edguy live

A dull Friday afternoon, turning into a drizzle filled evening with a single redeeming feature - Edguy hitting the stage at The Rescue Rooms. With a sense of real anticipation, I queued with the punters awaiting the opening of doors ... Little knowing I was supposed to be inside interviewing Tobias. More on this tale later ...

The opening act seemed like a very odd choice of support for Edguy - more emo/screamo than metal and not at all what the crowd was expecting from their night out. They probably would have gone down a lot better with a different headliner more in keeping with their style, as they weren't lacking in ability. Most of Edguy's devoted power metal following was a bit non plussed by it all - generating few cheers and sadly some heckling from the least impressed punters. The band almost looked happy to be leaving the stage.

White Wizzard were always going to get a different response from the crowd. Old school (British- style) heavy metal from across the pond. From the obligatory greeting at the start of the gig, there were devil horns a-plenty. Reminiscent of earlier Iron Maiden, Diamond Head and their contemporaries. Hell, one of their guitarists even looked like a very fresh faced James Hetfield (circa Ride the Lightning era). I missed the middle segment of the Wizzard's set thanks to the interview finally coming to fruition. What I heard before and after my backstage trip made me add their albums to my often mentioned Amazon wish list.

What had happened during my hiatus from front of house was a huge crowd had turned up - the Rescue Rooms was filling up significantly. By the time Edguy hit the stage, the room looked altogether too small for the band (and to be honest it was) ... If the place had rafters, it would have been full to them. The cheers for the band were all but deafening - thank god for musician's ear plugs is all I can say!

If you have never been to an Edguy show or listened to one of their albums, you are missing out. They often get painted with the same brush as the vast majority of German power metal. Nothing could be further from the truth - they genuinely have very little resemblance to the Gamma Rays of this world, especially on the more recent albums. They mix everything from power ballads worthy of Europe to sing along heavy metal classics. There are even elements of such bands as Skid Row creeping in here and there. I think the word "originality" is impossible to justify for anyone these days, so let's call it a "unique slant". Not only so they write quality music with excellent lyrics - including some significantly humorous songs, like Lavatory Love Machine (a real crowd pleaser).

From start to finish of any gig, this one included, Edguy are consummate showmen. The come on stage without much pomp and circumstance, then procede to rock the roof off the venue. Well rehearsed, tight sounding and a slick live machine are all phrases that are overused, but to be honest they really are true of Edguy. The band are professional entertainers in every sense of the word.

The crowd reaction was, of course, predictably enthusiastic. Half the crowd was singing for much of the gig. So much so that Tobias was able to have the crowd singing chorus after chorus. It is such a rarity to see a Maidenesqie sing-a-long section to a gig in such a small venue look anything but cheesy, but this one worked damn well because sheer noise caused by the 90% of the crowd joining in.

The band will be playing at Bloodstock Open Air, so get off your collective asses and buy a ticket! Edguy are worth at least a third of the ticket price on their own.

by Kev McCarthy