Well, if one rockband does reflect this thing, what we generelly call Rock'n'Roll Life, then this is, apart from The Rolling Stones or similar acts, the danish guys fo Pretty Maids. Holy shit, both boys - Atkins and Hammer are pretty clear showing off that they certainly have not missed any Rock'n'Roll party in their lifes. There are only 2 more years to go, 'till celebrating their 30th anniversary. And we are definately going till them.. I mean with partying. Musically these lads have somehow put on a fresh skin, and as Ronnie Atkins said after this show here in Munich: 'it's been the very first time on this tour, giving a 100 percent full speed.
Well, I mean, it's not a matter of course on the other hand, as both Atkins and Hammer are aged around 50 or even beyond. 
But in any case it is a very positive aspect, when such an old Heavy Metal Bands back from the Eightiess still pulls aprox. 400 fans, as they do here right now. Lately we had some other acts of this kind here, and none of them pulled more than around 50. So respect having 8 times more than that now. Of course most of them are fans, who have grown with the Pretty Maids, and who nowadays show up only once or twice a year to a concert, because of fullfilling family duties rather then celebrating Rock'n'Roll parties.  And so this evening is more or less a veteran meeting and the memory of 'Red Hot & Heavy' are back again straight away.

Hotwire from Ingolstadt start of with their old fashion Melodic Rock.

Oh no, there's nothing wrong about this, but it is known, that this musicial style is pretty much dead. Nothing against the individual talents my friends up there, but with this kind of music you only still pull a few left fossils anymore and certainly not a younger audiance. - But maybe you don't want that anyway and rather go for the slogan: we do what we want and feel like it. Then it is surely okay. That's meant for right now. Because when Hotwire started off in 1993, Melodic Rock was still very much alive. On the other hand, let's face it: Rockmusic is Rockmusic whether it's more or less melodic so forget this thinking in draws. And that's why I find the expression Melodic Rock rather wasted. But who cares, Hotwire are probably very pleased to have got the chance to open for the Pretty Maids on 2 dates and surely have received some promotion from Bavarian's state radiostation. (that's also the reason, why there are 400 guests tonight, and not because the Pretty Maids are still so popular - at least I presume so)

Hotwire give us a generell decent average impression, though the audiance rather take them as the usual odd supportband who is here to heat up for the headliner. 

For everybody and still friends of the very melodic rocksound Hotwire are certainly still a topic. So all bandinfos can be found at:
  http://www.hotwire-rock.de/


The Pretty Maids, who were still very sober before this show - I can asure you... start their explosive set with the titletrack of their new CD 'Pandamonium'.

Okay, let's take it that way and as mentioned above, Atkins and Hammer are in a very good condition tonight, though Ronnie doesn't quite catch the very high tunes anymore like in the glory past, but he's still doing a great job. And Ken is more rolling across the stage then standing or walking. But this doesn't stop the party here.....

And together with the rest of the gang, consisting of drummer Allan Tschicaja and Keyboarder Morten Sadager (both since 2006 in the band) and bassist Hal Patino (came in this year), the generell aura is a rather youthful one

The Setliste reads like a Best of... including 5 Tracks of the current Longplayer. People like it and our  Backstage Halle is boiling....

Let's put it that way: the Pretty Maids are still living mainly of 'Back To Back', 'Future World' and 'Red Hot & Heavy'. And those songs haven't lost any of their sparkle yet and are the non plus ultra for the band. I myself feel transfered immidiately back into 1985, when 'Red Hot & Heavy' came out and I saw this groupd on stage for the very first time. And as I said before, exept a few wrinkles more and a little double chin not much has changed. It almost seems, as time has stood still - well almost... The only critics I've got it the rather short stage time of 75 minutes. But as I said, we're not 25 years of age anymore, are we?!!!

Over all this Pretty Maids stint 2010 here in München is one of this kind you don't regret of beeing here and if it's only because of nostalgic reasons.  And no there's nothing wrong with Denmark, is there?!

http://www.prettymaids.dk/
 

PS: but there is one good thing about the short Pretty Maids stage time. And I decide quickly to jump over to the Backstage Werk next door to catch at least the last bit of the Amorphis show, who are playing here in Munich on the same evening.

Thanks to 3 supportacts there, Amorphis is still playing for another 30 minutes, when Pretty Maids are already finished. There are aprox. 1.000 fans checking out one of Finlands most successful Metalbands of the last 20 years. And as small singer Tomi Joutsen is body wise, so impressing is his appearance with his knee long dreadlocks and his volumious voice. And as outstanding and extraordinary he himself seems, as strange is his personally music taste with his fave tunes of the Loveboat theme and  'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' by Procul Harem. Good choice by the way. - Amorphis have always combined crowling and clear singing and they were in fact one of the very first Deathmetal bands on their 1994 album 'Tales From The thousend Lakes' , who tried out this mixture. And singer tomi does a great job - however.....

Well, this here is totally different to Pretty Maids. And probably there ain't many people, who put up with both musicial styles. I for my part can manage pretty well, as I've grown with the Pretty Maids generation, but as a musicjournalist always beeing curious aoubt different, new and other styles.

Last words: to be very honest, this last 30 minutes with Amorphis I do enjoy most of all on this very interesting evening, and I will definately come again, when Amorphis are back again next time....and then hopefully see a full show again... 
http://amorphis.net/