hammersmith with the scorpions

[gwEm]

very pleasant show!

uli's support slot was highly enjoyable. too bad he only joined the scorpions for one track (what I saw, i had to leave during "rock you like a hurricane"), i'd have loved to see more. it seems like they varied the set from date to date which is very cool of them for people following the tour. michael wasn't really at his best, but turned in a good performance and it was great to see lovedrive classics rinsed out. i also liked michaels solo in 'rock you like a hurricane' and 'doctor doctor' was a nice touch. during the mathias/michael solo showdown over 'dazed and confused' it seemed clear to me jabs was ready to kick michael's arse, luckily he chose not to do so.

in fact jabs was really on form that night, it even seemed like his solo on 'hes a woman, shes a man' was a slight uli piss take ;) star of the show i reckon! but they all did an excellent job. atmosphere in hammersmith could have been a bit more raucous, but at least the crowd were loud, well worth the entry.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Was a good show
I was stood directly in front of Matthias all night and he played a stormer - reminding me why he is in my top 10 players
I felt Michael looked well and played pretty well all night - apart from the Led Zep moment not working
At least he was 100% better than last years showing..
Setlist was nearly perfect - mainly culled from the classic 4 albums :Lovedrive/Animal Magnetism/Blackout & Love at First Sting with a couple from the current album- and NO winds of change!
Letting fans vote for the setlist seems to have paid off as the only ballads were holiday and Still Loving You
Wish they would have had time to play when the smoke is going down

Holiday was really well done - loved the cliched guitars - Rudy had a Flying V acoustic, Matthias had an explorer acoustic and Michael had a regular acoustic painted in his familiar  B&W harlequin pattern.

I know Matthias would be happier if neither Michael or Uli shared the stage and in some ways it would make for  better show as then Matthias can just get on with playing the solos better than the other two.
I personally prefer to see Michael up there rather than Uli as it is more in keeping with the more modern feel that they took after 1978.
I know Gwem will feel the opposite.
I don't mind Uli especially if we hear Sails of Charon, We'll burn the sky , pictured life and Speedy's coming - just dont let him sing -ok!
I used to listen to Tokyo tapes a lot in the early 1980s and liked most of it, but prefer World wide live

[gwEm]

indeed, i'd rather have uli (guitar only, no singing ;) ) on stage with them than michael, and a 45min MSG support slot. but anyway only personal preference :)

holiday was a real surprise - i didn't expect them to rock out at the end like on the studio album (expected acoustic only like world wide live). another highlight!