Traditions are meant to be held, and as the absolutely final show of 2018, on the 30th of December no less, we headed for Amager Bio to catch Pretty Maids’ Christmas show. A bit delayed this year, it nevertheless promised to pack quite the entertainment punch, as it does each and every year.

The reason for the delay of the show, which usually takes place at the beginning of December, as opposed to the very end of it like this year, was the year-long renovation work Amager Bio has undergone. Or is undergoing I should say, as the place isn’t completely done yet - the concert hall was in place, and while the lay-out was familiar, it seemed they’d moved the back further back, thus opening up for more floor space. The balcony was now stretching out on the sides of the hall as well, not just in the back of it, like I believe it was before. And the toilets had been removed, creating space for a bar in each side as well - wonderful idea if you ask me. If you look away from the fact that new toilets had yet to be installed, and that a wagon in the yard was all we had to work with now, that is. Well, it seems to be going in the right direction, and we’re glad the good old place is open for business again.

“The next one we haven’t played for a very long time! We have? Oh yeah, we played it here yesterday.”
- Ronnie Atkins (vocals)

We’re not here to discuss the venue however, but what was going on inside it.
Now, if it seemed like a minus to some that the show had been pushed back, it didn’t show on ticket sales - in fact, this here was a bonus show, as the actual concert the day before had been sold out! This night wasn’t sold out, but there was a very good amount of people here anyway, some of which undoubtedly stopped by for both shows.
Pretty Maids had two bands supporting them this day, Hero and Superloader (Statement had played with them on the first date), but when all was said and done, there was no question as to whom the audience was here for.

“Are we having a party, Amager?!”
- Atkins (vocals)

The show itself kicked off with the familiar Mother Of All Lies, with politicians spurting their own kinds of truth to the masses, after which the band laid down their own, heavy response to it. While most of the songs were the same as the the ones the previous night, Pretty Maids tried to make it a bit more interesting by at least heavily shifting the order they were played in - from what I can see, Mother of All Lies for instance didn’t show up until the encore section at the other show. Thus a bit of fun could be had with Atkins remarking about one of the songs that it was one they hadn’t played for a very long time, being tapped on the shoulder by René Shades, then saying that, oh yeah, we played it here yesterday. It worked better when you were there.
Changed order or no, Pretty Maids delivered a nice and long 20 song strong setlist, with varied material from the very beginning up to and including Kingmaker, their 2016 album. Most of the hits were there, as were a nice selection of songs not as often showing up live - Atkins may have joked above, but he was also serious in mentioning it in other places.

The varied setlist made for a nicely varied show. We were given some truly heavy songs, speedier sections, and also some nice power ballads. Know It Ain’t Easy saw Chris Laney on acoustic guitar, and Savage Heart had only Atkins on vocals and Laney on keys, as apparently some members had to go get oxygene (according to Atkins, of course). This latter sounded very nice as it was, but was given extra punch as the rest of the band joined for the solo section - only, Ken Hammer’s guitar wasn’t working, and for a moment we saw a guitar tech with sheer panic spilling from his eyes! Hammer himself only shrugged, and calmly waited for the problem to be fixed, which it was in a very short time. That there was the only real problem the band encountered through the entire evening, as everything played out very well for them.
The no worries attitude of Hammer was something going through the show though, as the band delivered a playful and entertaining concert. It wasn’t the wildest show we’ve ever seen by the band, but it was genuine and present, and best of all, fun. This was a band playing because they enjoy playing, no more, no less.

“Before we go on playing, I’d like to say… What was I supposed to say? What the hell was I supposed to say..? Oh well, let’s just give it up for our two support bands!”
- Atkins (vocals)

If the band enjoyed playing, it was clearly reflected in the crowd that they enjoyed watching them play. Things had been rather easy-going so far in the evening, but when the intro for Pretty Maids started, and the lights went down in the room, a steady cheer rose, and it only intensified when the band took the stage. As with the band, this wasn’t the wildest crowd we’ve ever seen, but it was present and active, gladly sharing in the fun of the band. Atkins’ many comments, and Hammer’s few, dry responses met with laughter, and when Atkins invited to sing along, which he did often, the audience was quick to pick it up and follow.

All in all, this was everything we’d expected and hoped for - a genuinely entertaining evening with good music and a convincing performance. The tradition stays strong, and it’ll be interesting to see what the band will do in 2019. For one thing, they’ve promised the end of the Kingmaker touring, calling this the very last show of it, and the making of and delivery of a new album in the foreseeable future. I think the band has had a very strong run starting with their 2010 release Pandemonium and up till now, so chances are that the next one will be good as well.

Setlist:

Mother Of All Lies
Bull’s Eye
Waitin’ For The Time
Walk Away
Rodeo
Know It Ain’t Easy
Never Too Late
Pandemonium
Kingmaker
Savage Heart
Clay
Little Drops Of Heaven
Future World
Back To Back
Love Games
Sin Decade
Running Out
Please Don’t Leave Me (John Sykes cover)
Det Bedste Til Mig Og Mine Venner (Gasolin’ cover)
Red, Hot And Heavy
Sit On My Face (Monty Python song)