BLACK MIRRORS, ’77 & HORISONT – We Need More Cowbell

Tags

'77, About Time, AC/DC, Andy Cobo, Anouk, Armand Valeta, Axel, Black Mirrors, Break The Limit, Century Media, Charles, Crusher Records, David, Debut, Funky Queen, Guillem Martinez, High Decibels, Horisont, Jack White, Janis Joplin, Jex Thoth, LG Valeta, Magnus, Marcella Di Troia, Metal Blade Records, Napalm Records, Nightrider, Nirvana, Nothing's Gonna Stop Us, Odyssey, Pierre Lateur, Pitcher, Pontus, Queen Of Spades Photography, Queens Of The Stongeage, Rise Above Records, The Unseen, Två Sidor Av Horisonten

Early on in promoting their About Time Tour 2017, Swedish Classic Hard Rockers Horisont announced a first date as sold out. What to expect from a show in a rather tiny venue, selling out on a Saturday night to host the third day of their European leg with special guests ’77 and Black Mirrors: Nothing but one of the best live packages of early 2017, maybe the entire year.

Starting off with a slight delay of about ten minutes and a strict curfew to be done by 10pm sharp, opening act Black Mirrors enters the small stage of Pitcher – Rock’n’Roll Headquarter Düsseldorf. The Belgian four-piece offers a great blend of groove enthused Garage Rock, taking influences from Janis Joplin, Jack White, Anouk, Nirvana and Queens Of The Stone Age, this is pure, raw entertainment. Guitarist Pierre Lateur gives in to the power of the moment as if there was no tomorrow, laying on his back, bending his knees as much as the strings on his white stratocaster. While vocalist Marcella Di Troia impresses the audience with her vigorous and well-trained voice, looking like a younger version or younger sister of Jex Thoth. Their self-titled debut EP has been released on March 3rd via Napalm Records and with songs like the funktastic “Funky Queen” a full-length record is only a matter of time.

Won’t You Take Me To Funky Town?

With both founding members, brothers Valeta well in their 30s and their minds set somewhere in the 70s, Spanish Powerhouse ’77 saw quite a rejuvenation right after I’ve last seen them in early 2013. Adding youngsters Guillem Martinez and Andy Cobo to the lineup, the new face of the band is vivid and rough. Though Armands lead vocals seem a bit frail at first, each member delivers all the way through from the introductory part to the final tone. My personal fave “High Decibels” comes in second and as I changed my position from stage left to merch right, this proves to come in handy mid through the set, as lead guitarist LG climbs up the bar the present his entertainment skills. No need to warm up the audience for the main act with sweat literally dripping from the ceiling, ’77 take the title of their most current record literal as there is no stopping them – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” released 30.10.2015 via Century Media. And no need to compare this act with AC/DC during the Bon Scott era, as they rock and roll a niche entirely of their own.

On Your Knees And Play!

A century into their career, Horisont take the headlining position serious enough to choose tracks from all phases of the past ten years. Epic timelessness flows from tracks such as “Electrical” off their most recent release “About Time” (out on 03.02.2017 on Century Media) or “Writings On The Wall” & “Diamonds In Orbit”, both off “Time Warriors” (out on 27.09.2013 via Metal Blades Records). The night clearly peaks with the uptempo masterpiece “Break The Limit” from the fourth full-length “Odyssey” (out on 18.09.2015 through Rise Above Records), that has main parts of the crowd singing along with the chorus. But my personal highlights are the two beautiful bluesy pieces from their debut “Två Sidor Av Horisonten” (out on 25.09.2009 on Crusher Records) “Nightrider” and my all-time fave “The Unseen”. Needless to say that the with its current incarnation featuring vocalist Axel, guitarists Charles and David, bassist Magnus and drummer Pontus, the band is as strong as ever.

All pictures courtesy of Queen Of Spades Photograpy!

__________________________________________________________________

BLACK MIRRORS on Facebook

HORISONT on Facebook

’77 on Facebook

’77 – Saucy in Switzerland

Tags

'77, AC/DC, AC/DC Fancamp, Alte Kaserne Zürich, Armand Valeta, Bringing It Back, Bullet, Dolphin Riot, Ice Rock Festival, Le Cactus Music Bar, LG Valeta, Motorjesus, On-Off, Peter Metzinger, Pino Music, Psychopunch, Rage, Raw Rau, Rock'n'Roll Overdose, Sin City, Supercharger, The Crumpets, The New Black

As a true music enthusiast, travelling in the name of Rock’n’Roll has become a major part of my life and so I find myself hitting the road or in this case the air to see ’77 play two shows in Switzerland in early january. And although I most enjoy total spontaneous adventures, it is not a short notice for me to fly to Zürich and the whole trip is well-prepared. Arriving a day in advance of the first gig, there is enough time for some sight-seeing, as this is the first time ever that I visit our southern neighbours. So, take a look at this little check-list, prior to the journey:

– Cheapo flights from Cologne to Zürich, booked end of november

– accommodations for four nights

– new temporary passport, after losing mine

– money exchange, for they have no Euro in Switzerland

– measuring my suitcase to avoid luggage check-in and additional costs

– train ticket to Cologne airport

– and of course loads of music for the time travelling

Crazy crowd in Zürich (©Roland Müller)

This first insight into swiss nightlife leads me to Le Cactus Music Bar, downtown Zürich. A real cosy place for Rockers and Rollers – situated at the middle of Kanonengasse and thus just a few feet away from where all the action will be the very next day. Friday starts with an awesome breakfast and some more extended walk through the countries largest city, including getting a little wasted along lake Zürich. With nightfall we finally arrive at the venue Alte Kaserne (Old Barrack), just as ’77 starting their soundcheck.

The event, organized by Peter Metzinger and Pino Music, is a dedication to the 70s, when the world saw the adolescence of Rock’n’Roll and there seems to be some way of easiness around. “Bringing It Back” is the, let me call it working title and three bands are on the line up to bring the audience a breeze of the past to the present. Hitting the stage as the nights’ opener is Italy’s very own explosive Ribcrasher Rock’n’Roll Band and AC/DC Tribute, ON-OFF. Founded in 1998 by Matteo Vago they deliver a solid sound combined with a rocking show, which makes this a worthy entry. The influence AC/DC has on each of the nights’ bands is pretty much obvious and with an SG and a Rickenbacker bass (and bassist Fabio in a flannel shirt), ON-OFF even have a look close to ’77.

Rock’n’Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (©Roland Müller)

The original schedule has SIN/CITY second in line, but due to ’77 fronter Armand Valeta coming down with a sudden case of angina, the running order is being shifted and makes the German High Voltage Rock’n’Rollers an abrupt Headliner. As the place is well filled with fans of any age, we see the evenings’ highlight at a rather early hour and I’m ever so happy to witness the first true Rock Show of 2013! Besides the slight change, one could hardly tell ’77 are hitting the stage with a sick singer – Armand steps aside to have his brother LG on lead guitar and bassist Raw tear the place apart and engaging themselves with more vocals than – at least as far as I can tell – ever before. This proves to be no disadvantage but on the contrary: Zürich witnesses a strong and professional performance by one of this days most promising acts around. Furthermore, LG becomes the center of attention, singing “Give Me A Dollar”. Now, that’s what I call great genes!

LG: Getting into the merchandise madness (©Roland Müller)

The next day we, that is my local host and the organizers of AC/DC Fancamp, who also came all the way from Germany to see ’77, hit the road, heading for Wasen. High up on the hills of Emmental, Ice Rock Festival takes place for the 11th time in a row. For sure, this is not your usual event: Having a festival in the midst of winter, building a concert venue in an old barn, getting tons of equipment into the middle of nowhere – the Swiss are a certainly a crazy little people!

Ice Rock has started on January 3rd, so we arrive for the final day and right in time for some more highlights. On our arrival four girls, calling themselves THE CRUMPETS heat up the interior. Five-string bass guitar, polyphonic harmonies and catchy lyrics are a guarantee of a great lively atmosphere. And to my surprise German Metal Veterans RAGE play BEFORE ’77 – but who would want to complain about this, except for Peavy, Victor and André.

with Dolphin & Raw of ’77 and Ice Rock Crew members before the Show    (©Peter Metzinger)

Stagetime is at half past eleven and a 90 minutes set is scheduled for this saturday. Expectations among spectators are up the roof and the four Spanish musicians manage to rock even harder than the night before. Summing it up, I can say that this trip was worth every single second!

For all you Spaniards, ’77 will be touring with BULLET in early march, don’t miss it. Check out all dates here! And there is good news for Germany and Switzerland, as the guys will be part of this years’ Rock’n’Roll Overdose – featuring PSYCHOPUNCH, MOTORJESUS, THE NEW BLACK and SUPERCHARGER –  in april, covering three weeks of Rocking!

Bringing it Back – Giving it all at Ice Rock