Richie Kotzen – Hard Rock Cafe – Rio de Janeiro – 3rd of may, 2009
By: Maila-Kaarina
Pictures: Maila-Kaarina
Do you know those days when you can do nothing but thank for having done everything you did? Well, this is what I have to say about the 3rd of May.
I had gotten a little mad a few days before because the production of the concert in Rio denied Hard Blast a pass to cover the event. But I know these things happen and I would never decide not to go to a concert because of the lack of support.
Some colleagues advised me not to write this review because I would be paying to work but after watching such a show it´s impossible not to register it.
As Richie sings in one of his master pieces: “I sold my soul, Just so I could feel paid” (“You can´t save me”)
Kotzen in my opinion isn´t only a great guitarist and singer. There is much more involved. He is pure feeling, hypnotizing, the kind of person who does things naturally, with simplicity. Everybody gets shocked and astonished, while he goes on 100% humble, doing what only a few people in the world can do.
He got on stage playing “Losing my Mind”, followed by “A Love Divine” and “You can´t Save Me” . The audience was hypnotized in front of the stage and whenever you looked around you would see people smiling and shaking their heads with that “I don´t believe it” face.
The sound was also very good, well equalized and clean. Musicians who came with him, bass player Dave Filice and drummer Damian Arriaga (from Venezuela), kicked ass!!! Dave has got a great groove and Damian plays like a real jazz man but with a lot of punch.
Together with Richie we could see a very connected band doing “impro” moments, looking at each other, smiling no stop, having a lot of fun. It looks as if they have been playing together for over 100 years.
The audience did also a very good job and although it wasn´t crowded, those 350 people were there to see Richie Kotzen as real fans. Ballads such as “Change” and Remember made everybody sing. Great songs as “Shine” and “Stand” , respectively from his Mr. Big and Poison times made all of us jump and the instrumental “impro” moment together with “Doing what the Devil Says to Do” teared up the eyes.
After almost two hours of the best music it was over...
Richie went back to his dressing room walking calmly with no security around, he talked to people, thanked everybody for being there, shook hands, kissed girls on their cheeks and took a fast rest. Fast because after15 minutes he got out of the room and came back to really talk to the fans, take pictures, give autographs and picks to everybody who wanted. He asked questions to many people talking about their T-shirts, the comments some of them might have done about specific songs, giving full attention to everybody even when the subject of the conversation was boring.
I cannot write this review just as a professional, it really must be done as a fan cause it would be unfair to say anything about an artist feeling with no feelings and if I can say some more...
I believe this guy was born with his own light, he´s got a special shinning that makes him different from anybody you´ve ever seen.
You cannot compare Richie Kotzen to anybody cause even though he´s got his influences, he sounds like nobody but himself.
Deep lyrics, beautiful melodies, emotional solos, all these together can make our concepts change.
I learned with him that art is a bit more than everything. Making big money is useless if you pay the price of giving up your freedom of expression. This musician could be the most famous artist in the world and I really believe on it but he prefers to keep himself low profile, doing what he wants to do, his music as his inspiration asks. He wouldn´t give up on the eye contact with the audience, he wouldn´t give up into shining. Watching his concert twice in my life is not enough. I really need more.
SET LIST OF THE CONCERT IN RIO:
Losing My Mind
A Love Divine
You Can´t Save Me
Misunderstood
Doin´what the Devil Says to Do
impro
Shapes of Things
Remember
I´m losing you
Change
High
Fool Again
Faith
So Cold
Everything Good
Shine
What is
All Along the Watchtower
Go Faster
Mother Head´s Family Reunion
Stand
