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Okay, (big breathing) now we are getting to two topics, which I've been working with many times over the years. So I dun' really know, what else or more to say. Maybe I should mention the fact, that we insiders here have serious doubts, how well our good old Olympiahalle is going to sell. Not to forget, that this tour trek is also stopping in Fuerth near Nuremberg, in Ulm and in Stuttgart, also in such huge venues. So here in Munich we won't get people from the northern part of Bavaria and also from the west. 
Well out of experience I know Gotthard  alone are pulling aprox. 2 - 2.500 fans. And if you take Europe, so it's about the same. So in the end, I guess about 4 - 4.500 Fans. Bingo, this is it tonight. But because our Oly-Halle can carry 12.000 heads, one quarter of the livingroom is cut off by a black curtain, so the rest of the venue seems nicely crowded. And it does indeed. I also guess, that Gotthard  and Europe don't get that much payed for one appearance like for instance Rammstein, who are playing here in 2 days, but completely sold out for months. 
Our event here is announcd as a Double Headliner Tour. But you can take it however, the band who is appearing first is suffering sort of a disadvantage. And so Europe have only got half of the stage available, half the lights and of course of half of the energy, as Gotthard will have later on.

At such conditions a show seems rather not that spectacular. And when I look at these not so young anymore guys from Sweden, then I have to say, yep time has taken it's toll. But on the other hand, as long as the musicial performance is okay, visual aspects are not that important. And that one ain't bad either, but it's most of the new album 'Last Look At Eden' who gets promoted. An album which caused some doubts even at their die hard fans. 

So Europe lives, to geht it straight, for more than 20 years  or better 23 years from one song. You know which one I mean. Then maybe it's  ‚Rock The Night’, ‚Carrie’ and ‚Supersticious’. But that's literatually what's up to the average cult status. The new songs, apart from the titletrack 'Last Look Of Eden' - 1st song in the set, is rather hard to get used to. The nice thing is seeing singer Joey Tempest practicing a very close fan atmosphere. Not only shaking countless hands from stage, but he even jumps down from that one, and seems to say hello to everybody in the first row. This has definately given him some points on the scale of popularity. 

And then the set is already finished again. Europe have had their time up there, leaving mixed feelings. Some are very delighted about Europe's show, the other's don't really know what to think about it. Whether this show has been a solid-good one, or rather some kind of boring stint, playing down standards, new stuff, but leaving some sort of boredom behind. In each case the Sweds close their set with 'Final Countdown'. And that again wakes up the old passion within us again, leaving at least a feeling that we got everything they had to offer us. 

http://www.europetheband.com/


And then we get Gotthard delivered free house for the 150th time....

Yeah well not quite free house of course, but therefore with a new album in their luggage. But that one, and the fact, that this band is currently playing the biggest venues ever in their carriere, (exept in Switzerland, where they do so anyway) is the only newbes. Apart from that nothing much has changed. And as I said in the beginning, I do a little hard to write about this band,as I've just seen them once too often. No doubt, Gotthard are a good mainstream Rock'n'Roll Liveband. But to be honest, for this huge venue here, even this band seems a little small....

Yes, I know, of course it's the music, which comes first. But at this size dimensions, you just have to offer the audiance something more than just good music, something for the eye, otherwise the whole scene seems a little lost, if you know what I mean. So our swiss guys appear in street clothes, no extras no specials and concentrates on their music only. 

Only exeption is the double drum solo in the middle of the set - Henna on the big stage and singer Steve Lee in the middle of the venue on a small stage behind the drums. Respect: Steve is doing pretty well  on this instruments. 

And yes, this goes well down at the fans. Below you find the setlist. Only Mountain Mama is missing. But apart from that, this program doesn't leave many wishes open. Well that's it and all to say for Gotthards show here in Munich...for the 20th or 40th time or how so ever.

There are only 2 things I wanna mention besides for this evening. I have hardly ever seen so many Munich Rock-Society people at once. And I have the impression, that tonight everybody has come along, the old rocker  or the provincial rockband Musician. Some of them I haven't seen for ages. I really ask myself. what is so special on Gotthard, that this concert has become such a society meeting point. Or is it more or less the local promoter, who's guest list seems to be longer than the audiance who paid for their tickets. Or have Gotthard become Munich's favorite rockband?
Okay, leave it there....

But there is one more thing, which I only have become  aware off beside the main focus. Apart from the organized Meet & Greets with the band, many aftershow passes have been given to people. And those who received such a pass, became delighted  in sight to meet the stars later on. But many of them don't know, that these passes are only vaild in combination with a certain bangle.Whereby this bangle apparently is more importatn then the pass. I've been told (as I have left earlier) that people with passes only have waited for up to 2 hours to get backstage.When they finally are allowed to go backstage the band had left. So I mean, in such a case, why giving these peopel an aftershow pass at all, when they don't have this bangle in additon. With just a  normal ticket they could have saved 2 hours waiting time. Otherwise this is a piss off. Sorry, dear Gotthards, but when you really got your families with you. then best thing to do, would be to stay on your own, and let other's just enjoy the liveshow. 
In this sense  - rock on and 'till next time - the 54th or is it the 55.. never mind, but please in a smaller venue again. Because then this band comes across twice good, as it did tonight. 

http://www.gotthard.com/