Alcatrazz/Holland 2019

ALCATRAZZ has finally restarted with the addition of new guitarist Joe Stamp. The latest original recording is now available. Lately, GRAHAM BONNET BAND has been strengthening its neoclassical tone by welcoming 80’s guitar heroes. Every time I introduced that live album, I thought to myself, “This is ALCATRAZZ,” but Graham Bonnet finally made up his mind (?). It has also been announced that they will be performing in Japan under the name ALCATRAZZ. Furthermore, the reason for the name change was the addition of Joe Stamp. Older fans may be wondering, “Who is this?”, but this is quite a talent. Joey Taffola and Kurt James were from the 80’s Shrapnel, but Joe is from the 90’s. At the time of his debut, he was a neo-classical guitarist who played his guitar too well and became synonymous with the term “clone.” After that, he teamed up with Mike Vecera, and his clone image was fully developed, but in recent years, his reputation among enthusiasts has skyrocketed. He began to incorporate a Ritchie Blackmore-like sensibility into his phrases, and his solo composition and composition ability improved tremendously. In terms of popularity, he is not as good as Joey Tafolla who left the masterpiece “OUT OF THE SUN”, but he is currently evolving. Graham is also planning a new work with ALCATRAZZ, and it is now being said that it is the best choice, better than bringing back Yngwie himself. The new ALCATRAZZ’s performance in Japan is approaching, and this is the latest live album that is perfect for preparation. It is a full audience recording of “March 21, 2019 Bergen op Zoom Performance (Netherlands)”. First of all, let’s check the show’s position on the 2019 schedule in order to know what they are up to. [February 8: Joe Stamp joins & name change announced] March 14: Tampere performance March 15: Helsinki performance March 16: Kuopio performance March 17: Kouvu Ora performance ・March 21: Bergen op Zoom performance ←★This work★ ・March 22: Hoorn performance ・March 23: Diest performance ・March 24: Osnabrück performance・May 28th-31st: Japan (4 performances) ・June 6th-8th: Australia (3 performances) This is the schedule announced so far. Joe’s addition and the restart of ALCATRAZZ were announced in February, after which they started a tour from North America. The Bergen op Zoom performance of this work was the fifth concert of the new ALCATRAZZ. This work, which records such a show, is a little unusual. In fact, it is an original sound source only for this work that was leaked from the people involved. Since it is a microphone recording, the category is audience recording, but the sound is strange. The most powerful thing is the direct feeling. I haven’t heard the recording situation, but it’s probably in the audience’s room, and it’s intensely on, direct, and powerful! In terms of balance, the vocals are a little off, but the rhythm section and guitar are both very strong. It was so powerful that it seemed like it would explode…but it didn’t. A powerful sound that explodes with the last-minute power. Beautiful sound is not required, but you can directly enjoy the new ensemble with a powerful sound that does not explode or roar. What the sound depicts is the revived ALCATRAZZ! Aside from anything else, what I’m curious about is Joe Stamp’s guitar, and it’s just as amazing as the rumors say. Anyway, skillfully and without hesitation, neoclassical phrases are fired repeatedly, continuously, and rapidly!! Of course, it is not a dry scale practice, but is sprinkled with plenty of tears and passion, and yet it is sharp. There are so many Yngwie clones that you could just throw them away, but they weren’t called “representatives” just for fun. Of course, it’s not just an imitation. The part that incorporates Obli’s storm is the same as young Yngwie, but the content is similar and different. The tone is closer to heavy metal than Yngwie’s, and the contrast between the slow and light-speed passages is also reminiscent of Imperiali. Between Yngwie and Impellitteri, he mixes a slightly Ritchie-like scale…such a delicious guitar is in full bloom. And feel like you’re in good hands! Actually, I was so nostalgic for my predecessors, Joey and Kurt, that I wondered, “What have they been up to?” However, Joe Stamp is still active and continues to produce a large number of solo albums. There is no hesitation in the phrases he spins, and he plays them smoothly and energetically. His compositional sense is something to look forward to in his upcoming new work, and he has proven that he is the best choice just by playing well. The set is as delicious as the guitar and foreshadows the performance in Japan. This is also the first report of the new ALCATRAZZ, so let’s organize all the songs at once. ●ALCATRAZZ (7 songs) Too Young To Die, Too Drunk To Live, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Jet To Jet, Kree Nakoorie, Starcarr Lane, General Hospital, Big Foot ●RAINBOW (4 songs) Love’s No Friend, All Night Long, Since You Been Gone, Lost In Hollywood ●MSG (3 songs) Desert Song, Rock You To The Ground, Assault Attack ●IMPELLITTERI (2 songs) Stand In Line, Tonight I Fly ●Graham’s solo (2 songs) Night Games, Long Island Tea ●BLACKTHORNE (1 song) We Won’t Be Forgotten…And so it goes like this. The central theme (of course?) is “NO PAROLE FROM ROCK’N’ROLL.” Up until now, it was customary to include some songs from “DISTURBING THE PEACE”, but we will completely exclude them and approach with super neo-classic music. In addition, there is a variety of other items that do not break the neo-club route. It also features unusual songs such as IMPELLITTERI’s “Tonight I Fly” and BLACKTHORNE’s “We Won’t Be Forgotten (hidden masterpiece!)”. Every time they changed guitarists, they scaled up with a triple jump: Joey Tafolla → Curt James → Joe Stamp. Graham Bonnet has finally risen to a level worthy of the golden signboard of ALCATRAZZ. The upcoming performance in Japan is scheduled to include reenactments of “NO PAROLE FROM ROCK’N’ROLL” and “DOWN TO EARTH,” so the excitement never stops. This is a sin-making board that will add fuel to your enthusiasm and set it on fire. ★Super high quality sound source leaked by related parties. There is some noise (due to the recording method), but it is caused by the master. Still great sound quality! Live at Gebouw-T, Bergen op Zoom, Holland 21st March 2019 TRULY PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters) Disc 1(48:36) 1. Shooting Star (Intro) 2. Too Young to Die, Too Drunk to Live 3. Hiroshima Mon Amour 4. Jet to Jet 5. Love’s No Friend 6. Kree Nakoorie★Opening noise included 7. All Night Long 8. Desert Song 9. Night Games 10. Rock You to the Ground ★Noise at the beginning Disc 2(52:36) 1. MC 2. Stand in Line 3. Starcarr Lane 4. General Hospital ★Volume is low along with noise There are places where it becomes stable. 5. We Won’t Be Forgotten 6. Big Foot 7. Since You Been Gone 8. Tonight I Fly 9. Long Island Tea 10. Assault Attack with noise at the beginning 11. Lost in Hollywood Graham Bonnet – Vocals Joe Stump – Guitar Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards Beth-Ami Heavenstone – Bass Mark Benquechea – Drums