Concert Review of Hardcore Superstar, Avatar & Q-Box in Munich by Alexandra Bock

Munich, Backstage Werk, July 22^nd, 2015

It was one of the opening events of the annual ‘Free & Easy’ festival at the Backstage in Munich. It’s three clubs and an open air stage with bands from different musical backgrounds performing for free. 18 days party starting daily at 5pm. The atmosphere is awesome there. There’s a constant coming and going, ‘cause you can move around the areal and watch a bit of every band or just stick to one show. There’s different bars outside and places to sit or just hang out and talk. The weather god was with us and after a short shower it stayed dry, so from time to time you could leave the venue for some fresh air and a little talk.

There’s many awesome bands taking part in that event. Best check the schedule out at

http://www.backstage.eu/f-e

So yesterday evening I decided to stick with one show. The evening started with a band called ‘Q-Box’. Based in Pentenried, which is a small town close to Munich, they can be considered a local band. They describe their sound as finest Pentenridian (pun intended) Heavy Metal. Best check them out for yourself. They are a good live band and were well received by the audience.

2^nd band on the bill was the Sweden-based band ‘Avatar’. They are a theatrical Metal band. Starting off with everyone entering the stage and standing still at a certain position on stage. Meanwhile there were anthemic tunes playing. At last everyone was handed their instruments and the singer, looking like he just got out of the movie ‘The Crow’ makeupwise, entered the stage. I haven’t seen them live before, but their show kinda impressed me, ‘cause it was like a circus show, with Johannes, the vocalist, being the director. Holding short speeches, inviting everyone to enjoy the show. Definitely a fun set to watch. They closed their set like they started it. The instruments were taken and everyone got into position. I’m looking forward to seeing them again live. Their tour schedule brings them to the US at the end of August, after some European dates. So if they come near your town, go check them out.

Headliner that evening was Hardcore Superstar, a four piece band, also from Sweden. Looking like those Sleaze bands in the 90’s, but playing a bit more heavy sound. There’s lots of dynamic in their set. Their singer Jocke, is hard to catch on a photograph, because he’s constantly moving around on stage, not holding still for a second. They definitely had the audience going. After a few songs into the set, they brought fans on stage that joined the band for one song and a Jägermeister-shot. They’re around for quite a while, so they had enough songs to choose from. There were new songs like ‘Don’t mean shit’ and ‘Touch The Sky’, there was a ballad and party songs like ‘We Don’t Celebrate Sundays’. They closed the set with three encores. During the last song members of the other bands started to remove the drum set, bit by bit. Maybe a tour prank, maybe done often, I don’t know. Funny either way. Adde, the drummer, was unstoppable until the very last note though.

They will come back to Germany in October playing a co-headline tour with Michael Monroe.

All three bands played relatively long sets, about 45 minutes to 75 minutes (headliner), so it’s not just a short show you get for free, it’s even more than you sometimes get with ‘regular’ shows. If you’re around, go check out some of the upcoming concerts at the ‘Free & Easy’, like f.e. Combichrist, Armored Saint, Butcher Babies and much more….

~ Alexandra Bock, https://twitter.com/lexi22473_b

Review and photography by Alexandra Bock

For more information on the bands, check out their homepages and social media sites

Q-Box

Avatar

Hardcore Superstar