Thursday, June 4, 2009

Updated concert wish list

Although it's gonna be a while until we get to go to concerts, I've updated my previous concert wish list, based on a) reality (i.e. Ozzy with Randy Rhoads is out), b) recent concert experiences and c) live DVDs. Option c) isn't as ridiculous as it might seem; you get a pretty good feel for how much of a stage presence the band has, even though the actual sound is probably doctored like all getout (unless it's Kamelot, Yngwie or Maiden, in which case they can pull it off effortlessly). As a result of c), I've sadly deep-sixed any desire I once had to see the mighty Dream Evil live in concert - it's not a good sign when they're unable to muster any form of enthusiasm on their own live DVD. Anyhoo; here goes:
  • Yngwie J. Malmsteen I still haven't seen THE primary influence on my guitar playing live - this absolutely needs to be remedied.
  • Last Tribe Guitarist/songwriter extraordinaire Magnus Karlsson is presently gigging in Primal Fear and keeping up his various solo projects, but if the 'Tribe gets back together, I'm there.
  • Steve Vai Solo or in a G3 setting - the guitar nerd in me does not care.
  • Joe Satriani Same dealie as with Vai.
  • Kamelot Did any of y'all take my advice and check out their show two weeks ago? You should've, that's for sure. Even with Khan losing his voice, they were the best live act I've ever seen, and we're probably gonna catch them again next Spring in Oslo.
  • Angra The numero uno Brazilian melodic metal band is back together again, so there is hope.
  • Edguy Just got their live DVD, and Tobi Sammet is one of the best metal frontmen in the bidness. Old, Helloween-esque or new material, it doesn't matter to me.
  • Avantasia Tobi Sammet's side project is now on it's third album and is actually touring.
  • Symphony X NJ power/prog metal act. I'd love to see Mike Romeo's tapping sequences up close.
  • Firewind Seen them twice, in 2006 and 2008, and they improved massively between those gigs. I'm a big fan of their version of "true power metal".
  • Gamma Ray Their live DVD is absolutely awesome, and their albums keep getting better and better.
  • Extreme Yes; the band with "More Than Words". They've also got a truckload of a-material and one of the most underrated guitarists in metal. And they're back together.
  • Poison Might catch static for this choice, but I'm a total mark for their three-chord pop metal.
  • Iron Maiden Caught their "Somewhere back on tour" at Lerkendal last summer, and I'd love to see them again.
  • Pagan's Mind Norwegian prog/power metal. You might have heard their song "Aegean Shores"? No? Your loss, then.
  • Breed Norwegian thrash band, the closest thing to Pantera you'll ever see without Dimebag Darrel.
  • Billy Joel The Urban Springsteen is still going strong.
  • Roxette I really hope Marie Fredriksson is well enough to tour again in a year or two.
  • George Michael If he ever does the touring thing again.
  • The Kids Dag Ingebrigtsen and Torstein Flakne is a kick-ass combo.
  • deLillos Probably not going to be difficult to catch this Oslo west act, as they're perennial Fall semester openers at Samfundet.
  • Running Wild Unfortunately, Rolf Kasparek is calling it quits this summer at Wacken, but the odds of him reforming a version of the band some years down the road are favorable.
  • Gary Moore Provided he gets back to the hard rock genre.
  • W.A.S.P. Preferably with Chris Holmes on geetar.
  • Wig Wam What? Trond Holter is a monster guitar player and songwriter, I'll have you know.
  • Ole Evenrud Because Trond Holter was his guitar player and main songwriter. Songs like "Desperado" and "X-Ray Specs" are absolute classics, I tells ya.
  • Dream Police Another one of Trond Holter's old bands which has resurfaced
  • Dionysus Swedish/German neoclassic power metal band that called it quits after three albums, but there's hope that they might reunite down the road.
  • Mr. Big Yes; the hair metal band with "To Be With You" and "Daddy Brother Lover Little Boy". You see, they've got Paul Gilbert on guitar, which brings me to:
  • Paul Gilbert Dude is fast, dude is weird and dude plays ultraclean. Gilbert totally turned me on to strict alternate picking as opposed to the sweep/economy picking I've previously been peddling.
  • Brad Paisley Hands down the best country guitar player out there right now. And a fantastic front man to boot (pun intended)
  • Hammerfall These Swedes have grown on me lately.
  • Freedom Call Ultrahappy power metal.
  • Petter Sweden's best rapper by a country mile.
  • ZZ Top It'd be worth it if they play "Just Got Back From Baby's", "I Need You Tonight" and "Fool For Your Stockings"

21 comments:

Torbjørn said...

I'll join you for a few of these!

But no Turbonegro? Really??

Wilhelm said...

Turbonegro has carved a niche out for themselves and they've got a concept that moves product - can't hate on that.

It doesn't work for me personally though - not at all.

In case you wonder why Stratovarius ain't on the list, it's because a) guitarist Timo Tolkki is out, and b) Timo Kotipelto is damn close to singing off-key in the studio, so I don't give much for the odds od him pulling it off live.

Anders said...

ZZ Top. Thanks for reminding me of the concert I missed on Tuesday. And btw, they play Need You Tonight on this tour...

Apart from that, not much on your list I would consider. And in case you wonder, that also goes for Stratovarious, even if Timp Tolkki came back and Timo Kotipelto was dead on key.

Wilhelm said...

Blasphemer...

Anders said...

On more careful considerations: I could be talked into a deLillos concert, and Billy Joel is a classic artist that I do have some catchy tunes.

A G3 concert with Malmsteen, Vai and Satriani I would have survived. A Vai solo concert would be too much for me, but Satriani is quite enjoyble if he plays the right songs (I think I have kinda same feelings about mr. Satriani as Wilhelm have with ZZ Top). If mr. Malmsteen is going to tour to promote his upcoming all acoustic album, I would pay real money to see that.

A Gary Moore concert without the quasi-blues material I could have survived (White Knuckles!!!).

Brad Paisley has some really funning lyrics and videos, but that's not enough to make me wanne see a whole concert. On the other hand, from the little I've seen of him, he has a great stage presence and is a skillful musician. So even if he's a bit too much cowboy for me, I wouldn't mind a Paisley concert.

Wilhelm said...

I think I have kinda same feelings about mr. Satriani as Wilhelm have with ZZ Top

Could very well be

Torbjørn said...


Turbonegro has carved a niche out for themselves and they've got a concept that moves product - can't hate on that.

It doesn't work for me personally though - not at all.


Weird, I can really visualise you jumping up and down, claiming to have an erection.

Anyhoo, Knut Schreiner is an okay guitar player, isn't he?

Wilhelm said...

Weird, I can really visualise you jumping up and down, claiming to have an erection.

...is this how you usually picture me?

Anyhoo, Knut Schreiner is an okay guitar player, isn't he?

I don't know - is he the rhythm guy?

Torbjørn said...



I don't know - is he the rhythm guy?


The rhythm guy used to be Rune Grønn.

Knut Schreiner had a side project called Euroboys a few years ago.

Wilhelm said...

The rhythm guy used to be Rune Grønn.

Used to be?

Knut Schreiner had a side project called Euroboys a few years ago.

Doesn't the main guitar guy in Turbonegro call himself Euroboy?

Torbjørn said...


Used to be?

He retired about a year ago.




Doesn't the main guitar guy in Turbonegro call himself Euroboy?


Same guy, surprisingly.

Wilhelm said...

He retired about a year ago.

So what does he do now?

Anders said...

Just a thought; Why no 'Cube or Emminem on the list?

Torbjørn said...


So what does he do now?


Manager of their record company, or something like that.

Wilhelm said...

Anders: Had a chance to see 'Cube in Trondheim a while ago but opted against it. Not a fan of "live" rap in general, as there are no live instruments. In the case of Eminem, he also does lots of backup voices himself, which are left to some generic thugs live, so that kinds of kills it for me.

Torbjørn: So now he has to put up with all the crap his former band no doubt bestows uypon their management? :-) Karma, babee

Anders said...

In the case of Eminem, he also does lots of backup voices himself, which are left to some generic thugs live, so that kinds of kills it for me.



And that's the rap equivalent of Yngwie having backup guitar players?

Wilhelm said...

Not really; it would be equivalent to Yngwie having some Kurt Cobain-clone on backup-guitar.

I've seen lots of Em's live clips, and those generic "Boiyyyeeaaaaaah" thugs, don't come close to replicating what Em does in the studio

Anders said...

Not really; it would be equivalent to Yngwie having some Kurt Cobain-clone on backup-guitar.

And what's wrong with mr. Cobain? A guitar mag listed the best 100-or-so best guitar players of all time, and if I remeber correctly, mr. Cobain came in above mr. Malmsteen. So get your facts straight there, mister.

...but then again, Rainer or Chris Whitley didn't even get an honorable mention on that list, so maybe it isn't all that objective.

Wilhelm said...

Rotate that sum'bitch in PhotoShop, says I

Anders said...

LOL
Glad to see that you've picked up on my advice.
:-D

Wilhelm said...

...steep learning curve aside, I'm slowly catching on