Wacken 2017 - Introduction of a New Apprentice

Yes, Wacken again - quite unbelievable. Bust just as last year, a rather last-minute approach bought me into that thing once again. This time with Lorenz as a truely new apprentice, and it was a blast, again. 

Rating: 5/5 - for the mood, for the fun, and for all the music, whether we liked it or not

Buddy: Lorenz, a true metalhead, because he was never really into metal (besides Halloween's Keeper of the Seven Keys), but did not hesitate to join

We met there: Richard and Rudi (again in a tent under quite unbelievable conditions)

Merch: the unavoidable Wacken T-Shirt

Again?  In the very first week of the new sale, we bought three tickets for 2018 - Stolli, Lorenz and myself. Wacken will continue - and the setlist is already a feast.

Wacken 2016 - An Apprentice's Perspective

It all began during the At The Drive In Gig: Stolli got hold of two tickets for Wacken 2016 and asked me to join. Seriously? Through all the years, I have been avoiding festivals, and although Stolli knew this, he asked me. So Hell, yes, let's do it!

My ticket survived ;-)

Buddies: Stolli - we also met Richard and Rudi (real heroes in a tiny tent)
Score: 6 out of 5 (seriously, see Final Words)
Merch: official T-Shirt in green (at these very reasonable prices, you are tempted to buy even much more)
Again? This is it, for sure. Also no Wacken Cruise or Wacken Winter Event.

Special thanks go to Richard for the tickets, in which we could step in (as of writing these words, Wacken 2017 is again nearly sold out with just some 10.000 tickets left).


And of course, very special thanks go to Stolli, who was so persistent and made me going there. 

Metallica, Alice in Chains, Children Of Bodom, Kvelertak

Kriau Rocks expects 50.000 Metalheadz, and I actually did not plan to attend. Surprise: After a month of missed gigs, I step in for a friend's friend that did not feel well (well, thanks Dude!). So, Metallica once more, after this brilliant gig back in 1992. As a huge fan of the band at that time, it was clear that I will be very picky with them at this evening.

 

Buddies: Rainer, Tom, Rene (as well as Stolli and many others in the crowd of 50.000)
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Merch: nope, but I really like Tom's AIC shirt
Again: Well, I was wrong once...


It is my first time in the Golden Circle. It's big money but it makes much sense at this huge venue. As Stolli told me, the sound was quite bad further behind due to the strong wind. So good choice, Rainer, and thanks for this.

We miss Kvelertak. Tom and me just arrive in time for Children Of Bodom. It's a bit strange to see this Death Metal band playing in the blistering sun. As it turns out later, they play at approximately 20% of the main gig's volume. Just the last two songs start to groove a bit, but then it's over.

With Alice In Chains, the volume reaches serious levels. Leaving aside that their music is not the best support act for Metallica, they impress me quite a bit. Impeccable musical performance and very good vocals. They play into sunset with sun glasses on, and it just feels right. It's rather laid back music than heating up for the main act.  I do not care, and I like it. If they should be in Vienna again as a main act, I would try to be there.

But of course, everybody is here for Metallica. And frankly, I have two (expected) issues with this gig (and please don't get me wrong, this is me complaining at very high levels):

1. 80% of the setlist I know by heart, and
2. Nearly all of these these songs they played much better before.

Why? Because Metallica seem to play their old songs faster and faster - with nearly all exactness left behind. For me it's more of a jamming experience than precise playing, mixed with much experience (as one journalist put it 'auto pilot playing'). But I strongly believe that speed metal lives from being played exactly. Slayer, for example, still does it damn right, they play their stuff fast, but exactly. So no excuses for Metallica here.

But I do not want to over-emphasise this, this performance was just as nice as expected. At least in the Golden  Circle, the sound was great. Not every band can cope with huge venues - Metallica for sure can. They are able to reach the audience here, and this is really a big plus. The old songs from 'Kill 'Em All' and 'Ride The Lightning' still kick ass. The guitar/bass section is great and vocals impeccable. In the mid-part of 'Enter Sandman', the sleep verse is played from tape - in original speed - and the last 'Pray The Lord My Soul To Take' is lost - because the band is already through it.

Nevermind. The show ends very nicely with 'Seek And Destroy' and a very long 'Thank You' from the band. Metallica is still one of the best live bands - but to be picky, they could do even better.


Bang that Head that doesn't Bang' :-)
Photos courtesy of Rainer.

Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age 

The band has become hugely successful, so they invite into Stadthalle Wien. This has little in common with my favourite locations, such as Arena or Gasometer. 

 

Buddies: Schnee Weißchen, Tom, Rainer

Score: 4 out of 5

Merchandize: nope

Another Gig: not as long as the band is so hyped

I must complain of the ticket price, but it's just as every time in Stadthalle Wien: You pay more for less view and less acoustic. But that's what big music business is apparently about.

Similarly to Them Crooked Vultures some time ago, sometimes also this band is a bit too relaxed on stage. They just let you know that they made it. Don't get me wrong, it's a good gig with great music - hey, I needed to see QOTSA live! 

MUSE (Everything Everything)

To my relief, Wiener Stadthalle on the seated second floor can make sense. Allegedly 16.000 are there ...

I captured some moments from the jaw-dropping intro and other songs in this short movie. Unfortunately, the smartphone camera is too weak for capturing those great laser beams...

Buddies: Sybille, Michael

Score: 4 out of 5

Merchandise: Cute Muse Guitar Picks, T-Shirt

Another Gig: Probably one is just right  

Support: So Everything Everything is not only one of the better Underworld releases, but also a band from the UK. They play in a (literally) cool atmosphere, their best moments are when they sound a bit like Coldplay - but maybe with a bit too much falsetto. All in all, the difference to Muse could not be much bigger. They could do well in e.g. Arena. 

Muse genuinely impress me from the very first moment. It is music for venues like this. A band of three fills the huge stage, everything fits perfectly, the dramatic and bombastic harmonies, the show, the lights, the stunning visuals, the live cameras, the frenetic crowd that is with the band from the very first second. Our view from far up behind is not bad at all, but you need binoculars to actually recognise the band. And yes, it is a band of three, although there is another guy behind the keyboards - but this one stands in the dark most of the time - that gives me a rather strange impression. 

Well, while their entire performance is just stunning, the sound in Wiener Stadthalle isn't. But very creative visuals, all possible sound effects you can imagine, three songs with a piano, a strange all-metal guitar amp (I was not sure whether it actually worked). My major complaint (besides the hefty price tag) is that Matthew Bellamy's innovative guitar play has gotten less and less important through the years. The real question (similar to The Killers) is, whether Muse really goes more and more into electro. The evil-sounding bariton guitar lets me hope that this is not the case. But all in all, it is a great party. And when Muse closes with "Knights Of Cydonia", everything is just fine.

Here's the setlist, thanks to the Internet:
1. The 2nd Law - Unsustainable
2. Bliss
3. Panic Station
4. Resistance 
5. Supermassive Black Hole 
6. Animals
7. Monty Jam
8. Explorers
9. Sunburn
10. Time Is Running Out
11. Liquid State
12. Madness
13. Follow Me
14. Undisclosed Desires
15. Plug In Baby
16. Stockholm Syndrome
Encore:
17. The 2nd Law: Isolated System
18. Uprising
19. Survival
Encore 2:
20. Starlight
21. Knights of Cydonia

Yeah - and here is Knights of Cydonia :-)

Some nice photos are available here.

Fernwärme Wien Jazz (Count Basic, Till Brönner, Jazzkantine)

At 36 Celsius, Smooth Jazz is probably the only thing you can bear for some time. The gig was more or less for free (see ticket price), the mood relaxed. The video speaks for itself.


Buddy: Täubchen
Score: 3 out of 5
Another gig? Yes, at lower temperatures

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