CndSailor:

I do agree with most of your review of this show. The best part of sitting at the front of the theater is that you get the sense that you are being treated to a very personal and up close show of one of the best in the business. The downfall is that you do not feed off the vibes of the audience behind you because you dare not look backwards. The seating, even at the front rows are in line with the stage and not having to look up at a makeshift stage makes the NAC a much more personal experience in the front rows. Being 10' away from the musicians meant that I was even able to focus in on the fly that parked itself on Mark's microphone for the first half of BIA. Not many other venues can get you that kind of an viewing angle and experience. Mark is the band leader and small visual cues he give to his band are intimate moments warmly shared in the front rows but not visible father back where the focus is on the entire stage show and performance along with the reaction of the audience around you.

The concert was a musical treat with magical moments served during the SOS and TR guitar solos which were acknowledged with standing ovations. In my mind equally magical moments occurred during Song For Sonny Liston and All That Matters but unfortunately they did not meet with standing ovations due their laid back tempo. But they were definitely magical moments as was the performance of Boom Like That. As much as I love all of Mark's music, its a shame that the musical score for each evening do not change to match the ambience of the venue being played in.

The NAC would have been an excellent venue for the band to showcase many more songs from his latest CD and I for one would have enjoyed hearing Shangri-La or even 5:15 or Letters from Paraguay (if he ever performs it live) rather than Money For Nothing for the encore.

The magic that sustains my interest in Mark's music is his progression as a musician. It's unfortunate that we are not treated to more of his latest musical progression in this tour. But then its far easier to play guitar solos night after night than vocal solos from his latest ballads.