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Anyone who took the time to read the last link might have noticed that I have reported on many concerts. Ten years ago, there were still a few affordable (or even free) festivals in OWL (from Minden to Herford, Bielefeld, Detmold, Gütersloh, and Paderborn) in the summer, and many more interesting concerts in the autumn to spring period. Twenty years ago, there were even more! In the early to mid-90s, I attended 25-30 concerts a year! And now???
Nothing anymore!!! Or let's say, there are significantly fewer concerts now. This is partly due to some clubs having to close, like JZ Kamp. However, there are new clubs like JZ Stricker. But in general, there are simply far fewer concerts here in OWL. Concert organizers are increasingly moving to Münster. Bielefeld is just out. In Herford, fewer and fewer concerts are taking place year after year. Gütersloh - Paderborn - Minden, I hardly hear anything from there anymore, despite the Internet (I just mention Facebook)... And Detmold is completely dead :-(
So, enough whining!
Let's get to the concert, on a Tuesday at the Bielefeld "Forum," which doesn't really bode well. Midweek, the beginning of summer, and 15 euros admission. Actually, 15 euros is a lot of money for us East Westphalians for two bands that hardly anyone knows. We just don't have as much cash as the Bavarians, the Baden-Württembergers, the Berliners, the Ruhr folks, the Rhinelanders & Co. We are thrifty... And those who don't adhere to this will be deported to the Swabians or the Scots ;-) That's why the Umsonst & Draußen festivals still have such a good turnout here, while the rest of the republic heads to Wacken, Scheeßel, Southside, or Rock im Park / am Ring and spends hundreds of euros there. I'm digressing again.
So 15 euros were absolutely fine for the two bands, and first up was the trio THE MUGGS from Detroit, who took the small stage of the "Forum." Even though the band has been around for 15 years, they were completely unknown to me. This was probably the case for most of the audience, but the three guys managed to quickly engage the notoriously stubborn East Westphalian crowd. They had me hooked quickly too, even though I'm not really a fan of hard rock blues. But their energy, which they conjured up for 60 minutes on stage, their fat sound, and the expressive vocals of mastermind Danny Methric got every audience member's foot and torso moving. The Americans really know how to put on a show without needing any gimmicks. I felt like I was back in the golden 70s, not just because the scent of incense filled the small, well-packed room. Somehow, the entire performance fit perfectly together, the Hammond (?) organ played by Tony DeNardo providing a rich, bass-heavy sound, the drumming of Todd Glass (who somehow reminded me of the "Animal," the shaggy drummer from Sesame Street) perfectly on point with the right pressure, and of course, the dynamic guitar sound including the solos from Danny Methric. The three Americans really know their craft. Unfortunately, despite the thunderous applause, they did not play an encore :-(
Since there wasn't much to change on stage, SIENA ROOT took the stage half an hour later. But something was missing in the first ten minutes.... And why were the Swedes only four on stage? Quite simply, the first two songs were instrumental, so singer Jonas "Joe Nash" Åhlen only came on stage for the third song. And once again, I felt like I was transported back to the 70s. The flux capacitor that evening was more like the guitar of Matte Gustavsson. What the Swede conjured from the six strings and Marshall amplifier was simply amazing.... Wow!
Also equipped with a Marshall amplifier was bassist Sam Riffer, who didn't move from his spot throughout the entire show. What interested me (as an active bassist) even more was his bass, a 4003 Rickenbacker, and he had two of them. These beauties are very, very expensive... and until now, I only knew three bassists who play such fine instruments: Paul McCartney, Lemmy Kilmister, and Carl-Johan Fogelklou from MANDO DIAO. But the bass sound fits perfectly with the sound of SIENA ROOT. The Hohner electric organ played by Erik Pettersson, which hasn't been produced for 40 years, also fits the 70s sound perfectly, and all of this is at a high and expensive level. To complete the band, there was only drummer Love Forsberg, who truly lived up to his name; just look at the pictures ;-) Although his internally lit bass drum was also a sight to behold ;-)
And so SIENA ROOT delivered a full 90-minute program, and my foot and body were moving throughout the entire performance, even though this Stoner - Psychedelic - Progressive - Rock isn't at the top of my favorite music list. But the band simply knew how to engage the audience in the smaller concert space of the now full Forum. Experience counts, and everything just clicked that evening in their over 15-year band history. Even when Joe Nash left the stage (twice, I think?), and there was only instrumental music, the music floated in the room, especially during the brief guitar solos of Matte Gustavsson. The audience was completely absorbed in the music, in the sound.... Amazing....
Unfortunately, there was only one encore, but it was something else.... The stage was on fire... And I don't just mean that literally but really... Flames shot from the cymbal stands, the sticks (!), and the organ!!! Of course, nothing happened to the instruments, but as a show element, it was a sight to behold!!!
Unfortunately, there was no second encore, despite the heavy applause (from the otherwise quite stubborn East Westphalians). Just before midnight, the spectacle came to an end, and you could tell the audience enjoyed it by the crowd at the merchandise stand. TOP!
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