|
|
|
Dokken
+ Crystal Ball A good show with better attendance than I expected. That's the final verdict. E-Klub is a relatively small venue in Budapest and the promotion of the show was rather poor, so I was surprised to see that there were about 600 people gathered to see Dokken playing in Hungary for the first time.
I was prepared for a slow, laid-back, emotionless Don Dokken but the man on stage was even worse than my expectations. A fat man, trying to save his voice as much as possible, hitting *some* old-timer high notes but mostly just imitating a stage presence, moving maximum one step to the left and one to the right. John Norum was even worse! Okay, I know it's just a paid, fill-in spot for him in Dokken but at least one would expect some emotions on his face when playing, at least one single (!) eye-contact with the crowd. His playing was okay, nothing more. The rhythm section saved the day for Dokken. Mick Brown and Barry Sparks were simply fantastic, as tight as if they had played together for 20 years. They both drew one's glance from the right side of the stage (filled with Don and Norum). Barry's playing and stage moves were at least as spectacular as young Malmsteen throwing himself and his guitar all over the place; and Mick is the Power behind. He is probably the strongest drummer with the heaviest performance I've ever seen, not to mention that he was singing backing vocals on almost all the songs, and he was the one who kept joking from behind his kit trying to lighten up the melancholic atmosphere that lingers around when Don appears. Thinking a bit more about it: the band lived up to my expectations (that weren't too high after the relatively weak albums of the last some years) Don being as emotionless as expected, Norum being a lot worse, but the rhythm section being much better and an evening of entertainment in themselves. However, if Dokken played in the same venue next week, I wouldn't go but if Crystal Ball played there, I would most definitely be there. And I guess this is very sad for Dokken and more than flattery for the young Swiss guys.
Review by Endre "Bandi" Hübner, |
We
were a little late, missed the two Hungarian opening acts (who according
to those who saw them "sucked big time") and Crystal Ball just
started their set when we got in. The venue was about half-filled by
that time and the Swiss band put on a great show. Not being familiar
with their three albums I was very pleasantly surprised by their melodic
hard rock and easy- going, stress-free performance. The band had the
stage presence, were moving a lot, played tight, and most of all had
the looks. I mean there are way too many shorthaired, slowed-down rock
musicians on stage nowadays whose show is boring as hell, Crystal Ball
are not one of them. They played a relatively short set, unknown to
most of the people in attendance but they kept working very hard to
win the audience for them. They talked to them, had fun, made the crowd
sing and clap, mentioning the name of the band after almost every song.
Very clever, well-prepared, mature way to win new fans and making good
use of their opening slot. All in all the show was so good that I looked
out for a merchandise stand to buy their albums, much to my unpleasant
surprise there wasn't any. I really don't know how two bands can tour
Europe without bringing any albums or T-shirts with them. Someone at
the tour promoter or at the label must be kicked serious ass!
After
a short break 800 pounds took the stage. Okay, I saw a few photos of
the new line- up of Dokken recently but Don and especially John Norum
looked even more fat live than on photos. They played a well-built,
but way too short set opening with "Kiss of Death", including some of
their greatest hits like "Into The Fire", "Breaking The Chains", "It's
Not Love" (with Don making the audience sing the refrains), "When Heaven
Comes Down". Thankfully there were only two songs ("Sunless Days" and
"Little Girl") included from their weak new album. Would anyone believe
there's a Dokken show without "Unchain The Night"?! Well, there was
one… I still have no idea how come!
