Live Review: Roger Hodgson - Berlin 2015

Berlin, Tempodrom, Germany
7th September 2015
‘Breakfast In America World Tour with ROGER HODGSON - The Legendary Voice Of SUPERTRAMP’

Roger Hodgson, formerly of SUPERTRAMP, & band were celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ‘Crime of the Century’ album. Roger Hodgson became known and famous as the legendary voice of SUPERTRAMP and composer of the biggest hits of this band; songs like ‘It's Raining Again’, ‘Give a Little Bit’, ‘Dreamer’, ‘Breakfast In America’ or ‘School’ were written by him. While Roger was in the lead with the band, SUPERTRAMP sold over 60 million albums and became a global phenomenon in rock music. Since 1984, Roger Hodgson is active as a successful solo artist and on his extensive tours he is playing both the songs from his own solo albums, but, of course, he is also interpreting all the big hits which were once composed, texted and interpret by him as a co-founder of the band SUPERTRAMP. http://www.rogerhodgson.com / https://www.facebook.com/rogerhodgson

Music & Performance
After a series of shows in rather small and more rarely played locations here in Europe and Germany (including some summer-open airs), Roger Hodgson performed a concert on September the 7th 2015 at the sold out venue Tempodrom in Berlin. Because of the disease-related cancellation of the tour of his former band mates from SUPERTRAMP for later this year, it was this autumns only chance to experience the music of SUPERTRAMP. Promptly at short after 20:00, Hodgson entered the stage accompanied by his four musicians and welcomed the 3,000 spectators warmly with a few sentences in German language. He emphasized how much he was looking forward, because his audience was “so educated to speak my language.” His humor and very good mood were visible and felt honest , he succeeded in bringing his audience repeatedly to smile and entertained everyone very well.

So he asked the audience “to keep all the problems out and to enjoy these 2 hours” and explained: “I am still enjoying this and it gives me so much joy to express myself through the music, as I am writing only for myself it is still amazing, that it touches so many around the world.” “The World is getting a little more crazy every day and love is the most important thing”. Roger Hodgson was supported by his outstanding, mostly much younger musicians, striking particularly was the multi-instrumentalist at the various wind instruments:
- Aaron Macdonald - saxophones, harmonica, keyboards, backing vocals
- Bryan Head - drums
- Kevin Adamson - keyboards, backing vocals
- David J Carpenter - bass, backing vocals

Hodgson and his band took the audience on a musical journey back over 40 years. He played a nicely balanced mix of all large and well-known hits by SUPERTRAMP, such as ‘Take A Long Way Home’, ‘School’ and ‘In Jeopardy’ continued by ‘Logical Song’ to ‘Dreamer’, ‘Give A Little Bit’ and finally ‘It's Raining Again’ (by far the biggest hit of the band in Germany, who made it in 1982 at No. 2 in the German single charts). Interpreted were also - among some more SUPERTRAMP songs - quite a number of solo songs, especially from his 2000 comeback solo album ‘Open The Door’. In addition, Hodgson played a previously unreleased song, ‘The Awakening’, and (at the request of an advance voting on his website by the fans) the rarely performed song ‘Do Not Leave Me Now’. Impressive and influential that evening were especially the vocal qualities of the now 65-year aged tenor and the virtuosity of his musicians, with whom the band entertained the audience until including the final encore.

And even when Hodgson initially missed the 1st verses of ‘The Logical Song’, he took it with humor, began the song on a second take and then played the track in one smooth piece like he did during the entire show. Roger Hodgson is touring in Germany again e.g. at February the 22nd 2016 in Frankfurt/Main (venue: Alte Oper).

Setlist
01. Take the Long Way Home (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
02. School (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
03. In Jeopardy (Composer Roger Hodgson)
04. Lovers in the Wind (Composer Roger Hodgson)
05. Breakfast in America (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
06. Along Came Mary (Composer Roger Hodgson)
07. The Logical Song (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
08. Lord Is It Mine (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
09. Had a Dream (Composer Roger Hodgson)
10. The Meaning (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
11. Death and a Zoo (Composer Roger Hodgson)
12. Only Because of You (Composer Roger Hodgson)
13. Child of Vision (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
14. The Awakening (Composer Roger Hodgson)
15. Don't Leave Me Now (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
16. Dreamer (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
17. Fool's Overture (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
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18. Give a Little Bit (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)
19. It's Raining Again (Supertramp song) (Composer Roger Hodgson)


All live pictures are press material from Semmel Concerts