This is a review for the first day of the Rockwave Festival that is held annually in Athens, Greece. The first think you notice is that the word festival in this situation doesnt really apply; I mean what kind of a festival has three acts on its billing?

Based on the festival's official web site the doors would open at about 15:30; so the Metal Temple crew was at the spot at about 16:30 in case of EUROPE were getting on the stage earlier. Unfortunately, the doors opened at about 17:30 for the merely 1500 metalheads who were waiting patiently. Luckily, the weather was on our side with a breeze that made the long waiting less unpleasant.

After a while, the Terra Vibe stage was taken by the Hard Rock REDRUM who were probably invited the last minute to fill in the short billing. The idea of having the arena separated in two, proved to be at least stupid since there was a big gap in front of the stage that housed almost 1000 persons. The band played some old fashioned American Hard Rock tracks and left the stage after a half an hour. Obviously they had prepared a couple of songs more, but there was a program to follow...

After a short break and while there were technicians and builders still preparing the big stage, EUROPE came on for the very first time in Greece. The few fans that were in front of the stage were a little bit numb and cold despite we were in the middle of the summer. Joey Tempest's voice was in a very good shape performing the old the new songs at ease. John Norum was a real guitar hero though the guitar solo and the voice-guitar duel were unnecessary taking into account the narrow time frame. Some of highlights were Sign Of The Times, the almost acoustic version of Carrie and the groovy Rock The Night where everyone was singing. After 10 songs and a short break EUROPE returned to perform the song we were all waiting for; yes it was about time the Greek audience to sing the chorus lines of The Final Countdown. We hope to see the band sometime the upcoming winter.

I have to be honest with you; I was never a fan of the Grunge scene and of course of SOUNDGARDEN. Consequently I am not familiar to Chris Cornell's work in bands like TEMPLE OF THE DOG or AUDIOSLAVE. Cornell's band took over the stage performing the well known track Spoonman and was warmly welcome by the bigger by now audience, since several fans had already climbed over the barriers and got into the place where you had to pay 20 euros more to be. Without being the ideal frontmant Cornell's straightforward attitude made the people in the front lines to sing and jump up and down. Chris sung Like A Stone and Doesnt Remind Me accompanied by his acoustic guitar and surprised everyone with an almost blues cover version of Michael Jacksons Bill Jean. The band performed Black Hole Sun and the guitar driven Jesus Christ Pose and left the Greek fans more than satisfied.

Robert Plant was the headliner act and the stage was prepared for him with an Eastern atmosphere all around. Some of the fans were anticipating to see the charismatic singer performing mainly LED ZEPPELIN songs. Well, this was not the case since Mr Plant has made a turn to his long and rich career to compose psychedelic and electro based music with some Eastern melody arrangements. His voice was perfect and despite his age he never left the stage. THE STRANGE SENSATION is a most talented band that has built the perfect chemistry with Plant. The night was perfect and the band seemed to enjoy every moment on stage performing inspired cover versions of the LED ZEPPELIN era. Of course, the highlight of the night was a long version of Whole Lotta Love that was enriched with many experimentations proving that Plant has still things under his belt to offer in music. Despite the rumors, Plant has still a wonderful and a powerful voice even at the high pitches. The band satisfied everyone who came to see Robert Plant and THE STRANGE SENSATION and not a cover LED ZEPPELIN act.

EUROPE setlist:
Love Is Not The Enemy
Always The Pretenders
Superstitious
Let The Children Play
Sign Of The Times
Carrie
Girl From Lebanon
Start From The Dark
Yesterday's News
Rock The Night
Final Countdown
Chris Cornell setlist:
Spoonman
Outshined
Show Me How To Live
Say Hello To Heaven
What You Are
Rusty Cage
Be Yourself
Like A Stone
Doesn't Remind Me
Cochise
Billy Jean
You Know My Name
Black Hole Sun
Jesus Christ Pose
Robert Plant setlist:
Shine It All Around
Takamba
Ramble On
Tin Pan Valley
Friends
Going To California
Four Sticks
Nirvana
Slow Dancer
Freedom Cries
Black Dog
Gallows Pole
Whole Lotta Love