Twisted Sister - Come back out to play in the rain!!!

June 28th 2013

Graspop Festival, Belgium

***

Good but not good enough to headline Graspop!!!

Twisted Sister *** (Main Stage) coming from the UK, I was quite surprised when I found out that Twisted Sister were headlining because they are not a big band in the UK, well not anymore. They had some fame back in the 80's but general interest in the band has not really been at it's peak for quite a long time. Apparently they got offered the headline slot after really impressing the organisers of the festival the year before "The best live performance I have ever seen at Graspop!" apparently was the comment they made last year when they confirmed the band for the festival. I was wanting to hate Twisted Sister's performance after Dee Snider had been charging an extra fifteen pounds in the signing tent for his book to sign it, signatures should be free to fans of the band and the fact he was later that night going on about how much he loved his fans.

If you love your fans so much don't charge. Even some fans at the tent were singing "We're not going to buy it!" to the tune of their hit song 'We are not going to take it' which Dee Snider seemed to be amused by. I have to be honest I wanted to hate it but I found myself tapping my foot a bit in time to the music and some of it which I first heard when I was a kid brought back a lot of memory's of jumping around it my room actually singing it. I also have to admit is vocals were a lot better than Bruce Dickinson's this weekend. The band are also without bass player Mark 'The Animal' Mendoza who is in the hospital to get's his legs fixed, this is a massive blow to all Twisted Sister fans who were looking to see the band with a classic line-up. A guy called Russ fills in on bass and does a good job but it's just not the same.

The music does fall short in places and compared to Slipknot the next night the stage show isn't that great, the so called light show is pathetic just involving people holding up their phones using an amp that changes colour. The open with 'You can't stop Rock 'n' Roll' which is quite fitting because it is chucking down with rain and the music goes on, followed by great versions of 'Shoot 'Em Down' and 'Stay Hungry' which do sound a little more heavy and beefy than before. Their is a nice version 'We're not gonna take It' that blasts out and dedicated to mother nature for the horrible rain. This is quite something to watch and is one of the highlights of their headline set.

They play classic American Rock anthem 'I wanna Rock' with a little help from up and coming Metalcore act Asking Alexandria who are friends with the band, they all look like they had so much fun playing together and the fans love it. They all jump around and have a good time. Ending with a cover version of 'It's only Rock 'n' Roll' by The Rolling Stones which made Mick Jagger throw up when he heard it, I don't it's that bad... but it's no Stones.

Their light show in the set is a joke with lights being projected to mobile phones in the crowd and the audience holding their phones up, this is not what I call a light show and they promised us something impressive that was run through an app this is just lights on people's phones... Not a light show!!!.

Check Out! the Video for 'I wanna Rock' Below...

Twisted Sister 'Come out and Play' with this creepy melody song that is good to sing a long to and when they end with 'S.M.F.' it's not explosive like a finale should be and your left wanting more because you feel unfulfilled, come on Graspop bigger band to headline next year on the Friday, but it was a good set by the old Rockers.

Twisted Sister - Setlist
------------------------
You can't stop Rock 'n' Roll
Shoot 'em Down
Stay Hungry
The Beast
The Kids are Back
I believe in Rock 'n' Roll
We're not gonna take It
The Fire still Burns
We're not gonna take It
Under the Blade
The Price
Burn in Hell
Drum Solo
I wanna Rock
It's only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)
---------------------------
Come out and Play
S.M.F.