Back in Tivoli for another go at the Friday rock event they have going every summer, it was time or another band that actually plays rock. Not only that, but they could easily be considered one of Denmark’s biggest rock bands. No, I’m not talking about D-A-D again, but rather D-M-L, or Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, as they are more commonly known.
Contrary to the aforementioned D-A-D, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy has had a much more on and off going career, where they reunite to play a few shows, only to split again, and then reunite for a few shows again at a later date. This time though, they say it will last, and that they are actually heading into the studio to make a new album. They just wanted to play the Tivoli gig first, and this is why we were there.

“Good evening Tivoli! It’s completely insane to see how many showed up today!”
- Tim Christensen (vocals/guitar)

For a clear sign of how popular they are, one would only have to look out over the space in front of, and to the sides of, the stage. Yep, there were so many jammed into the amusement park, that they were the ground like a sweaty half-moon, ready to rock.
We were already a good way into September, but the weather was closer to mid-July, and from all directions a loud chant could be heard from the crowd. A simple chant, a chant merely repeating the same word over and over, separated by bursts of applause. “Dizzy! clap clap clap Dizzy! clap clap clap”
The chanting changed to a widespread, wordless roar, as the sound of an acoustic guitar could be heard over the P. A. system, a guitar playing the melody of Frey, from the Forward In Reverse album. What then followed in quick succession, were three songs from that same album. The crowd cheered on, but there was no real contact between band and audience at this time.
This was an issue that was opened up for a bit more later on, as Christensen occasionally spoke between songs, but never went away completely.

“We’ve come to play a bit of rock music!”
- Christensen (vocals/guitar)

Even so, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy delivered a solid performance on the stage. Up there, it looked like they were having a really good time. Hats off to Martin Nielsen (bas) – I have never seen him this alive before! Let’s hope that he’s shaken some downtime rust off for good, so that this wasn’t a one-night thing we experienced here.
Drummer man Søren Friis was actually the one making the most out of crowd contact, as he took some time out of 67 Seas In Your Eyes, to leave his seat to go front stage centre and throw a few drumsticks to the hungry fans.
On the technical side, this was also a thought-out and well planned show. The backdrop had been replaced by huge video screens in the back, the band had special LED strobes lighting them from the sides, and they opened the show up with a shot of fireworks from the front of the stage. Not your everyday stuff going on here. And the way they ended the show, coming full circle as they opened the last song with a shot of fireworks as well, then playing while a curtain came down, the sound becoming more and more muffled the further down the curtain came. This is the sort of details I really enjoy. When it was all the way down, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy finished the song as shadow puppets on the white canvas, and I believe the effect must have been great for those standing in front of the stage. I was out to one of the sides, and could still see the stage as well, but even from this position, it looked good.

“This is some summer party we’ve got going here!”
- Christensen (vocals/guitar)

This brings us to the final part of what makes up a show, part that is as vital, more even, as all of the others – the crowd!
As I’ve already touched upon, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy had the audience on their side already by just showing up. They really didn’t need to do much more than that to please. Maybe that’s why they didn’t? Maybe they became a bit too comfortable?
Don’t get me wrong, the performance was admirable as such, and there was a great party going on in the crowd, especially with the older songs which had more recognisability. But, the lacking connection between band and crowd haunted us all the way through. I’m usually not a spokesperson for too much talking during a concert, but I believe this show could have used just a bit more of it actually.
That’s not saying that it was lacking completely. There were times when Christensen spoke, like the time he said they were glad for all of the new-comers to the band, but still wanted to dedicate a song to the old-school fans (Rotator). There were also times when he stayed quiet during certain passages in songs, so that the crowd singing could take over, most prominently shown Waterline, where we got completely free hands on the “Really easy, you wanna know the answer…” break section. All of this was really good, I just wish there had been a bit more of it. And considering the sheer size of the crowd, it would have become the band to look out to the sides as well, just once in a while would have been nice. Just a slight tip o’ the hat, so to speak.

So, what do we end up with?
We end up with a show that isn’t perfect, but a damn good one nonetheless. The band was so obviously in mood or this, before burying themselves in a studio for a foreseeable future, and Denmark loved them for being here. Dizzy Mizz Lizzy deserves the props they receive, and I’m sure the relatively minor kinks will be worked out down the road.

Setlist:

Frey
Forward In Reverse
Terrified In Paradise
Brainless
Barbedwired Baby’s Dream
Glory
Love Is A Loser’s Game
Love At Second Sight
Made To Believe
Rotator
67 Seas In Your Eyes
Say It To Me Anyway
Waterline
Mindgasm
Silverflame
I Would If I Could But I Can’t