Review by SueW:
After seeing a load of concerts in Europe it really struck me as funny that only in England could you see about half a mile of people sitting orderly in a queue across a field! It was obvious who the regular picnic-concert goers were though as they had all their picnic gear, cool boxes, foldaway chairs and someone even had a duvet!

The car park was supposed to open at 4.00pm but they must have opened it early by the number of people who were already there. The people around me were remarking that they’d never seen so many people at a concert at Harewood House before! They opened the gates just past 6.00pm and although I was a fair way back in the queue I managed to get about 6 rows from the front on Kasim’s side so I was happy. Thankfully it was a good natured crowd with no pushing and the people in front of me were all shorter than me!

The support band Hurricane Party came on promptly at 8.00pm and were VERY loud. I think I would have enjoyed their music but the sound was so distorted that it was hard to make out any words. They were a typical long-haired young rock band but their head-banging moves were all in time with each other and their drummer was fascinating to watch as all through the set he was throwing his drumsticks up in the air (very high at times too) and catching them! It was just a shame that I couldn’t clearly hear the music clearly.

Meat Loaf and ensemble came on stage a little late at about 9.05pm. They had to climb some stairs and there was a walkway area that they had to traverse before they reached the stage so the people on the left side of the stage could see them before they walked on (it also meant that they were visible before they returned for the encore).

I thought the first half of the set was pretty good (nothing too special) but after Paradise By The Dashboard Light they added Two Outta Three Ain’t Bad into the set and from then on the concert became my favourite of the tour so far! The audience were just amazing tonight and really helped make the concert! You could see the band and Meat Loaf were feeding on it too!

When they sung Two Outta Three on other tours Meat Loaf and Kasim have had to encourage the audience to sing part of it but not tonight! Most people (at least around me) sang the whole song and at times drowned out those on stage! But for me the best part of the song was that they added a long instrumental in the middle which was really brilliant. It went on for quite a while and then it looked like the band were going to end it but Meat Loaf made them continue playing it! (Even though Kasim’s bass playing wasn’t particularly featured in it, his new bass came across really well and sounded wonderful).

Trying to show the bat backdrop

Just a few random musings about the concert:

Drummer John Miceli

Other websites
Comments about this gig posted on messageboards and mailing lists include:

Yvonne Bender has added some photos of this concert to her website here. The best ones that feature Kasim Sulton are:
With Randy Flowers
With Paul Crook
What's the collective noun for 3 guitarists? (Half a band in this instance!)
I had no idea that Kasim was so short!
The green hulk - don't make him angry!
Now Kasim towers above Meat Loaf!
With drummer John Miceli
With Mark Alexander
Anything For Love
Bat Out Of Hell
At the mic
Obviously happy in his work!
Another tour-favorite photo
The band bow

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