W.A.S.P.
Copenhell - 2018
Text: Tobias Nilsson Photo: Lunah Lauridsen
A helicopter showed up on the large video screen backdrop, and a mix of classic heavy metal songs could be heard over the din of the chopper. After it disappeared out of sight, and set down to land, police sirens and lights took over, simulating the arrival of the band.
The band was W.A.S.P., and they were the face of an older generation of heavy metal this day at Copenhell.
Older doesn’t necessarily mean less intense is well worth remembering. W.A.S.P. came running out on the stage, and especially Doug Blair and Mike Duda held the form through the entire show, running all over, and connecting well with the crowd. Live drummer Brian Tichy was also performing well, something that is always especially good to see from someone in his position (behind the drums, that is).
Sadly, the sound couldn’t follow the performance. I’m sure the band played what they were supposed to, but what was coming out of the speakers sounded so bad, we couldn’t really tell, to be perfectly honest. What is even more sad, is that it took several songs before the problem was corrected enough to not bother us anymore. I don’t know why this happened of course, only that it luckily isn’t a common issue at the festival, but W.A.S.P. deserved better.
Thankfully, it was pretty good when we reached The Idol, in which Blair got to show off in a lengthy solo. Lengthy, but certainly not too long, and he measured up well with as much performance skill, as guitar skill.
There was a large crowd gathered at the Helvíti stage, but it wasn’t the wildest crowd we’d seen. There was a constant rocking along to the music though, and when the old classics hit, people sang along enthusiastically. The ending duo of Wild Child and I Wanna Be Somebody was especially well received. In the latter, Blackie Lawless even bade his fellow musicians quiet down for a bit, so that he could have a sing along contest, left side against the right. Like Blair’s solo earlier, Lawless also kept it at a modest length, which meant it was fun without outstaying its welcome.
W.A.S.P. is a classic band, and they delivered a classic show. They work on routine and know-how, and thus deliver quality, but it never rose above a pleasant festival afternoon. Nothing wrong with that though, I enjoyed myself while it lasted.
Setlist:
On Your Knees
Inside The Electric Circus
The Real Me (The Who cover)
L.O.V.E. Machine
The Idol
Arena Of Pleasure
Heaven’s Hung in Black
Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)
Wild Child
I Wanna Be Somebody
The band was W.A.S.P., and they were the face of an older generation of heavy metal this day at Copenhell.
Older doesn’t necessarily mean less intense is well worth remembering. W.A.S.P. came running out on the stage, and especially Doug Blair and Mike Duda held the form through the entire show, running all over, and connecting well with the crowd. Live drummer Brian Tichy was also performing well, something that is always especially good to see from someone in his position (behind the drums, that is).
Sadly, the sound couldn’t follow the performance. I’m sure the band played what they were supposed to, but what was coming out of the speakers sounded so bad, we couldn’t really tell, to be perfectly honest. What is even more sad, is that it took several songs before the problem was corrected enough to not bother us anymore. I don’t know why this happened of course, only that it luckily isn’t a common issue at the festival, but W.A.S.P. deserved better.
Thankfully, it was pretty good when we reached The Idol, in which Blair got to show off in a lengthy solo. Lengthy, but certainly not too long, and he measured up well with as much performance skill, as guitar skill.
There was a large crowd gathered at the Helvíti stage, but it wasn’t the wildest crowd we’d seen. There was a constant rocking along to the music though, and when the old classics hit, people sang along enthusiastically. The ending duo of Wild Child and I Wanna Be Somebody was especially well received. In the latter, Blackie Lawless even bade his fellow musicians quiet down for a bit, so that he could have a sing along contest, left side against the right. Like Blair’s solo earlier, Lawless also kept it at a modest length, which meant it was fun without outstaying its welcome.
W.A.S.P. is a classic band, and they delivered a classic show. They work on routine and know-how, and thus deliver quality, but it never rose above a pleasant festival afternoon. Nothing wrong with that though, I enjoyed myself while it lasted.
Setlist:
On Your Knees
Inside The Electric Circus
The Real Me (The Who cover)
L.O.V.E. Machine
The Idol
Arena Of Pleasure
Heaven’s Hung in Black
Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue)
Wild Child
I Wanna Be Somebody
W.A.S.P.
