| 20.12.2003
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| BLACKBURN - "Poker Face" release party | |
| at AlpenRock House - Zürich-Kloten - 14.12.2003 | |
| INTRO | |
| BLACKBURN | |
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| review by dalia "gryphon_spirit"
di giacomo - all pics ©
by Stefan "Absolut_Evidence" Vogelaar
The public use of these fotos is strictly prohibited without written permission
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| INTRO | |
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Here we are, around 19:10 ; Stefan and me, in the village-venue (placed
near the airport of Zürich) little temple of Rock . The Alpen Rock
House shows an invernal alpine look : so, for the occasion, the roofs of
the small houses are dressed with a thick material which seems cotton-
like to me and that gives the impression of the snow, and, of
course, x-mas lights enrich the atmosphere.
It is again comfortable and friendly , and obviously it's Rock once more , cause this evening we like to focus and meet again a band we already saw last year in Bätterkinden, supporting Doro. We got a very good impression and noticed that 2 women were part of the line up: Blackburn. Tonight Blackburn celebrate the release party of their bright new work: a full length album ( (13 tracks) called Poker Face. Headliners on tour , and consequently also "Godfathers", of this event are nothing less that the German melodic Rockers Bonfire. Blackburn, in many years of activity devoted to Rock, are really used to meet and support giant Names of the genre. But a release party is always an event that has a very emotional halo. So Blackburn appear very satisfied , good mooded but also very concentrated ,speaking and meeting the press before the show. We meet all members: the very pretty frontwoman Gabi Schön , bass player Corinne Frei, the other nice feminine presence in the band, and then guitarists Andy Keller and Smuti , and drummer Marco Meier: all great hosts . It seems a bit invadent to ask questions questions: after all , artists do deserve a moment of serenity and tranquillity and much more before a n involving and important moment. So as journalist i only ask if they had fun working for this album and how was the time past in the studio in Duisburg, Germany. The answers were really satisfied , positive and enthusiast. A professional work done in a dynamic and friendly team. |
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Corinne , Smuti, dalia and Marco |
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| And then i asked Smuti for a favour: to write a message for their fans and in general for all lovers of Rock, and here it is! enjoy! | |
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It is also nice to meet their blond, long -haired dynamic producer
Michael Bormann and to know that Poker face will be in stores
in Switzerland and Germany and however available in whole Europe,
and, i presume very soon world wide too. Indeed it should be
going to be released all over Europe and in Japan on January 1st 2004 by
Point Music München if i am not wrong. So! Rock lovers, and
poker faces! , wherever you are , there is some interesting music
for you: Poker Face by Blackburn
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The atmosphere is good mooded, the venue gets crowded and the
audience is varied: from rockers and even some metallers to families.
And the age too is varied: sign that , i must admit it, Rock can be a
passion for many and , most important thing , a passion for life . On
the contary shame to the metallers that leave our Religion
and ranks! With my Ancient - T- shirt and PL plectrum as pendent i
wait for the show ....and a release party again. Do you remember the
Crystal Ball one? and the GurD one?
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BLACKBURN
www.blackburn.rockt.de
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Though the wings of Bonfire "flutter" in the air, the
beginning of Blackburn show finds everyone in the audience really
totally relaxed . Around 21:00 the young self -confident dj, the same i
saw presenting Crystal Ball, is announcing now with emphasis
. according to the motto of the band we can say our short journey
of Rock will start. Really short cause, due to the fact w e have a son
with flu at home , we already know we cannot attend Bonfire's gig.
Pity but patience, there will be another occasion . I can only suggest
to visit their site www.bonfire.de
it's really well done. But back again to Blackburn who take the stage in
the darkness broken by able and fast hits of white lights simulating
lightnings, while in the backgroun the "noise" of
thunders and pelting rain are re-built. So our
Blackburns take their place in the virtual storm , while on the screen-
panel situated near the stage Blackburn's logo appears. The storm
is followed by a metropolitan hammer drill, working having as background
a nervous city whose traffic awakes : so an original intro
which is also the same intro you can find in the new album. An intro
that ,like in the album, launches the high rhythmed mid
tempo opener Working, which has a good compression
and great bass sonorities , while the first lead solos can be heard. All
songs we will listen to, this evening, are taken from Poker Face , so
it's also an occasion to take familiarity with the tracks chosen for
this CD. The band plays immediately in an absolut self- confident
way, but, at the same time. There is a good quality of energy, though
Blackburn start cannot be compared with the high energy put by Cristall
Ball also because of the different styles , the different tasks, the
different sonorities, and the different goals. Blackburn deliver a nice
very agreeable almost classical Rock which matches both the European and
American taste, without passing through any metal-like attitude.
Therefore there is a high participation in the calm : the band shows no
great mobility but plays well and has and gives fun, putting all the
strength exclusively on the instruments, and Gaby of course shows a good
presence and, more important, a good voice able to bite when
needed. After the second track Title Fight the crowd
is really very attentive and numerous in the pit, so Gaby is bursting
energy pumping the blood in the crowd's veins, telling that
..yes ...we have a party to enjoy! . In this way the warm support
of the audience becomes bigger,the ice is definately broken and
the band can propose with a good kick the track You can get it,
which underlines all the characteristics seen till now adding that
bassist Corinne and guitarist Smuti provide also some good
backing vocals. An awsome solo is also delivered bySmuti: the music is
catchy, rocking, inviting and the picture from the stage is
elegant. Applauses and applauses! around 21.16 the audience is won by
the very meaningful song Great Times , a classic -old
school , "catching on great times , times, tonight!"
"there's nothing like good friends" , eh true! and Great
Times will be rewarded by warm approvals. People gets more and
more fun so it's time for the energetic and massive Riding
where the strings put all the wild feeling of the byker- ridings towards
neverland. Bass is rolling good and strings riff crunchy.
Drums sound lively and exact on the snare. Applauses and rock
effect sorrounding us. And in the break after Riding guitarist
Andy presents their producer "Micheal Bormann!" who takes in
full shape and smiling the stage . Now what do you expect from a
young dynamic producer who looks himself like a rock artist?
When the gig ends, the magical moment of the "baptism" comes . The stage guests" friends" , "producers" and "godfathers" . "Mascot Poker Face" is asked to say what's his name "Saigi" , "are you a Poker Face?" " Yes but only sometimes, not always!" answers amuised Eigi. Michael Bormann holds the cd on a kind of tray in order to protect the floor i presume, the dj tells that has the full control of the situation: "ich habe alles in griff!" ok! the cork and the warm long applauses fly high. Always fun! always an emotional moment! "damn ! it works!" i'm thinking , while i pick up the cork at my feet....
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Working Title Fight You can get it Great times Riding Coming Home Journey of Rock Poker Face |
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Ah ,
whatever but not that he plays or sings? should he? but yes: he
sings! and he does even rather well with a voice who reminds a bit
of Rod Stewart's timbre . But before singing the German Michael
greets the audience with a perfect typical Swiss "Grüezi
mitenand!" and yes it begins the duet with Gaby Schön . The
crowd enjoys so much and the initiative is popular. The song
proposed together with Michael Borman is Coming Home , a romantic
though simple ballad that seems to have been composed by the same
Bormann together with members of the band. "I'm coming home and
i'll be there for you" ok ok, banal , too banal and simple but
it works... Sometimes the classic simple " blue" feeling
works, and anyway works tonight in this atmosphere. Bormann leaves the
stage among the applauses and Gaby announces Journey of Rock ,
which can be seen as real motto and anthem of the spirit of Blackburn "the
journey of rock begins in your heart". Blackburn rock like hell
,Corinne and Smuti often do some headbanging. Applauses and appluases.
"Merci!" answers gently Gaby. she thanks us for being here and
shouts "Poker Faaaaaaaaace!"
The title
track offers us a last surprise: a robust guy in full byker look
and very similar to the guy represented on the cover of the album
appears on the stage and remain motionless, rocksolid with folded
arms, acting like mascot and symbol. Poker Face impacts very
well and sounds hammering and catchy, a good choice for closing
the show. 
Niederrohrdorf
- Switzerland