Emperor Franz Josef is said to have repeatedly said on parting: ‘I was very pleased!’ But what do DIE SEER have to say after 28 years together on stage? Quite simply and incredibly authentically: they summarised their ‘emotional rollercoaster ride’ in 28 songs, 14 of which are new in the typical SEER sound. A musical legacy as a farewell gift.
‘Sold out’ is emblazoned in large letters on the posters across Altenmarkt announcing one of DIE SEER's 52 farewell concerts in Austria, Bavaria and South Tyrol. Just for the record: this wasn't my first live concert! But what I experienced that evening surpassed almost everything: hours before DIE SEER's performance, around 4,000 cheerful fans made a pilgrimage to the festival site at the Hochbifangbahn valley station in Altenmarkt, to warm up and secure the best seats in front of the stage.
They were certainly as surprised as I was when the Altenmarkt Brass Band provided the musical ‘warm-up’ with an impressive repertoire and rousing sounds. They quickly put the fans in the right mood of anticipation on this balmy midsummer evening. I didn't hold back from singing along and clapping until the Rainer March, Salzburg's secret national anthem, rang out across the festival grounds and I had to leave so as not to miss the meet & greet backstage. Clemens Konrad, Managing Director of Altenmarkt-Zauchensee Tourismus and co-organiser, dressed in traditional lederhosen leather trousers, had invited everyone and they all came! DIE SEER band members , first and foremost songwriter and founder of the band, Fred Jaklitsch, and DIE SEER voices Sassy Holzinger and Astrid Wirtenberger, all made an appearance. A photo opportunity and brief small talk were the order of the day. Naturally, I wanted to know from Fred Jaklitsch how he felt after 28 years, 13 number-one albums, 10,000 days on stage and over 500 songs: ‘Our aim has always been to celebrate our departure from the stage in a dignified and appropriate way. We have experienced so much and now the time has come to say goodbye!’ That doesn't sound wistful, rather optimistic about a new era ... who knows? Fred Jaklitsch also revealed to me that it was a matter close to his heart to say ‘bye bye and thanks’ to each individual at the ‘Ausklang’ concerts, the programme title of the farewell tour, and thus make the ‘seer’ community feeling even more tangible.
At last - The wait was over. The brass musicians cleared the field, the stage was ablaze - thanks to pyrotechnics! - Spotlights in all shades of colour heralded DIE SEER! The concert began with ‘So san d`Seer’ and ‘Donksche, Donksche’ and ended with goosebumps during their biggest hit ‘Wilds Wossa’ - Austria's most successful dialect band bid farewell to their fans in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee with two hours of live fireworks - thanks!
Info
You can find more information about the events in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee here.
photo credits: media.con_Gerald_Hirl