Page 59 - Black Velvet Issue 89

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SIXX:A.M. / THE NEW BLACK – HAMBURG KNUST, 20.06.16

It’s Sixx:A.M.’s first European ‘Prayer Ses-
sion’, a small intimate club show, amidst a few
weeks of festival appearances. We’re excited
to finally see them, as is the entire audience,
folks who have travelled far and wide to be at
Knust in Hamburg. First up are The New Black,
a German band from Wurzburg who look and
sound like they live the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. Vo-
calist Fludid sings in English and the long-
haired quintet have some quality rock songs.
Songs such as ‘With A Grin’ and ‘Long Time
Coming’ are powerful and entrancing. Fludid
has commanding vocals, Philipp Klinger ham-
mers away on the drums and the band includes
two guitarists for some occasional dual guitar
work. You’ll be tapping along to their catchy set
before the end of the very first song. We’d say
Germany has got an impressive export here. A
good choice for support.
A short intro of church service music indi-
cates that Sixx:A.M’s set is about to begin.
Sixx:A.M. kick into ‘This Is Gonna Hurt’, al-
though for the next 1 hour and 20 minutes it’s
pure pleasure. “We’re three songs in and you’re
already my favourite motherfuckin’ crowd of the
tour,” announces frontman James Michael after
the fist-punching ‘Rise’ and ‘Relief’.
The heart-melting ‘Skin’ sees multi-talented
James playing the piano before the rest of the
band return to the stage to join him as the song
kicks in. Dj Ashba interjects the song with some
nimble finger work on the guitar to remind
everyone that he’s also incredibly talented (he
later starts ‘Dead Man’s Ballet’ on the keys be-
fore returning back to the guitar). The band play
a range of songs from all four studio albums –
although they have so many wonderful songs
we wish the set is even longer than it is. Nikki
Sixx alternates between roaring at the front few
rows and almost seeming like he’s in his own
world, happy to play the bass is the shadows
while James takes more of the spotlight. Back-
ing singer Amber Van Buskirk joins James up
front to sing ‘Everything Went To Hell’, making
it a dramatic duel, while drummer Dustin
Steinke holds his drumsticks up as a cross be-
fore the dark and devilish ‘Prayers For The
Damned’.
Before ‘Rise Of The Melancholy Empire’,
James says a few words about the Florida
shootings, commenting that it brings them back
to their state of mind after the Paris attacks
when they wrote the song. He tells the crowd
that we need to resist the fear that terrorists
want us to have. “We are all together,” and “We
need to be strong,” he says. You can definitely
feel a mix of solemnness and strength to rise
up from the tragedies in the song. Just this song
and statement is the perfect example of how
meaningful Sixx:A.M. are. If only the terrorists
or violent human beings in the world could listen
to Sixx:A.M. themselves, maybe they’d feel
some compassion instead of evilness.
The band nail ‘Accidents Can Happen’
(James’ vocals are breathtaking throughout but
particularly at the end when he sings a couple
of lines alone and hits every note spot on), and
final song, ‘Life Is Beautiful’. James introduces
his bandmates by name, while Nikki introduces
James. Life really IS beautiful with Sixx:A.M. in
it. Leaving tonight’s ‘Prayer Session’, we just
pray that we don’t have to wait too long to see
them again.
YYYYY
Shari Black Velvet
James Michael (Sixx:A.M.) Photo By Shari Black Velvet

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