Reviews Archives 64

16.10. 2005 Munich, Nightclub Hotel Bayr.Hof
Will Calhoun

Okay, let's start with a little explanation for all of you, who don't know the name yet, or just have the feeling, you heard the name before. Will Calhoun is a drummer. And usually he plays for the american hardrock band "Living Colour".- Yeah.... it's coming back, doesn't it?! In the eighties, the group had some hitsingles with songs like "Cult Of Personality", "Love Rears It's Ugly Head" and "Type". - A black hardrocking band, who doesn't play soulmusic is still pretty unusal. The band were put on ice for some years, but came back something like two years ago with a new album and a tour. Another Cd is coming soon. That's what's up to Living Colour.

However, tonight, Will Calhoun is here with his own band and project to present us his individual kinda music. And this music has absolutely nothing to do with Living Colour music, believe me.
Within the posh atmosphere of the nightclub of the hotel Bayrischer Hof, we get offered a mixture of fusion and freejazz, well combined with a touch of worldmusic and even some harder beats. Will is a damn good drummer, that's for sure. And the elegance and brilliance of his performance comes along so much better with this kind of music, than with heavy rock. Here a drumsolo seems more spicy. You can hear every single move, each rythm in it's detail with much intensity. The just mentioned worldmusic, he's doing with some exotic instruments. But please don't ask me, what they are named. This tunes can be really beautiful, but because of all the work with other music, I've never got really into it. At least not enough, to be able to judge it. I can only say, whether I like it or not. And I do indeed.
On the other hand, for fusion you have to bring in a certain love and understanding anyway, to get along with it. But compared to the worldmusic, I'm a bit more familiar with that.
Will's other bandmembers are real good musicians too. He does introduce them at least five times, just to make sure. And yes we notice them.

Over all Will presents us a crossover mixture, which fills very colourful one and a half hours. The jazz orientated audiance shows pleasance with a lot applause and the request for one more piece of music. And of course we get it. Yep, Will, you may come again, you stood the test.
'till next time - whether with or without Living Colour.

Munich

in memory of Horst Frank +
click pic.

08.10. 2005 MUNICH, Garage
L.A. Guns

For the first time in quite a while I'm becoming homesick for my little country Tyrol in Austria, - the nature, the mountains and the fields with scarecrows placed all over the place. You know 'em, don't ya?! Brooms put upside down into the ground, dressed with fancy funny coloured clothes, bending themselves in the wind towards all directions to scare the birds and other animals off the way.

Now you know, what I wanna say by that, don't you? :))) But be honest, there is a slight similarity. However what's up to Glamrock legends,but only insider know about this band here. I feel like in a movie from the day before yesterday. And I certainly know, what I'm talking about, because I have experienced those glory times in the mid eighties 'till the early nineties in London, the euorpean Rock'n'Roll capital. By the way, this here now is more up to the image care and style than to the music itselves. It's something like a nostalgic happening in glam and glitter look and party make up for all these pretty boys here tonight (and girls of course) Don't you dare, to say, only women are vain! However, the band and also the audiance is dressed in Spandex tights and gold and silver shirts and enjoy the past tense.

And before the so- called poser night takes off, we get a gig by the L.A.Guns, fronted by Phil Lewis, an original founder member from the Eighties.
Musically there is not much to complain about it. Because if you didn't know, who stands behind all these songs, you'd only think about simple american straight forward Hardrock. The Music stands for Glamrock first, when it is official, who's making it.

The trend - style is dead in America. Maybe a reason, why many of these returning bands from this era come to good old Europe now. Here they still get the possibility for self development, which they are looking for. But you can't bring back a dead era, unless you are one of those cultbands, Glamrock has put out. The L.A. Guns do not really belong to them. They are here in Europe for the second time within a year. And they still do not pull more thann aprox.150 souls, who are still devoted to this life philosophy.

No my friends, that's crap tonight, starting by several differences because of hotels and some other irritations. (that's what I've been told). This again results into a powerless performance without the fun to play. It ends after only 55 minutes. And over all for the price of 25 Euros.
The next generation of T-Rex's and Gary Glitter's are not very amused by that. But the top of the anoyment is the fact, that Mr.Lewis makes a final announcement by telling the audiance, the band were not allowed to play any longer than this. Even there would have been 20 more minutes left concerning to the local promoter. No that's simply not fair on the fans. And if I take the arrogance of our american friends at the aftershow meet and greet, then I can only say, please stay at home next time and tell your tales from the strip to somebody else.
Just to get it right. I have nothing against the music of the L.A.Guns, but I don't like the rediculous impertinence.
I hope at least the up following posernight has been a success for all you sleaze rockers tonight. Without me, and..... by the way - without the band as well, who is off the moon straight afterwards. Cheers and let the Glamrock be Glamrock. It's all only Rock'n'Roll...

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