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Events and Reports - Esbjerg Rock Festival 2009 - Tommy's Festival Report
Esbjerg Rock festival is a two day event with main focus on music with an "eighties" stamp attached to it, one day with Rock and Metal and another with Pop... and this year the addition of classic rockers Foreigner to end things off.
It's not very often that I can walk 20 minutes from my home and be in the middle of a festival with prominent names as Europe, Saxon, Foreigner and reunited Skagarack, so after a couple of hours spinning classic Saxon, Europe's amazing Out Of This World and Prisoners In Paradise and a round of Skagarack hits me and some friends left for the festival ground feeling excited, a mood that only grew stronger as the day evolved. Here's a round of overall impressions.
Friday
Saxon
The British legends has been one of the best and most consistent live acts for a number of years, a band that never disappoints and today was no exception.
With Battalions Of Steel from the new album the gig got off to a powerful start but it was evident that the sound was too low and not mixed probably with Doug's guitar being almost out of the game, unfortunately it took 4-5 songs before things got better.
Biff was having a good time joking around as always and Paul delivered some razor sharp guitar solos with Strong Arm Of The Law as the most prominent example.
I don't know exactly why but hearing And The Bands Played On always gets me in an excellent mood so I was delighted that the band had include it into the set as well as an epic take on the classic Crusader.
Personally I lacked some songs from Solid Ball Of Rock and Dogs Of War era but a speedy Motorcycle Man made up for some of it.
The band performed as a close-knit unit and it's always fun watching the uncontrollable Nibbs Carter going absolutely nuts on the bass, that said I have seen the band being more present on stage, but the crowd was a pretty tough one too.
The biggest highlight was a tight and joyful execution of Denim And Leather; it got the crowd showing some interest with a massive sing a long passage.
The band left the stage with around 15 minutes more left to play, a real shame but I guess it had something to do with them having to play Germany later on the same day.
Setlist:
Battalions Of Steel
Heavy Metal Thunder
Sweeny Todd
Strong Arm Of The Law
And The Bands Played On
Hellcat
Crusader
Wheels Of Steel
Live To Rock
Motorcycle Man
Denim And Leather
Skagarack
The festival had been working on bringing Danish AOR rockers Skagarack back together so it was a rather nostalgic moment seeing these guys back on stage after so many years absence.
The opener Move It In The Night got things going but lacked some spark to really impress, Open Your Eyes made up for it with a smooth chorus and a great solo spot from Jan Petersen who continued playing some inspiring leads throughout the set.
Singer Torben had a sore throat but did a decent job without it ever becoming fully convincing, Don't Turn Me Upside Down and Damned Women were OK but quite monotone, in part due to the vocals.
Talk Dirty To Me is a personal favourite and I was excited to hear it live in an excellent version, tightly performed with a powerful drive.
The band had main focus on delivering the songs in a proper manner so little was left to improvisation and action on stage, as a consequence the show felt a bit static which could explain the modest reaction from the crowd, it was only towards the end of the show that the fans began to wake up, the hit Hungry For A Game set things in motion and Joanna was no short of brilliant, catchy and in your face with some weighty backing vocals and illuminating keys.
Rock This City saw groovy guitar riffs and a rock solid rhythm section melt together nicely, the sound was quite transparent but in a song like this it became clear that it also was a bit too low to give it substantial punch.
I'm Alone was another fantastic moment with some amazing keys from Tommy Rasmussen but the band could had chosen a more fitting ending piece than the rather mediocre Big Time.
All in all a solid and nostalgic gig.
Setlist:
Move It In The Night
Open Your Eyes
Don't Turn Me Upside Down
She's A Liar
So Fine, So Good
Danmed Woman
Talk Dirty To Me
Victim Of The System
Hungry For A Game
Sweet Dreams (Instrumental)
Rock This City
Joanna
I'm Alone
Big Time
Europe
When it was time for Europe the sun was setting and people seemed like they were in a good mood, a bit surprisingly the band opened their set with the title track of their forthcoming album Last Look At Eden, it sounded quite pompous with a heavy beat and more importantly it got people rocking from the start.
It was quite evident that the band had come to stir things up as Love Is Not The Enemy and especially Scream Of Anger send sparks from the stage, it was cool to hear Scream played with a youthful energy and some extremely forceful drumming in the centre of a really tight groove.
The crowd was won over completely with Superstitious and with good reason, tonight's version was electric and ever so memorable, Joey Tempest in full control singing like a god and throwing his white (shiny white) microphone holder into the air on regular basis, now that's Rock N' Roll for you right there.
John Norum laid down a completely earth-shattering guitar performance, bending his strings as it was the easiest thing in the world and hitting all the right notes in a very forceful and eaqually passionate manner. The solo in Wings of Tomorrow was amazing while his lead work in Let The Good Times Rock reached magical highs with a chorus that lit up everything follwing in its wake.
Carrie was fittingly started in acoustic manner and the riffs for Seventh Sign felt deliciously tight and heavy.
Sign Of The Times was another highlight; excellent piano stuff gave it a really atmospheric feel.
The newer material held up well too, in large thanks to a band that new just how to deliver, Start From the Dark was refreshingly teasing and playful in it's approach with Always The Pretenders coming off extremely groovy due to a dominating bass and kick ass riffing. Those who thought that the concert was going to be a half-hearted affair from a band way past their prime got themselves quite a surprise, this was the real thing in every possible manner.
Ready Or Not and Getaway Plan sounded solid but lacked a bit of the nerve that characterized the show and personally I missed more stuff from Prisoners In Paradise but big kudos to the band for covered all their albums in the setlist and playing each song as it was their last show.
At the end we got The Final Countdown (quite entertaining) and Rock The Night which was one of the absolute best songs all evening, lot's of active stage presence from Joey Tempest, massive sing along and just pure Melodic Rock when it's most vivid.
A stunning performance.
Setlist:
Last Look At Eden
Love Is Not The Enemy
Superstitious
Scream Of Anger
Sign Of The Times
Wings of Tomorrow
Carrie
Sevens Doors Hotel
Getaway Plan
Let The Good Times Rock
Seventh Sign
Start From the Dark
Ready Or Not
Rock The Night
The Final Countdown
Saturday
Foreigner
Veteran US rockers Foreigner had serious soundcheck problems so the show started with some delay as the band entered the stage with Double Vision, it sounded crunchy but the band seemed a bit withdraw.
One band member nevertheless stood out from the start, drummer Brian Tichy had both the technical skill and so much power build up inside that it felt like these old tunes got an extra forceful kick in the ass, Head Games was hammered home with a monster beat up front, unfortunately the sound problems returned as Kelly Hansen's vocals went out from time to time during this one.
Mick Jones isn't getting any younger but he played his stuff with a firm if not exactly inspiring hand, Cold As Ice was one example of this.
Waiting For A Girl Like You sounded quite captivating, Blue Morning, Blue Day quite static while Starrider stood out as a highlight of the evening featuring brilliant acoustic guitars, atmospheric keys, an elegant flute part and rounded of with some harmonious double vocals.
Injecting a catchy and easy going vibe to the show Feels Like The First Time felt just right, Kelly did a great job here with his distinct and clear voice, he could be proud of his overall performance this night.
Urgent had a groovy fundament and a substantial saxophone passage that worked out very well, Juke Box Hero also hailing from the 4 album held up quite successfully too with a round of twin guitar action but especially the midsection left a monotone impression.
Now that I Want Know What Love Is is the bands biggest commercial hit it also meant a very positive reaction from the audience and I must say that the keys actually created a very cool and otherworldly mood for this slow love song.
I was quite disappointed that they didn't play anything from Inside Information, in my opinion their second best album after 4, I knew they had played Say You Will on other occasions but I guess it got sacrificed on the alter of the extended soundcheck.
The gig nevertheless ended on high spirits as Hot Blooded send the last rocking waves of music towards a crowd that was beginning to feel the marks of a long day, surely a very melodic and tight closure.
A professional and enjoyable show but the setlist and overall level of intensity left a bit more to wish for.
Setlist:
Double Vision
Head Games
Cold As Ice
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Blue Morning, Blue Day
Starrider
Feels Like The First Time
Urgent
Keyboard / Drum solo
Juke Box Hero
Long, Long Way From Home
I Want Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded
Suggestions for next year's festival:
Aprt from various sound issues the festival was a success with a nice selection of bands and a cool relaxed atmosphere. A few wishes for next year:
Journey
Def Leppard
Danger Danger
Pretty Maids
Brother Firetribe
| | Written by Tommy
Friday, July 24, 2009 |
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