Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Majówka - Wroclaw

I'm living in Poland for more than 3 years now, and every year they organize a Guitar Guiness Record on the main square of the city. For whatever reasons I missed the first 3, and this was the first for me. Additionally they have organized a 3 days festival around 1st of May celebrations with a bunch of rock/metal bands. However I've been only on the first day, as one of the bands I wanted to see live for so long was playing. The line-up was quite impressive, Status Quo, Dragonforce, Guano Apes and Within Temptation. Unfortunately the four bands were playing on 2 separate stages in the same time, so I couldn't see anything of Guano Apes, but the other bands were awesome.

But let's not rush that forward. In the early afternoon the guitar record started on the main square. Imagine 7356 guitars playing Hey Joe at the very same time. It was amazing!


When they all lifted up their guitars in the air, THAT looked great. Some of my friends were playing there, but at that point I haven't met any of them. The whole record attempt was like 10 minutes. And actually right after it ended I headed to Hala Stulecia, where the other concerts took place. I was obviously with my bicycle. It's not a huge distance, around 20-25 minutes riding.
Well.. the riding part would have been ok, IF... around 200 meters before the goal I didn't get a flat tire. YEEEY. So with the thought I have to walk home with my bike at night or ride it with flat tire, I went to the venue to prepare (=get a beer) and take the first line. Meanwhile this ritual I finally bumped into my friend, Julia, who I met last summer in the Czech Republic. She was also playing on the guitar record with her mom together!!! Freaking great! Was so happy to see her, and could talk a bit in the second row.

The first band outside was a polish very well known band: Dzem. Probably my father would know them better than I do. The average age of the audience was around 50. Which I find extremely awesome. Quite similar audience as it was back for Status Quo - quite similar music too. I would really recommend to check out the playlist (end of the post) when you are opening a beer at home with some friends (please don't kill me my polish friends!) I had a broad smile on my face when Mr Santa Claus got on the stage. Nevertheless the band did fun. it was a nice starting of the evening. I was clapping through the show and nodding my head whatever they were singing, and listening the people around me shouting the songs. Was a bit weird to be there at that moment, but that actually saved my place for the next band.


After Dzem the people right in front of the fence slowly went away, so we could literally have the first row already. With Julia we were glancing to the backstage and were just smiling when spotting some of the guys of Dragonforce! And they came out! They really did. And I didn't have to travel for them for a change :) They put on an incredible show. Played the very fav songs some kind of best-of set, and was living with us throughout the whole show. Here you listen and watch: Cry Thunder! The guitar solos were incredible. If you ever could, go for their show, if I could, I would do it again. Oh wait! I will - let's meet at More Than Fest in August!! They'll headline it!




Very unlike of me, I didn't jump in front of the backstage after the show, but tried to run into the hall, where Guano Apes was about to finish, I hoped to see one or two songs there, but I got out so slowly, I couldn't catch them at all unfortunately. But the fortunate thing in it, that I spotted some friends there. Adam and Maciej were heading to the backstage to make some photos with the guys. It's funny, as I knew I'll meet them for sure next week on their own show with Aeonian Forge. And when I told them - sure I go, that's not a question, I've seen the happiness on their faces. That was cool!

For my journey out, I met some other friends. My colleague and friend, Tomi and his wife came out also for Dragonforce, but not the front, so we could meet only after the show. It was good to share the first excitements with someone on my own language! The funny thing is, that he said something like - I look completely different than at work. Obviously, as THIS is my environment, here I feel myself, truly myself. They didn't want to come to the next show, and just went to listen Status Quo (as next day was a workday for us yey). We parted our ways.


So, as I didn't catch Guano Apes, I went back to see the beginning of Status Quo, as Within Temptation was about to start in the middle of their show inside. But I really did want to see them. 
When I told to my dad that I'll see them live, I've almost seen tears in his eyes, as it was one of 'his' bands when he was young. Well, he is still young, but in his longhaired times. If I remember well, we even had vinyls at home! So I pretty much grew up on this kind of music (ye I know my dad is awesome!). So I also made a video for him. And you just can't imagine how happy he was when I sent it to him to watch. Was like I fulfilled one of his own dreams. I do have difficulties to find words what I felt at that moment. I just truly wanted to hug him, but Skype is not the best platform to hug people. 

Anyway, it was great, but Within Temptation was about to start, so I moved in. I didn't aim to get to the front, as they are not my very favourites, I listen to them quite a lot tho. I will not write novels about this show, as I honestly didn't like it. I was standing in the middle somewhere, so the sound should've been good. Well it wasn't. It was literally weak. Around the half of the show I was even thinking to leave, but I still waited for the big boom, the songs I really love... like Ice Queen. Even those didn't bring me the thrill. Can you imagine I was yawning there? I couldn't. This show made me re-think one of my trips to Ostrava, where they will be the headliner... Not quite sure at this point that I want to see them live again this year. We will see.


I was thinking to catch a bus and take my bike home with it, but there was no chance, they were completely full. Nighbuses, imagine. So I half walked half rode home to sleep some hours before next day's work! Perfect! :')

Here you have the playlist on Spotify with a bit of help from setlist.fm: Dragonforce - Within Temptation - Status Quo - 01/05/2016

xoxo \m/
Szi

Monday, May 23, 2016

Van Canto - Freedom Call - Grailknights

It was not an easy decision which concert to go of Van Canto Tour - Voices of Fire. Austria, through Germany, several supporter bands I like, like Dragony, Victorius and Freedom Call.
At the end I've decided to go to Hamburg as it was on a weekend, been there ages ago last time, so it was a good opportunity for me. I'm wondering sometimes about my organizing abilities (and my luck), just like this time. I managed to book a hostel 10 minutes walk from the venue. If you read my blog, you know the drill already: long story short - arriving in the city, getting my stuff to the hostel, preparing for the show and there we go. It happened just like that this time again.

I have a feeling already that wherever I'm going around Europe for a show, I will meet some old friends. And obviously get to meet some new friends also. I hate to repeat myself, but these people are freaking awesome. This time I got to the venue like 30 mins before the door opening, and I already saw Jenny almost the first in the line. Jenny is sweet. She is singing (check out her page) and we have a lot of bands in common which we like. That's why we met first time in Berlin last December on a FC and Vexillum show. And now again - surprise, surprise - FC and Van Canto! So I texted her, she saw me, and I already had my place in the front! It's soo funny that she almost could be my daughter hahahhahaha.

As I've never been in this venue, I just checked out everything - put my stuff in the cloakroom (mentioning because it will come back at the end of the night), got my beer and checked the merch.
My eyes went very O,O when I've seen a desk with Sea Shepherd. These guys are extreme cool. I need to add some words about them, not only because I have a friend in Hungary who dedicated her whole life for their cause, but because they do what we all should, just don't really have the strength or the will. They are out on the seas for us all saving whales and dolphins, and all animals. They are voluntarily risking their lifes for us. My friend, Vera went on the ships to fight against japanese whale killers several times already, and for that she has my biggest respect. I sent her the photo of their merch right away feeling proud to have any kind of connection with them.

And then with my beer got to the girls (Jenny and Sarah) to the front line. Well actually the second, but they are not that tall, so I've seen everything ;)
Grailknights started the show. As I've seen pics about precious shows, did not strike me that much how they came out to the stage. It was fun. HUGE fun on the stage what they did. They are definitely that band, who I'd see anytime live and listening to CDs just as much. When they started with Dead or Alive and Morning Dew, I though it cannot be better, but then again it was my mistake thinking after two of my fav songs they will not surprise me. Oh they did, when Inga came out of that animal, was fun! Plus I enjoyed their fight with Skull also pretty much.
They enjoyed the show, which radiated around, the sound was great despite of that I was very close. The guys seemed to have just as much fun as we did, was a blast and extremely refreshing experience of a gig. Not even talking about how they were after the show :D
The crowd were literally crazy. And I felt like a mother-chicken defending her baby chicks there. The girls were in front of me, and I just held my back and fought with the evil moshing guys. I believe I was the superhero there. You know.. when nobody knows you defend them. Not that the girls would be weak, but I had this instinct. So I watched the superheroes as a superheroine!





After this fight of superheroes against the most evil I needed to drink some more, so left the girls defending the crown. Meanwhile I got some patting on the shoulder for my toughness from the guys around. Was a great feeling to be entirely honest. The experience and years you know :)
Anyway the show I was waiting for the most this night was about to start. Freedom Call is on the stage. I could talk about them in superlatives. I usually do it. But now I was a bit disappointed in the guys. Yes, I'm writing good and bad also, not only the fun and happy part. 
The show itself was a true Freedom Call show. Jenny even let me to the fence for some time, which was great to see be there for 2-3 songs, headbanging too. But I can enjoy it even from where I was anytime. Literally from anywhere. Closer the better obviously, but that does not really matter anymore. First time this year when I've seen them in full squad - Lars on the stage. His hair straightened. WTF man? I don't like what I see... Apart from that they've put the show on the table as usual. Their set was already quite familiar. Let's just state it here that after 666 Weeks Beyond Eternety album they are coming with a new CD this year. YEEEY can't wait!!
Unfortunately none of my pictures I made is presentable, but oh well, the feeling makes the show good, not the pics.

Oh, and why I'm disappointed in the guys. After they've finished, wanted to say 'Hi' to them around the merch. I thought they are ALWAYS coming out. I connected it with an other beer-buying trip, and went out from the second line. And they didn't come. They didn't come till the beginning of Van Canto, which I didn't want to miss, so I went back. Not that close as I wanted to, but still heard them in a very very good quality.
Whenever I tell to my friends (not really from the metal/rock side of music) that they create a capella metal, everyone looks at me like I'm crazy. I might be, but Van Canto still produces music that nobody else. Only one set of drums and voices and only voices. Obviously they make some covers to redefine the big hits of metal scene. But they do have their owns, which are even better than the covers. How all their voices fit together is truly amazing. As this was one before the last stage of their tour, I just felt how much I regret not to go to other shows. But oh well... I've asked Sly (lead singer) if they are  planning to go to any summer festivals, but he said unfortunately not this year (I still hope they will), because of the new CD, the production and the tour, they need to rest. Which is totally understandable, not for the fans tho :P


After the show I was just giving my usual self, and waiting for the band, chatting and smiling like an idiot. Naturally almost all pictures I have a beer in my hand... which is weird. I don't even know how that happens all the time that on the pictures I always have beer, literally always... Anyways, I had some quite fine conversation with the guys, which is just strengthening my beliefs in musicians. They are just as cool as anyone else :)

Sly
Jan and Christoph
Stefan
Ross
Grailknights!

Count Cranium

Sovereign Storm

Earl Quake

Also managed to talk a little with the girls and met a new friend Carlos. He is the hardcore version of me :D I believe he will be on every major festival this year, some the same as I will be, so we already agreed to meet again. (I think next time Metalfest Openair). I have no idea what time it was when I was about to go back to my hostel, but I think it was around 1-2? Maybe a bit later... The scariest part of the night was when I've decided to go and hugged everyone around me (because hugging is cool), and headed for my coat. First I've found an exit. I thought - It will not be that ok to go home without my bag and coat, so going back. The door leading to the cloakroom was closed. Then I started to panic a bit, but then asked around, and found my stuff in an office room. As the last stuff there, they just thought I might have forgotten about it. So everything turned out great at the end. And had a fascinating evening again. Hopefully we'll meet with these guys rather sooner than later.

And here comes the setlist made about this evening from Spotify: Van Canto - Freedom Call - GrailKnights - 16/04/2016 Hamburg

xoxo \m/
Szi