Events and Reports - D:A:D - Live At Open Air Varde - July 29th, 2006
Written by Tommy

Varde Open Air is a minor and cosy two-day festival in Denmark and native Rock veterans D:A:D were booked to close the whole thing down Saturday night.
The temperature had been high for most of the day, people had been enjoying plenty of beers and the atmosphere in front of the amphitheatre-like stage was getting really tense.

After the daft intro music had faded the band surprisingly went right into Evil Twin, its up-tempo beat proved successful in getting people warmed up.
Old time favourite Girl Nation was chosen next and the cool drive and tight bass fundament kept the momentum up.

It was expected that they would throw in some stuff from their latest album, the rather retro-like and very good Scare Yourself and it was the title track that was first up.
The audience reacted with great enthusiasm and screamed along to this heavy and pulsating track, I just loved the twisted way the guitar solo started out, the raw vocals and the mean groove coming from Laust's drum kit.
Lawrence Of Suburbia wouldn't be my choice for a live track with quite limited playing time, still its raw and lazy rhythm is cool but overall it lacks something truly exciting.
Camping In Scandinavia is one of my favourites from the new album and tonight's version was driven forth by a massive riff attack from Jacob Binzer, it has the edge and charisma to become a future D:A:D classic.

When looking back at the bands extensive back catalogue it's obviously difficult to pick out what to play and what to leave out. Let me say that I was very pleased and found the selection varied and with a large stack of some general fan favourites.
Soft Dogs is a sensitive and catchy track and when brought to life among an ecstatic crowd it grows substantially, the melodic refrain coming form Jesper and the audience in great harmony could be heard for miles away I'm sure.

Makin' Fun Of Money injected more power to the show while the darker Reconstructdead gave time for a breather with an atmospheric and down toned lead guitar section.
A similar jam section was thrown into Sleeping My Day Away too, but here it wasn't as dynamic and a bit tiresome, I would had preferred an extra song in the same amount of time. Anyway this is a great song and one of their biggest hits, which showed in the action among the benches, not that anyone was sitting down. people were litterally falling down between each other, unproved if alcohol or the actual excitement were the prime cause.

The chorus-reliant but captivating Hate To Say I Told You So performed in a piano/vocal version was a daring endeavour but it felt real, fragile and warm.

To round things of we got three old classics, which were more that I had hoped for. I Won't Cut My Hair was cool in its simplistic and attitude-filled tightness, a bit overdone but the drum solo was forceful and ingenious.
You don't get a much better party track than Bad Craziness and when Stig ran through the stage with a helmet of exploding fireworks it put the whole idea of the show into perspective, it was all about having a good time.
After this power rush, people waited in excitement and started shouting the chorus of It's After Dark, and soon the band entered the stage for the third time and the crowd got what they wanted and a grand finale with this thrilling anthem.

Singer Jesper Binzer guided the crowd through the concert with few but as always very funny and cunning words.you gotta love his twisted form of mad humour. The band as a whole seemed concentrated and delivered a precise and energetic performance, you can just tell that they have been playing with each other for ages.

The sound was vibrant and suitably unpolished; this was Heavy/Hard Rock with bite and nerve.
To judge by the people around me, this was a highly enjoyable and fun experience and I'm convinced that close to everyone felt entertained and comfortable rocked.
One thing is for sure, this vintage band still symbolises energy and a desire to get a party going.


Setlist:
Evil Twin
Girl Nation
Scare Yourself
Soft Dogs
Makin' Fun Of Money
Reconstructdead
Hate To Say I Told You So
Lawrence Of Suburbia
Everything Glows
Sleeping My Day Away
Camping In Scandinavia
I Won't Cut My Hair
Bad Craziness
It's After Dark





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All pictures taken by Fotosnedkeren.dk
Written by Tommy
Tuesday, August 22, 2006



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