Berlin at 4th and B in San Diego, CA

review by Scott O'Connell

			
On Friday, August 10, 1996 I had two tickets to see the Berlin concert at
4TH & B in San Diego.  Panic came over me when most of the western US had
a massive power failure earlier in the afternoon.  I was worried because
this was the last date scheduled for Berlin's 1996 mini-tour.
 
My buddy Matt and I left for the drive to San Diego and as we headed into
downtown realized that this was the Friday before the Republican National
Convention started on the following Monday.
 
I was under the impression that Berlin started at 8:00PM and it was 5
'till and we weren't even close to getting there.  I was getting pretty bummed.
After standing in line to "pick up" my prepaid tickets we finally got in
at about 8:30PM.
 
My day was about to take a turn for the better!
 
I was pleased to find a good seat under an air conditioning vent with 
short people in front of me and no cigarette smoke at all.
 
4TH & B is a small club and has decent acoustics.  There was a band
playing when we got in but I can't remember their name.  They were pretty good.
Next up was a band from Los Angeles called "10 Speed".  They were pretty 
good, too.  Then came the long wait for Berlin to take the stage.
 
Berlin opened with "Masquerade" and it was great!  Terri's vocals were
as good, or better, than the early 80's stuff I had on CD. (I was never
lucky enough to hear them live before)  I thought that the synthesizer
was a little "off" from what I'd been familiar with, but after all, 
this was a live concert.
 
I had been worried that the concert would not be as good as the 80's
stuff I remembered.  After the first song, Matt leaned over and said
"still worried?"
 
They played several old songs, a couple original new songs, and an
Elvis Presely song called "You're the Boss".  
 
Terri took a short break during the concert and told us what had been
happening in her life.  At one point she said "I got a big butt..". 
After a long pause she added, "..and lost it again.".  She told us she had quit
smoking, played with other bands, and came out with a solo album.  Next
was an introduction of the new band and their turn on's.  Terri thanked
us all for coming.  She said, "..especially since we don't have a new 
album or anything."
 
They played a few more songs and exited the stage.  The crowd went 
wild -- more than I had seen at much larger concerts.  When they came
back out I felt Terri was genuinely touched by the excitement of the 
crowd.  They played a couple more songs and then Terri told us her Mom
was in the audience and thanked her for sticking with her through all
of the hard times.  She dedicated "Take My Breath Away" to her Mother.
 
Other than the sound mixing guy, who really sucked, the concert was
excellent.  I can't wait for the new album and seeing more of Terri
Nunn.