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I'm just thinking, how long I do know actually Jon Oliva now. It must have been around 1988 when I saw Savatage live for the first time. At this time there was still Chriss Oliva with the band, who sadyl passed away in 1993 due to the car accident. 
Savatage is past tense for quite a while now, though this band will never be forgotten completely in hard rock circles. And everything Jon Oliva has done and created after Chriss was gone, is a pure hommage to his brother. In the past, when Chriss was still alive, also Jon looked much better. Nowadays I'd rather worry about him a bit. 
Although, and that's the point, Jon is still a brilliant musician, owning a voice, which once became the brand of Savatage. Later on he formed the, still successful Transsibiria Orchestra, where he rather is a passive and not an active musician. There was als this one off project Dr.Butcher. And since 1994 he leads his band Jon Oliva's Pain, with whom he put out 3 albums so far. The lastest release is: 'Global Warning', which came last year. 
 It seems, Germany is Jon's second home due to his many visits in the past. But probably it's rather due to the fact, that his music gets more appreciated over here than it does in the USA. 
Our Backstage Club is well filled with about 150 fans, many of them wearing their old Savatage t-shirt to show their still continuing devotion and luv to this music. 

Opener are german rockers Bulletmonks from the city of Erlangen in Bavaria, who are going since 2003. 

Sorry once again, that I have missed out on most of their show, because me beeing late again. But at least I catch the last 3 songs for some impressions. Stylistically I'd put them somewhere between Punk meets Stonerrock. But who cares. Rock is Rock, no more no less. I hate this thinking in draws, as we say so. 
The Bulletmonks are yound and still developing. The music gets stuck in our ears, no question about that. It's full of rhythm and not so bad at all. Only some ugly noises, which come from feedbacks. But apart from that - respect. This is a decent new band full of enthusiasm within the Hardrock landscape. But I could imagine, with a little luck they could get more popular. Mind me, this all here provided by the fact, that I've only have checked out the last 3 songs 

http://www.bulletmonks.com/


Right a the beginning of the headliner I have to mention, that this Jon Oliva's Pain show is an acoustic set. 

In my ears it rather seems half acoustic... but well, maybe I'm wrong. All the musicians are sitting next to each other in the front of stage, apart of the drummer of course. Jon himself takes most space with his keyboard and in addition an acoustic guitar in front of him. Most songs beeing performed here, are written by Jon and brother Chriss a long time ago, tracks which came to life with Savatage. Inbetween Jon tells us little anecdotes from then. At any other concerts I'd say, he's talking too much. But not here within this acoustic set. It is just right and is good entertainment. 


It could have been so nice and good, but towards the end of the show, Jon has got obviously problems with his voice. And at some points I really think, that's it, he's not gonna get through it. I honestly don't know, whether this is due to some physically weakness, a lack of condition or the bottle of Jägermeister on stage, which is pretty empty in the end. And I truly fear, if Jon doesn't give himself a chance to improve his health and constitution, it could end badly. Fact is, there is no encore in the end, despite fans calling him back for at least 5 minutes. According to a lady with a backstage pass, Jon has left the venue straight away back to the hotel...  

So, let's put it that way... I think that Jon Oliva is still a great guy and a good musician, which still delivers quality music. But he won't get anywhere higher in popularity than this here, not in Germany and not anywhere else. Maybe he should bring Savatage back to life, who knows... Or is it just the times which have changed.....

http://www.jonoliva.net/