For a minute or two nothing happened, then Kasim walked out onto the stage, where there was a stool and mic set up for him.

I was far enough from the stage that I found it easier to watch the large screens at either end of the stage rather than watch Kasim directly. Rain seemed to be looming but nothing more than a few spits eventuated. Most of the audience was seated although there were still people walking up the steps and along rows of seats (by the time he finished, virtually everyone was seated). I had my fingers crossed that people wouldn't boo him. I couldn't detect much of that. People seemed to wait patiently for Meat (the ones that were only there for him).

He explained that he was part of the band, and that he'd be playing a few songs of his own before Meat came out. He seemed very apologetic at one point, saying to the audience something to the effect of "why would you want to listen to some guy play songs on an acoustic guitar?". Well, I wanted to!

He explained that this was possibly the last concert of the tour, and therefore something strange was likely to happen, or that someone else in the band would play some sort of prank on him during his set.

He launched into Don't Hold Me Back, and just as he got to the first "don't hold me back", two people (John and someone else?) wearing black cloaks and masks (those Do It masks?) ran across the stage, one with a pitchfork poking the other in the rear.

Kasim stopped and laughed and commented on it (I don't recall exactly what) and then continued the song from where he left off.

A few lines later, the same people ran across the stage again. Again Kasim stopped. This time he challenged John to come out and moon the crowd. Kasim waited briefly to give him a chance to do so. Unfortunately John didn't so Kasim continued the song. He had that "can I get through this song without breaking into a fit of laughter?" look on him. The two people with the cloak and mask ran around on the grassed area to the (audience's) right of the stage for a while, being chased by a golf cart.

At one point during Kasim's set, he said that Meat won't be coming out tonight. A woman behind me said "that's ok" or something like that, in a way that I interpreted as meaning she was quite content listening to Kasim, which was pleasing. He said that the more people called for Meat, the more songs he (Kasim would play).

Then Kasim got into Sometimes Love Is A Dangerous Thing. I couldn't identify the song at first as I'd only heard it once before, but then he sang the title line and I was happy and grateful that he sung that as I was looking forward to hearing a song originally intended for Meat.

He explained that his solo album Quid Pro Quo was available at the merchandise stand. He observed one woman who was apparently getting impatient waiting for Meat. He told her to cheer up, that things will be getting better, and launched into Sacrifice.

He then told everyone that Meat will be out shortly, and left the stage.

Later on there was the "closing act" and a M&G afterwards.

Back to Kasim's Opening Set Tour page