30.04.2004
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PINK CREAM 69 - AXXIS CRYSTALL BALL at Alpen Rock House Zürich - 21.03.2004 |
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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 | |
| It's Heavy Rockin' evening again today! Our Swiss village, undisputed temple of Heavy/Rock , that we have visited in autumn and in winter, now shows a fine springtime aura, with balconies full of flowers. In the big rural fireplace gives warmth. Candles burn, romantic, on the tables. Everything is ready for the Zürich -date of the co-headlined tour Axxis-Pink Cream 69 with the great support of Crystal Ball. Before the shows begins, we can already imagine how this formula is well combined: these bands are homogeneous though different and not clones. They integrate well each other offering varied approaches to melodic Heavy/Rock /Power but without altering the global musical atmosphere. Time of equinox. Hell: let's enjoy Hellvetia! | |
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| CRYSTAL BALL | |
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 At 20:00
Crystal Ball are presented by the energetic DJ: "one of the most loved Rock bands of Switzerland!" eh what Rock Band!!
With Crystal Ball we are the threshold of Metal. Blessed be oh thou Hellvetia!
Among the general applauses of their audience Mark and band
mates take the stage: they have the advantage of being at home! And they won't disappoint at all the crowd. They start off hard'n heavy
with Hellvetia, title track opener of their latest release, whose
release party was celebrated right here.
Yodeling, Alphorn's and mountain vibes of Hellvetia's intro act obviously
as intro of the concert this evening too. T-shirt marked CH for
Mark Sweeney, who is not only the energetic front-man of Crystal Ball but also a true
national "flagship" for the new Swiss generation of Heavy/Rock. After the impact
provided by Hellvetia and having let understood how glad he is to find again
in this tour his "Schweizer Deutsch" -language, Mark announces
then Forever and eternally, always taken from the album Hellvetia. Vocals master well the melodies while the band in optimal synchrony plays resolute and mature.
Crystal Ball grow in experience more and more, and this tour has enhanced a lot their abilities.
Scott's solos are impeccable, while the compact heavy rhythmic section
is constructive. Skilful keyboards provided by Tom Graber
who again manages guitar and key's with no problems . Heavy proceeding and sweet melodies please the crowd massively. Among interaction with the pit and songs like
Lay down the Law, My Life, Dance with the Devil , Private
Visitor, the show flows with enthusiasm. It's around 20:34 that
CB's gig ends, and Mark doesn't forget to present with pride the members of his great band ,
to thank the audience that warmly supported, and to wish a good
continuation with Axxis and Pink Cream 69. Though a bit short, it was however an ideal half hour of very good
warm-up with involving Heavy/Rockin' songs that delivered a complete spectrum of fresh force. But who will be the next?
It seems that Axxis will hit the stage as next band.
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| AXXIS | |
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The remarkable performance of Axxis develops mainly on these level: it's very varied and highly interactive supported by a good technique. Good technique that however we have already admired in Crystal Ball. The atmosphere in the village remains sparkling and resolute , and gets even funny cause frontman Bernhard Weiss has energy to sell and extroverted communicativeness, full of irony. Axxis are a very good Heavy/Power band, and their acoustic set presents quality, sympathy and emotion. Fact is that Axxis master the stage, this evening, starting off with the attractive Angel of Death from their latest album "Time Machine", and going on with tracks like Lost in the Darkness and Brother Moon. Another great point of force is their thunderous drumming. The considerable heaviness and determination of the instruments has penalized a bit Bernhard's vocals in the very beginning of the concert. But things went quickly better concerning the timbre of voice and microphone setting, so that all the ability of Bernhard Weiss can burst out more and more. Maybe Axxis were afraid of the Swiss crowd... and it was wrong! Cause the audience is simply in rapture: seen this, Bernhard has understood that Axxis are esteemed and the rest is history. Once the engine starts, ehi! try to stop it. The enthusiasm rises. The cadenced mid tempo of Brother Moon arouses an almost general sing along, while the faster, anthemic tracks are rewarded wit headbanging's and horns up. Oh this is a kind of Power i can a least bear. The good mood is mixed with feelings, while Bernhard, now totally reassured and in full self confidence turns out as a dynamic singer and king of entertainment, that he knows however how to calibrate. To have fun doesn't mean for Axxis to degenerate or to lose concentration. The atmosphere created by the songs doesn't suffer at my eyes (and not only at mine) pathetic lows, like i have seen this winter wit another band of this style.
setlist Angel of Death Lost in the Darkness Brother Moon My little Princess Little War Battle of Power Trash in Tibet Acoustic Set : Fire & Ice, Touch the Rainbow Wind in the Night Little look back Kingdom of the Night ----------------------------------- Shadowman Living in a World Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Good-bye
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| PINK CREAM 69 | |
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22.34 Pink Cream 69 are vigorously announced then lights are off
and a digital gloomy intro resounds . This band too is well received by the Alpen Rock House. Pink Cream
69 open with Thunderdome, titletrack of their latest album, with
pressing tones, but however they appear at once to be calm and very melodic: but
this Melodic Rock is full of tension and fascination cause the solidity of the
Old School Rock often surfaces. At the very beginning,
vocals cannot be heard but microphone is set again properly and the velvety but resolute vocals of
David Readman, that tries to communicate in German too, can cast a spell on the pit. Pink cream 69 show the
typical calm of the strong ones,
Lost in Illusion is announced
together with a "Come on!!" and the audience answers warmly.
The next challenge "Are you ready to break the silence?!" is
taken up and the song Break the Silence starts among rays of light dancing, speed up's
and slow down's concerning vocals too, that become agile, following the
elasticity of the instruments, in particular Koffler's guitar is
very exact . The band is a generally static but full of self
consciousness and David readman towers the situation without much shaking.
The more Pink Cream play, the more a general hand clapping is unleashed.
At 23:06 starts a drum solo, lively underlined by the audience. From slow beats to very fast ones,
drums snare and cymbals are launched with precision. It follows Seas of
Madness where many Rock influences mix together. Catchiness and energy. During the acoustic version of
One Step many lighters makes their flames shine in the darkness: romantic moment and mesmerized
applauses. Galloping's and harmonic balladesque motions alternate for the rest of the show
through tracks like That was Yesterday, The Spirit, Living my
Life and the pushing Twisted, after which the band greets the crowd, well pleased. An
unisonal "ehi ehi ehi ehi ehi " invites Pink Cream 69 to come back for the encore which begins with the catchy
rhythmed, Welcome . Melodic with temperament is Shame where
Readman is supported by good backing vocals, and finally the Police enthralling reggae
of song So Lonely, interpreted very well, and in an interactive way,
spread in the air. With this audience so cooperative, elastic and enthusiast the evening still goes on to be a reciprocal pleasure.
We are around 12:00 Time for the last sing along in crescendo ...so lonely
! Thunderdome Like it Hell's gone crazy Lost in Illusion Break the Silence Moon Carnaby Road (Drum solo) Seas of Madness One Step That was Yesterday The Spirit Living my Life Twisted ---------------- Welcome Shame So
lonely |
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dalia di giacomo  |
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Mighty
and trusting the great work done by the rhythmic section,
Axxis reach the moment of the acoustic set which delivers Fire & Ice and Touch the Rainbow.
Absolutely cool is the interaction with a Spanish girl that is called from the audience to animate the acoustic moment with a
tambourine together with the band. The way Bernhard Weiss tries to
utter some words in Spanish is totally funny. I must say it's a show in the show.
Concerning the quality of the acoustic set in itself i can only say it is really awesome. It has definitively broken any remaining pockets of ice and the rest of the show is a wide road without
obstacles. The encore is called and the show ends wit the village singing in choir
Na na hey hey good -bye. Oh yes for people like me this
is to be taken like a homeopathic medicine, in small doses, but
it's good vibes! 22.15 the band greets the audience, very grateful for the warm approvals,
announcing Pink Cream 69. 
and their British front- man
doesn't need that much in order to get attention: a note, a glance,
a movement are enough. He has that British ability to gain
proselytes without use of brute force. But Pink Cream 69 can however
show their teeth when they want, delivering aggressive tracks, so between romantic atmosphere and hammering riffs, they maintain the pit
pulsing with no apparent effort. 
Niederrohrdorf
- Switzerland