Breakfast In Spain - Roger Hodgson and Supertramp website

Roger Hodgson in Clear Water, Florida, March 22, 2013

Text and photos: Miguel Angel Candela

En español a continuación

Message from Roger:
I was deeply touched by the outpouring of messages that I received for my birthday, especially the wonderful video that was shown on my Facebook page.
I feel like the luckiest man alive; having such wonderful fans and friends around the world.  My band and I are excited for the beginning of our 2013 tour and I look forward to seeing and playing for many of you in the coming months!
 
Much love,
Roger

Video "happy birthday" Roger !

Mensaje de Roger:
Me ha conmovido profundamente la efusión de vuestros mensajes que recibí por mi cumpleaños, en especial el maravilloso video que se muestra en mi página de Facebook.
Me siento como el hombre vivo más afortunado, teniendo esos maravillosos fans y amigos por todo el mundo. Mi banda y yo estamos emocionados con el inicio de nuestra gira 2013 y espero impaciente el momento de veros y tocar para muchos de vosotros en los próximos meses!
 
Con mucho amor,
Roger

And the long applause spontaneously becoming a unison chant "Happy Birthday!" to Roger by the audience, so funny and sweet, which visibly touched him! He felt grateful.
But Roger was able to return the affection and love to the public, what an unforgettable concert. Everything sounded amazing: Roger, his band and the orchestra.

But there was a lot of work prior to this: Roger with his band and the orchestra had long soundcheck sessions the day before and also during the morning before the concert, which I was lucky to attend. And I was able to check the work, the thorough track by track review: every little detail, fit all the pieces, synchronize and match all songs (beginning and ending of each song, as well as synchronize some variations), harmonize and match orchestra and drums tempo, etc.

Even Roger had to make some concessions in certain times where they found problems, taking a good compromise for both parts. Well, a hard work, which certainly pays off.

Most of the songs were performed with orchestra, but couple songs solo: "Easy does it" and the incredible "Even in the quietest moments" that sounded better than ever. Roger felt very inspired. Chills!

He also played a couple of songs with the band only, without the orchestra: "Sister Moonshine" and "Child of Vision".

 Due to the presence of the orchestra, this time the keyboard player (Kevin) was not in the band. This lack forced Aaron play the piano solo in "Child of Vision", as he use to play in the solo shows. Obviously, the sounds from the orchestra help and even improve the songs. For instance "A sopabox opera", "If everyone was listening", the epic "Fool's Overture", or the incredible "Only because of you" sounded terrific!

The audience enjoying from the beginning as I said, every single song was a celebration. It was a very special and magical night. I also met again some dear American old friends.

Many people said after the concert that "Only because of you" and "Even in the quietest moments" performances were wonderful, touched them in a very personal way. I include myself in this feeling.

Below you can find more details, song by song, by my friend Jim.

I'd like to point out that the first Roger speech, his first words to the audience were for the fans who had come from Spain and other countries to see him, thinking about me and others. And then after the concert on backstage he reminded to me what he said on stage ;-)! lol. Lovely boy. Many thanks from my heart dear Roger!

During the show he also mentioned Sound Engineer Howard Birthday. And said thanks to the orchestra. By the way, the first concert with orchestra in USA.

Attached you can find a picture of the birthday cake we've tasted after show, while singing "happy birthday" again ;-). A very special and enjoyable evening.

I hope that reading this chronicle you can feel little closer to that magical atmosphere. Peace and Love

MAC

SET LIST

1. Take the Long Way Home
2. School
3. Lovers in the Wind
4. Hide in your Shell
5. Easy Does it  (solo)
6. Sister Moonshine  (with band)
7. Breakfast in America
8. If Everyone is Listening
9. A Soapbox Opera
10. The Logical Song
 
Intermission

11. Child of Vision (with band)
12. Lord is is Mine?
13. Even in the Quietest Moment  (solo)
14. Only Because of You
15. Dreamer
16. Fool's Overture
Encore
17. Two of Us
18. Give a Little Bit
19. It's Raining Again

Roger Hodgson en Clear Water, Florida, 2 Marzo 2013

Primer concierto de Roger con Orquesta en USA

La segunda vez que vengo a Florida, de nuevo para ver a Roger en concierto.
La primera vez fué en Disney Orlando hace poco mas de 2 años (ver mi report) y ésta vez para un concierto con Orquesta en la zona de Tampa. También para poder felicitarle por su cumpleaños en persona ! para eso están los amigos ;-)

El auditorio era impresionante, el mayor que he visto en mi vida de éste estilo: un auditorio de conciertos con mas de 2.200 asientos. Y para el concierto se vendió todo !
El mismo tecnico de sonido me dijo que la sala era tan grande que pocas veces había estado tan lejos del escenario.
La verdad que los asientos muy cómodos y con muy buena sonoridad. Un lujo.

Cuando Roger apareció por el escenario el recibimiento fué estruendoso, toda la gente en pie durante largo rato, como ya he visto otras veces. Está claro que esos sentimientos son muy profundos, no es solo musica, sino algo que va mas allá y no se puede explicar. Una mezcla de admiración, cariño, comprensión, amor, empatía, etc.... Una persona muy querida.
Y ese largo aplauso fué convirtiéndose espontáneamente en un cántico al unisono de "cumpleaños feliz !!!!" por parte de toda la audiencia, muy divertido y entrañable, que pilló a Roger por sorpresa, jajaja
Estaba muy agradecido.
Vaya forma de empezar un espectáculo, con el público en el bolsillo, no ?

Pero Roger pudo devolver al  publico todo ese cariño con un concierto inolvidable. Todo sonó increible, Roger, su banda y la orquesta. Los matices que incorpora la orquesta al sonido general evidentemente refuerzan y mejoran los temas.
Además hubo mucho trabajo previo para ello. Roger con su banda y la orquesta tuvieron largas pruebas de sonido el dia anterior y la misma mañana del concierto, a los que pude asistir y comprobar el trabajo de revisar tema por tema:
cada detalle que no cuadraba, los principios y finales de cada canción, así como las diferentes variaciones, y cómo cuadrar con la batería en algunos momentos. Incluso Roger tuvo que hacer algunas concesiones en determinados momentos donde no cuadraban con la orquesta, para no bloquear el ensayo, y adaptarse a alguna solución de compromiso buena para todos.
En fin, arduo trabajo de detalle, que al final da sus frutos.

La mayoría de las canciones fueron con orquesta, pero hubo algún tema que interpretó solo, como "Easy does it", y el increible "Even in the quietest moments" que sonó como nunca. Roger la interpretó con mucho sentimiento. Los pelos de punta !
También interpretó un par de temas solo con la banda, sin la orquesta: "Sister Moonshine" y "Child of Vision".
Debido a la presencia de la orquesta, ésta vez no vino el teclista de la banda, el único que faltaba. Eso propició que Aaron interpretara el solo de piano de Child of Vision, al igual que hace en los conciertos de Roger solo.
Evidentemente, hay temas que son muy agradecidos de tocar con la orquesta, como por ejemplo "A sopabox opera", "If everyone was listening", la epica "Fool's overture", o la increible "Only because of you", sin desestimar el resto.

El publico muy entregado desde el principio como ya he comentado, celebrando cada canción. Fué una noche muy especial y magica. Además me rencontré con viejos amigos americanos.
Mucha gente comentó tras el concierto que "Only because of you" e "Even in the quietest moments" les habían impresionado extraordinariamente, de una forma muy personal.
Yo me incluyo en esa sensación.
Debajo tenéis mas a detalle cancion por cancion por mi amigo Jim.

También destacar que el primer comentario que hizo Roger en su primeras palabras a la audiencia es que estaba muy feliz que había venido gente de España y de otros países a verle, pensando en mi y en otros. Y luego tras el concierto en el backstage va y me lo recuerda que lo ha dicho! jajaja. Genio y figura. Un encanto. Gracias de corazón querido Roger !

También comentó en una de las ocasiones que era el cumpleaños de Howard, el técnico de sonido. y agradeció mucho el trabajo de la orquesta. Por cierto, el primer concierto con orquesta en USA.

Os adjunto una foto del pastel de cumpleaños que saboreamos al final, donde volvimos a cantar el cumpleaños feliz a los homenajeados. Una velada muy especial y agradable.
Espero que con ésta crónica os haya acercado un poquito a ese ambiente mágico.
Paz y amor

MAC

Soundcheck and lights testing / Pruebas de sonido e iluminación:

Sold out / Lleno absoluto:

Birthday celebration on backstage / Pastel de cumpleaños tras el show:

Review by James Januszka

Roger Hodgson live in Clearwater, Florida Friday, March 22, 2013

It was a delicious "Breakfast in America." Roger Hodgson strong performance including all of his biggest hits! Great entrance by Roger to a loud ovation!
Followed by a really sweet Happy Birthday song from all of us audience to Roger. He was touched by this. Here is the setlist and comments below:
1. Take the Long Way Home - Roger, his band and the orchestra sounded great! Roger commented how people were coming from as far as Spain, UK, Portugal and Brazil.
2. School - Always great to hear this with an orchestra backing. Roger's voice never sounded better with great harmonica by his muti-instrumentalist Aaron McDonald.
3. Lovers in the Wind - A beautiful piano rendition along with the equally sweet orchestra and band playing along. Roger commented for the lovers in the audience.
4. Hide in your Shell - Roger commented this song is about tough times and getting through them, especially for when he was a sensitive youg man. He dedicated this to Colleen along with a birthday dedication for Kathy.
5. Easy Does it - Sweet uplifting song with my young son saying daddy I dont' know how to whistle. Which I then proceeded to show him how to whistle, so he could whistle to the song.
6. Sister Moonshiine - Another sweet uplifting song performed really well.
7. Breakfast in America - An excitedly fun song with the audience really getting into it along with the band! Roger commented how he liked the California girls. He jokingly said he didn't know anything about the Florida women at this point when he wrote this song at 18.
8. If Everyone is Listening - Beautiful song meant to be played with an orchestra.
9. A Soapbox Opera - Just as beautiful with an orchestra. Violinists sounded great as well! I really look forwad to hearing this song palyed with an orchestra. Roger introduced Conducter Andrei.
10. The Logical Song - Roger commented when he was twelve, was wondering where he came from, who is God, and what do I want from life? This song sounded in great form live.
11. Child of Vision - Roger and Aaron jamming great with dueling keyboards!
12. Lord is is Mine? Roger commented this was his favorite song that came from a deep place. Very sweet and intense version of this song.
13. Even in the Quietest Moment - Roger commented how much natural beauty in Florida. Also, how he wrote this song doodling away and it just flowed out of him. Sounded really good!
14. Only Because of You - The 3rd in a row of very introspective songs coming from deep within.
15. Dreamer - Roger commented about the dreamer in all of us. Also, mentioned Sound Engineer Howard Heckers Birthday. Gave some intro to the orchestra and how he once tried to play the cello.
16. Fool's Overture - Roger mentioned how he thought this song was perfect for an orchestra. He was right! Every musician did a terrific job on this song. He commented didn't know where this song came from. !
17. Two of Us - First encore song done. Very sweet and beautifully done song.
18. Give a Little Bit - A big roar from the crowd when this song started. Roger says let's finish on a high note. Everyone really enjoyed and got into it.
19. It's Raining Again - Urging of crowd for one more, Roger obliged and asked is it still raining outside? Great finale! Roger finished by saying God bless you to the audience.

Thanks to Roger's Managers Linda and Shakti arranging backstage for us, my son and I got to say hi to Roger and get a picture with him.
Always great to see and talk to him. Fantastic night overall!

Jim Januszka