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Events and Reports - Pretty Maids - Live at the Skanderborg Festival 2006
This years Skanderborg Festival provided four days of wild partying and loads of fun. I didn't even notice that the rain was pouring down most of the time :)
The band I looked most forward to seeing were the Danish Heavy Rock stalwarts Pretty Maids. They have never disappointed me and they didn't do it this night either. I decided to head to the stage early to get a good spot. This meant that I managed to witness the "band" Stormslag play a 20 minute set which was absolutely horrible. It was simply so bad I have no words to describe it. It felt like a big bad joke.
Luckily this heinous concert was soon wiped from my memory when Pretty Maids entered the stage. This was a made out to be a 25 year anniversary concert for Pretty Maids and they proved that they still have what it takes to rock a festival audience to its very core. The band played a great concert and was on fire for the whole show. As the concert got underway I got a good spot right at the front to get some pictures.
Pretty Maids opened with a couple of oldies, "Rock the House" and "Love Games". The band was in great shape and Ronnie Atkins' voice held up very well this night. The two openers fired up the audience and any doubt that Pretty Maids are past their prime was put to shame. The ultra melodic "Wouldn't Miss You" got everyone jumping and the band looked very happy to be there. Ronnie started a sing a long which luckily didn't last too long. After the song he told us that the new Pretty Maids album was right around the corner and then they served us with the title track! "Wake up to the real world" sounded strong on the first listen. It certainly had the Pretty Maids trademarks, Heavy, Melodic and a chorus that you can sing along to. New drummer Allan Tschicaja did a great job through the show.
A personal favorite came next with "Virtual Brutality". I was starting to miss going crazy with the other guys since I was standing alone at the front and people around me were a little too static. Anyhow, I proceded to jump, headbang and play air guitar through the entire song while singing along. "Virtual Brutality" has an incredible power when played live and it pretty much a perfect live song. When the band started playing "Live until it hurts". Michael suddenly arrived and I quickly decided to go with him to the bar and grab a beer before before joining the others, who were standing somewhere else in the crowd.
Standing at the bar I heard the band begin playing "Back to back" and I had some serious trouble standing in line while the band was playing such a classic. About half way through the song I was back in the crowd with the others and we had a great time for the rest of the show. Especially the triple air guitar solo on our knees during "Future World" will be remembered. The ultimate sing along song, "Walk Away" also got aired. I'm sure I missed several details from the concert since I just couldn't help getting carried away by the music and sing along and headbang all the time. The classic "Future World" was another highlight and I could of course not help but do the ultimate air keyboard impersonation. Of course "Please Don't leave me" ended the set and it was surprisingly enjoyable this night. Everyone were singing along at this point.
Naturally high on an excellent concert we all shouted for the band to return and so they did with a nice little "surprise" as they played the Gasolin classic "Det Bedste til mig og mine venner". Everyone went crazy again. "Ret Hot and Heavy" signalled the end of a fabulous concert.
Since this was a 25 year anniversay concert the organisers gave the band some presents after the show. Among other things some grandfather slippers and a bottle of alchohol usually loved by older people. Great fun.
Setlist
Rock the House
Love Games
Wouldn't Miss You
Wake up to the real world
Virtual Brutality
Live until it hurts
Back to Back
Walk Away
Future world
Please Don't Leave Me
------------------
Det Bedste til mig og mine venner
Red Hot and Heavy
On a side note, an absolute highlight of the Skanderborg Festival was our time spent at the awesome karaoke bar. On Sunday Dorthe, Jan and I arrived at the bar where around 15 people were partying. I was trying to cope with some hangovers and was drinking water all day so I proceeded to order a spring water at the bar much to the amusement of those assembled. Then we ordered two songs from the Karaoke jukebox, got hold of the microphones and proceeded to sing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer" with some pretty hoarse voices. When "Living on a Prayer" came to an end I looked up and to my surprise the bar was completely empty. The food stall nearby was empty as well... Our theory was that our rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody was so good that everyone had decided that it could never be surpassed and thus had left with bowed heads. The karaoke gods had obviously laid waste to the bar. Interestingly, when we returned later in the night the bar had disconnected the Karaoke jukebox, much to our disappointment. By then we were starting to get the message... But damn, it was fun!
| Click pictures for a bigger version.
All pictures taken by Steen | Written by Steen
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 |
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RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by Dennis the Menace (Anonymous) - Thursday, September 14, 2006 | I see you had another excellent party in Skanderborg (whereever that is)banging and singing. Too sad you don`t have a video of your Queen improvisation; would give my right arm for it. The Maids`setlist looks a lil´short to me(No "Yellow Rain", "Sin Decade" or "Savage Heart"),were they headlining on that day? Besides you seem to be a very busy man: concerts, hangovers, articles, "real" work...very well organized- made of steel,ha.
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| Comment by Steen (Staff) - Thursday, September 14, 2006 | 
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Comments: 518 | | Yes, I am slightly busy from time to time :) Nah... :) Moo!
Pretty Maids were playing one of the smallest stages there and only had little more than an hour to play, so that's the reason for the short set.
I will surely sing Bohemian Rhapsody again somewhere in time. You don't want to be there :) On second thought, I could use a choir...
Posted by Steen (Staff)
Thursday, September 14, 2006 |
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| Comment by Metal (Anonymous) - Monday, October 30, 2006 | It was a nice show u did at Skanderborg,but the set was 2 shots but its not your fault. And good to see Allan on the drums, he fuckin kick ass..big time,sorry Mini but Allan is a bit better.
Cant wait to see u at Train and Amager bio
Keep up the spirit
Hail to Pretty Maids WELCOME BACK
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| Comment by #Peter (www.pretty-maids.de) (Anonymous) - Monday, October 30, 2006 | Hi Steen,
good pictures and a great written review !
Rock on
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| Comment by Steen (Staff) - Monday, October 30, 2006 |
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Comments: 518 | | Thanks Peter!
Yeah, I'm looking forward to a nice 2-hour+ set at the Train concert as well :)
Posted by Steen (Staff)
Monday, October 30, 2006 |
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