Reviews Archiv 538

Hang on, I do know these guys... and think, when and where I've seen them playing before. Sorry, my grey cells ain't the youngest anymore, but on the other hand, don't worry, I don't suffer Alzheimer yet. And yes of course, now I remember. I've spotted those americans in November 2008, supporting canadian band Simple Plan at the Zenith here in Munich. And I also remember, Zebrahead made a hell of a noise back then. Unfortunately it is usually the case, that Supportacts get a little lost in such a big venue as the Zenith. They first of all get less light and energy as a support and 2) most of the audiance is just here for the headliner and is only accepting supportacts more or less.
Zebrahead do exist for 14 years now, but still attract a rather very young audiance. Though the musicians show an average age of about 30 + something. But drawing all these kids might be due to the fact, that their music is a fresh mixture of straight mainstream US Hardrock, a little punk, some Rap and even a bit funk.
It all started with Johnny Depp, or better explained in his club, the Viper Room in LA, where these guys have been discovered by Alanis Morisette's mentor Glenn Ballard.
To make it short, past year their latest release named 'Painty Red' which is a cover's album, had been released. But in the end, it's their live work, for what the band is famous for.
Zebrahead describes themselves as not political, and not here to save the world. Their lyrics tell about self developement and most of all fun, not beeing sad and not complaining about the world treating them like dirt. They wanna keep a positive attitude. And that's how it should be. The boys in the band all own an american passport, but frontman Ali Tabatabaee can't deny his iranic roots with his rather exotic look and the name of course. Bassist Ben Osmundson somehow is related to Sweden and guitarist Greg Bergdorf has a philippin-german heritance. Drummer Ed Udhus looks back onto a norwegian family , whereby his grandmother is portugiese.
And orignal guitarist Justin Mariello has has been replaced by Matty Lewis from Nebraska, formerly playing in a pop-punk band named Jank 1000 in Omaha. That's what I call real multi-culti in a band. But music fortunately is an universal language. And these boys seem to get on with each other very well so far.

...& what I never will understand, is the love of Americans for Jägermeister

Unfortunately or better thanks god - you can take it as you like, - Zebrahead enjoy a much bigger popularity here in Germany, then they do in their home country USA, where they still get handled as an underground act. But it's most of all Japan, where this band gets hyped like superstars, and where they play big stadions with an audiance of 50.000 and more.
Here in Germany the name is pretty known so far in fan circles, but Zebrahead still have to bake small cookies, as we say so. That's why the band play only small venues on this tour, but try to be present on as many big festivals as possible to increase their level of popularity over here. But first of all and tonight we are here in Munich at the 59:1 club and get the sold out cabin shaking in front of aprox. 250 young fans. But not like recently at the Backstage venue, where the promoter moved a similar event for very young fans to an early stage time, - this here starts rather late. The magic starts with 2 supportacts at about 9.30 p.m. But not that you think, this is due to a mood of the promoter wanting people to consume as many as possible drinks at the bar beforehead. No, it's rather due to the fact, that above this location, there is lawyer's office with nine lawyers often working late hours. Well our boss here ain't a shy guy and very good in starting discussions and more. But he won't start anything like that with 9 lawyers, - somewho understandable. So, we have to accept the late showtimes, whereby it's pretty heavy, when events often last 'till late after midnight, and it is during the week and we have to get up early next day for work or school. But right now and first of all, these kids don't mind here and show a lot of exitment about Zebrahead's appearance, all wanting to stand in the frontrow.

Two supportacts take care for a better and up heated mood in the audiance. The first one is named MC Lars.

These are two rappers and one drummer, who get accompanied by Zebrahead's guitarist and bassist during their showtime. Yeah well, you can think about rap whatever you want. But I have the impression, these boys do a good show. And I truly feel, what a hell of a difference it is, whether so see such acts only on a screen or raw and live like just right now. There's a huge potential of energy inviting the audianc to jump along with it.

http://mclars.com

round 2 is Attack!Attack!. And now you've gotta be careful, as there is another group from USA who carry the same name.

Our Attack!Attack! come from Wales in Great Britain and unfortunately I can't tell you much more about them. They don't have a decent official website yet, and there are not many infos on their myspace page. However, this is a rather very young Rock'n'Roll band, whereby the singer reminds me slightly of Woody Allen's little nephew, only a few sizes bigger. Instead of the little guitarist, who seems to transmite himself almost in a sort of trance. The Brits don't seem to have a full album ready yet. Although they are offering us quite a few powerfull rocksongs with a slight punky note, - to get our old bones rolling.
I have to admit I do like it. And with this group here we all here are fully awake...Jesus wept!!!!

http://www.myspace.com/attackattackband

Musician, technisican, sound checker, boy for everything - Tourmanager Bobby

The result of both supportacts is: we are fit and ready for Zebrahead. And that's what we really should be....

Because what these boys here including Ali and Matti, put onto this stage, develops almost a strenght as our currently very active volcano on Iceland. We just don't have a flight ban here. And so Ali sails across the stage onto the kids in the audiance. Now the place is starting to get outta hand and control. And I'm happy and grateful to have a secure little space sidewards to the stage with a free sight to get my photoshots in peace. It's pretty difficult anyway due to the huge moving around of the band. Visually it's the curious fashion look catching my eye. You can spot tights as well as some sort of peculiar pants, which could easily be Vivian Westwood's newest creation. Well at least it takes care for some amusement next to the explosive show.

And Zebrahead do know exactly to increas their symphathy level next to their musical performance. It's easy - you just take a piece of paper, note some funny statements in german (sort of) language and fix it on the floor well readable and entertain your audiance with the poor but funny germany skills.

But obviously the kids in the audiance do like this bit. And that's my friends, is the point, that matters.
The program includes a Best of... setliste with no time for breathing. Zebrahead's music is like the elephant in a glas factory. The art is rather simple, but therfore much more effective.

No indeed, noone here stays unhappy, and the mood couldn't be any better. But to get back to the original problem here, which is named Time, because with a take off at 10.30 p.m. - the band is far from the encore at midnight. So in the end I draw my decisions and take my hat and go home after about 70 minutes high voltage show. Although I don't have to get up that early in the morning - well there is actually someone waking me up early. But I got used to within the last 14 years. And that one is named Sina my dog.
Last but not least my opinion is, that this here has been a very entertaining, and high energy New generation Rock'n'Roll night out. It's that sort,where some old long term rockers rather seem very old , compared to Zebrahead.

http://www.zebrahead.com/