Written by:	GRIGAL
Published:	January 08, 2007
Event:	Krokus
Location:	Old Power Station, La Valette, Malta

Korkus + Boys Next Door + Fire - Live at the Old Power Station, Malta - 25th Nov. 2006


Marc Storace has been fronting Krokus for the best part of these last 25 years. Throughout this time, although he trotted the globe with these Swiss rockers, Malta had never been in the band's tpuring schedule. Malta was where Marc was born, where he spent his childhood and where he first started singing with his first bands. When one puts this trivia in context of the gig in question, it becomes clearer what an emotionally charged event this was destined to be.


Fire

It all kicked off with a performance from local band Fire. Without doubt Fire gave an exciting display of professionalism, showmanship and talent.

The band's repertoire has a traditional style drawing inspiration from Classic Rock bands such as AC/DC and Deep Purple (especially the latter). It was no surprise, therefore, that the band covered 'Whole Lotta Rosie' (by AC/DC) and 'Stormbringer' (by Deep Purple). The rest of Fire's 30 minute set-list consisted of songs off "Ignite" - the band's debut (and only) album. All these songs, but especially 'Get Out Of My Way' and 'Away For Good' seemed written puposely for a 'live' delivery. The climax of Fire's show must have been 'Conspiracy Theory' in which guitarists Robert Longo and Pejxa (pronounced 'pei-sha') engaged in a Stratovarius-style high speed duet. For this gig Fire utilised two female backng vocals in order to give the songs a more integral feel.





Despite some sound problems and a conspicuous age-gap between the band memebers this gig suggested a natural chemistry seems to pervade within Fire.

Fire Set-list:
Get Out Of My Way
Taste This Rock N' Roll
Away For Good
Stormbringer (Deep Purple cover)
Conspiracy Theory
Manhunter
Whole Lotta Rosie (AC/DC cover)


Boys Next Door

I rember attending a performance of Powergod in Germany. The band had given a great performance but a set-list focused entirely on covers left with with a feeling of emptiness. This was basically my reaction to the performance of Boys Next Door who almost entirely focused their set-list on Rush covers.

The sound in fact reminded me of "Signals" - Rush's 1982 album. To their credit, the 3 musicians forming BND proved to be very good musicians, especally the drummer. However the band wasn't very engaging with the audience and strugled to build any rapport with the crowd.






Around half-way through the set, Krokus vox Marc Storace momentarily joined the band on stage to sing 'Alexandra' - a song for which Tea (Marc's 1970s, pre-Krokus band) was very well known. The audience seemed thrilled, nearly as much a Marc himself seemed to be!


Krokus

A sold-out venue, a wild hyperactive crowd, a band that seemed to be having the time of its life. Whichever way you care to look at it, Krokus' gig at Malta's old power-station was one helluva big success.






The band started with a few songs off the new "Hellraiser" album. In spite of having his bass momentarily disconnected, Tony Castell didn't lose his focus and enthusiasm. The crowd didn't seem entirely familiar with 'Hellraiser', 'Too Wired To Sleep' and 'Hangman' but the response to these songs was nonetheless extremely encouraging. Krokus then delivered some of their classic songs and the crowd went berserk.






'Long Stick Goes Boom' and 'Bad Boys Rag Dolls', with their joyously cheesy lyrics, proved to be perennially popular. 'Fight On', also from "Hellraiser", must be one of the heviest songs Krokus has ever written and the high level of musicianship of all the Krokus dudes emerged in full force in this song. Almost 'sadistically' the band contiued to rip the place apart with 'Screaming In The Night', 'American Woman' (The Guess Who cover, and a Krokus live favourite) and 'Rock City'. Towards the end, the fact that the crowd kept on doing an 'Oliver Twist' ("we want more") clearly summed up Mr Public's judgement on this gig.






Marc instinctively knew how to work up the audience. Speaking in native Maltese language, donning a cloak emblazoned with a 'Maltese Cross' and giving the audience brief but impassioned messages to the audience worked wonders in exorcising warm rounds of applause. Guitarist Mandy Meyer was impressive and suggested what an underrated guitarist he often tends to be. Drummer Stephan Schwarzmann (ex-Accept, ex-Running Wild) proved to be an important pillar of the current Krokus powerhouse.....and a cool showman too.






Krokus continues to evolove and grow, as this gig testified. despite unprecedentally touring without (orignal guitarist) Fernando von Arb, this line-up seems top work marvellously. Speaking about gigs, I can't help thnking that the band's impending tour with Hammerfall (from January 2007) shall push up the band's statusa notch or two within the global scene. There's also a strong 'hellraising' album toi back them up after all.






Krokus Set-list:
Hellraiser
Too Wired To Sleep
Hangman
Long Stick Goes Boom
Bad Boys
Midnight Maniac
Fight On
Screaming In The Night
Spirit Of The Night
American Woman
Angel Of My Dreams
Easy Rocker
Rock City
Rock N' Roll Tonite
Celebration
Headhunter
Bedside Radio
Mad World


The authour of this review would like to thank the following for their kind and valuable co-operation: Peter Waelti, Stefan Vassallo, Max Attard Portughes (great pics bro!) abd James 'Anomaly' Baldacchino.

Chris Galea

Related websites:
Krokus - http://www.krokusonline.com
Fire - http://www.firemalta.com
Photography - http://www.pixbymax.com