Sweden Rock Festival 2001 - Reports
Hensley
rocked SRF as a storm!
Just
back from from an extraordinarily SRF weekend at Solvesborg with sunburned
forehead and tired feet phalanxies! I saw a few dozen conserts and it was
two veterans who chrushed all resistance: Ken Hensley and John Nitzinger.
I'm serious in saying that Hensley really surpassed all of my expectations
(and the were not few). He gave the entusiastically and big audience a sparkling
show, whith old classics as Easy Livin', Stealin', The Wizard and July Morning,
mingled with new, surprisingly strong songs (as for example The Return from
his latest record, and also a new written song which felt very strong and
exciting!).
What
made me most delighted was Ken's contagious enthusiasm and his ability to
communicate with the audience through music, scenical charismatic emanation
and his talk between (whih was many and funny!). The response was huge from
the first bluesy touch of Easy Livin'. The songs was tight, which was amazing
regarding the band had only had a few rehearsels for a short period of time.
The sound was first class, as was the audience co singing in Stealin', The
Wizard and above all with July Morning. When hundreds of happy fans simply
'pilfered' the song from Ken in the beginning of July Morning he looked
totally carried away and affected. And I was too!
After
this terriffic consert I had in the company with amongst others, Robban
and George, the great honour to meet Ken a little while, to get autographs
on records, photos and also a chance to chat talk with him. The guy seemed
genuinly happy, as he had experienced a start on something new and big in
his career!
Yes,
my friends! It really was magnificent! More detailed info on setlist and
other things will surely be made later!
Anders
Pontara (translated
from Swedish by Filip Björner)