About six months ago, Russ Ballard has been here before in Munich at the
tiny Monofaktur Club, for an pre acoustic set to represent his new
album 'Book Of Love. At this occassion just about 100 souls found their
way there to check out one of the best songwriters and musicians and
most underrated artists ever.
Here
yoy
can read about this event last autumn.
Tonight at the Elserhalle, half year later, 1.300 music freaks have
finally woken up and gathered round. And yes, he honestly does deserve
this echo. Who would have thought this?! Probably he himself was the
least person to believe, that their would be so many people. So thanks
to the promoter, thanks to the media, and thanks to all the music fans
who are here right now.
Support is coming once more from our local
Bluesrock hero Rev.Rusty & The Case, who takes another effort to
weak up the luv for the blues inside the heads of the mainstream AOR
fans. And yes, in some ways, he gets the deserved applause. So hopefully
next time he is doing a solo gig somewhere around town, some more
curious kids come along again. It's just to keep the blues alive, he
says. Congratulation Rusty, this is a fine welcome and a decent
performance including cool english introduction and announcements
inbetween. Sounds better, doesn't it?! :-))) okay, seriously, I think
you're great, and I'm not saying that, because you're a friend of mine.
Got me?!!!
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I've seen Russ Ballard
live three times before. Once in England in a pub, once at an open air
festival here in Bavaria, and last time at the acoustic performance.
This here now is the fourth time and the first time within a full indoor
venue concert. - My first Russ Ballard record I purchased in 1980, and
since then, I'm a fan of his music. To be honest I had some doubts about
tonights gig, because I know him as a rather quiet person. And for the
acoustic show this might be okay. But is it enought for a full energy
electric guitar Rock'n'Roll live show with full powever! I was'Nt sure,
because the sparkle didn't really jump over at the open air appearance
as I remember.
But after only one minute all my doubts have suddenly vanished, because
this here is another Russ Ballard, an energetic rocker, who seems to be
much happier nowadays then in the past. And most of all, he seems at
least 30 years younger than he is. He starts the set straight with a
steamy rocksong - 'Rene Didn't Do It' from the Barnet Dogs album, -
which is by the way my fave album. I can't avoid smiling, because with
this song he takes the people's breath. Most of the know Russ Ballard
since the black album with the song 'Voices' on it. With this album he
had changed to more quiet tunes. So nobody really expected a heavy tune
in the beginning. Asking him for the reasons about the tempo change in
music, he puts it to the general life attitude which changes over the
years.
But now we know, Russ can still rock, and he does this not only with his
music but also with his appearance. Holy sh... it's almost unbelievable,
how great his condition is. And I ask myself, where he takes this new
youth from..
With him on stage his old longtime friend Bob Henrit, who is on his side
since the early sixties, and always joined him off and on stage - from
Argent 'till today. Bob was and still is always present. There is also
Chris Winter on guitar and keyboard, steve Jones on keyboard and last
but not least Chris Childs, who normally plays the bass for Thunder.
Besides solo-songs, russ
entertains the audiance also with a medley with tracks he composed for
other people like So You Win Again’, Hot Chocolate has a hit
with,
‚New York Groove’ which was recorded by Hello or ‚Since you’ve
been Gone’ which went to fame performed by Rainbow. But the highpoint
comes with 'God Gave Rock'n'Roll To You' - thankx to Kiss. Apart from
that another rocker is 'On The Rebound' also from The Barnet Dogs
album, and yes of course 'Voices' and also the new album 'Book Of
Love' is introduced.
And then Russ gets his daughter Karis on stage. She flew in from
England today to surprise her Dad. And I've got to say, that this was
the very first time she has gone on a plane in her entire life, because
of being scared to fly. She must have taken all her strenght to come
over this. And she did, - just for her dad.
Despite the fact, that the sound wasn't a 100% clear and the musical
performance not a 100% perfect, I still presume, with the action of
Karis, the huge audiance and their reaction makes this gig here in
Munich unforgetable most of all for Russ himself. I'm pretty sure about
it. So hopefully he'll be back soon again.
Oh yes, one thing I forgot and I have to criticice. My favorite song
wasn't on the setlist....
.... she came in the night in a raging storm, the wind called her name
and it rained ‘till the dawn. The men from the town the gathered round,
does anybody know where that girl was found….....
Karis, that
suits to you, doesn't it?! The Song came out when you where born.....
See you soon....
http://www.russ-ballard.com/
click Diary
for Aftershow snapshots
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