EUROPE
PPM FEST - PROG POWER AND METAL FESTIVAL
Lotto Mons Expo - Mons, Belgium
April 30 2011

After a nice concert by Hammerfall, another Swedish band was about to hit the stage: Europe, the Headliners of the 2011 edition of the PPM Fest.

Europe started with Last Look at Eden, a loud, quite slow and heavy song.
This contrasted with the mostly speed metal tunes from the previous bands, like Edguy, Hammerfall or Rage.

Also, the lights were darker: blue, violet and red were the dominant colours during the whole concert.

The guys were in a good mood and seemed to enjoy every part of the show, just like all the fans that have been waiting for them.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere was not as festive as with other bands like Edguy.
Rather than being in a party mood, the audience paying special attention to the musicians and the show.

Joey Tempest communicated a lot with us.
He even shouted “chantez avec moi!” in French, during a beautiful piano version of Carrie.

Joey also told us that the lyrics idea of New Love in Town came in San Francisco 3 years ago, when his son was born.
He also stressed the importance of the song Start From The Dark, the first song that the band wrote together after “the long break”.

Ian Haugland’s drum solo was absolutely great.
It was based on Gioachino Rossini’s overture theme for the William Tell Opera... better known to the metalheads as William's Tale by ManOwaR.

This tune made the audience scream, jump and clap their hands!

Most of my favourite songs made it to the setlist, even Seven Doors Hotel, which they skipped at their concert in Paris last year.

Hearing live Cherokee, Rock The Night or The Getaway Plan was great. Adding Prisoners in Paradise would have been perfect!

The concert ended with a joyful version of their worldwide hit, the song that everybody kows: The Final Countdown.

It was sung by everyone at the Lotto Mons Expo Arena, even by some members of the previous bands that I saw around.

Once again, the PPM Fest did a great organization work. There was less people than last year for Scorpions, but there was a nice and friendly atmosphere during the whole day.

The Power Prog and Metal Fest was the best possible way to start the 2011 festival season (Shout It Out Loud, Graspop and Sonispheres France and Spain coming soon!).

Let’s wait and see which bands they’ll bring next year at the PPM!
I don't know, but Volbeat sounds really good...

Share on Facebook
Tweet this!
Bookmark on Google
e-mail to a friend
Windows Live Digg Reddit
StumbleUpon Yahoo
Delicious technorati Blinklist

Setlist Europe – Lotto Mons Expo - Mons, Belgium – April 30 2011

Europe Links:

Europe Line-up: