78


12.02. 2006 Munich,  New Backstage 
Sasha

Okidok, now, don't get me wrong and shake your heads. Fact is: Sasha, who used to be a sort of Freddy Star alike, can really sing. He looks good and is good. It's sold out. Fan getting outragious. And some hardrockers would be grateful, if they had this kinda resonance. - Last but not least, Sasha ain't the ballad-lovesong figaro anymore. Yep, he's got a past, like everybody of us. And he was handled as a teeniestar once upon a time, - nice to look at, breaking the hearts of countless girlies. Yeah and of course he earned enough money with this strategy. But, like I said, that's a long time ago, and humans change over the years. Maybe his period inbetween, beeing Dick Brave, performing this funny Rockabilly style of the late Fiveties, has changed his character into a more sophisticated aura. Who knows!
One thing is for sure, we all get older and change, like I said before. And Sasha certainly has changed, starting with his look, aura, hairstyle which makes him even look young than ever. But it ain't the reason for this here right now. It's rather th e know how. Sasha presents us a collection of new songs, coming out on CD in march, but also old tunes, made up in a new dress and version with lots of speed in it's back.

Jes, this is great. Though nothing has changed within the first frontrow, where still those teeniegirls scream their heads off, when our Pop-Valentino moves his right toe. They haven't forgotten about him, that's for sure. and Sasha nips on his cup of tea inbetween two songs and says:"I'm stunned, that there are still so many people here to see me, though I've been away for so long, and a new record ain't even out yet. - thank you. " He takes another bit tea and takes the microphone again with his typical charming smile to continue his performance. He got his selfconfidence back, which has been dismissed in the beginning of the show. And you can physically feel his increasing energy pushed up by those grateful fans. By the way, we celebrate another premiere, because this is the first concert in the New Backstage Venue opposite the old one,here in Munich. It's got a capacity of aprox. 1.000 people, and it is filled up tonight 'till the very last spot. I don't need to mention the temperature in here, I presume despite the aircondition. (PS.: by the way, the smaller gigs will be still held in the old venue 'till july - just to say so) 

Back to Sasha, who andh is band is sweating the hell out in smart suits and ties. Songs like Here She Comes’ and ‚Rooftop’ sound rockier than ever. And to be honest, the encore 'Lonely' I almost don't recognize. Long live the blues - rock. And you can honestly say, that these songs don't sound the same like in the past. There's a new spirit within.
It's great, and it's a victory over the past, over the own shadow and the quickly won back selfconfidence. But over all it's once again a huge success, here, tonight in the sense of Rock'n'Roll.  
PS.: of course with lots of sex appeal.







                                                                                         
02.02. 2006 Munich, Nightclub, Hotel Bayrischer Hof
Vernon Reid

Just about three months ago, Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun has played this  club here,  - (see  Reviews Archiv 64) with his solo project. And now it's his band mate guitarist Vernon Reid with the group Masque, who's presenting us his second musical leg. But while Calhoun is more into the jazzy/worldmusic thing with lots of Fusion, Reid is still more related to the rock roots, spiced  with a bit reggae and afrosound. He truly belongs to the premiere league of guitarists standing on one level with Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton, though stylistically showing a wider range. Born in London, and grown up in Brooklyn NY, with caribian family roots, he really got himself a name in musicians circles, not just with Living Colour. And yes, he did play with Santana in the past as well as with many others.  

Vernon Reid's third soloalbum has come to birth with the much meaning title: 'The Other True Self'. Next to many self written tracks, you can also find three coverversions. One is Radiohead's 'National Anthem', Tony Williams Lifetime's “Wild Life and ‚Enjoy The Silence’ of Depeche Mode. And yes, he's performing them right here tonight . But it's his own composition 'Prof.Bebey' , also on the new longplayer, which means most to him, because it's reflecting  his own personality, as he says so before the show. At the gig, Vernon is accompanied by such fabulous musicians as Hank Schroy' on Bass, (he almost looks like Brad Pitt )  Don McKenzie (drums)  and Leon Gruenbaum on Keyboard. It's a very professional cooperation, which doesn't leave any requests open. And in opposite to his Living Colour mate Calhoun, Vernon's music floods directly into our ears and gets stuck there

Apart from that, the boss says, - it doesn't happen to him very often  to play in such a posh atmosphere like in tonight's nightclub of Munichs No.1 Hotel. He's brilliant, but still goes for understatement. Though Vernon doesn't need to be shy, - not at all - honestly. I mean, Vernon Read is still filling the big venues with Living Colour, and he thinks the mothership  has still  got something to say in the future. 
However, right now about 100 guests thank him with lots applause and request for more. 
Masque has  surely the priority in the life of the guitarist. Well done tonight and over all. This is music not only for musicians but also for the just music lover and fan, with all the lightness of Rock'n'Roll - whether listening to it at home via the CD player or live in concert. 
He's good,  whatsoever.... very good indeed.... 

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