04.08.2012 Scorpions

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Sigma AF 70-200mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

The Hannover guys were largely announced beforehand. Their last open air show in Europe it should be (believe it or not...) and so technically nearly everything was shown. Huge LED walls on stage and a drum set high up in the air in the middle of it was looking quite impressive. But first of all it meant that we had to wait as the Scorpions were starting way too late. With nearly 15 minutes of delay the intro video started during which they entered the stage and began with "Sting In The Tail".
Although telling that they were getting started was exaggerated. I do not know what was wrong with them that evening but an enthusing show is somehow looking differently. Klaus Meine was not really convincing on microphone and somehow seemed to be halfhearted. Also the others were only playing down experienced the set. The whole big and spectacular stage show with light effects, screens, pyros and other things did not help much to make that better. Furthermore there were the very uninspired speeches inbetween the songs in weak English.
Overall the setlist was not that bad at all. The ballads were thrown away (so no "Wind Of Change") and one powerful rock song after the other was presented. Of course guitar and drum solos may not be missing although with such a short time for playing (they at least had 90 minutes but started late) they could have better left them away. During encore they brought a huge sculpture of the band on stage and to the sounds of "Coming Home" several ladies were swirling across the stage firing large foutains of sparks of themselves or the statue with angle grinders. What that should be for may only know the one that invented this bullshit. If that was not already bad enough it started additionally to rain heavily shortly after the concert began remaining like this shortly before the end of the gig. That and the weak performance was at least not beneficial for the atmosphere in front of the stage and so it was quite crowded but very reserved.
Before the show I really had high hopes for this gig but they were bitterly disappointing me like no band was able to do since today on Wacken. This show you could really have skipped! Why did I not change to Schandmaul to the Party Stage during the show which I also had on my list! Everything at Wacken was better than this gig! But you have hopes that things will get better inbetween. Bad luck this time!