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2016-05-26 DE – Dortmund - Westfalenhalle 1 |
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Mando Diao - Garbage - Powerwolf - Prime Circle Ok, here we are at Westfalenhalle 1 for the first day of ROCK IM REVIER 2016. The arrival was quite relaxed. No traffic jams, no queues. The media center was quickly found and engrossed (what luxury). Photo rules are strict: Escort to the photo pit and back for every band, no impression photos allowed indoor, only outdoor. And we are only allowed to re-enter the indoor hall without any cameras. But that’s all ok, ways are short, I missed only one track till I was back in front of stage ;) It all went nicely. :: Pics ::
We started into the festival weekend with :: PRIME CIRCLE ::. I never heard of this band before, so a new discovery ;) PRIME CIRCLE is a South African rock band, operating out of Johannesburg. The band has released six studio albums to date and achieved multi-platinum-selling status in South Africa. Wow! The guys delivered a highly energetic show, musically ranging between Alternative and Rock with a noticeable Grunge note. I really liked it. The hall is still quite empty but present fans got quickly enthused. PRIME CIRCLE are currently on tour throughout Europe and can be seen and experienced on smaller stages between the festivals. If you have the possibility, go and catch them!
Next up is :: POWERWOLF ::, the one and only metal band tonight that seems to be kind of misplaced here. But it is also POWERWOLF only tonight, who draw the gross of fans and fill the hall acceptably. Unfortunately, German power metallers had to face some technical problems. Especially bass player Charles Greywolf had to run behind the stage every little while to adjust the sound. Didn’t harm the show, and their show was mighty.
Right after the audience got completely interchanged. Most of the metal fans left, Rock and Alternative fans came closer to the stage. Unfortunately, less numerous as :: GARBAGE :: would have deserved. And GARBAGE got vehemently into their set, rocked the stage almost aggressively. Sound was significantly worse, I don’t know why. Singer Shirley Manson was in a strange mood, seemed to be absent-minded while performing. It got explained with the song Push It she dedicated to a girl that must have been passed away the same day. I guess that was a message she got prior the show and it took her visibly a lot of power not to burst into tears. Dear Shirly, my respect for playing the show: My heart goes out for you and the loss you have to face. The track, Why Do You Love Me, she dedicated to all the fans out there, who supported the band through all the years. On June 10, GARBAGE will release a new album, entitled Strange Little Birds, they played only one song from: Empty. The rest was a best-of set through the band’s history. GARBAGE surely did not play their best show tonight, but the most emotional and touching one.
And I finally I got to see :: MANDO DIAO ::. I like their music, especially the band’s latest album Ælita. I have never seen them playing live and thus was much looking forward to the show. The hall emptied even more but that did not prevent the Swedes from kicking in furiously, with full force and fires. And… hardly to believe… the first crowd surfer of the festival happened to appear at the MANDO DIAO show ;) After a turbulent and energetic first part, MANDO DIAO switched over to an acoustic part for three songs. Before they started, singer Björn Dixgård and drummer Patrik Heikinpieti took their shirst of what caused a lot of ah’s and oh’s. Mostly from the girls. Of course ;) MANDO DIAO also played a typical festival best-of show, perfectly made to dance the soul off and to feel great :) Loved it! |
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story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography |
