skyrefuge
Member
I was sort of dreading going to this show, since "professional" power metal bands don't really do it for me anymore. Gamma Ray is one of my nostalgic all-time favorites (I found out about the band in '94, from a book, in the library, in the reference section!), so I felt a sense of obligation to go, even though the two previous times I saw them didn't really live up to my expectations. Adding insult to injury, their latest album is called "To the Metal". Ugh. "Obligation" isn't really the best reason to go to a show. I didn't even buy my ticket until MPshows confirmed the show was still on (thanks for harassing him, guys!)
Like Jose said, travel was a non-issue. I left Schaumburg at 8:00, and got there even before Mindwarp Chamber had started. I think my car barely touched snow, and given my right-across-the-street parking spot, my boots definitely didn't. Incredible job by the city/suburbs at snow-removal. But I bet it scared a bunch of people off. My count put the total at 130, 150 max.
So, Gamma Ray. They were really damn good. It didn't take long for them to remind me that they are not the backing-tape/plays-to-a-click-track/robot/boring-as-hell power metal band I was dreading. That should have been obvious, since Kai Hansen was on Helloween's "Live in the U.K." (the best live power metal album of all time due to its looseness and constant improv jams), but I don't remember seeing that side of them previously. Here, perhaps fueled by Kai's frequent cups of "tea", they played the fast songs (Armageddon, Man on a Mission) ridiculously fast and loose, and then filled them in with random interludes, such as "Sweet Home Chicago" (more than just a tease!) and even reggae during a version of "Man on a Mission" that got awesomely close to the song "Miracle" from their awesomely awesome 'Silent Miracles' EP. By the time "I Want Out" rolled around, they had won me over so much that I actually enjoyed the song for the first time in the 20 years I've been listening to it. Kai looks and acts incredibly young for a 48-year-old German, and his Adrian Smith mannerisms are a perfect match for Henjo's Dave Murray mannerisms. They were either having a lot of fun, or are so professional that they can pretend to have a lot of fun even when getting up a 4am to catch a day-delayed flight from LA to play in front of a small crowd on a cold night in Chicago. Whichever it was, I was convinced.
Oh man. I was right next to Jason during "Ride the Sky". That confused guy nearly could have been *me*, trying really hard to keep a straight face and not die from laughter.
Note that Gamma Ray played from 9:53pm to midnight, so now that you guys have learned that it's possible to show up late, and Gamma Ray played as long as they wanted, you're going to have to invent a new reason to bitch about opening bands!
Neil
Like Jose said, travel was a non-issue. I left Schaumburg at 8:00, and got there even before Mindwarp Chamber had started. I think my car barely touched snow, and given my right-across-the-street parking spot, my boots definitely didn't. Incredible job by the city/suburbs at snow-removal. But I bet it scared a bunch of people off. My count put the total at 130, 150 max.
So, Gamma Ray. They were really damn good. It didn't take long for them to remind me that they are not the backing-tape/plays-to-a-click-track/robot/boring-as-hell power metal band I was dreading. That should have been obvious, since Kai Hansen was on Helloween's "Live in the U.K." (the best live power metal album of all time due to its looseness and constant improv jams), but I don't remember seeing that side of them previously. Here, perhaps fueled by Kai's frequent cups of "tea", they played the fast songs (Armageddon, Man on a Mission) ridiculously fast and loose, and then filled them in with random interludes, such as "Sweet Home Chicago" (more than just a tease!) and even reggae during a version of "Man on a Mission" that got awesomely close to the song "Miracle" from their awesomely awesome 'Silent Miracles' EP. By the time "I Want Out" rolled around, they had won me over so much that I actually enjoyed the song for the first time in the 20 years I've been listening to it. Kai looks and acts incredibly young for a 48-year-old German, and his Adrian Smith mannerisms are a perfect match for Henjo's Dave Murray mannerisms. They were either having a lot of fun, or are so professional that they can pretend to have a lot of fun even when getting up a 4am to catch a day-delayed flight from LA to play in front of a small crowd on a cold night in Chicago. Whichever it was, I was convinced.
Oh man. I was right next to Jason during "Ride the Sky". That confused guy nearly could have been *me*, trying really hard to keep a straight face and not die from laughter.
Note that Gamma Ray played from 9:53pm to midnight, so now that you guys have learned that it's possible to show up late, and Gamma Ray played as long as they wanted, you're going to have to invent a new reason to bitch about opening bands!
Neil
