Hi there;
My city was, for several years, a permanent location for international rock and metal stars. Now, Bilbao take this place...100 kilometres far from here
Last week in may, we saw there FLOGGING MOLLY, U.S. band that plays irish-drunk-rock. Party time from first second. Not too many people in the venue, but everybody get crazy with the violin, accordion and their frenetic rythm. If you like The Pogues, Skyclad and similar check out this band.
On the other hand, this weekend went to the Kobetasonik Festival, in Bilbao too. Two days and many bands there. On friday we arrived when SONATA ARCTICA was playing, so we missed BLACKTIDE, SU TA GAR, AIRBOURNE and GOTTHARD
. With SONATA, very good sound, good songs (I love
The Cage!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and Mr. Kakko´s typical shirt and trousers. The unique problem was the F*****g sun we had to suffer above our heads. More than 30ºC. After that, gone to the second stage and saw the new Cavalera brother´s project CAVALERA CONSPIRACY. Don´t like too much this kind of metal, but they played some Sepultura songs (
Arise, Refuse/Resist...), so it was not too bad.
I don´t know how many times i´ve seen APOCALYPTICA. Last time was a bit boring...but in this festival they played for just an hour, and past came to visit us;
Nothing Else Matters,
Enter Sandman,
One,
Fight Fire With Fire...and
REFUSE/RESIST!!! Very Good.
I´m not a GAMMA RAY fan, but it sounded quite good...after them the storm came: MINISTRY. I saw them two years ago in other summer festival, and they impressed me. The show was very similar; volume at 11, and explicit video images. In one word: Hypnotic.
After that, return to the second stage where HELLOWEEN started their show with
Helloween, gone for a sandwich, come back, and still the same song
A bit insipid show, too much "sing with me eeeeeeeeoooooooo"...but fantastic bis, with
Future World and
I Want Out with the guys from Gamma Ray.
Dawn of Creation and
Prophecy from their new Nostradamus album opened the JUDAS PRIEST show. Three years after, they came back, but i think they are not in their best moment. The 2005 show was simply amazing; last friday, Rob Halford looked too fat and old, the songs sounded too slow, the drums sound was not very well...but they keep the magic.
Electric Eye,
Dissident Aggresor,
Sinner...and the superb
Painkiller 
.
It was too late, 2:00 a.m. and we were very tired, but we saw SLAYER for some minutes (3-4 songs) before going to bed. Fantastic sound, and good execution...but i wanted my bed.
Yesterday, missed TIGERTAILZ, LATZEN, DEATH ANGEL and OBITUARY. Arrived with ARCH ENEMY on the main stage. One of the best shows from the festival. Just fantastic. Gone to the second one and saw BRUJERIA for first time...and surely the last one. Too noisy sound and incomprehensible lyrics. On the second stage too, TESLA played for an hour. Sounded good, but too boring for me.
Going back to main stage, MSG there. The wind started annoying the sound. The best moment of the show UFO´s
Doctor Doctor.
20 years waiting for EUROPE. Very amusing; we enjoyed the classics, including the acustic
Carrie version, and exploded with
The Final Countdown. They look good, with Joey Tempest running across the stage, and Norum playing very good solos.
The moment i was expecting arrived. Mr. Ronnie James Dio and the boys were back!!
Holy Diver,
Don´t Talk to Strangers,
Rock´n Roll Children,
We Rock,
Man on the Silver Mountain...amazing. The main stage was too big, but Mr. DIO made it very small. Fantastic song selection, but the sound was horrible; sometimes looked than Mr.Craig Goldy had gone from stage, the recorded accompaniment in the drum solo was unlistenable...i think the guilty was the wind. It could happen when you made a festival in the top of a hill
.
BLIND GUARDIAN played after in the second stage; it was good preserved from wind, and the sound was much better. Blind Guardian is a life assurance in a festival. Party and good songs are guaranteed. Very good time with them before the main show in the main stage: "If you want the best, you have the best". KISS. The sound of this monsters of rock frightened the wind. The sound was simply perfect. I´m not a great Kiss´fan but they made a good job. Explosions, lights, mobile platforms...The shows´ first part based in their "Alive" shows was a bit insipid, with the second one came the ecstasy: Gene Simmons singing 20 metres above the stage, Stanley flying over the crazy crowd...Excellent.
SAXON finished the festival playing on the second stage. Good sound, but after Kiss´show, it looked a bit precarious...2-3 songs and gone to bed (already 4:00 a.m.). Good experience, good bands, beautiful place, good sound (sometimes) and fantastic metal variety.
Cheers
NTSMS has gone Calella 