Christmas Rock Night Review
Welcome abroad:
Celebrating US rock in the old world...
What is the best way to do the first show in Europe? Flying out to CRN, the annual Christmas Rock Night fest in Germany. Since Bloodgod’s legendary show there 20 years ago, the Christian who is who in rock music did this way, from MxPx to P.O.D., from Pillar to Mute Math, to name just a few. All of them won the hearts of an enthusiastic young audience. When on Nov. 30th, Delta flight 24 left from Atlanta to Düsseldorf, more than 30 Christian rock musicians were on board, including members of Disciple, Project 86, Thousand Foot Krutch, Falling Up. Kids in the Way and Fireflight, Some of the hottest Christian bands were ready to rock the stage. But before doing so, most of them would try a German Bratwurst and a Schnitzel and some taste a Glühwein, and walk along a Christmas Market.
Meanwhile in front of the CRN stage between 1600 (on Friday) and 1900 (on Saturday) rock fans coming from 6 European countries were eagerly waiting to see what US Christian rock had to offer 2006. After a couple of German bands, Building 429 came first. They played a fine set of mainstram rock which was well received by the audience. RED followed and impressed the audience with great songs and a remarkable performance. Next was Kids in the Way, who had aleady won the hearts of the crowd the year before and could now count on fans singing their choruses. Project 86 did great on their 3rd show at CRN, headlining Friday night. Many thought Andrew Schwab and his band sounded and looked much more positive and optimistic than on their previous sets. Meanwhile, on a side stage Disciple nearly caused a riot, when more than 400 fans squeezed into a room sized like a bigger class-room, to get a first glace of this most popular Christian heavy band in Germany. Disciple played some of their older songs here. Both Decyfer Down and Fireflight had given good teaser shows for their major sets to come on the second day.
The next day started with a service in a church nearby with Adrian Thompson (of legendary UK band Split Level) leading worship, and continued with Fireflight as first US band on mainstage. These guys (and their female singer in particular) took the European audience by storm like no other name new to Europe did this year. Decyfer Down came next and made it pretty clear that there is a new big name on the heavy music scene. Falling Up surprised the audience with their crazy hair styles, a powerful stage show including a flicflac and fresh sounds. As Tree 63 were stuck at London Heathrow airport on this day due to not having the right visas, Kids got the chance to do a second mainstage set. Then came co-headlining Thousand Foot Krutch, playing a well-received set of their modern rock style mixture. Finally, with no comparison to any other band before on these 2 nights, Disciple closed the 2-day-event with a tight, perfect and enthusiastically received show at CRN. Whatever Kevin Young did, singing, shouting, addressing the audience, reading out of the Bible, he was nothing less than the star of the fest, leaving a really hard job to do for this year’s CRN headliner. Any volunteers?
©2007 HM Magazine. All rights reserved.
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Comments
Who wrote this review!? :-)
I believe it was DW
