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Rock Over Munich..... in the truest sense of the word, and with a band line up which is honestly the Who is Who of an almost non existant Melodic Rock Scene. Jau, what a pleasure by studying the line up of such (almost antique) names like Treat, Stage Dolls, M.ill.ion and Dark Sky. And not to forget our one and only past local heroes Dominoe, who actually did have one big hit in 1987 with the Track 'Here I Am'. No surprise, as this song was then features in an ad for Renault cars. And that was it literatually. Now we are back again, celebrating a 3rd springtime and really wanna rock again. Now let's face it from this point of view, that all these artists actually are happy to get such a chance for appearing live again in Germany. Because let's be honest, it doesn't look too good for this kind of music over here unfortunately. Mind me, there had been such a similar event named 'Forces Of Rock', which took part over 3 or 4 years in Stuttgart. But it didn't receive enough echo. So this annual event called it a day after the third or fourth time. But the Story is going to be continued now with this Rock Over Munich Festival, though coordinated by different promoters. By the way, it has been a wise move to transfer this festival to Munich, because if there is a place in Germany for these bands to receive some luv and recognition, then this is our bavarian capitel. No doubt about that. There have been enough promotion work done, most of all in form of flyers, beeing spread at past Rock Concerts. And it truly has reached it's goal to get our old beloved Metropolis club crowded. The audiance consists partly of - still Melodic Rock Fans from all parts of Germany, but also from Austria, Italy, and even Great Britain. The other half of the people are this special species of the Munich scene, who once in the past used to play in a band, but now beeing solid good family daddys, who only go out on the runway, when there is a special event. And then they present themselves with this attitude: hey here I am, and I'm still someone special... Long live the selfconfidence, that's all I can say to that. But well, that's how it is. The magic starts at strike 3 p.m. with the first act from Western Germany, named 'Dark Sky'.
Hmmm, I guess, the
organizers got a bit mixed up with the organisation what's up to open
doors. Because when this 1st band starts their set, there is still a
long queue of people outside the venue, trying to get in, including
myself, and missing aprox. 20 minutes of the set.
How shall I describe it best. The performance today is pretty solid and very german. Okay, maybe I feel the german aspect a bit more than other's, as I have spent 5 years of my Life in England. So I won't complain about this, as everybody has some sort of accent by talking in another language than his own. I do like the guitar play of Steffen Doll, who competes with his punker haircut with the ancient hairstyle of the singer. But again, that's not the point here, though I must admit, it is pretty photogenic :-))) The setlist includes nex to new songs, some older tunes and a cover of Michael Sambello's 'Maniac'. Apart from that, there is nothing really to complain about Dark Sky's set, exept the big foot, who stepped on the setlist which is fixed to the stage floor, right in the moment, when I insist to take a shot of it. Heads off for that, but apart from that a clear winning of some more points.
http://www.dark-sky.de/
....... and these are swedish rockers 'M.ill.ion', who tell us, that this is actually their first time in this country. And the dots in the band name are only meant for confusing people, according to the only original member left, bassist B.J. Laneby...
Founded in 1989 this rockact has put out six albums so far always with an exchanging line up. They toured Scandinavia and England in the past. Well and now M.ill.ion celebrate their debut gig at the first Rock Over Munich Festival. First of all I think, that they all don't really look scandinavian apart from the bassist. They are not tall and not blond with this typical nordic face cut. But it's a fact that they are from up there, and apparently they are quite a name in their home country. Playing live on stage, M.ill.ion get quite a bit harder across than they sound on record. From the new album 'Thrill Of A Case' I discover 4 tracks on the setlist (please tell me when I'm wrong). The rest is taken from older releases including some smashers 'Backdoor Queen' and 'Rock'n'Roll Nation.
I do miss my personal favorite song 'Stone Cold Killer' from the album 'We Ourselves And Us' from 1984. But well, you can't expect everything. In each case, the band is taking an effort to please the kiddies in the audiance. And they can manage, but not a 100%. Some fans don't like it at all while other's think of it as pretty well done. Let's put it that way, M.ill.ions performance has been okay, but not causing too much enthusiasm in the crowd. And.. to describe it the other way round, they still do a brilliant job, compared to what follows next. http://www.million.o.se/
Sorry Boys, though you've
been local heroes once upon a time in the eighties with one
international hit in the german and swiss charts, this here is rubbish.
somehow nothing really
fits to each other. And on the whole their style certainly doesn't suit
to the rest of the event's band line up. To make it quick, it is no
surprise, that quite a few people including myself spends half of the
Dominoe set outside in the frontroom, having a beer and studying
the merch booth and practician small talk. (There was no setlist
available, sorry) But I presume, noone here is missing out on that one.
However... http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominoe
Jesus wept... what a long time no see this band live on stage... It's been almost exactly 20 years now, that I checked them out last time at the London Marquee. But my memory is still pretty good, and the comparison to now and then is here. And to be honest, not much has changed, exept the fact, that we all are and look older now. And the man on drums had been exchanged in 1993. But that's not so important, as the Stage Dolls are mainly Singer/Guitarist Thorstein Flakne and bassist Terje Storli. Founded in 1983 by Erlend Antonson and Storli, this band surely reached their peak with the selftitled album 'Stage Dolls' in 1988, including the smash songs ‚Still In Love’, ,Love Cries’ and ‚Wings Of Steel’.And these are still the best known songs in the band history.
Maybe to mention the 91 album 'Stripped' and the song ‚Love don’t bother me’, and ‚Get A Life’ from the same titled record. And though this band is also put on the melodic rock wagon, live these guys transfer there music with much energy, drive and humour, what's up to Terje Storli's gesticulation, which is rather amusing. And at some point you even have the impression the bass has taken over the leads. Thorstein again is not less active by singing those bitter sweet lovesongs with a lot of heart and impression. Unbelievable, that these guys are so quiet in normal every day's life. And to all journalists, beware - interviewing them, as you rather geta monologue of yourself and get only, what you know anyway about them....:-))))))
But well, that's not the point here. It's a fact, that the Stage Dolls are doing a brilliant job here, and they haven't forgotten anything since the London days, where I've seen them first. This here has really class. And I and many others here hope, that this will not be the only visit here in Germany. A new album is due shortly, and let's hope there will be a lot of active live promotion coinciding. We stay curious...... http://www.stagedolls.com
Founded in 1983,
they called it a day after almost exactly 10 years, six albums and 14
singles on march 26 in 1993. I've seen them live on stage in 1992 in
support of their selftitled album here in Munich. But at this time
original singer Robert Ernlund had already quit and Mats Leven had
jumped in, who is not too unknown as well, is he?! After the split all
bandmembers went different ways, whether it was with Mental Hippie Blood,
or Talisman or other projects. And after 13 years of abstinence, it was
drummer Jamie Borger who got the band together in 2006. New guy is only
bassist
Nalle
Påhlsson.
Treat's show is a Rock'n'Roll Party in the style of the good old Eighties. And frontman Bob Ernlund, who was such a long time away from the road, seems to really enjoy it. And he still hold on to this look of the 80s metal era. A nostalgic level is set pretty high. and the slogan is 'Party All Over'. though our feet talk another language and hurt like hell from this concert marathon.
But as you all know, good mood music pushes up everybody's adrenalin, and so we dance along to Treat's scandinavian Eighties Rock'n'Roll.... Let's boogie Baby - yeeessss... and of course - 'World of Promises' ain't missing. I'm really nosy, how the band will continue and what the future brings up. The sparkle is certainly there again, and the last act at the Rock over Festival leaves a good impression. http://www.treatnews.com/ |
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For
some Off Stage
& Aftershow Impressions please click on the image below |
(c) Text / Pics & Clips by ebl / Musicmirror
