Heavy Chicago II – Day 1 – Avondale Music Hall, Chicago, Illinois 11/1/24 (words and images by Mark Kadzielawa)

 

Heavy Chicago festival is back, and already delivering an evening of thrills!  It’s great to see a festival where a combination of styles keeps the listener on the edge, and each performance brings out something unique.  Each band featured this evening represented something different musically.  There was no chance for monotony, it was very wisely mapped out, this was an evening of metal adventure!

Motherless started opened the festival with a very intense set.  They were excited, pumped, and certainly gave their best.  The audience instantly took liking to Motherless!  Their songs were fast and heavy, and their delivery full of rage.  There was a lot of hunger coming out this band, and they just wanted to blind everyone with that internal intensity that was tearing them apart on stage.  Motherless showed a lot of promise, and made people take notice of them.

This was a big evening for Avernus.  The band had just released their long awaited “Grievances” album, and now it was time to play the songs live.  Their set was absolutely stunning, full of moods, and feeling only Avernus can deliver.  There was an incredible amount of experience shining through the new songs, and the group knew how to use it to their advantage.  Kudos to Chris Avgerin who filled in on drums for the injured Rick Yifrach.  The new songs sounded great, and it was great to hear a few Avernus classics as well.  Avernus left everyone with a mood of reflection and sorrow.

Wraith was a perfect band to follow Avernus.  Their intense approach provided a perfect balance, and speed up the pulse of everyone in the audience.  Wraith felt very fresh, mixing tracks from their newest, “Fueled by Fear,” album and some older classics.  The audience instantly loved Wraith, and each song they played generated more intense response.  It’s great to see a band on stage that is simply enjoying themselves, and having a great time.  Wraith was quite unstoppable playing great songs, and displaying some great musicianship.  Each show from these guys is a treat, and a celebration of friendships!

Pelican brought something completely different to the festival.  Their approach was miles apart from every band that performed thus far, yet their feel was completely in the right time and place.  Pelican plays instrumental atmospheric metal/rock.  In fact, it’s difficult to truthfully describe what they do, but it definitely kicks serious ass, and that’s all you need to know.  There were plenty of jazz elements in their music as well.  Pelican created an atmosphere of different landscapes with their music.  They sounded very heavy, and most likely caused a number of irregular heart-beats in the audience.  Not only did they channel the emotions through their songs, but manifested that delivery physically.  They were possibly the most awaited band of the evening.

Bongripper was a perfect band to close down the first day of the festival.  They were also an instrumental band, but their music differed quite a lot from Pelican.  Those two bands may come across as alike, but they are certainly on too different paths.  There was a strong mood of doom, they knew how to invoke a total darkness in their sound.  In some ways, Bongripper’s set was very supplemental to what Pelican did only minutes before, and vice versa.  Avondale Music Hall shook when Bongripper was on stage, and their domination was unquestionable.

In conclusion, this was a great evening of heavy music.  Every band was awarded a fair amount of time on stage, and could be fully enjoyed.  Sometimes less is more, and the running order was perfect.  There was a build-up, and a culmination point to this evening.  One can only wonder what the next two days will bring!

Mark Kadzielawa

GALLERY

MOTHERLESS

AVERNUS

WRAITH

PELICAN

BONGRIPPER

Agent Steel – Mad Locust Rising – Live at Hammersmith Odeon (Dissonance Productions)

 

This is a very historic release from Agent Steel, and it’s about time somebody took interest in this lost and forgotten gem.  Originally, it was released as video tape in Europe, and quickly went out of print.  It’s great to see it upgraded and released once again.

This time it’s available as CD/DVD package.  It definitely sounds and looks better than that video tape from decades ago.  The show itself captures the band in a very interesting time.  The line-up of Agent Steel was rebuilt with this specific tour in mind.  It included a very young James Murphy, and bassist, Richard Bateman.  Both of course went on to other things and variety of bands.  Here we see them taking baby steps on a center stage at Hammersmith Odeon.

This show gives an overview of what Agent Steel was like on stage.  Very intense and energetic performance.  Yes, there are some technical problems, and some mistakes here and there, but as a whole it has a great feel of a live show.  So, all of those other kinks really fall into the background.  This line up really got the right feel, and was able deliver the goods.  Vocalist, John Cyriis sounds great and inspired.  He was truly one of the greats and original singers of the 1980s underground metal. 

Watching this makes you wonder, how come Agent Steel never managed to get it together to take it to another level.  It was unfortunate, but some of the troubles faced back then still continue to this day.  This set is a fine proof of the greatness that once was.  As you listen and watch the band play, you wish the show was longer, but at the same time you realize that sometimes you have to enjoy what you can. 

The set is accompanied by a very informative booklet.  James Murphy appears to be the only contributor, so you see things from his perspective, but that’s good enough to see what went down, and why this line up was never going to work out in a long run.  Despite it all, this set rocks hard, and is a great live document of a band that created some amazing music back in the day.

Mark Kadzielawa

Deep Purple: 40 Years of Perfect Strangers, the Makings of a Perfect Reunion (by Mark Kadzielawa)

It’s hard to believe that Deep Purple’s reunion album, Perfect Strangers, came out 40 years ago.  At the time, the announcement of Deep Purple reunion was a big deal.  One of the finest hard rock bands from the 1970s was making a most unexpected comeback, and it was was the infamous Mark II line up.  At the time, every member of that line up was busy, and being successful.  Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover were both going full force with Rainbow, Ian Gillan made an album with Black Sabbath, Jon Lord was going strong with Whitesnake, and Ian Paice was drumming for Gary Moore.  No one was in any financial need, or desperate due to a fading career.  Also, there were conflicts, especially on the Blackmore-Gillan front which were never quite resolved.  Yet, they managed to put all of that aside for the greater good, and reunited a ghost from the past.

It wasn’t a huge announcement, more like circulating rumors here, and there.  Deep Purple were giants in the 1970s, but could they still do it a decade later?  There were a number of failed reunions, or reunions that did not bring back the expected results.  Would Deep Purple sacrifice its glorious past in order to make some quick bucks?  As soon as the first reports of band entering the studio surfaced, everyone realized this is a serious venture, and that something is happening.  Now, everyone was speculating as to what the new material would sound like?  Would it match the triumphs from the past?  Would there be another Smoke on the Water?

Once Perfect Strangers hit the record stores on October 29, 1984, the music world was in for a big surprise.  The record was absolutely brilliant, in fact it is often named as the best reunion album of all times.  What Deep Purple did was astonishing.  The group didn’t go for the vintage sound, but took a very modern approach with the current technology at their disposal.  They inserted the original spirit of Deep Purple into the feel of the 1980s, and that was the magic of "Perfect Strangers."  The essence of the band everyone grew up with was there, and they achieved a perfect balance by staying current.  The production was handled by bassist, Roger Glover, who understood the sound and the abilities of each musician.

The album consisted of 8 tracks on the vinyl, but there was a total of 10 recorded compositions.  “Not Responsible” ended up as a bonus song on the cassette and CD at the time, and “Son of Alerik” was included as a B-side to “Perfect Strangers” single.  The main 8 songs on the album were very strong.  The title cut, “Perfect Strangers” is an old unused Rainbow riff, adding the magical touch from Jon Lord, it became one of the most memorable and beloved songs from the album.  The current Deep Purple band is still playing the song live, so its longevity is well accounted for.  “Knocking at Your Back Door” was the second single, and the rocking nature of this song attracted a lot of radio airplay.  “Perfect Strangers,” and “Knocking at Your Back Door” were the only two songs the band shot video clips for. 

The remaining songs may not have had the hit potential, but they were extremely vital.  “Under the Gun” displayed a great interaction from Blackmore, and Lord, with everyone else filling in the middle.  “Nobody’s Home” is a mid-tempo rocker with some great tongue in cheek words from Ian Gillan.  “Mean Streak” is the root of all evil with which black mamba can’t even compete, and the temptation is bitter sweet.  Side A of the original vinyl was flying!  “Perfect Strangers” with its magical middle eastern feel and scales is the epic track that dominates this album.  Its impression stays with you forever once you hear it.  It’s one of those songs that you don’t just hear, you feel it deeply.  “A Gypsy’s Kiss” is an up-tempo rocker with some amazing dialogue from Blackmore and Lord.  This song is just a springboard for both of these players to shine and conquer.  “Wasted Sunsets” is simply beautiful song, with an amazing feel, and a very retrospective reflection.  In many ways, 40 years later, this might be hidden gem on this record.  The album closes with “Hungry Daze.”  It’s a song with a very classic Deep Purple feel that lyrically looks back at the past, and tries to capture the passing time.  The band even managed to reference themselves in this track, in a very clever way.  Much has to be said about Ian Gillan’s lyrics on “Perfect Strangers.”  There is a lot of dark British humor here, plenty of innuendos, but above all they are very clever.  Even after four decades, the lyrics still offer a discovery or two.

The performance much like the title of the record is perfect.  The band is made up of super talented musicians, only more experienced than they were a decade earlier.  They knew what they were doing, and knew how to get there.  What makes the difference is that the material is catchy and strong.  At the end of the day, it’s a deciding factor whether a record will live forever, or die instantly.  The magic was present on “Perfect Strangers,” and forty years later that magic is still equally strong and impressive.  Many Deep Purple aficionados agree the band was at their absolute best, and even if they were not, they came dangerously close.

The accompanying tour was a huge success as well.  The band ended up adding many dates, and often played multiple nights in certain cities.  The shows were magical, the group was getting along.  Deep Purple chose five tracks from “Perfect Strangers” to feature in the live set, which also underlines the fact as to how important that album was to them.  There were smiles, enthusiastic fans, and great energy on both sides of the stage.  Deep Purple had fun on stage, they were improvising, jamming, and getting the most out of each song.  Having seen Deep Purple at their stop in Chicago, in February, 1985, this writer can whole heartily agree with all positive reports that are circulating from that time frame.  It was special, and it could never be duplicated.  Even when listening to a bootleg recording from the very show mentioned above generates an incredible amount of excitement and thrills.  There were many great Deep Purple shows that followed since that time, but that type of magic could never be recreated again.  It was a special time that simply belonged to the band, and to those who were able to accompany them during those shows. 

So where are they now?  Deep Purple as a band still continues to record and play live shows.  At this point, the band consists of Ian Paice, Roger Glover, and Ian Gillan from the "Perfect Strangers" line up.  Ritchie Blackmore exited the band for good in 1993, and continues his career in Blackmore's Night.  Jon Lord left the band in 2002, and sadly passed away in 2012.  In some ways, it all feels like a lifetime away.

As a whole package, “Perfect Strangers,” earned the right to be called a legendary record.  While it was new at one point, it aged quite gracefully, and now it’s a classic, and to some a holy grail.  Even after 40 years, the album feels fresh, and full of energy.  Deep Purple’s catalog is very diverse, and it’s grown even more diverse in the recent years.  “Perfect Strangers” certainly has its own temple in the grand scheme of things.

Mark Kadzielawa

 

Michael Schenker – My Years with UFO (Ear Music)

 

Michael Schenker had been doing great things in the last 15 years.  He clearly fell in love with playing his guitar and performing live.  He’s been releasing great records, and delivering breath taking shows with a big smile on his face.  This particular record reunited Schenker with the songs that made him the star he is today.  His time with UFO was magical, but in terms of personnel, it wasn’t always an easy relationship.  As a result of that traction, some amazing music was created.  Is this Schenker facing his challenges from the past?  You be the judge.  If it does him good, so be it, otherwise why would there be a need for a record like this?

Joining Schenker are some spectacular singers such as Dee Snider, Joey Tempest, Joe Lynn Turner, Biff Byford, Axl Rose, Jeff Scott Soto, Erik Gronwall, Kai Hansen, Michel Voss, and Stephen Pearcy.  Impressive list of frontmen for sure, but let’s be honest, nobody sang these songs better than Phil Moog, who wrote the lyrics and the vocal melodies.  Phil Mogg sang these songs within his range, and everyone here is known for rather soaring vocal delivery.  This fact puts everyone here completely outside of their comfort zone, and that makes the album sound quite attractive.  Some of the singers are not even recognizable because they can’t insert their signature sound into the material.  One feeling that comes across is that no one is faking anything here, everyone who contributed clearly has love and affection for this material.  No doubt about that!  One of the best deliveries actually comes from Erik Gronwall, but everyone else deserves the credit for giving their best.  The album flows nicely, and it’s great to move from one color to another.

Michael Schenker himself plays with renewed rigor, and nails every note perfectly.  Apart from few slight changes, he pretty much stuck to the original arrangements making the album sound very authentic.  These songs are so strong, it would be very difficult to mess them up instrumentally or vocally for that reason.  The eleven tracks included here are all absolute classics, and pretty much in UFO’s setlist down to the very last concert.  I’m sure you are already throwing the titles around your head, guess what, you’re right! 

My Years with UFO is a celebration of a very special and extremely creative time.  Some say, this is where Michael Schenker did his best work.  He certainly opened people’s perception as to what else can be done on guitar.  Schenker's playing skills and his unique tone influenced a few generations of players, and will continue to do so.  This album is a great testament to all of this!

Mark Kadzielawa