Shades of Grey

Biohazard @ Batschkapp, Frankfurt - November 2008.

One week after my first concert in Frankfurt, I had a gig I was really excited, waiting for since 1997: Biohazard. They were making an European Tour and fortunately, playing here.

I was waiting since 1997, and I will explain why: I was finishing high school and trying to get into University and Biohazard played in the same day I had an important University test - and on the next day too, so I couldn't make it. Which sucked big time, because this weekend was full of great concerts: friday we had Cólera (a very important and awesome brazilian punk band), then Biohazard on saturday and then on sunday, Suicidal Tendencies. And that was very rare in our hometown in that period because of the costs these concerts implies and there are not that many fans to attend these concerts (ok, Biohazard yes, but the costs were still very high).

Ok, so I arrived very early so I could be in the front row. Actually, it was nice also to get to see the place. Batschkapp is an awesome place that breathes rock. It is the perfect size, not too big, not small, perfect. And you can easily go in the front and see the band very close. This place has a long story and important and big bands from Oasis to Sistem of a Down already step a feet on that stage.

So the concert was crowded, I believe it was sold out. There were so many people it was bad to walk inside. When the band came on stage, the whole place went mad. First because they were away rom Frankfurt for a while, and second because they were coming with the original band fromation.

And when I thought they were already in flames, Bobby threw some more fuel into them: since it was the original formation, they were going to play only old songs, from the first 3 albuns. I swear, I saw lots of big guys crying right there. And the concert was amazing, agressive, destructive. They started with Shades of Grey and some people were dead already. Then it was one hit after the other, they've even played "we're only gonna die" from Bad Religion. By the end of the concert, people were hurt, damaged, bleeding, but all of them, including me, with a HUGE smile on their faces. It was such a cool experience, and the crowd was totally passionate, so the concert was really great. And at the end of the concert, they've promised to come back. Let's keep our fingers crossed so it happens.

Cheers!

The impression that you get.

Dredg @ Schlachthof, Wiesbaden - November 2009.

When I came to Europe, I had no clue that Dredg was very popular here. And all my friends here were saying the same: "Maaaaan, and they are UNBELIEVABLE live!!" Well, what a shock, 'cause they already sound amazing on the record. But what could be so different that I was definitely going to be surprised? When you listen to a band very often and never get to see them live, you create some expectations. Even though Youtube is there to fulfill them, it is never the same. And now I just got even more curios. Damn, I needed to check them.

So I went all the way to Wiesbaden (1 hour away fom Frankfurt via Train) to appreciate the concert. And when the band started playing, I understood why my friends were talking about.

They are simply talented. All of them. The vocalist can sing so well, and his voice is very powerful and loud that he needs to put the mic away in the higher notes. Besides, he also plays lap guitar very well. The bass player, fucking genius notes, perfect dynamic. The guitar player, insane, not so much speed, but definitely presence, power and style. And drummer, fuck, what to say? Besides being incredible, the guy play drums AND keyboard at the same time. You are probably asking yourself how he does that. Well, check this out:



The concert was beautiful, The set list selection couldn't be better, and the audience was really contributing for the nice vibe of the place. And at the last song, something really nice. The intro was played only by the drummer, so the roadie goes on stage and take out one part of the instrument. The vocalist do the same, and then the roadie again and so on, until only the snare is there. He keeps playing, making music with just that and the keyboard at the same time, until the vocalist takes away the snares and leaves him only with the keyboard until the end of the song/concert. Pretty impressive. Definitely, one of the best concerts I've seen in my life.

For those who don't know them, here's their myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/dredg

See ya.

Funk and Roll.

The Notorious Beat Plank @ Batschkapp, Frankfurt - November 2009.

The Notorious Beat Plank was the opening act from a very random Sunday evening at Batschkapp, where 5 different bands (from different styles) were playing. And I might say, I just ended up there that night because my friend Alex is playing in the band. And I am glad I did. Usually, this is not my kind of music (even though I am pretty open minded) - they make a very stylish funk/soul with some rock attitude to it. Interesting mix.

This was actually my first concert of them, and it won't be the last. For those who were there, well, they had fun. The band sure knows how to position on stage and command the crowd. The vocalist is full of energy and don't run away from the "front man" responsibility, dealing with passion and adrenaline. His voice is also very different, and I gotta say, sounds way better live than in the recordings. The band is very rehearsed, everything fits on the right place. One guitar fills the ambient with its groove, the bass and the drums are very aligned, everything seems right. And therefore, the band sounds very consistent.

The crowd was also very diverse, and they manage somehow to put them together. Merits to the band, who is coming with a new single and a new label to project them. And I might say they are on their way.

For those who wants to listen to them, here is the link:

http://www.myspace.com/notoriousbeatplank

See ya.