Genre: rock
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title:  Rockpalast
Company: Second Battle
Catalog: SB LP 069
Year: 2007
Country/State: Aalst, Belgium
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: double LP; gatefold sleeve; German pressing
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6382
Price: $59.00

Recorded during a performance for the German Rockpalast (rock palace) television show, "Rockpalast Harmonie, Bonn 21.12.2005" was a double album, 14 track live set. Aired by the German WDR television network in January 2006, the set was edited down to thirty minutes or material, but the album restored the missing material (as did an accompanying DVD).  

On the surface there wouldn't seem to be all that much to get excited about. Here you had a band whose last real public exposure had come in the mid-1970s. That exposure had been extremely limited with few people beyond their native Balgium having ever heard their isolated singles and lone studio album. Add to that, singer/guitarist William Souffreau was the only original member still playing in the lineup. While Souffreau looked in good shape, the man had to be in his mid-60s, while bassist Franky Cooreman, keyboardist Stany Van Veer and drummer Stef Van Straalen looked like they were young enough to be Souffreau's kids. Yeah, on the surface this would appear to be another one of those comebacks that was more wishful thinking that realism ... AND HOW WRONG THOSE THOUGHTS WOULD BE !!!!   


left to right: 
Stef Van Straalen - William Souffreau (front) - Stany Van Veer (back) - Luc De Clus - Franky Cooreman 

Produced by Joachim Borneleitus, this was simply an amazing live set ... one of the best in-concert performances I've ever heard. Souffreau and company sounded like they were playing with their collective souls on the line; trying to make up for thirty years of lost time and opportunities; determined to show they were a first-class band that time had not passed by. While Souffreau may not have had the best rock voice you've ever heard, and while he'd clearly lost a bit of vocal flexibility over the years, the man made the most out of his gifts, his growl of a voice perfect for rockers like 'The Show (Part 1)', 'Brand New Day' and 'Can't Take It'. Having an enthusiastic backing band certainly didn't hurt the proceedings. Special notice to keyboardist Stany Van Veer and lead guitarist De Clus who was one of those rare players who seemed to understand that less-is-more when it came to the spotlight. Offering up a mixture of old material and four numbers (including, 'Coloured Land', the 2004 single 'Brand New Day' and 'Lovely Lisa'), virtually every one of these 14 tracks was worth hearing. It was fancy and if you were looking for auto-tuned vocals, gimmicky synthesizers, syndrums, and studio tricks this wasn't the place to come. On the other hand, any self-respecting '70s FM fan was bound to find this enjoyable.    

- Opening up with some pounding Uriah Heep-styled organ, a funky guitar refrain, and one of Souffreau's best vocals, 'The Show (Part 1)' was a perfect concert opener. Taunt, yet highly melodic, it was one of those songs that you simply couldn't shake out of your head. YouTube has a clip of the performance at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DPvPiHYMZw rating: ***** stars
- An engaging blues-rocker, 'Coloured Land' was actually the first song Irish Coffee had ever writte, but they'd never gotten around to completing it until the reunion. Showcasing Luc De Clus' screaming lead guitar, the track served to showcase the band's less-is-more approach; no rock excesses - just a straight-ahead, barebones serving of classic rock.   rating: **** stars
- Billed as their new single (though I think it was actually released in 2004),, 'Brand New Day' may not have been as impressive as some of their classic material, but Once again YouTube has a clip of the performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igLvktXoUVg rating: **** stars
- Built on Van Veer's surging keyboards and De Clus' piercing lead guitar, the first three quarters of 'Apocalypse' was a killer ballad. And then unexpectedly the song morphed into a Uriah Heep styled instrumental jam. Another track with one of those melodies you couldn't shake out of your head and I've always loved the way Souffreau pronounced the title as a-pa-col-lips). Another YouTube performance clip can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRPwVslPUp8
- The opener on their classic studio set, 'Can't Take It' lost none of its vigor over the years, or when transferred to a live setting. As on the original this was simply a killer slice of driving hard rock, with Van Veer's keyboards adding additional texture and De Luc easily replicating original guitarist Jean van der Schueren. Tthis one was every bit as good as anything better known American and English competitors had on the streets. In fact, unless you knew these guys were Belgian, you'd have never guessed their nationality.  YouTube performance of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zd_Q9A3ru8 rating: **** stars
- 'The Beginning of the End' was another track off the debut. A slow, blues-rock number with a fantastic bitterly dark melody and another winning performance from Souffreau, Van Veer effortlessly replicated the Procol Harum-styled opening. De Luc also used the song to really cut loose. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYUglkj-nIs   rating: **** stars
- Yeah, something was lost in the translation, but 'I'm Hers' (their spelling not mine), started out as a subtle, slinky rocker before morphing into an out-and-out rocker with De Luc again cutitng lose like he wasn't going to get another shot at the spotlight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKlMhkZqZHY rating: *** stars
- Billed as a new song, technically 'Lovely Lisa' was actually one of the tracks the post-Irish Coffee Joystick line-up had recorded as a demo, though it never saw a release. Kicked along by De Luc's wah-wah guitar and a snarling Souffreau vocal the song had a very likeable retro-rock feel.   rating: **** stars
- The first mild disappointment, 'Dark Clouds' sounded like it had been stitched together from a mixture of Deep Purple and Uriah Heep leftovers. Professional and listenable, but other than a tasty De Luc solo, didn't match up to some of their other performances. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW5LlVvV4hI rating: ** stars
- Switching gears, 'I'm Lost' was an easy-going ballad. Sporting some pretty acoustic guitar and churchy Van Veer organ, this one's a personal favorite. rating: **** stars
- As on the studio set, 'The Show (Part II)' was okay, but to my Souffreau and company sounded like they were simply trying too hard. rating: *** stars
- 'Masterpiece' was one of their non-LP singles and while the live version was enjoyable, the song's rollicking, keyboard-powered melody sounded a lot like a Uriah Heep effort. A good Uriah Heep effort, but still a Uriah Heep effort ... You can judge for yourself via this YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1isGUgMommY rating: *** stars
- Given an extended arrangement, the mid-tempo ballad 'A Day Like Today' was another track off the band's studio album. The original studio version was one of the few tracks that didn't do a great deal for me, so the live version came as a major surprise. Way more energetic and effective, this was easily one of Souffreau's most impassion vocals with De Luc's brittle slide guitar simply the icing on the cake.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlIvq84jZBA rating: **** stars
- Really my only complaint, penned by Souffreau, the encore 'Ain't Takin' No More' was a plodding slice of boogie rock, made even less enjoyable by what sounded like one of the worst stabs at an Elvis Presley impersonation you've ever heard. rating: ** stars  

Again, taken as a whole this was a totally unexpected treasure. The results were made even better by fantastic sound quality. Cranked up on a Rega turntable with some Bose speakers, the results are almost mind numbing. You were left to wish all comebacks were as good. 


"Rockkpalast Harmonie, Bonn 21.12.2005" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) The Show (Part 1) (Jean van der Schueren - William Souffreau) - 3:10
2.) Coloured Land (William Souffreau) - 3:24
3.) Brand New Day ( William Souffreau) - 4:06
4.) Apocalypse (William Souffreau) - 5:13

(side 2)
1.) Can't Take It ( Jean van der Schueren - William Souffreau) - 4:12
2.) The Beginning of the End ( Jean van der Schueren - William Souffreau) - 6:24
3.) I'm Hers ( Jean van der Schueren - William Souffreau) - 4:57

(side 3)
1.) Lovely Lisa (William Souffreau) - 3:52
2.) Dark Clouds (William Souffreau) - 4:20
3.) I'm Lost (William Souffreau) - 5:46
4.) The Show (Part II) ( Jean van der Schueren - William Souffreau) - 3:14

(side 4)
1.) Masterpiece (William Souffreau) - 3:28
2.) A Day Like Today ( Jean van der Schueren - William Souffreau) - 8:02
3.) Ain't Takin' No More (William Souffreau) - 3:49




As mentioned earlier, other than isolated clips, I haven't seen it, but Second Battle / Thors Hammer also released the concert in CD format (catalog number THDVD 01).


For anyone interested, the band has a small and outdated web presence at:
http://users.skynet.be/blinkit/