| Doors: 6.30 pm | Show: 8 pm | Tickets: 47.00 Euro + fees | SOLD OUT |

When Music Is The Weapon – We Are All Indestructible

The almost 25 years spanning history of DISTURBED is a breathtaking one. Seven released albums, all of them gold and platinum certified, and five of them on #1 at US album charts for weeks. The only thing the band has still to achieve is to turn the Grammy nominations into a won Grammy. But even without them, the band’s career is surely one of a kind.

In fall last year, DISTURBED released their seventh full-length album, titled Evolution (17 weeks #2 in Germany) and meanwhile tour around the globe in support of it. After an extensive US leg, the Chicago boys have reached European soils and sold out most of the shows long time before they took/take place. So it happened to the one at :: Palladium ::, Cologne. A cold and rainy day and many roadworks did not stop the faithful four thousands of rockers and metalheads from seeing DISTURBED and SKINDRED tonight. As there was also a sold out show at E-Werk opposite the street, all those attendees (6000+) caused quite a traffic chaos in the area that left its impact on the time schedule. The show started around 25 minutes later than announced to give all fans the chance to rush into the former machinery hall.

A word said about the merchandise pricing: it was exorbitant high. A shirt 40 Euro, a hoodie 70 Euro. A band as successful as DISTURBED surely does not need to rip off its fans that way. The same shirts can be bought for 24.99 $ (22.30 Euro) in the band’s shop, which is almost half the price. Even worse, SKINDRED had to do the same pricing. And the fans still queued and bought as if there was no tomorrow…

:: pics :: SKINDRED ::

Welsh Metal/Reggae rockers :: SKINDRED :: I saw live last time in 2012 during their Kill The Power tour. That’s quite some time ago. Two more albums were released, the current one, Big Tinks, already dates back a year. But, beside an extensive UK tour and some single shows filling in between the summer festivals, SKINDRED did not tour yet in support of it. They had announced a string of European dates in February but cancelled them in favor of the support slot with Disturbed. Seems, I did not miss too much yet ;)
The patience of the fans was highly put to the test before the lights finally dimmed and white spotlights walked through the hall. First, the AC/DC track Thunderstruck prepared the crowd for the things to come. Pre-intro done. Then, The Imperial March eventually heralded the arrival of SKINDRED, who stormed the stage and broke into the title track of the new album Big Tinks. It took a twinkling of an eye until Mr. Webbe mastered the crowd like a puppeteer. He was brimming of energy, waving his flag, changing glasses and clothes faster than a Pop diva does. Ok, not really changing, rather taking off bit by bit.
The band’s 40 minutes performance was, of course, way too short but entertaining and highly energetic. Only three new songs were played, though, the entire show boiled up the crowd to the max. Great show and the bar raised high for the headliner.

Band: Benji Webbe (vox), Mikey Demus (git), Daniel Pugsley (bass), Arya Goggin (drums), Dan Sturgess (DJ/samples)

Setlist: Thunderstruck (AC/DC), The Imperial March (John Williams song), Big Tings, Ratrace, Machine, That's My Jam, Kill The Power, Nobody, Warning

:: pics :: DISTURBED ::

I of course know the records and various singles and single songs of :: DISTURBED ::, yet have not seen them live before. I was much looking forward to this show since I was told they nail it, always.
The thrill among the crowd was almost palpable. Lights out and the video, „When Music Is The Weapon“, started to introduce the band. It was a career-spanning collection of live snippets and band photos from the beginning to the end, and, at its climax the band got onto stage to kick off with a thundering Are You Ready? Probably the best opener ever for a live show.
„Tonight we are brothers and sisters and family. Do you understand me?“ Yes, a statement replied with a powerful scream.
Frontman David Drainman talked a lot between the songs. He took a stand regarding skin color, religion, sexuality and other topics and later broached the issues of personal demons, addiction and depressions towards the tracks No More and A Reason To Fight. David Drainman asked for a hand sign of all those who already had to deal with depression, no matter if itself or for supporting others. And many people raised hands. Alarmingly many people, it made me shiver. I did not expect to see so many people be affected, what proves, of how much those topics get swept under the rug. Overlooking all those hands, Drainman stated: „You are not alone“! The accompanying video to A Reason To Fight consequently displayed the numbers of German crisis helplines.
With the show going on, every member was introduced with a solo, whereas I liked the bass solo by John Moyer most. One highlight was surely the stripped down Simon & Garfunkel cover version of The Sound Of Silence, seeing guitarist Donegan switching over on stage piano and drummer Wengren on tympani, accompanied by two additional guest musicians playing string instruments. Wow, that was truly awesome! Likewise great and rather semi acoustic was Hold On To Memories with a photo collage displaying images of band members with families and friends, along with others we have recently lost including Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell for example. That was moving and heart wrenching. Only the expected sea of (mobile) lights left a lot to be desired.
Next to brand new tracksfrom Evolution, DISTURBED focused on rather old and very old material, back to the 2000 debut The Sickness.
The sound was unbalanced in the beginning but seemed to better over the course. After my photo work I stood on the back wall and cannot say much about the sound at a later moment. The singing was a bit too pale and powerless in my opinion but the light show was great. And there was no sight to the stage from the second third of the hall on – a common problem at Palladium.

All in all, both band, SKINDRED and DISTURBED, delivered powerfully asskicking and fantastic shows, whereas I would say that SKINDRED are one nose ahead when it comes to energy and stage acting. A great concert night I truly enjoyed.

Band: David Draiman (vox), Dan Donegan (git), John Moyer (bass), Mike Wengren (drums)

Setlist: Are You Ready, Prayer, The Vengeful One, The Animal, Stupify, (guitar solo), Voices, Land Of Confusion (Genesis cover), bass solo, drum solo, Ten Thousand Fists, The Game, No More, A Reason To Fight, Hold On To Memories, The Sound Of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel cover), Indestructible, Inside The Fire // The Light, Stricken, Down With The Sickness

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography