Saturday evening and what is better than going to a party to see some friends, drink a lot of beers and listen to your beloved music. So there I was, going to Sin City club to the party I just mentioned. Unfortunately, things beyond my powers, made me miss LUCKY FUNERAL since I wasn't there on time. Sorry guys.

After I had grabbed my first couple of beers, it was time to see the second opening act, CONVIXION. Having seen then a week ago with ANGELWITCH I knew what I was going to listen. Their Speed / Thrash Metal, and the good communication with the fans, showed all the potentials for a good show. And they did manage to heat it up even though the sound was not that good and there was not a spare microphone. Their set, if I remember correctly, was quite the same with the one last week. I really enjoyed them once more and they convinced me that when I'm going to see them again, I'll have a good time.

After getting more alcohol to my system I moved at the back with a couple of friends to watch OVERGARVEN for the first time. As they said to us, that was the second time they were playing in Athens Greece, since their base is in Alexandroupolis, in the north Greece. Their Death Metal wasn't suitable for that Thrash oriented night. Maybe it was the bad sound or just the misfortune to appear between the headliners and CONVIXION that created a not that good impression at least for my ears and eyes.

The only two moments that the metalheads made some panic, was when they did Blinded By Fear (if I remember well) from AT THE GATES and Violent Revolution from KREATOR. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't be happy if I saw the crowd creating a moshpit only during the cover songs. Anyway, OVERGRAVEN left us with a sincere Thank you and we all took places in order to start the party. So...

... LET THE PARTY BEGIN! Sin City club was packed and the time had come for me to see TANKARD live for the second time in six months. So, I tried and manage to go in front in order to take some photos, but it was a pity that I had to leave my beer alone at the back. After a while, the four beer-thrashers came on stage and even before they played the first note, the whole club went crazy. After Andreas signal, the party had officially started. The Morning After was first and after a few seconds we had the first stage-diving. Blood, sweat, beer and Thrash! What else could anyone ask for? The entire band was in a great shape and they gave 100%. The sound was perfect for a band like TANKARD. Not that clear and a bit muddy, but still you could listen every organ separately. After the first three and a half songs, and after I felt like I was 18 again with what was happening in front, I went back to find my friend and my beer that were waiting for me. Stay Thirsty reminded me to get a refuel while I was watching the crowd really partying. Andreas was telling us Thank you and Cheers after almost every song in Greek while Andy and Frank were smiling and headbanging most of the time, while Olaf seemed that he was having a great time too. At a moment a bold girl went on stage, hugging Andreas, he grabbed her and he held her in the air. Her next move was to stage dive making the guys who held her the lucky ones... Anyway back to the party.

The mixture of old songs with the new ones made an excellent setlist and some of them, not to say all of them, are even greater live, like Octane Warriors. After saying about the death of ... the king of pop Michael Jackson... and how he died, he said that ...we metalheads die with a beer in our hand!, we all knew what was coming.

Unfortunately, I had ran out of beer at that moment... TANKARD had to cut off Nations due the time limit, something that many in the club didn't even understand that happened. The band left the stage after Chemical Invasion and came back to finish us all with We Still Drink The Old Days, Space Beer, were Andreas were asking us which is our favorite beer, and -of course- (Empty) Tankard.

Everybody present that night will have another great live to remember. TANKARD were honest, true and with both feet down to Earth. To tell you the truth it was more like they came to party with us rather to give a live show. I sure hope that their tankard will always be full.

TANKARD setlist:

01. The Morning After
02. Zombie Attack
03. Slipping From Reality
04. Stay Thirsty
05. The Beauty And The Beast
06. Beermuda
07. Need Money For Beer
08. Alcohol
09. Maniac Forces
10.Octane Warriors
11. Alien
12. Die With A beer In Your Hand
13. 666 Packs
14. Sexy Feet Under
15. Rectifier
16. Chemical Invasion
Encore:
17. We Still Drink The Old Days
18. Space Beer
19. (Empty) Tankard

(photos by Harry the disco destroyer)

OVERGARVEN

TANKARD