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Concert Review ... |
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It was just a few minutes before the clock struck midnight. The Kiss Tribute band (Dressed To Kill), had just finished performing a quite good set of Kiss classics, and the VIRGIN STEELE Crew were assembling the last pieces of gear needed for the show into place. Up went the keyboard stand complete with a very sharp and sinister sword attachment! The drums, the cables, and a guillotine???? Yes, a guillotine, were all in place and ready to go.
With Thunder-fire and full Metal Mayhem! Frank Gilchriest and Josh Block laid down a Rock solid foundation, that was fluid, tight, aggressive, heavy as Hades, yet still full of grace and class. Frank’s double bass pounded like those ghosts of the American plains, those ancient, giant, glorious Bison! Josh with hair flailing and fingers flying, excelled on both 5 & 6 string bass.
Edward Pursino in top form, combined wailing solos with powerhouse rhythm. And sailing on top of it all, the majestic vocals and unearthly keyboards of David DeFeis. The man gets better with each performance. From a whisper to a scream and everything in between. David possesses a 3 octave range that pierces the soul! As predicted, it was ... 3 hours of lunacy, with Power, Mystery and The Sword Of The Gods! I don’t think the DOWNTOWN has ever witnessed a finer evening. Everyone, from the audience to the crew in the basement, was in total awe and appreciation! But far beyond the outstanding musical dexterity displayed, VIRGIN STEELE delivered a true show of shows! The well crafted music combined with their truly magical stage presence, forged an evening of true transcendence and "Transfiguration". This folks went way beyond merely giving forth great live renditions of superb songs. This was mystique on the hoof, and becoming one with the Gods! If you have never witnessed VIRGIN STEELE up close, sweaty and dangerous, I suggest you do so at your earliest convenience. It might just change your life (It changed mine!). Massive Metal anthems, acoustic moments, solos, improvisation, flaming swords, and even the severed head of Lord Priam (King of Troy) made an appearance. Mr. DeFeis pulled this ghastly apparition out of the bloody basket in front of the guillotine, during RETURN OF THE KING, and he impaled the still bleeding stump on top of the sword which was grafted onto his keyboard stand.
David Hilsenrath
THE SET:
1.INVICTUS 6.TWILIGHT OF THE GODS ENCORE #1: A CRY IN THE NIGHT/DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES (Acoustic) ENCORE #2: THE BURNING OF ROME
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A
thunderous roar filled the Air! The Entrance Music had begun. Fragments
of various VIRGIN STEELE Songs, riffs and the complete "COILS
OF THE SERPENT", announced the descent of these Gods from Olympus,
to the venerated stage of the DOWNTOWN. 4 massive explosions of
sound later, followed by an unearthly swelling keyboard and Wham!
VS appeared in full flight launching into their by now customary
opener…INVICTUS. The audience who had already been giving forth
excited shouts of…VIRGIN STEELE, VIRGIN STEELE, erupted with
even greater volume, into True Metal Ecstasy! Responsive and completely
into every moment, these wonderful Fans never let up throughout
the entire three hour onslaught.
