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| ... and once
again, we are here with the everlasting subject about live and let die
of a so called True Metal band and other Rock'n'Roll Oldies. . Whereby
the headliner of this 4 bands - package is not a fossile from past days,
and the second band does not go for the true metal style exactly. At
number 3 we've got a real bavarian act, and the opener is living for
their Thrashmetal can't help at all for the following misery. Well when
the headliner doesn't pull the attention, then the supportacts are
suffering as well. Mind me, Circle II Circle are not that unknown. Nine
years ago the former Savatage frontman Zak Stevens has founded his own
band and has released 5 longplayers so far including the very new album
'Consequence Of Power', which is to promote now. Please help me, as I'm at the end of my wisdom by the fact, that there are only a few fans here at the Cafe Paradox in Ingolstadt, some 60 minutes drive north of Munich, Bavaria. . Maybe it's the place not fitting to the bands, maybe it's the band not fitting to the day or the stylistic not fitting to the average mood of this evening. It's also a fact, that Zak Stevens can't manage to pull old Savatage fans out of their shoes in this city. And what's up to Vicious Rumors... they are still seeking for some new glory days, days they used to have in the past, around 1990 something. Since singer Carl Albert said good bye for good in 1993 Guitarist and father of the band - Geoff Thorpe is fighting for another reputation. Not that he hasn't got one in Heavy Metal circles, which he certainly has, but there always has been this singer problem, searching for Mr. Right, who is like... yeah well, who is at least similar to Carl. But however someone like Geoff Thorpe does never give in, and maybe one day the so tortured soul does find it's sparkle in the overdimensional scenery of the music industry again. He deserves it. Third act is Steel Engraved from Passau, Bavaria, who I haven't heard of yet to be honest. Therefore the opener Dustbolt, also from Bavaria and the Kiddies in the package, we do know very well. These boys are almost the houseband of our Backstage - Areal in Munich. And beeing just about 20 years of age, the put out such a motivation, that it's a pleasure to watch 'em live on stage. And that's exactly the reason, why they are so often booked as supportact of popular, international bands in Bavaria. Anyway, there are a few reasons, why I have come all the way to Ingolstadt. But to be very honest, it's most of all, because I want to meet an old friend, I do know for more than 25 years and share some memory. And every time there is an opportunity to see again, (which there ain't to many unfortunately) I take the chance to meet again. Every time I think, who knows, whether there will be a next time or not... But let's get to this a little later.... First of all it's Dustbolt who are starting their set in front of only a few fans.
And those few people
still rather prefer the barstool, instead of the frontrow in the
audiance. Although I can say again, that these boys are doing well,
despite this fact and broken guitar strings to play their set with a
hell of a selfconfidence. Carry on boys, the
opportunity to play again, and also in front of a bigger audiance will
be there sooner as you think. And you still have got sooooo much time
left to privilege and establish youself.
And as I have mentioned in the beginning, this name ain't no known to me until this very day. Their musical way is not as thrashy as the one of the opener, but rather stands for the classic Power Metal. But it's nothing new or even innovative. But, and I guess, that's the big bonus of this band, the voice of the singer is phenomenal. Respect, you still find them occassionally, these hidden pearls, sleeping within an oyster, which has got to be opened yet. It just sounds more simple than it is, as the shell to a over regional success is hard to open. Apart from that, there is the question, whether Steel Engraved do actually want it to open. Well, I presume, every Rockband does sooner or later. But fronting a band such as Circle II Circle doesn't make things easier. On the other hand, it is difficult anyway to collect bonus points with this kind of Metal right now (see above).
In each case, Steel Engraved do leave no bad impression. And two guys of Vicous Rumors seem to like it as well, by cheering this lot up from the audiance space, and then last but not least, jumping on stage to play a little jamsession. And at this point, Vicious Rumors drummer Larry Howe shows his individual skills by copying almost Ozzy :-)) and paying a hommage to Black Sabbath. It's so much fun to watch him.... Shame no more people see
this, so the average mood is still not that overwhelmed, but pretty good
in the end.
Let's put it that way.
This band, or better their soul Geoff Thorpe is working his butt off for
years and years to keep his baby rockin' and rollin', since nitingale
Carl Albert has hit the road to Eden with his US Ferrari in 1993 - in
the truest sense of the word.
Anyway, tonight and here
Vicious Rumors 2010 start off, as the very last day has just started.
Holy shit, even the last wisdom tooth is losing control to it's roots,
also what's up to the intense sound level. It's showtime, and the focus
is drawn of course to singer Brian Allen, who's been in the band before
is back on the track again now. Well apart fromt the a-typical visual
aspect, he does pretty well for keeping the balls and guts up to present
the band in the right lime light. I mean it is indeed very hard to keep
the level, if you know what I mean by that. -
The Setlist shows a Best of... of Vicious Rumors inkludiing ‚Ship Of Fools’ and the final Song and biggest hit of the Band ‚Don't Wait For Me’. –
Hmmmm.... it's
difficult to judge them at this small place, but at least Geoff and
company shoot their power off like a rocket to the moon. And he commints
once again:
‚we don’t care, whether playing for 200 or 20, because we just
luv’ to play for you’,-
Well I guess this
good man hasn't played yet in front of 20.000, (apart from festival
appearences), because then he would maybe care. Call it - beeing spoiled,
but that's what Geoff definately is not. He is pleased and grateful,
that his band always does get another chance including this 25 dates
tour.
He has definately proved
so and in 2 or 3 years we talk again.....
These guys are presenting their new album 'Consequence Of Power' on this trip, which has just arrived. Nine years Stevens leads his flagship throughout the Rock'n'Roll ocean. Well, this band has upworked themselves a small reputation, but they never made it really to swim free in higher spheres of the genre. Five albums in almost one decade is okay, but on the other hand apparently not enough to push themselves at least on a decent middle sized status. In my opinion, what this band misses most, is an individuall aura, one as Vicous Rumors got for instance - in a different way of course. But these guys here seem a little colourless, and they do not own the power as the band before. And such a thing can be fatal, as now everything seems a little tireing.
Zak has got quite a voice, no doubt about that, and drummer Johnny Osbourne is trying to bring the animal out of him. But that alone is not enough to push up the crowd again.So Circle II Circle are standing on a lost train here, and not even a body contact to the audiance does help to rescue the situation. Don't ask me, but it's like the dot doesn't fit on the i, as we say so. The magic sparkle is simply missiing, which usually starts a bonfire.
But at least the crowd is still steaming from the Vicious Rumors show before, so they are at least cooling down during the headliner set. - Mind m, maybe Circle II Circle just have a bad day tonight, you never know.
I have to confess, I'm
heading off before the end, not forgetting to say good bye to my friend,
for whom I have come here all the way from Munich. And then I head off
into the night onto an empty motorway. I tell you.. such a night drive
without trucks and no speedlimit has got something to it. |
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Click Diary for some Off Stage Snapshots |
