Habach bei Penzberg/Bayern


465

Well, it's a little odd with pure acoustic solo shows. On one hand, you can really check out the artist's abillity's, not only his musical skills, but also the talent to entertain an audiance for 90 minutes without boredom. And I'm not sure what's more difficult, to play a perfect instrument or the entertaiment aspect. The risk of the last one mentioned, is this certain monotony, which often occures at unplugged solo shows. Simply because there ain't much happening up there on stage apart from the musical performance.
However, it is a fact, that guitar wizard Richie Kotzen keeps returning to Germany on a regular base now for the past 3 or 4 years. He seems to feel well over here, though he's still gotta play small venues. But from year to year these places are getting more and more crowded. 
And that's the case tonight at the bavarian Village Club, one of the most pecular concert venues Germany has probably got. Whoever comes here for the very first time, gets the impression to have landed somewhere in Nowhere. But the good reputation of this place and all these great musicians who are coming and going here prove, that this venue in an old farmhouse, has it's right to be here. And not to forget the fact, that big boss Dieter is one of the best guitar constructor in this country. 


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Anyway, Richie Kotzen is here for the 3rd time at the Village venue. And although this time it's a pure acoustic performance, the club is absolutely crowded. I must admit I like it, as I have seens so many great musicians here playing in front of only 50 or even only 30 people, which was sad enough. Not so tonight, and I discover some insiders who even came all the way from the city of Rosenheim, which is aprox. a 90 minutes drive or like me from Munich, to check out Mr. Kotzen once all over again. 

The introduction or better support comes from an outfit named The Lorean - from the country where the lemons grow. 

To take it ahead, normally The Lorean are a full band with 4 members. But because they are doing a pure acoustic unplugged set as well here tonight, there are only two of them performing the rather calm melodies. I presume this here are Massimiliano Forleo and Enrico Meloni, who are playing the guitars in the band and handling the vocals. These guys describe their style as a mixture of pop, Rock, Alternative, influenced by bands lie Coldplay, Muse, U2, Jeff Buckley and Radiohead. - But you can't really make this out within an acoustic set only. Because at such a show, everything sounds a bit different as it actually is. One thing is for sure, - they really can play - our Papageno's from Milan. Whether this enough for an international carriere, this is still open and up in the air. But whenever The Lorean come back to Germany as a full band, I'm definately curious to check 'em out again and convince myself again about their talents. 

http://www.myspace.com/thelorean1


Richie Kotzen  is indeed a full blooded musician, no doubt about that....

Whatever he touches in a musical approach has got potential. And like I described in the very beginning, he definately shows his talents here in this one man acoustic show. Meanwhile the temperature inside the Village has risen up at least to +35 degrees (100 Fahrenheit) and the beer is flowing down fast into everybody's throat. There are aprox. 150 guests here in this place, and you can call it really crowded. There is no way to get to the front. That's why I've got to step onto a chair to get at least a few decent shots from the bird's angle. But up there it's even at least 10 degrees hotter. Don't give a damn, to get good pics. Richie is working himself throughout his almost complete repertoire, from 'Change' to ‚Mother Head’s Family Reunion’. He introduces to us new songs from the upcoming release 'Peace Sign' out Sept.9. and he gives us a taste of the Wison Hawk - Road (Richie Kotzen + Richie Zito Album.

No, there is actually nothing to complain about. This man understands how to put himself into the right light, whereby I don't mean the limelight, but rather his soulful vocals combined with his excellent guitar playing. (I don't wanna loose many words about his funny hat, which he definately doesn't wear, because it's too cold or because he hasn't got any hair left on top of his head, which is definately not the case:-)))
Never mind...

But, and that again, is this little thing about acoustic performances, When two artists on one night are going for this thing, there is this risk, that at one point it drowns in a slight monotony, which is kind of a Fata Morgana, letting you think, somehow everything sounds the same. NO don't worry, it definately doesn't, when you listen to it carefully and highly concentrated. Maybe it's the rather quiet aspect, the never changing visual view on stage, the always same sounding tenor, or even the thurst, which let us enter the bar frequently inbetween. It's like a straight line with no real heights and edges, which develops some weakness in our concentration. And some of us think: yep it's been great, and we really did like it, but now it's enough again. And so last but not least I only have got left to say: 
Richie Kotzen is surely a brilliant musician, who can deal with every show situation, - also a 90 minutes one man acoustic performance. That's what he has just proved. But I personally have to confess, I prefer him live on stage with a full band plugged with electric power, rockin' away..
Nevertheless, this here has also just been great no doubt about that.....

http://www.richiekotzen.com/

View Diary for a few Aftershow snapshots....