Hello!
Ok, here are my reviews of the visited shows:
Memmingen – Kaminwerk, 14.12.2007:
After seeing U.D.O. the last time in June on the Spirit of Rock, where they only played a hour, because it was a little festival, I was really keen on their “own” headliner-gig.
Before the gig, I was a littlebit frightened, that eventually not sooo many fans will come to the concert, because in our area at the moment are many concerts (for example tomorrow Helloween, Gamma Ray and Axxis...)...
But - what a nice surprise: The Kaminwerk (a nice little hall - or a bigger club,*g* - with a capazity of around 800 people) was totally full...I think it was as good as sold out. There was no space left,*g*! Great: 800 fans!!!
Ok, the opener Iron Fire was “ok” – not bad but also not really good. They don`t hurt!
I know, this sounds a littlebit hard .. but imo there are too many bands, which sound like Iron Fire. Melodic Metal, with some speed and happy (tralala,*g*) touch...Some songs are good (Raise the metalfist in the air – a song with such a name MUST be good,*g*) – but their songs would be great, if they would have “some dirt”...they are to sterile...and sometimes too “cheesy”. But, I don`t want be to negative, they did a good job as a opener and got good reactions!
Primal Fear got a warm welcome – and the band did a great job! Although I`m not a big PF fan, I have to say, that they are a good live band! And they really have many great songs and they did a great mix of older and brandnew songs!!! Two little things I don`t like at the PF-show:
1.) For the newer songs, they often used samples for the keyboards and so on...and I often think: Ok, when there are sounds from the PC...perhaps there comes more than only this one instrument.... PF played live – that`s sure...but I like it more, without samples... can`t explain it...
2.) The “posing” from Ralf Scheepers! Ralf is a great singer...and did a great job. But his acting looks not “natural” – you got the feeling, that he try to play a role during the gig.
The band got great reactions – and for a moment, I feared, that they will be the winner of the day...but, when their 85-90 minutes were over and U.D.O. started,
it was clear, that NO ONE can beat the metalgod and his band!
They started – as we all know – with the Mastercutor intro – followed by Mastercutor.
The fans gave everthing – and this during the first song.
I think, we all know the setlist...so I will only write my highlights and downers:
Downer:
1.) Guitar and Drum-Solo – because I want to hear instead of them two or three more songs. Also I think, Igors solo was ok with some nice parts – it wasn`t really necessary. Francescos solo I liked more...he is a great and powerfull drummer. But as I have written: I think, this about 8 minutes or something like that, could be used better...
2.) “Only” 100 Minutes U.D.O.,*g*
Highlights (no particular order):
1.) Udos voice!!! Absolutely fantastic! That he stopped smoking 3 years ago was really good for his voice! Although his voice was at evertime very, very powerfull...it was at the end of his smoking career limited and he sounded often, has he had a heavy cold (for example on the Japan-Thunderball bootleg or on the youtube videos from Igor – Kaufbeuren 2004 – by the way: I was on this concert,*g*). Now, I think he sounds better and even more powerfull than in the last 15 years and – I love it – he can do often again some higher notes and screams!!!!
2.) Udos acting! This man is the describtion of “POWER and ENERGY”! Without words...
3.) The power of the band! Like Mika mentioned, they are really heavy! And tight as a band can be!! Fantastic!
4.) The enthusiasm (
) of the band! I feeled, that they enjoy and like, what they do! Although it`s their job to earn their money – you got the feeling, that they are still a band of 5 friends which is hungry to play for the fans!!! I think, this is a very important point, because, if I don`t get this feeling transported by the band, I can`t enjoy the concert! e.g. by Judas Priest I only got this feeling: Ok, we play emotionless our 90 Minutes...because this is our job and we get money for this. Goodnight,
5.) About the songs: Some of you don`t like Vendetta sooo much! I love this one! And live the version was even better!!! Full of power! And the riff from the chorus is a “century-riff”,*g*
Wrong side of midnight was althoug heavy as sh*t! Pure power! The same with The bullet and the bomb (by the way: on this tour with a better solo, with don`t penetrates our ears,*g*)
Breaker in a fantastic version! Midnight Mover – always great to hear!
They want war was – like on the Mission Nr. X-Tour – boneshaking!
You see – for me every song was great (even the “everytime”-songs like Balls. Holy or Princess...I don`t want to miss them).
24/7 is a soon to be classic! Great tune!
One lone voice was fantastic – with an aggressive and high-singing Udo during the chorus!
And the scream before Fast as a shark was razorsharp! GREAT!!! And the song cut of your head!
6.) I like the “gimmicks” and “posing” the band does...e.g. at the beginning of Metal Heart, where Igor cleaned Stefans face with a towel. Udos head against Stefans guitar during Princess and so on! COOL!!!
As I stood in the middle of the first row I got a leather hand-
from Udo, a plec from Igor and the setlist! Very cool!
Nürnberg – Hirsch, 18.12.2007
After more than 25 concerts from U.D.O./Accept (my gig-history will follow) in the first or second row, I decided to see the band a littlebit “different”. So I stood at the wall right from the stage a few rows away! Nice experience,*g*!
Like I have written, the Hirsch was very crowded – something between 700 and 800 fans!!! Great!
I liked Iron Fire much more this evening! Good opening-job!
Primal Fear also did a great concert! Ralf had a littlebit problems with his voice! So he had to drink “warm tea with honey”...as he said: “The drinks on the stage changed from whiskey to tea with honey...very Metal indeed,*g*”!
U.D.O. did a fantastic gig again! Like Predator said, Igor walked through the hall during his solo! Very cool action! Very sympathic!
The beginning of Metal Heart was funny too. Stefan played a tone – Igor came into this...but his guitar was totally put out of tune! But Stefan – cool as he is – played along...and Igor had to play along too, while trying to get his guitar tuned!!! Very funny! Udo and Fitty laughed in the back about this clumsiness,*g*!
Munich – Metropolis, 20.12.2007:
Munich is always a hard road for U.D.O. – but the Metropolis was very good visited with around 450 – 500 fans(nearly sold out)! For U.D.O. in Munich is this a very good crowd!
Funny note:
During the double-bass part of Metal Heart (after the fan-singing) Udo shaked heavily the drumset of Francesco....so heavy, that the right part of the cymbal-carrier broke down! Francesco was really angry!
After Fast as a shark, when the band stood in the front to say goodbye, Udo caught Francesco and embraced him! Both laughed vehemently and “all was good”,*g*
Ups – this was a long one...sorry for that,*g*