06.08.2011 Danko Jones

Wacken Open Air XXII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax k-x with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm 2.8 XR Di II LD Asp IF and Sigma AF 50-150mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

After so much sentimental moments I now absolutely needed an eye-opener. Therfore the Canadian trio Danko Jones was just the right thing. In front of the Party Stage it was already quite well crowded. Although they belong not 100% to Wacken considering the music style (they play classic rock'n roll) they perfectly fit and provided a terrific show.
The band named according to their front men and guitarist Danko Jones started slightly delayed but the great respect to this gig was quickly given up. Dankos quick tongue exactly knew how to enthuse the audience. So he first told what special event this concert would be for them and how intense the preparation for it was (it absolutely had to be 10 preparation concerts). Additionally they had been to a Kreator concert and now they were playing in parallel. The sound also swapped over during the breaks between the songs but was subsidiary during the funny short stories that Danko told.
On and on he wildly grimaced during the songs or bassist John Calabrese heated up the atmosphere of the crowd even more. But that was not that hard to do. During stunners like "Full Of Regret" or "Lovercall" really all went with them. Inbetween it even came to a small mosh-pit although that was not 100% fitting to the music. Very funny was also Dankos interjection: "Where I am coming from the girls wear dresses and listen to fucking folk-music. I had to come to Germany to see one wearing a Suicidal-Tendencies shirt. I want to marry you!". You do not need a huge show on stage as the musicians were more or less standing statically on their spot and from lights point of view there were only few light settings that changed. But who is missing something like that if the musicians can really convince like they did here?
Absolutely terrific atmosphere, really great music, overall a simply gorgeous total package which had with 60 minutes way too less time. That could have gone some longer! That was also thought by the audience and so they celebrated Danko Jones extremely. For me it was by far the best concert of the whole festival although they did not fit stylistic completely into the program. But who cares?