Skagarack @ Jailbreak 2023
The stuff of dreams in the reality of them dying
Much like D-A-D yesterday, Skagarack is another Danish hard rock band who are also very dear to me; also almost made it kinda big during the late '80s, and also deserved much more success than they got. They had a minor hit; played Reading; and had one song featured on the second "Nightmare on Elm Street" soundtrack. But then, of course, things went the way they went.
They reunited in 2009, but haven't released any new material or performed very regularly since then. So I've been looking forward to this one. And hearing some of those oldies again – not the least of all stadium-sized hit "I'm Alone" and phenomenal closer "Hungry For a Game" – is nothing short of heart-warming for a Danish Gen Y hard-rocker.
Sadly, however, the band's utter lack of recent live experience shows. Their stage presence is borderline-lethargic with minimal movement and crowd contact. Lead singer Torben Schmidt's vocals, often being slightly flat, have seen better days. As far as I can see, he and guitarist Jan Petersen are the only remaining original members, the others probably having been replaced by someone's nephews. And in spite of some world-class solos from the latter, they both emit an air of middle school teachers keeping a dead dream artificially alive.
And believe me, it hurts me just as much to write this as it might do for any other fan to read it. Because those three Skagarack albums – 1986's self-titled; 1988's "Hungry For a Game", and 1990's "A Slice of Heaven" – are among the world's most overlooked gems in the world of hard rock.
But also because said dream might really be kept artificially alive, with a new album set to hit the streets next year and a coupla new, uninspired tunes derailing the set way too early. In fact, apart from aforementioned closer and the wonderfully ripping "My Way or the Highway", the rest of the set pretty much takes place mid-tempo.
Not exactly conducive to a compelling atmosphere, given the circumstances. Pro tip: If you wanna sustain a fruitful career, you gotta do that thing where you hella fucking ROCK your crowd's faces off; not just apologetically play a bunch of songs and then leave. And you damn well gotta do it week after week; not just a coupla times per damn year. And where the Hell are songs like "Talk Dirty To Me" and "Move It in the Night"??
When Skagarack are good, then, it's because the classic tunes that they do play, carry all the deadweight they can here. And they do carry a lot. Which is exactly why I can't possibly grant more than a mediocre rating, as much as I'd like to, and as much as I'm rocking out as virtually the only guy in the crowd. Boo to the rest of ya.
Rating: 3 out of 6
Genre: Hard rock
Venue: Jailbreak, indoor stage
Date: Sat., 12/8/2023
Setlist:
- Rock This City
- Open Your Eyes
- I'm Alone
- Heart and Soul
- Give It
- Damned Woman
- My Way or the Highway
- Hungry For a Game
Photos by Magnus Jørgensen. And just you try and copy any of them. Go on; see what happens. Seriously, he will get SO pissed.