Demo sonokawarini Thijs ha ishoukenmei utattari
Pianika wo fuitarisite ganbarimashita.
Bert mo Jan mo Bobby mo jouju deshita.

Nihon no Livehouse ha kibishikute, boku ha member niha aemasendeshita.
Demo ashita ha tegami wo kaite Thijs ni watasu tumori desu.
Deha oyasuminasai.

Keijiro


TRANSLATE (ENGLISH - by Rodrigo Mantovani):

Thank you for the e-mail. 
I went to the Focus concert. 
As you told me the sound was very heavy and good. 
Sadly Thijs wasn't completely well (from his face paralysed disease) and didn't play the flute. But make an effort in to play the clavinet (escaleta). 
Bert, Jan and Bobby played well also. 
The 'Livehouse' theater is very rigorous (hard to get inside the backstages), that's way I can't still meet the member - but tomorrow I planning to write a letter to Thijs, and personally delivering. 
Good evening,

Keijiro.


TRANSLATE (PORTUGUESE by Olavo):

Obrigado pelo mail.
Fui ao concerto do Focus.
Como vc havia dito o som estava bem pesado e muito bom.
Infelizmente o Thijs ainda tinha melhorado e praticamente não deu para ouvir a flauta. Mas em compensação Thijs se esforçou em cantar e tocar o pianika.
O Bert, Jan , Bobby também tocaram bem.
O Livehouse do japão é rigoroso, e por isto ainda não pude me encontrar com os membros, mas amanhã pretendo escrever uma carta ao Thjis e entrega-lo pessoalmente.
Boa Noite,

Keijiro.

2003 / Feb /18

2003 / Feb / 07
 
Thijs van Leer to appear on "Never Mind the Buzzcocks".

Last Wednesday February 5 an episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks hosted by Mark Lamar 
was recorded at the BBC studios in London.
Thijs van Leer appeared as mystery guest. The show can be seen on BBC 2 on February 23 at 9 p.m.
On the continent that would be 10 p.m.
Louis Rentrop Webmaster - www.officialfocushomepage.nl 

2003 / Feb / 02 

This month Thijs van Leer and Rick van der Linden (founder and organ player from Ekseption) will go into the studio to record an album. It is the first time ever they join forces. More news about this project shortly. Please check the concertguide at www.officialfocushomepage.nl 
Louis Rentrop Webmaster - www.officialfocushomepage.nl 

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