Well, September is for everyone something like a 'back in school' situation. Even if not a student - I memorize the good ol' days when I was - the feeling that summer is over cannot be 'realized' that easily, whether you're 18 or 108 years old. At least, the first concert of the 2005-2006 'gigs' season provided a warm "welcome". The first appearance ever of both 'cute' legendary singer Jeff Scott Soto and German heroes Pink Cream 69 - plus the opening slot of the "risen-from-the-ashes" legendary Greek melodic Rockers Raw Silk - compiled a top class package for the anticipating crowd. I only wish we didn't have to wait for more than one hour outside Club 22, really 'exposed' to 100's of full-speed cars_bikes on an open avenue - 'begging' for the doors to open. Some things never change…
- Eleni (commenting on Raw Silk): The most exciting thing about the show at Club 22 on September 10th was that there would be 3 bands equally interesting performing there. Pink Cream 69 and Jeff Scott Soto were already enough for anyone to be thrilled but Raw Silk's first performance after such a long time gave the fans a serious motive to be at the venue in time for the support band for once. The fact that the doors opened an hour later than announced, at 9 pm, therefore didn't result in increasing the already big attendance for Raw Silk.
The full and superb lineup of that night's bill didn't leave space for a complete show, so Raw Silk were on stage for a bit more than half an hour and played 4 songs, "Irene", "Street Girl", "Second Advert" and "Heroes Don't Cry" - and the standard solos - in particular, from their 1990 debut and last up to now album, "Silk Under The Skin". Hopefully we will soon have the chance to listen to their new achievement.
The audience's participation was massive throughout the show, which was completely rational because not only did the fans have the chance to see a legendary to many of them band, but also because the group's performance was so solid that nobody could imagine they had been inactive for so long. The crowd kept on singing the very well known to everyone lyrics, screaming and dancing and offered the five members their most sincere applause. Costas Kyriakidis (drums), as the mind behind the hits received the wildest reaction, and so did Yiorgos Florakis whose voice has remarkably improved since the early days of Raw Silk, when he was just 19 years old. The founding members obviously enjoyed the fans' response and maybe got surprised by its magnitude. Dimitris Bizos, on guitar, seemed to have a great time on stage and proved that he has already fit in. Such matter probably never existed for Yiorgos Aspiotis (keyboards) who is familiar with Greece's fanbase due to his participation in many bands and projects. The only session member in the show, Leonidas Petropoulos (bass) carried his duties out just fine. I wonder what preserves him from becoming a regular member.
The bottom line of this happy circumstance is that there's no doubt that Raw Silk and Hard Rock followers missed each other a lot. Let's hope everything goes right and Raw Silk get back in action for good.
- Michael (commenting on Pink Cream 69): It took me almost two decades but I finally managed to see Pink Cream 69. Thank God I managed to see this day coming. I don't know how many of you were there for Soto (something I really can't understand) but those with more than 2 brain cells active knew that Pink Cream 69 were "all the money" of that night's show. After a really long delay the band hit the stage with their latest album opener "Thunderdome". What followed was more than an hour of really heavy Rock.
Now, just before I go on, I'd like to make a statement about this band. Lots of people are wondering why Pink Cream 69 have the appreciation of both fans (Rock and Metal fans) and how they managed to overcome the storm called Grunge (I hope you all die of rabies, MTV motherf**kers). It is quite obvious and I think both questions have a related answer. Pink Cream 69 stood in the middle between Rock and Metal. Yeah, they do have songs like "I Only Wanna Be With You" or "Ballerina" but at the same time they have songs like "Over The Fire", "Rolling Down The Thunder" and so on that any Metal band would "kill" to have in one of their albums.
What Pink Cream 69 delivered in this over an hour show was a setlist that generously covered all their discography (with only three songs from their latest album). A smart and honest move considering this was the first time they met with the Greek audience. Of course they needed a 3-4 hours show to play all the songs we wanted to hear but in the end I can't really say I missed something (ok, maybe "One Step Into Paradise"?).
In no particular order they performed the following tracks:

01. Thunderdome
02. Do You Like It Like That
03. Welcome The Night
04. Spirit Goes On
05. Break The Silence
06. Shame
07. Carnaby Road
08. Hell's Gone Crazy
09. Keep Your Eye On The Twisted
10. That Was Yesterday
11. Talk To The Moon
12. Lost In Illusion
13. Seas Of Madness
(Did I miss anything?)

The people's reactions were great most of the time though I expected a bit more. The band also played a Police cover (sorry, but no mater how hard I hit my head on the wall, I can't recall its name - Greg, I think it's contagious, we are burned, indeed!). David Readman has a really strong voice and he's a heck of a frontman for a band that knows the meaning of the word "party".
In the end, let me hail all those lads that came to the show with Skid Row, Cinderella, Danger Danger, Poison, T.N.T. e.t.c. T-Shirts! You rock! See you all at the "Firefest" gig!!!
- Grigoris (commenting on Jeff Scott Soto): If Pink Cream 69 rocked the house - even without any sufficient guitar sound (not the band's fault, of course) - the presence of the JSS band on stage really drove the crowd crazy! Bass-supported, a really tall Soto took command of the entire venue from the very first song, "Living The Life" (from 2001's "Rock Star" OST) burst out and my head was 'divided' into two simultaneous thoughts. A great stage performance, 'raped' by a mediocre sound - especially the guitars (again). Hoping things would get better - they did but only by a little - we witnessed the curly haired 'octopus' bassist Chris McCarvill holding a guitar, while main guitarist Howie Simon was endorsed by a woolen bonnet (are you nuts, my friend?).
In the great acceptance of 600+ fans, "Eyes Of Love" was next and I begged for the guitar sound to improve (no harmonies heard, for the ones who know this tune). Letting McCarvill enjoy his bass, a bunch of songs from Soto's entire career - solo or not - were to follow, such as "New Position" (Soul Sirkus), "On My Own" & "Drowning" (solo), "Stand Up And Shout" ("Rock Star" OST - chaos!), "Color My XTC" (Talisman) and "Soul Divine" (solo). I have the impression the audience was responding to anything JSS played, rather hungry for that kind of style. A rather humorous Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running" cover - vocals by Simon - was followed by "Again 2B Found" (Humanimal) and "Crazy" (Seal cover). With Soto singing, dancing and acting like a maestro for his band - all GREAT players - it was obvious that all the ladies attending the show were about to faint.
Sitting by the keyboards, it was time to turn off the electricity, acoustic guitars stepped in and a wonderful_funny medley of classics such as "If This Is The End" (solo), "Purple Rain" (Prince cover), pieces of Journey's classic "Faithfully", "Cheyenne" (a marvelous tune from his Eyes participation in the early 90's), "Love Of My Life" (Queen cover) and "Just Between Us" (Talisman) ended up to the song everyone wanted mostly to hear that evening. Piano-only, at first, "I'll Be Waiting" fired up the venue and everyone was jumping up and down like nuts! Even the band was left astonished…
(Note: The guitar sound - by that time - got a little better).
With an unlimited sense of humor, the band played - and Jeff sung - the chorus part of this classic (now) song in any style; Jazz, Rap, Nu-Metal, Sinatra, Reggae and Disco. We laughed our asses out and we moved on to "I Wanna Take You Higher" (solo), in the middle of which the JSS 'circus' gang of four delivered tons of excerpts from Rock_Metal classics - "Rock You Like A Hurricane", "All Night Long", "You've Got Another Thing Coming" and "Fool For Your Loving" to name a few - plus a thunderous version of "I'll See The Light Tonight" (Malmsteen). Simon the "chameleon" was just Great!
Closing - I'm surprised they remembered (sic) the "I Wanna Take You Higher" chapter, the band left in applause and I bet everyone was 'full', even if the band would never appear on stage for an encore. Still, under 'notorious' screams, Jeff & Co. returned to carry on with the show. Another medley of classics such as "We Will Rock You", "I Love Rock And Roll" rolled on to another medley, in a Funky_Disco mood this time! Holy shit. "Play That Funky Music", "Kung-Fu Fighting" and other 'velvet' 70's retro dance hits - accompanied by the UNBELIEVABLE 'chemistry' between the band members - ended up in another Talisman classic, "Mysterious". Again through an ecstatic playing, Jeff and his band left the stage while the applause was crashing! Finito la musica.
If it wasn't for the mediocre (at its best) sound, this gig would easily be considered as a "must see". Again, Raw Silk was 'touchy', Pink Cream 69 grabbed us by the balls - hope they'll come again on their own - and JSS proved he's one hell of an entertainer, strictly professional and really a showman. I still sympathize 'core' fans that expected more 'Soto music' and less of a 'covers show' - I'd require the same if I was a diehard fan - but that IS the difference between a live gig and a show. And Mr. Soto is exposing his way now. Salute!