The German invasion that has been sweeping across Quebec for a week is continuing with renewed vigor. After the noisy Rammsteins and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, it was the turn of the Scorpions group to land on our premises, this Wednesday evening, in front of 11,000 enthusiastic admirers at the Videotron Centre.
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The absence regretted by many of Whitesnake, who deserted the tour Rock Believer just before its arrival in North America because its singer David Coverdale is ill, did not ultimately dampen the ardor of hard rock fans in the Quebec region.
It was the night of great rock clichés, the first being that Scorpions were back in town, 12 years following a concert at the Pavillon de la jeunesse as part of what was supposed to be a farewell tour.
Did you believe it? We neither.
At least this time they’re not pretending they’re going to bow out, even though the band’s two frontrunners, singer Klaus Meine and guitarist Rudolf Schenker, at 74 and 73, surely see the finish line looming. of a prolific career.
Lots of new stuff
Among the five members of the group, it was Schenker who was the spark plug during a rather uneven first part of the performance, the fault being their decision to play too many titles, clearly not yet tamed by fans, from the most recent album Rock Believerlaunched in February.
Photo Agence QMI, Pascal Huot
Guitarist Rudolf Schenker
One or two would have sufficed. They did four in all, out of 17 songs on the program.
Nevertheless, following a timid kick-off to the sound of Gas in the Tank et Make It Realthe concert really took off when we heard the first notes of The Zoo, while the screens projected cartoon images of New York showing burning skyscrapers in which alluring female silhouettes danced. Another cliché assumed by German rockers.
Photo Agence QMI, Pascal Huot
Matthias Jabs, also on guitar
Then, the heavy and superb instrumental Coast To Coasta composition that has aged damn well, was one of the best pure rock moments of the evening.
Obviously, a Scorpions concert would not be a Scorpions concert without their essential ballads, so smooth, but so effective.
A choir for Klaus
The unifiers Send Me An Angel et Wind of Change, one following the other, untied the vocal cords of the spectators to the point that Klaus Meine hardly had to sing. At 11,000 voices, the choruses of these classics were beautiful to hear.
Photo Agence QMI, Pascal Huot
Singer Klaus Meine
Then, a little further on, to allow the band’s headliners to take a break, we were served – shot number 3 – the drummer’s traditional stunning solo, in this case the work of Mikkey Dee , who even received a standing ovation.
The final sprint was hellish. In quick succession, we were entitled to Blackout, Big City Nights and, as a reminder, to Still Loving You et Rock You Like a Hurricane.
The crowd was delirious and that was the most beautiful shot.
♦ The tour Rock Believer will also make a stop in Montreal, at the Bell Centre, on Saturday evening.
