Reviews Archiv 537

Okay, now it's getting a bit difficult. No, not what's up to the music, which we know anyway, most of all here in Germany. No it's more the situation, we are having here. I've gotta say first, that Saga have got some sort of special status in our country, no doubt about that. They are known, they are beloved, most of all by all those advanced music lover of a middleage generation like myself. But what's happening now, as the long term brand and centerfold of this group has been removed? Or, - wrong, it's not quite alright.Singer Michael Sadler has removed himself, didn't he? - Just so he could go his own individual path. - And this my friends is no good at all for such a flagship of the so called Neo-Progrock. Because with the loss of such a charismatic figure, this band looses a lot of it's individuality.- Let's take another example for that, which is Queen. The death of Freddy Mercury had finished a legend. And to be honest, instead of experimenting with many other singers and projects to repair the broken image, these guys should have called it a day.
Well, Saga are not Queen are they? But in the end, it's somehow the same story, a tale, which is running now for two years, and there are at least some similarities to Queen.
By the way, Michael Sadler has been a huge fan of Freddy Mercury and has always tried to be at least a little bit like the icon, without copying him completely of course.
But however, it is indeed a fact, that the worst thing what can happen to a longliving rockband, is the loss of their singer and frontman. But Saga must have thought, why not giving it another try and they were looking for someone else, who's got the same talents as Sadler. And they were searching for a very long time, because as we all know, the Crichton Brothers are very much perfectionists and it takes a hell of a lot to make them happy and satisfied with something One of all these countless singers who went for auditions finally shot the goal and found mercy in front of the tribunal. And that was Rob Moratti, formally singer of the band Final Frontier.
Saga recorded one first album with him last year, entitled 'The Human Condition'. But the echo hasn't been to big so far. - So let's go on tour again for some solo shows and some gigs together with Foreigner in a Double package, to reach as many fans as possible.

Well, and now we are here in Munich, the second home town of Saga. Our good old Muffathalle had been their living room for many many years, and it was always sold out with 1.500 people. The band always left a very good impression and the fans had always been very enthusiastic. But, and that's the problem, that was, when Michael Sadler were leading the trek and held the commando.
Today's christening of Rob Moratti does not stand under a very good star, because the whole event has been moved from the usual place to the much smaller venue Ampere next door, which is fitting in only about 500 freaks. I honestly don't know, whether this lack of ticket sales is due to a generell tiredness of people to go to concerts, or the generell economy, or the new singer.
There is no supportact either tonight, as apparently the place is too small for all technical circumstances. This is something I somehow don't understand as I've seen many supportacts appearing in this place. But well, as I said, it's probably due to technical reasons. Well, at least our Ampere Club is crowded. And these are fans who are not prejusticed, like most other's, who didn't show up because of the new singer or whatsoever. Saga themselves se the main problem in the average music economy.
But there is one more negative aspect tonight, which are the sound conditions. Hey, what's wrong. These guys are usually known for their endless lasting soundchecks, which can take up to 3 hours. I say "can" , as in tonight's case that one takes only about 25 minutes. I was already there at this early state, waiting for my interview with Mr.Ian Crichton. Well, on the other hand, I was glad that it didn't last any longer then this.
Although I'm a little surprised because of the weak sound conditions during the actual show time. Even Rob Moratti's voice is drowning occassionally in this sound mix.
Okay, let's face it straight away. Rob is a very nice guy and is also pretty attractive from the visual aspect. But he just doesn't have the aura and espirit of the old singer. He doesn't own this very special arrogance of a Michael Sadler and the overwhelming dominance on stage and of course this special timbre in his voice. . No, don't get me wrong. Rob can definately sing very well, but I just miss this special little something, if you know what I mean by that. And without that, the rest seems rather a little paintless. Although the other musicians deliver a perfect show, despite of the acoustic, which is not their fault.
As you can check on the setlist, the band performs the whole 'Heads Or Tales' album and of coure their biggest hits. Because all the Die hard fans, who have come tonight, to see their favourite band, of course want to hear these most popular tunes as well.

Well, without glasses, you need setlists written in big letters :-)

Well, last but not least, it is to not, that the show time has been shortened quite a bit and ends after only 90 minutes, also beeing dominated by quite a few instrumental passages only. The question is: is the usuall strategy or do they want still want to save the new singer a little bit. We won't know, will we?

just to make sure not to forget any lines :-)

In the end, I've gotta say, Saga do get a solid applause of the audiance. And those still show love and affection to the band. Altough quite a few people here are pretty sure, that one day Michael Sadler will return to Saga. Confronted with this argument, Ian Crichton comments within our talk before the show: „You Never know, - never say never again“!
http://www.sagaontour.moonfruit.com/