Sunny Skies for a wet day
If you weren’t inspired enough by my review of the 35th Anniversary show by Sunny Skies in the Harmonie last year to see them on Saturday then shame on you for missing another action packed show at the Harmonie. The ‘Skies’ know how to have fun – and how to share it with the audience.
One of the (many) things that impresses me about Bonn’s premier cover-band ‘Sunny Skies’ is the sheer breadth of their reportoire. In Alex Krienke and Nadine Weyer they have two superlative vocalists from whom pretty well everything seems possible. How many other bands have singers who can comfortably cover AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’ and Robbie Williams ‘Angels’ (Alex) or Stings ‘Fields of Gold’ and Tina Turners ‘The Best’ (Nadine)?
Nadine – Best vocal of the evening?
I can’t help wondering if there isn’t a bit of healthy competition going on between the two vocalists to see who can deliver the best performance on the night. Certainly last year it was Alex who stole the show for me with a heart rending version of ‘Too much love will kill you’.This year again he seemed on the verge of tears as he hit the last words “to much love will kill you – every time…” The Queen song has always been a favourite of mine, and of Alex too. Was Mr Mercury singing his own fate? Too much promiscuous gay love killed him? Although written by Brian May I always see Freddie bearing his soul on this one – and Alex’ performance of it is as good as live singing gets. Only… Nadine trumped him this year with her version of Melissa Etheridge’s ‘Like the Way I Do’ attacking the lyrics in a ferocious fashion “Does anybody love you the way I do?” she implores. You would have to be a man of stone to doubt her.
Or Alex?
Okay, for the sake of fairness, best rock vocal of the night: Nadine and best ballad: Alex. Fair? and while we're on the subject, best guitar performance: Martin Behr for a nice funky start up to 'Smoke on the Water'.
Yes, coverbands. I said I don’t like them once. But the heck, how can you not like people who give 100% onstage. Every one of the 10 strong band had a smile on his/her face. Every one of them played their hearts out and every one of the capacity crowd who was there not just heard but felt the music. Hats off to the Ladies and Gentlemen of the band for making a wet and miserable day one with, well, Sunny Skies.
A word of advice: Band founder Rope Schmitz tells me the 'Skies' are playing a show with the Bonn Hofgarten Orchestra at the Museumsmeile Festival on 24 May. Sounds like it will be well worth a visit.
Band website: http://www.sunnyskies.de/
More photos: http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/johnhurd001/Sunny%20Skies2008/
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