03:30 AM, alarm clock ringing. Oh my god ... what's up? ... totally tired! aaaah yess! We're going to Zermatt! ... not tired anymore!
04:45 AM, dive off ... Road trip to what will be the best concert we've ever been to!
As Legend Citizens we were allowed to attend the soundcheck and our navigation system told us that we will arrive in Zermatt at about 03:30 PM. Everything fine J
After spending 10 hours on the road and being in Switzerland already we got stuck in a traffic jam L We spent two hours going on at walking speed!
No soundcheck for us, what a pity :/
Finally, at 06:30 PM we arrived in Zermatt! Wonderful little city!
We hurried to find the festival area and were totally surprised to see a huge circus tent. The atmosphere was stunning and glamorous. Everyone was in a good mood and we were happy to finally be there. Even without the soundcheck.
We went to our seats in the second row which were covered with Ludda (http://www.google.at/search?q=ludda+ikea&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:de:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=de&tab=wi&biw=1680&bih=868) and very very comfortable. Sitting so near the stage was awesome! We felt that we could almost touch the guys!!
Carlos was there, he was applying setlists for everyone on stage and dispensing water bottles and towls.
The string players came out and we saw Daniel standing at the edge of the stage. By then we were totally nervous!!
The organiser of the Zermatt Unplugged festival came on stage and thanked his team, told us that Anni-Frid Lyngstad (the A in ABBA) was there too (three rows behind us) and introduced Mando Diao.
Daniel got up on the stage and began to play a wonderful version of Dalarna on the piano. The lights went out. Now the moment was there ... finally!! CJ came on stage, followed by Gustaf, Björn and Mats! Patso was the drummer for this concert. They were all wearing grey/black suits and Björn even had a black tie (but only for the first two songs then he just throw it away!).
Gustaf spoke to us - that this song is called Dalarna and that's the county were they come from. They like Switzerland very much because it feels like Dalarna.
Then they started the show with God Knows and the audience was with them from the first second. We jumped, danced, screamed.
I got totally weak in the knees because it was so long ago I saw Mando Diao live at stage. And now they were right in front of us. We could almost touch them. They were REAL :D
Because of being that exited I can't remember the complete setlist (in its right order ... sorry for that ... even the not-seen soundcheck was forgotten).
At the beginning they played Your Lovers Nerve and Never Seen the Light of Day. Gustaf then realised the we were totally out of our minds and decided to go on with Down in the Past ("You're in such a good Rock'n'Roll mood, we have to go on with a rock song!").
They also played Losing my Mind, Song for Aberdeen and dedicated All my Senses to Anni-Frid.
There were also old songs on the seltist: The Band, Mr Moon (wonderful rocking version), Long Before Rock'n'Roll and If I Don't Live Today.
Gustaf put his heart and soul into Mean Street and Björn danced and screamed to Gloria.
Gustaf played his guitar so hard that he ripped a guitar string. Unfortunately the roadies didn't notice that :/ Gustaf had to finish the song with the "broken" guitar.
Then someone brought him the wrong guitar and the strap (which holds the guitar ... I'm not sure it's called strap) also ripped. So he had to hold the guitar and play. It seemed that he was very angry because of this many mistakes and I was afraid that his good mood was lost now. But then he turned to the audience with a smile on his face! The show must go on! Very professional!
After playing for about 1,5 hours they went down the stage. Of course we were screaming for a bonus and Dance With Somebody!
And of course they came again! Already soaked but happy and smiling. While Gustaf and Björn sung If I Don't Live Today, CJ sat on stage with a Heinekken in his hands and waiting for his turn. That was wonderful to see! A relaxing, smiling CJ :)
But then Dance with somebody gave us the rest J They we're rocking the stage!!
Gustaf (looking awesome with the cut hair) was wearing his shirt halfway open and Björn was soaked with sweat. Björn couldn't hold himself back and jumped from the stage! He went into the audience (unfortunately for us he went to the other side).
Björn and Gustaf jumped around on the stage, smiling, dancing, screaming, singing. You could see that they had sooo much fun!!!
All good things have to come to an end. And that was the end.
As soon as they we're down the stage again we went to the front of the stage, hoping to sponge something. And, lucky as we are, we got a Gustaf and a Björn pick!!!
20 minutes after the concert was over, we we're standing in the almost empty circus tent, enjoying the rest of the good mood and wonderful atmosphere. Still with weak knees but totally satisfied.
Conclusion: Patso was ok as drummer (though we missed Sam), Mats hair is a bit too long ;), Gustaf looks great with the short hair, Björn was awesome, CJ was smiling all the time. The setlist was super. The atmosphere and the circus tent were great and it looked so glamorous. Mando Diao is in a good mood!
The 24 hours to drive (altogether) was totally worth it!
You can see pictures on our Unit Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IronCity-Crew-Mando-Diaos-Official-Street-Team/114901785218569?ref=ts#!/pages/IronCity-Crew-Mando-Diaos-Official-Street-Team/114901785218569 (link for non-facebookers: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.194999377208809.40562.114901785218569&l=5967391603)
We will also upload some videos in the next days!!
We're still exited when we think back at Zermatt =D
Love,
Tillbedja, Sköldpadda, Steve McBeef
