Monday, June 2, 2008

Triple act concert review: Stage Dolls, Morten Abel and Dio

I'm back from my weekend trip to Kopervikfestivalen, where I was going to see a triple concert with Stage Dolls, Morten Abel and Dio. And I can report that I've experienced the 80's: There where a lot of big bleached hair (men), mullets (women) ripped snow-washed jeans and general 80's fashion. The 80's never left Karmøy, it seems. Yeah!

Stage Dolls
Hitting the stage an hour late due to technical problems, Stages Dolls were forced to cut their set short. They started out with Love Don't Bother me which the crowd recognized instantly. Actually, I was surprised that I recognized several of the Stage Dolls tunes. Anyway, they still haven't corrected all the technical problems, because the vocals were mixed way back. It got better two or three songs into the act, but I wasn't impressed with the song provided to Stage Dolls. The guitar tone was also a bit thin. Since the Les Paul/ Marshall stack should provide a think and classic rock tone, I blame it on the sound system. Still, Stage Dolls were a surprisingly good live act and delivered a great string of songs and got the audience going. Good job.

Morten Abel
A last minute replacement for Europe. Next time I'm bringing a shovel, 'cause this was a load of crap. I mean, the dude had everything going for him: There was a sudden boom in ticket sales when Abel was added, so obviously he had fans that came just to see him. Regardless what you think of him, he has a back catalogue of (Norwegian) hits neither of the other artists had. He was on his home turf; from way back to Mods, September When, Pelz and up to his solo-career, Morten Abel has been a dear and household name in the Stavanger/ west-coast area, especially the more rural parts. He is a professional who's been in the game most of his life and must have done thousands of live gigs. But still he sucked big time: He seemed bored and uninspired, didn't get the audience going (even if Stage Dolls did a great warm up job), both his and the female backup singers vocals were weak and off key, the band wasn't very tight and he had some canned music (horn section, sound effects, etc). Can't think of a single great thing to say about his act, it was just plain boring and it seems that almost everybody at the festival just waited for his set to finish (apart from dozen or so hardcore fans at the right side of the stage). Next!

Dio
Mr. Dio came on a bit late, and went straight into Holy Diver (and thus completed playing through my very short list of Dio songs I've heard). But the show was still great: Now the huge sound system delivered clear vocals, guitar up front, thumbing bass and great drum sound. Why couldn't they provide this to the other acts as well (wouldn't do much good for Morten Abel, but Stage Dolls deserved better). The band was tight, some good guitar solos, but I have to admit: The genre mr. Dio operates in, is not my cup of tea. He was a great performer, had a good band, but I still didn't get my mush pit going. But the audience seems to get in on it, and it was pretty obvious that Dio was the guy people came to see. He didn't disappoint them!

14 comments:

Wilhelm said...

The guitar tone was also a bit thin. Since the Les Paul/ Marshall stack should provide a think and classic rock tone, I blame it on the sound system.

That's funny; I blame it on the Les Paul/Marshall rig. Milli Vanilli used to Blame It On The Rain.

Still, Stage Dolls were a surprisingly good live act and delivered a great string of songs and got the audience going. Good job.

I'd like to see them live some time..

Can't think of a single great thing to say about his act, it was just plain boring...

Could'a told you that even without being present........dude can make tweakers put down their radios and doze off, if ya know what I mean

He was a great performer, had a good band, but I still didn't get my mush pit going. But the audience seems to like it, and it was pretty obvious that Dio was the guy people came to see. And he didn't disappoint them!

Dio rulz! LOOK OUT!!! The sky is falling DOWN!!

He had Craig Goldy on geetar, eh?

Wilhelm said...

Nice pics, btw

Anders said...

That's funny; I blame it on the Les Paul/Marshall rig. Milli Vanilli used to Blame It On The Rain.

I blame it on the boogie. ;-)
Seriously, Stage Dolls had crap sound. Dio had really great sound. Not fair, and the sound crew could have done better.

Could'a told you that even without being present........dude can make tweakers put down their radios and doze off, if ya know what I mean

Surprised me a bit. The man is a professional, would have expected better from him.


He had Craig Goldy on geetar, eh?


Yes. I recongized Craig immediately when he walked on stage. Great player. Or I looked it up on the Kopervik Festival web page. You guess.

Nice pics, btw

Stole 'em from Haugesund avis. Fair and square. lool

Wilhelm said...

Seriously, Stage Dolls had crap sound.

...OAS (Opening Act Syndrome)

I've been a victim of this several times myself in my gigging days.

Almost as prevalent as Lead Singer's Disease

Wilhelm said...

He was a great performer, had a good band, but I still didn't get my mush pit going.

Nobody wants to get their mosh on anymore :-(

....guess which movie character said that

Anders said...

Jay in Clerks deux?

Wilhelm said...

..dude; yeah!!

I'm impressed.

Wilhelm said...

...to paraphrase the great Scott Steiner, the only thing I agree with is you calling Dio "Mr."

>:-(

8-D

Anders said...

...to paraphrase the great Scott Steiner, the only thing I agree with is you calling Dio "Mr."

>:-(

8-D


Hu? I did say he put on a great show. No? Or is it the mosh you disagree with?

Wilhelm said...

..just messin wi'chu'

Anything to sneak in a quote from the great Scott Steiner

Anders said...

Wanna throw hands? You know I can crush you like an anemic emo in a Mr. Universe mosh pit!
:-D

Wilhelm said...

FINE! Let's do this, brah! I'll meet you outside the 7-11 after school! If I'm not there before 5 PM, start without me!

>:(

Anders said...

You're on like donkey kong!

Wilhelm said...

You've done it now....I'll go LAPD on yo' sorry self, brah.....better get used to peeps callin' yo' white ass Rodney, you know wha' I'm sayin'........

Oh it's ON now!