Helloween - Bradford Rio 16th February 2006
Setlist: Intro / King For A 1000 Years / Eagle Fly Free / Hell Was Made In Heaven / Keeper Of The Seven Keys / A Tale That Wasn’t Right / Drum solo / Occasion Avenue / Mr. Torture / If I Could Fly / Sascha's Solo / Power / Future World / Invisible Man / Mrs. God / I Want Out // Dr. Stein
I found out, purely by accident, that Helloween would be playing three UK gigs; serendipitous interweb surfing, indeed. I purchased the last two Bradford tickets available, nos 199 & 200. Unfortunately, for me, there were three of us wanting to go. Being a fantastic dad, I said that my two daughters could use the tickets; I would take them the 75 miles to Bradford, wait for them, and then bring them home again. Magnanimous gesture, don’t you think?
Dads do stuff like that. Not because we particularly want to, but because we just want to stop the nagging, stomping, door-slamming, pouting and sulking. So, it was a big relief when the powers that be released some more tickets. Number 244 was quickly snapped up by yours truly, I can tell you.
I found out, purely by accident, that Helloween would be playing three UK gigs; serendipitous interweb surfing, indeed. I purchased the last two Bradford tickets available, nos 199 & 200. Unfortunately, for me, there were three of us wanting to go. Being a fantastic dad, I said that my two daughters could use the tickets; I would take them the 75 miles to Bradford, wait for them, and then bring them home again. Magnanimous gesture, don’t you think?
Dads do stuff like that. Not because we particularly want to, but because we just want to stop the nagging, stomping, door-slamming, pouting and sulking. So, it was a big relief when the powers that be released some more tickets. Number 244 was quickly snapped up by yours truly, I can tell you.
I can’t admit to being a huge Helloween know-it-all. In fact, I saw them live many, many years ago and hated them. I felt the same about Megadeth for many years, until I actually left my prejudice at the door and listened to the music!
Since then, as my offspring started to get into them, I realised what a dick I’d been. Better than Raw, The Dark Ride, and Keeper of the Seven Keys became annexed to my CD collection. (Well, the little darlings have nicked loads of my CDs over the years, and I figured it was about time I returned the favour.)
Much of the earlier material I still find difficult to appreciate, mainly because I just don’t like the vocal. It’s a purely personal thing and is just the way I feel. Andi Deris, on the other hand, I think has an awesome voice and musically, Helloween’s brand of melodic heavy metal is extremely pleasing to my ageing ears and very addictive.
Since then, as my offspring started to get into them, I realised what a dick I’d been. Better than Raw, The Dark Ride, and Keeper of the Seven Keys became annexed to my CD collection. (Well, the little darlings have nicked loads of my CDs over the years, and I figured it was about time I returned the favour.)
Much of the earlier material I still find difficult to appreciate, mainly because I just don’t like the vocal. It’s a purely personal thing and is just the way I feel. Andi Deris, on the other hand, I think has an awesome voice and musically, Helloween’s brand of melodic heavy metal is extremely pleasing to my ageing ears and very addictive.
As February approached inexorably, and the glacial migration south progressed, I found myself becoming rather excited about the event, a somewhat unusual occurrence for me. By Saturday, I was behaving like a teenager and could barely wait to get to Bradford. Although I had been to Rio before, the one-way system and my A-Z were obviously incompatible (I obviously had the A-Z for a parallel dimension Bradford). Oh, and even though I persist with rac.co.uk directions, purely because I am an RAC member, they are always wrong once you come off the motorway. In fact, the directions to Woodhead Rd were short by about three miles! Nevertheless, I wasn’t about to give up and, with a combination of memory, my alien A-Z, and a terrific sense of smell, we arrived at the venue just in time for a brief comfort break before Helloween took to the stage.
Rio seems to bring up completely opposite opinions, depending on who you talk to. Some people will say it’s an absolute shithole and the locals are arrogant wankers. Personally, I quite like it and I find the people very friendly. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Yorkshire and all my early gig-going years were mis-spent in Leeds and Bradford. Or, perhaps, it is because I am an arrogant wanker. Who knows?
Rio seems to bring up completely opposite opinions, depending on who you talk to. Some people will say it’s an absolute shithole and the locals are arrogant wankers. Personally, I quite like it and I find the people very friendly. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Yorkshire and all my early gig-going years were mis-spent in Leeds and Bradford. Or, perhaps, it is because I am an arrogant wanker. Who knows?
Helloween took to the stage early, around 8:45 to be precise, which, being of a certain age, I appreciated greatly, given that I had to drive back over the hills to Manchester afterwards. The first section of the show was blistering with King for a 1000 Years, Eagle Fly Free, Keeper of the Seven Keys and Hell Was Made in Heaven all warming the crowd up nicely. I had a walk around to see if I could find a nice spot to snap some pictures, have a pint of Guinness, and generally soak up the atmos. I found a good location behind the sound desk with a full view of the stage. But, I needed to get nearer as I don’t like using the flash on my camera. It bleaches out the photos and is annoying as hell to anyone within the 10KM blast radius.
I made my way back to my original position at stage left, found my girls and, rather stealthily for a big man, insinuated myself in through the crowd, securing a stellar spot about three rows back from the stage, right in front of Sascha. I turned round to see my kids standing open-mouthed, amazed by my graceful ninja moves.
Oh yes, I’m bad!
I made my way back to my original position at stage left, found my girls and, rather stealthily for a big man, insinuated myself in through the crowd, securing a stellar spot about three rows back from the stage, right in front of Sascha. I turned round to see my kids standing open-mouthed, amazed by my graceful ninja moves.
Oh yes, I’m bad!
Now, drum solos. You either love them, or want to start immediate trephining to stop the pain. Personally, I am a master of the steering-wheel bongos and have a particular affinity for our skin-beating brethren; I’m not a musician either, you see. Ah, the old ones are the best. Seriously though, I love drum solos, and this was a pretty damn fine example, partly because of the skill of the individual, and partly because of the chap’s sense of humour and ability to involve the audience. Oh, and he very kindly stood up so I got a bloody fantastic picture too! Most people, even ‘the professionals’, neglect the drummer when taking photographs at gigs. I try to get at least one shot of the man at the back, and usually succeed. This one was brilliant though, even if I do say so myself.
The show progressed through the middle third into more familiar territory for me, including two of my Helloween favourites, Mr Torture and If I Could Fly. I really did my vocal chords no good during this brace of recent back catalogue classics. I’m old enough to know better, but too stupid to listen to my own inner dialogue. What the Helloween, I was enjoying myself!
Another solo spot was soon upon us and, this time, it was Sascha’s turn, ably, assisted by Dani twiddling away on his diminutive Strat. Now, I have it on good authority, from my youngest daughter, that Sascha is a ‘hot piece of ass’. I’m afraid he’s not my type at all, so I’ll take her word for it, given that she is a hormonally-charged teen and likes this skinny, black-haired look in her menfolk. However, what I do know is, that he is a bloody good guitar-player and the battle between him and Dani was not only unusual, but also great fun, ensuring that the feelgood factor continued to bump the top of the scale.
The show progressed through the middle third into more familiar territory for me, including two of my Helloween favourites, Mr Torture and If I Could Fly. I really did my vocal chords no good during this brace of recent back catalogue classics. I’m old enough to know better, but too stupid to listen to my own inner dialogue. What the Helloween, I was enjoying myself!
Another solo spot was soon upon us and, this time, it was Sascha’s turn, ably, assisted by Dani twiddling away on his diminutive Strat. Now, I have it on good authority, from my youngest daughter, that Sascha is a ‘hot piece of ass’. I’m afraid he’s not my type at all, so I’ll take her word for it, given that she is a hormonally-charged teen and likes this skinny, black-haired look in her menfolk. However, what I do know is, that he is a bloody good guitar-player and the battle between him and Dani was not only unusual, but also great fun, ensuring that the feelgood factor continued to bump the top of the scale.
The final third of the show kept the VU meters peaking all the way to the very last power chord. Future World was the audience participation number and my already Better than Raw throat was further pulped during the sing-along. An instrument-swapping finale ensured that our attention was never allowed to wander for a second, afraid that we may miss some small look or gesture. I know, not words you normally associate with metal, but such was the performance, and such a live band is Helloween. By the time of the encore, Dr Stein, no-one in the building could have been, in any way, shape, or form, less than overjoyed with the performance. For me, a couple of tracks off BTR would have been icing on the pumpkin pie, but as I didn’t have any Kleenex on me, it was probably just as well they didn’t go there.
Musically, aye, and visually, this band is as good as any metal band I’ve ever seen in the last 25 years. The light show was modest but incredibly effective, showing that they had thought this out and wanted to make it special. Pro-rata, it was on a par with Iron Maiden’s much more complex rig.
Where Helloween excels is with the relationship and rapport that they quickly developed with the crowd, Andi Deris in particular. Normally, it disturbs me when people smile too much but, even I couldn’t help but be swayed by Andi Deris’s smile and personality. You almost want to take him home, he is so nice! He has the ability to draw you in and make you feel like this is just a friendly get-together with a few [hundred] close friends. I wasn’t expecting that, and that little piece of humanity tipped this gig over the edge from being a good gig, to a great gig.
Musically, aye, and visually, this band is as good as any metal band I’ve ever seen in the last 25 years. The light show was modest but incredibly effective, showing that they had thought this out and wanted to make it special. Pro-rata, it was on a par with Iron Maiden’s much more complex rig.
Where Helloween excels is with the relationship and rapport that they quickly developed with the crowd, Andi Deris in particular. Normally, it disturbs me when people smile too much but, even I couldn’t help but be swayed by Andi Deris’s smile and personality. You almost want to take him home, he is so nice! He has the ability to draw you in and make you feel like this is just a friendly get-together with a few [hundred] close friends. I wasn’t expecting that, and that little piece of humanity tipped this gig over the edge from being a good gig, to a great gig.
Last year I saw Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Megadeth and many other top flight metal bands that have been around for a few years.
Sabbath disappointed me in the extreme, they’re just going through the motions so Sharon can afford to have all the dog shit cleaned off her rugs.
Maiden are the ultimate establishment professionals these days. They are flawless and perfection personified. Therein lies their problem. They have lost the raw spontaneity that made them great in the first place. If you go to multiple gigs on a tour, you will always see a fantastic performance; but you will see it exactly the same every night. Identical.
Megadeth, like Helloween, I have discovered in my twilight years. Accomplished, professional, but human. You will get a fantastic show, but you will also feel involved, part of it, rather than just an observer, behind a double-glazed wall, in a sterile environment.
Helloween really exceeded my expectations and, believe me, I had built this gig up to the point where I could quite easily have come home disappointed. An awesome gig and a fine evening’s entertainment from a band that is at the top of their game right now. Let’s hope they come back to the UK very soon.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
13th February 2006
Sabbath disappointed me in the extreme, they’re just going through the motions so Sharon can afford to have all the dog shit cleaned off her rugs.
Maiden are the ultimate establishment professionals these days. They are flawless and perfection personified. Therein lies their problem. They have lost the raw spontaneity that made them great in the first place. If you go to multiple gigs on a tour, you will always see a fantastic performance; but you will see it exactly the same every night. Identical.
Megadeth, like Helloween, I have discovered in my twilight years. Accomplished, professional, but human. You will get a fantastic show, but you will also feel involved, part of it, rather than just an observer, behind a double-glazed wall, in a sterile environment.
Helloween really exceeded my expectations and, believe me, I had built this gig up to the point where I could quite easily have come home disappointed. An awesome gig and a fine evening’s entertainment from a band that is at the top of their game right now. Let’s hope they come back to the UK very soon.
Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder
13th February 2006
About the photos...
Now, I'm not known for my modesty, in so many different ways, but I know the things that I do well and those that I suck at.
I happen to think that I'm pretty damn good at taking photographs, especially under difficult conditions such as a live rock concert. It is easy to take a picture. These days, all you need is a camera phone. It is not so easy to take a great photgraph though. Yeah, I've got a pretty good camera and, certainly, luck does play a part, but you have to appreciate so many different factors that will play a part in the end result.
Almost all of the pictures here are taken without the use of a flash. What's more, I don't have a press pass, so I'm just like anyone else; in the crowd, being jostled, dodging arms, heads and beer. That said, some of these photographs are amongst the best I've ever taken and I'm rather chuffed with myself!
Hope you like them.
I happen to think that I'm pretty damn good at taking photographs, especially under difficult conditions such as a live rock concert. It is easy to take a picture. These days, all you need is a camera phone. It is not so easy to take a great photgraph though. Yeah, I've got a pretty good camera and, certainly, luck does play a part, but you have to appreciate so many different factors that will play a part in the end result.
Almost all of the pictures here are taken without the use of a flash. What's more, I don't have a press pass, so I'm just like anyone else; in the crowd, being jostled, dodging arms, heads and beer. That said, some of these photographs are amongst the best I've ever taken and I'm rather chuffed with myself!
Hope you like them.