Reviews Archives 65

I have to explain this now a bit in details because it's so amusing. I presume, most of you can remember the 80s popband "Wham" and their biggest succes "Wake Me Up (Before You Go Gp). the band George Michael was part of. Okay, and with this group some others came along to fetch for fame with the same strategy. There were two nice looking blondehaired guys, with muscles, white t-shirts and jeans, and they named themselves "Bros". And for a while they were famous as well as their collegues of Wham. But not like Wham, they did not leave any trace after they had dissappeared.

Bros 1988

Now. what has all this gotta do with this heavy metal group hiere, you may ask yourself.It's simple. As soon, as Rebellion enter the stage of our little Garage Club, I get immidiately the idea of a recarnation of Bros, when I see the frontman. Second thought - it can't be, because the guys of Bros must be in the early 40s now, while this bird here is maybe 30 or so. But at least he could be their son, if he wasn't so purely german. Bros were brits as you maybe remember. And there's one more difference. While Bros were singing sentimental lovesongs for teenie girlies, our young Elvis here is screaming the hell out, dressed in black leather and showing his bare chest for those very few female metal brides here tonight.
But enough with all those comparisons, otherwise our hard rock rebells here feel slightly beeing taken the piss off. And we don't want this, do we?!

These guys and girl here really take an effort to convince the only about 50 fans here. And yes, they can do it. Our Bros heir says at one point: "hey, here are more people than I thought. At least it looks like from up there." Good for you, if you think so.
And there is one more focus, when you look up on to the stage. We all know women as hardrock singers. But you don't get very often one to play (only) the second guitar within this man's world.

Over all, Rebellion are a very german heavy metal act. It starts with a strong akzent and a very tight setlist. Nothing complicated and like I said before 100% german. - But one thing which is really officially, all this boys and girl up there love doing what they are doing adn they transfere this feeling to the audiance. And believe me, this is much worth it.
The famous sparkle - you know......

Oh, please, don't send me to hell now. I'm gonna try to get it in the right sense.
Yep, Dream Theater are a great band. These are brilliant musicians and they belong to the so called top artists within the progrock circle. No doubt about that. But I still run away after a while at a Dream Theater concert. I tell you why. Actually I've told you already within my Steve Vai review, when I took comparison between Vai and this band here. Both are perfectionists going into details. Both do their endless solos. But the difference is, - to repeat myself again and again, Vai is a colourful showman, and Dream Theater stand up their on the stage with almost no move and serious faces, most of the times, and they take things too seriously. Jes... we are not at a funeral. Alright, maybe it's only me, feeling this. The livingroom is crowded, with every VIP of munich's scene, showing serious face expressions beeing totally concentrated - more than the band up there, because this is it. And everybody wants to be seen at a Dream Theater concert, to be able to take part at the big discussion after show. Dream Theater are god.

Okay, let me tell ya'. James La Brie is an absolut Down To Earth guy, who only wants to make his thing, - dedicated to his hero Freddy Mercury, who he loves more than his life. That's what James told me at our last date. (PS.: thanx for little flying kiss from up stage by the way) .And no, James ain't gay, just because he's such a great fan of Freddy the Great. That's more to the vocal talents. But over all, this is not all.... Shit, the sparkle is missing here.
Okidok, back to the comparison. 3 hours Steve Vai is just enough and could be even longer. For Dream Theater it's much too long - for my taste.
And there is even a 15 minutes interruption inbetween. It's no good. Why? Because the slowly up heated fans slow down again and then have to start again to boil up. Not even John Petrucci's new hairstyle helps, or the super-sexy smile of keyboarder Jordan Rudess (see pic).
Alrighty - but seriously....

Please don't rape me... Yes, yes, yes it's okay. Dream Theater are great. They follow a sort of concept, to play their music year for year within their existence. You can check out the year on the screen in the back. Shit, I'm not a musician, and I believe, I mention this too often lately. And maybe I see the whole event from another point of view. But I follow my feelings.

At least what's up to the circumstances in the photopit, this is 100% super great. I wish, we always had this big light, this huge photopit and this much time. They changed the time limit. Instead 3 songs taking pics, we have 15 minutes. Understandable, - because 3 songs last usually 40 minutes at a gig of this group. But even those 15 minutes are a half eternity for us photographers. And for me also the whole concert is a requiem without an end and without the sparkle.
Friends, I can only tell you once more - Dream Theater are a very good band, brilliant musicianship, with a full and round sound and lots of light. Although, after maybe a hour or so, everything sounds the same to me, and there's not much going on up there - for me okay?! I'm starting to yawn, to look on my watch and my feet are hurting. And as you know....

... a concert is always good for you personally, when you don't watch the time, your feet don't hurt and you hope it never ends.
James, don't take it personally. I buy you a beer next time I see ya'

more Pics. here