Reviews Archiv 20

...better discribed would be 30 years later - because, that's where they are, the former Woodstook - Band. And when I look at this, I start thinking, what's better or worse.. a Rockband, where the leader is still there, but everybody else is new, or the leader is gonne, but the rest is still orginal. Whatsoever, - most important is the performance. A Rock'n'Roll band for 30 years, who doesn't know what is left and right, doesn't make any sense, does it?! Even the cult status is nothing worth in that case. A legend is destroyed. - So lets say, better just three heroes from the past and rock till we drop. Chichee prases. They are still fantastic, and you can see the pleasure of playing live in their faces, even after these managed 30 years. Ric Lee, Chick Churchill and Leo lyons are still a great team, and you can feel that. The new guy, Joe Gooch, the only american in the group wasn't even born, when Woodstock was going on. But, and thats the hint, - he is so far better, than Alvin Lee ever has been. And there we are... Alvin Lee, the legend, the cultfigure of Ten Years After, the trademark. his name was and always will be combined with TYA, even after the next 50 years.

"We are TYA" says Ric Lee on stage to the audiance. "If you wanna see Alvin Lee, then go and see him. But if you wanna see TYA, then come and see us."Okay, yes, we got that. But unfortunately there are still a few people out there who suffer from prejustice and stick to their stubborn opinion - without Alvin Lee - no TYA...amen. What a shame! - Because as soon as they would have checked out these guys here, they'd be connvinced a 100%, that TYA are still TYA, whether with or without Alvin Lee. And they are still exellent. Alright! - The band still sticks to their individual style and celebrate bluesrock at it's best. Whether it's a track from the new record, or old classics like "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" and "Going Home". No tune is wrong, no leg is standing still in the audiance, which is not only s consisting of old veterans, but also of many young kids, who rather belong to the age of the Alvin Lee substitude on stage. But as we all know, Rock'n'Roll doesn't ask for age. We rock at the age of 17, and we rock at the age of 70. And when we die, we want "Stairways To Heaven" from Zep for the funeral, or better - "Hear Me Calling" of TYA. - Only little handycap for the band is the fact.... that you can't get rit of the shade of a cult figure, - never ever. I still wish you all the best and still many years of Rock'n'Roll ...bless ya'

another litte cigarette

do you know, what a - One Boy Band is? No?! since this very day, at least I know... jes... and all castrated elks of finland... but this here, the Rock'n'Roll world hasn't seen for a long time. - Backstreet Boys, N'Sync and Natural, - okay, somehow understandable - five pretty boys, whereby the girls still arguing, who's got the prettiest ass. The problem with HIM is, - there is only one boy, admired by all those kids. Ville Valo singer and frontman of the group has neither got a pretty but, nor the clean attractivity of a Justin Timberlake. Jesus meets Jim Morrison, important from the Sahelzone with dark gothic make up and a moody face impression. But there must be something about this guy, that so many girlies keep waiting in front of the venue already 24 hours before the gig and killing themselves for the first entry. Ready steady go... the dance of the vulcano is about to begin. or shall I call it the very last day? In the middle of the stage a Jägermeister altar. Probably the guys on stage need this for keeping the energy. And lets be honest... Jägermeister is certainly very pleased about such a lot advertisment. Okay, lets get back to the actual action which is heating up from on second to the other when the man in Black comes on stage. Actually Ville could have a nice first drink straight away, because his singing drowned anyway in the middle of the screaming. he takes it cool and without emotion. And he lives his image of a scandinavian nightowl. Apart from that, the soundmixer has done a good job, because, Villes voice is literatually not present. Ville is there visually but certainly not acoustically. So why singing. One step towards the audiance on stage is enough to keep the ambulance busy round the clock. I stopped counting the fainted bodies with number 24. Thanx to my presence in the photopit I am able to see this madness.

it lets you look more interesting, doesn't it?

The rest of the venue is so packed, that there ain't any moving around possible. Just to mention the musical aspect, which ain't really important here, - new album - yes or no.... yeah okay, we need promotion. But it would have been no difference, if HIM was playing songs of the new record, or a symphonia of jean Sibelius (finnish composer 1865 - 1957) Because the complete concentration of these 1.200 females and maybe 200 males in here is going only to one spot - Ville Valo. And he only needs to take a glimpse to raise the earthquake to an even higher level. Interesting fact - it's the coverversions of famous songs, HIM have recorded in the past, which go down best, like for instance "Wicked Games". I bet 1.000 bucks that 3/4 of the girls don't even know that this track is actually written and performed by Chris Isaak. But never mind in this case and over all what's about the music. Sad but true. Because HIM are not a bad band, at least on CD. I leave the hellfire before it's finished. And in front of the maindoor, there's a girl sitting with a bottle in one hand and a pillow in the other, responding to my naiv question, why she's sitting here out in the cold.... "because I've got a ticket for tomorror evening and I wanna be the first one". however, long live Jim Morrison, the finnish elk and of course - Jägermeister.... Cheers...