Reviews Archiv 10

Who thought about that? These four californien girls have made it to establish themselves in the international Hardrock circus. The Donnas got themselves a name with simple sing along songs, though everybody was weary about a women band. But it has changed. Those girls rock their socks off. With a singe, who at least got the most sexappeal, a guitarrist who reminds us visually to Dee Dee Ramone, but she seems to play a better guitar. The bassist rolls around the stage instead of walking and within the drummer, their seems to be an animal. The Donnas have put themselves somewhere inbetween Iggy Pop and The Ramones, not without a healthy touch of - just Rock'n'Roll. And it's working. The venue is just half crowded, but therefor those few people really go nuts. It doesn't matter if one or the other tune ain't quite right, but who cares, - the party is exploding. and the two biggest hits of the band meet the point. "I Don't Care", because the girls don't go for conventions and "who Invited You" - because nobody did. You have to come on your own will and check 'em out.....

A legend returns. for heaven's sake, who thought, that this cultband from the late 70s early 80s is back again in the business. And everything is almost the same like in the past. Okay, Youth ain't with 'em on stage. But therefor is Raven. The show, the sound, evrything seems like, there have never been a few years inbetween. Jaz Coleman hasn't lost anything of his enormous timbre, even he's heading towards the 50s. But it certainly does not show. He's still fit like a sportsshoe,as we say in german. Killing Joke are presenting their new album on this tour, which contains pure Killing Joke music, no change of style. God thanx for that. And the fans love it. Yeah, they are back again. So lets pray, that this does not change again.

I just featured the swiss guys from Krokus in the reviews, so I won't take long on this one.I just liked the gig back in Wörgl/ Austria so much, I had to go and see 'em again. Just to say it one more time. Krokus is pure Rock'n'Roll. And "My Stick Goes Broom" does it's thing. Whatever it is meant by that.
And they prove it again, that Oldies are Goldies and sometimes more powerful and energetic than some of the Youth. At least 'on' stage.....

And what about ...off - stage?

I don't wanna lose many words about Santana this time, 'cause we just hada gig review before a little while ago for the release of the last album. And there wasn't much of a difference this time. Okay, now the band played the Olympic Hall with 12.000 fans, and not a small theatre with only 500 invited guests. This time there was no Michelle Branch. And the band played twice the time, - exactly 3 1/2 hours. The setlist was pretty much the same including a few more songs, Carlos guitarsolos were brilliant as always and Dennis Chambers proved once more, that he belongs to the best drummers ever. There was one little difference, no pictures this time, as I was to late to apply for a photopass. Sorry about that. However, it was a perfect performance without mistakes. New pieces were played as well as the classics Black Magic Woman and Samba Pa Ti. One thing, I asked myself again. Why ain't the never playing anything from the brilliant album "Inner Circle"? I love this one. But I won't get an answer on this subject. For that, we got a lot of inbetweenis told by Carlos, concerning the subject of esoteric psychology. He knows as much about this, as he knows about his guitar playing. At least it seems so.....

The Cramps.- Many of us have heard this name before, but don't exactly know, who they are. The Cramps are the Shadows of the Sex Pistols and the Ramones back from the Seventies. And the Cramps are really bullsh... This band is such crap, that it is almost funny again. But they belong to the punk history as the Sex Pistols do. And that's a matter of fact. That's why you could find so many Sid Vicious look a likes in the audiance. It's like a family. The bitchy guitarist is the singers girlfriend, and it seems, her guitarplaying still needs a bit practising, to discribe it mildly. Fact is, it's more a visual thing than a accoustical one inclusively all the acrobatic movements and an almost masturbation. The microphone is raped by it's user and almost swallowed.
But it wouldn't have gone down well, would it?! Anyway, at least it was entertainment, so what....

"YES" - back again in the original line-up. To put it really straight, it's not quite true, is it?! So it was Bill Bruford playing drums in the very beginning. But Alan White is with 'em since the early Seventees and most of all was with them in their glory times, so what? Much more interesting is the fact, that Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman are back in the stall, whatever reasons for. But never mind, as long as their fans like it and the bill is straight. But believe it or not. The Boys can still do it. Yes! Despite tha fact of - still 20 minutes solos, not one single minute is boredom. Howe proves, that he still belongs to the best guitarists ever, and Wakeman treatens his keyboard if there was no tomorrow. Anderson voice and brand of the band is till competing with every eunuch of Bagdad and Chris Squire rather seems to roll across the stage than stand up, but in some impressing way. Yes don't play a concept concert. they play a colourful rainbow of their whole history on a high energy level. Only one song is missing, guess what?! But therefore there is supposed to be a new album next year, - in the original line-up of course.
Owner of a lonely.... sorry! - hopeful heart......

The mastro of the flute
Ian Anderson

Either I've seen Jethro Tull once too often, or I'm not in the right mood tonight. Or is the engergy lacking? We got an interesting support act, which is a mixture of various musicians, featuring Leslie Mandoki, Chris Thompson, the young german singer Masha, and some members of Jethro Tull themselves including Ian Anderson. The whole project is called "Soulmates" and does some interesting tunes with a wide musical variety and a certain love for details. Great stuff! Lets hope, we hear some more of the Soulmates in the future.

Jethro Tull haven't changed at all. Ian Anderson is still Tull, and nobody else really, though the rest of the band are brilliant musicians. The songs are still pulled into seemingly neverending stories, thanx to constant flute attack. And the mastro is jumping round the stage like a mad derwish. Musically excellent, Jethro Tull can surely convince the mere of the mostly elderly audiance. But like I mentioned in the beginning, I've probably seen 'em too many times, as if this performance can pull me out of my shoes. The final is of course "Locomotive Breath" and underlines capter XY and the file is closed again.
..... it's knock off time - my friends!!!

Chris Thompson

When expectations ain't too high, then the mostly become true. Woouuuw, - what a hell of a band, they still are. Fernando v. Arb and Mark Storace are proving here, that Oldies are Goldies, honestly! And they're showing more energy than some young vegetable. For heaven's sake, where did ya' buy your fresh cells? No eye is staying dry, an no big toe is without wobbeling contact. There ain't no need to count all the hits of Krokus. Yes, of course, all these songs are coming up and speed away like in the old days. "Easy Rocker", "Long Stick Goes Boom", "Eat the Rich" and "Screaming In The Night", just to mention a few. Yes!!! That's what I call Rock'n'Roll and much more. A performance, where you get the feeling afterwards, to have wasted all your energy, and there's only satisfaction left in the sense of Rock'n'Roll - of course. Krokus have already proved with their new album, that they still can do it. And this here is only the written, - oh pardon - I was going to say, - the musical statement - signed, blasted and straight to hell.
PS.: only complain... my personal alltime fave was missing "Bad Love"