After experiencing a marvellous concert at the Crossing Border Festival '97, I was highly excited for this small concert. The support band, a Dutch band called Benjamin B., couldn't make the crowd enthousiastic at all. Everybody was standing as far as possible from the stage, their conversations only stopped when they had to clap for their fellow-dutch on stage. As the band cleared their gear for Andrew, I grabbed 'pole-position' in front of the stage. I noticed some nervous girls moving forward; giggling, they wanted to SEE Andrew!

As the band came up, I noticed the new drummer and bass-player. No drummachine this time; that was fine. Still nobody dared to approach the stage, and I was really disappointed in the crowd.

But the band didn't disappoint me at all. Well, the bass-player needs to be kicked once in a while; she just stood there paralized, with no enthusiasm nor pleasure. (I asked the drummer afterwards, "Is she different behind the stage?" Hesitated: "Well, somewhat...") The two guitarplayers jammed as usual, the drummer kicked. Andrew sounded familiar; tormented and devoted, his singings aches you deep inside.

He moved around the stage, keeping his new pants up, and sang, beautiful. As he started singing 'Rosey Red' I got goose-flesh all over, just like the first time I heard the song. I could almost see Rosey in front of me, she looked so sad, that it made me cry. But Rosey comforted me, "I am the warmth to cover your chill." Andrew missed the high note, but it didn't bother me at all; it was too beautiful. Suddenly I didn't care about the numb crowd, the giggling girls ('Oh he's so handsome!'), my exam the day after, and everything else. Because Andrew sang 'Rosey Red' for me, did two encores for me, and spoke out his blessings to me. Thanks again.

Goda