A Word to the wise and the brave, to attend gigs in Milan's otherwise excellent little club Legend 54.  Get a taxi or be prepared for a half hour walk from the sqare where the metro leaves you. Not that it matters greatly, but it did quite have a toll on my feet after i did that and a whoel lotta more of walking around Milan to see around, and do this review+it's bundled interview and more.... Anyhow...

Seeing how Jorn Lande has never played Greece and is unlikely to do so unless some sort of miracle takes place i decided to bite the bullet and catch a plane to Milan. I saw the town, did an interview with the "big guy"and overall had a swell time.

But let's concentrate on the gig itself, JORN was supported by two bands, a Swedish or Finnish (not 100 sure as i was getting down from the high - of having walked for 7 miles) power-metal one, female ladden, close to say Thunderstone, that wasn't bad - but also failed to make a great impression, with it's power metal by the numbers and the gal's (who also handled bass duties - quite capably too) delivery who was just way too accented and macho...(?!) a bit of a highlight was their medley of WASP hits, that was met with a greater warmth by the rather accpeting Italian crowd - that at that time was about 100 people.
I had to miss the second support band, which i persume must have been Italian to go and interview JORN and i made it back just as they had packed thing up. The crowd was now up to a very respectable 600-700 people...but the clubs layout and rather raised stage allowed for a pretty good experience for almost all but the shortest punters, and aurally, things were also pretty damn good with crystal clear yet powerful mixing, courtesy of the very professional soundman... (hey you guys in the Greek bar/clubs - you should import him).

I played around with the camera a bit, waiting for JORN to get ready and shortly after 10 o clock the band was onstage with JORN taking the center and assuming a very imposing pose. And a-rocking n rollin show had begun.... the band was "on fire" with both Tore and Igor ripping it up...."Soul of the Wind", "Shadow People" and "We Brought the angels down" were an awesome opening triplet, with Jorn saluting the adoring crowd, that was vibrant as it was loud... the tone and atmosphere was made a little darker and more omnious by "Stormcrow" and "Man of the Dark" but was evened out by "The Inner Road". Then Jorn said that the next song was about his ancestors the vikings, as the band tore into an awesome rendition of "Tungur Knivur" from the amazing "worldchanger" album...
also Tore tore his guitar in "Tore's Solo" making me really looking in wild bemusement and sheer amazement at his guitar histrionics, as he was only a couple of feet away ! "Blacksong" did put some groove back and re-ignited the show, with the band appearing quite refreshed after a short break they took during the solo... there was also some silly shenanigans caused by yours truly, before, "Are You ready" (THIN LIZZY cover) which the band dedicated - to the great man himself, our beloved Phillip Paris Lynott, with me going "No" and Jorn remarking that all that traveling, and my long Journeys must have affected me, but it was all rather playful and amusing... (note: ok i admitt it was stupid and pratty of me to do and i apologise). "Duke of Love" made things as Whitesnake as they could, be for those ready "for some loving" and "Out to every Nation" was nothing sort of amazing. "Stormbringer" (DEEP PURPLE cover) was nothing sort of amazing, and a cover that was far from being un-expected. It also signaled the end of the normal set, as the band had a little break to recouperate, before they 'd encore with "Wild Willy's Solo" which was obviously a drum onslaught by the one and only Wild Willy which let inadvertably to "War of the World" which was the triumphant ending to the show, despite the crowds pleads for "one more", but also was extended somewhat by the crowds awesome sing-along towards the end.

Despite not playing quite a few "fan pleasers" like "Sunset station" or "Christine" that i wouldn't have minded at all, the show didn't feel at all hasted or lacking, and maybe because of the intimacy of the venue and the nearly damn perfect anf spirited band's performance it's engraved on my memory as one of the better if not the best club shows i have ever attended. By all means, do go and she the band or any JORN related projects that might be playing next to you.

After the show, the band and Jorn himself stayed and partied with all the fans, signing autographs and taking pictures until all were satisfied, which also shot down the rumors that Jorn is a bit of an !@#$@##$ ! To the contrary, to me throughout the entire night he seemed like a quite tallented, occasionally quite funny, very confident, slightly cocky, but also charming at the same time person/artist/performer, that was set out to have a good time, and in the process of doing so, he also entertained the faithful who had gathered to see himplay with his band.

Awesome night, awesome band, awesome times were had.
I hope that my next encounter with JORN won't be too far in the future !

DeeDee

Many Thanks to Vixx, for organizing that and to Muna, for making it happen.