Reviews Archiv 6

Holy Shit! You get it in your dreams, but next time with a warning in advance please. A gradual shock experience exchanges with traumatic obsession which we can't get rid off. So actually what we got here on stage presenting himself as a glittering guitar hero has more similarity with a fivedimensional, strangly shaped dumpling. Bumping yourself is useless, - no we are not dreaming, That's the sad truth without if and but. And this truth can be pretty cruel, at least what's up to the visual aspect. But like all things in life, we getting used to this vision. In the end we ignore the sight in respect of Yngwie's acoustic stage dives. Like a frightened chicken he flutters across the stage and tortures his instrument like an inquisiter his victim in the middle age century. Only the way he does it, is a bit different. And the object of torture plays nice tunes instead of screaming

the hell out. No, you've got to confess, that the witchdocter still gets the pot boiling and gets the audiance enthusiastic with the help of his magic stick. But there is in fact something Malmsteen has borrowed from the last century. It's the love for classical music wich runs through the whole set somehow. Otherwise Yngwie offers us everything you can think of, every tune he is famous for. The gladiator has won the battle once more in the arena. And the optical vision have become unimportant, even they take 3/4 of the stage. Yngwie defends his status with the help of almost grotesc movements of his body and wasting at least 250 git.Licks. (another case for the guinessbook of records.) He does not tolerate any disturbing individual next to him really. - Oh, before I forget..... wasn't there a band or something like that as well?!!!

I always said, that a concert is great, when you don't look on your watch and your feet don't hurt. This concert here was very good, but my feet did hurt, and I did look on my watch. Okay, exseptions state the rule, as we say. But in this case it was simply the fact, that the performance was still not finished after 4 hours. Bloody hell and all marathon acrobats on this planet, Maceo and his mates could easily applie for signing into the guinessbook of records. And all this performed in suit and tye. To wear a furcoat at the equator wouldn't be worse probably. But they are fit, - very fit indeed. "We only do funky stuff", - Maceo starts the set, just to make it clear. And those guys play the repertoire of the past 30 years off. Jesus Christ, even the tightest Die-Hard-Fan bites his teeth together. There are some funny interuptions shown by one of the background singers, who looks like Sixties-TV-star Jason King and performing Amy Stewart's "Knock On Wood". But it's not only the length of the spectacle which is impressing, it's also the length of the keyboardplayer, who measures at least aprox. 7 feet something. Just getting up of his seat from time to time, draws all the attention on him. No, honestly, it was a brillant performance, which we were offered by Maceo Parker and his band. Whenever those guys closed the final curtain.... i don't know. With viewing them for a mere than 4 hours, my pain treshold was reached - halleluja and good night.....

Jesus Christ has nothing to do with our Tattooed Beat Messiah - Zodiac Mindwarp alias Mark Manning. But he has risen up again as well, after he had disappeared for several years, not from the dead so. The reasons for that fact are simply explained. Mark Manning alias Zodiac Mindwarp followed his other path of beeing a writer. He's published several books so far. If I compare his autobiography with the one from Mötley Crüe, called "The Dirt", so is the second one like an innocent snowhite for the poor. Jesus wept, I really wanna go on tour with this band once in a lifetime, just to see, if this all is true. Afterwards I'm probably ready for a madhouse or I recall the philosophy of Rock'n'Roll. But however, music never went off his mind. Thanks god for that, No, he hasn't really changed over the years, neither visually nor mentally. Okay, only the long hair is gone, because he doesn't want to look like Ozzy Osbourne, as he says in one statement. Cobalt Stargazer (git) , who's real name is Geoff Bird, is the only one, who stayed with Zodiac from the very beginning. He is responsible for lots of the music. Without Cobalt Zodiac wouldn't be Mindwarp and the other way round, would it?! Can you imagine, this man once worked for Wham? But music is patient and money doesn't smell! - got me? And Stargazer is a brilliant guitarist, even his look hasn't got much to do anymore with the Tattooed Beat Messiah era. But it's still better to look like a Run Dmc meets Hip Hop pocket format cowboy than a possible George Michael copy. Sorry, Cobalt, I think, you look alright - to me. - I didn't mean it...

But let's get back to the advert-figurehead of the group.
Although Zod heads towards his mid-fourtees. he is still a dirty, aggressiv rebell on stage and doesn't give a f.... about other people's opinion. He does his thing from "Prime Mover" to "Backseat Education" 'till "I Am Rock" and brings out the macho within him and the huge sexappeal, - which is really there,- I can asure you. But it is his brand, so what?! I've always been wondering how this man and his band transfer their attitude so credibly to the audiance. Because in day to day life, Mark seems to be a rather quiet introverted excentric, - or is he not?, But I guess, it's his aura, which gives him this special touch and brings out every sexual clichee´you can think of. And it seems so real. This man is sex on two legs, not more nor less. Only these antique anti-designer-jeans, which span around Mr. Mindwarp's hips, help us to prevent receiving a multiple orgasm. Whatsoever, the fact is- They still like it dirty, loud, intensiv and straight to the climax....
....and we all go home with a certain satisfaction, - don't we? However you catch that.....right?!
PS.: ...and please come back soon, won't ya'

You can say, whatever you wanna say, but the old vine is the very best. Pressed for a very long time and nicely spiced through storing, sorry, experience, it has got this special note, which only can be caused because of these circumstances. Canned Heat are an institution, a legend. And you can't think them away from the music annals. Sometimes I feel sorry, that I was only eight years old, when Woodstock took place in 1969. To get it straight: - too young to die for Rock'n'Roll. Okay, as we all know, Rock'n'Roll influences the outside circumstances and it lets only one original member of the glory times still hit the stage. But does it really matter. Who gives a f.... as long as the spirit is still there. And I'm telling ya' the spirit of Canned Heat still swings in songs like "Let's Work Together" and "On The Road Again". There's a little bit nostalgy, a bit melancholy, but also fresh energy, which keeps the Boogie-sound up and going and fully loaded, - super - unleaded of course....

Second chapter
Peter Green(baum) is also cult and history in one person. Without him, Fleedwood Mac would'nt exist. Without him, there wouldn't be an "Albaross" or a "Black Magic Woman". But unfortunately, not many people are aware of this - really. The man has booked the blues for himself. And it is the essence of what keeps him still alive. Otherwise he'd probably sit on cloud nine together with Jimmy Hendrix, having exchanged the guitar for a violine and sings halleluja. Some unhealthy things in his life has gotten him quite close to this rather not so amusing perspective. But anyway, I guess Jimmy-Boy has got to be a bit longer patient for the heavenly duett in c-dur. Because right now it looks like, that Greeeny, thats what close friends call him, however has none intention yet to take a speedtrain to nirvana. No, he rather looks fitter and more present in the reallity than ever before. Respect and god thanx for that.....
Without him, the Blues would be like the sun without shine, a guitar without strings and a note without neck. - Great Peter, today you've shown us with your talents, that there ain't no cummulus-cloud in sight on which Jimmy Hendrix must celebrate his solo alone, - hopefully still for a long time. You stay with us. - You keep giving us the blues for once and in eterni.... alright, let's say... for another long while, okay?!!!!

Emilio in action

Right, trumpets are dancing Rumba with the sax, or is it Tscha tscha tscha?! No, it's soul and funk at it's best, perfectly put in place and tune. It's no miracle, that Emilio Castillo and his group are doubtless the no. 1 in their cathegory. And they prove it once more with hot rhythm and a whole lot of energy. The special thing about Tower Of Power is the horn section including Emilio himself. They're blowin' their lungs off, carried by a guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, which got only a neccassary side part to make it complete. The vocals are deep black, not only optically. With "Diggin' James Brown" the set reaches it's highpoint and is one of the few exeptions, where Mr. Castillo steps in front. Otherwise Tower Of Power present themselves mainly as a strong unit, telling the audiance: together we're strong. This is a concert of superlatives and most of the audiance gets an unforgettable impression. My comment: - diggin' Emilio......