Columbia Maryland 7-12-2012 Scorps and Night Ranger

[gsantana]

We saw the last show of their 2011 tour in Lake Tahoe. They have guitar player that took Randy Rhodes place with Ozzy for 11 years. He Kicks Ass.

[connie]

i saw Nightranger when they openend for the Scorps at the Greek Theater on their 'Moment of Glory' tour in 2000. they weren't that bad but i can't stand 'Sister Christian'.

[Scottss8]

Glad you guys are Night Ranger fans, but I'll go on disagreeing. They were too "pop" for me.

I say were - I have no idea if they have actually done anything in the last umm 25 years.

Honestly Night Ranger's last CD Somewhere in California is the best album they have done in their 30 year career. In fact it might be the best CD that has come out from any band in the last 10 years. Amazing CD that rocks with some of the best guitar work. I know alot of people will crush me on this next statement but their new CD blows Sting in the tail away..Song for song and production and guitar work its much better then SITT..

I just hope this pairing happens on July 12..waiting to hear back from merriweather..

[gsantana]

(Classic Rock) Scorpions guitarist Matthias Jabs has confirmed the band have given up on their plan to split – although they probably won't keep going the way they have in the past.

He says they've been invited to play at the opening ceremony of football's 2014 World Cup competition in Brazil. And he adds their next studio project is likely to include completed versions of songs they didn't finish in the 1980s and 1990s.

The German outfit announced their intention to break up after one last work tour in 2009. But as more and more dates were added they admitted they were reconsidering the deci

[fos daddy]

I predict ,, Jack Blades making a guest appearance and singing BCN with Klaus

[fos daddy]

For Anyone Flying Into BWI .... directions to Merriweather


1. Leave BWI going west on I-195
(there is no going east )

2. Continue straight on I-195 West

3. Take the exit onto I-95 South and stay in right hand lane

4. Take exit 43B to merge onto MD-100 West toward Ellicott City

5. Take the exit on the left onto US-29 South toward Washington DC

6. Take the exit toward S Entrance Rd which is past 175

7. Turn right onto S Entrance Rd

8. Turn left onto Symphony Woods Rd

9. Follow to hill and parking

10. Merriweather Post Pavilion

If you get lost .. you can call me at 1 800 OHH ***

[fos daddy]

Its 330pm .. heading south now to meet up with Scott at Columbia Mall

[gsantana]

Its 330pm .. heading south now to meet up with Scott at Columbia Mall

Enjoy the show........................Rocking the East Coast...................

[Deleted User 13688]

Its 330pm .. heading south now to meet up with Scott at Columbia Mall

Awesome Thomas!! You tell my buddy Scott that I will be thinking of you all tonite and I sooo hope you all just have the most kick a** time EVER!! I would ask that you throw a kiss to Klaus for me, but I think that would be sorta weird!!!

[fos daddy]

I didnt get to meet Joanne

Heres the Scorps setlist .. Night Ranger was awesome also
Ill post more later after i sleep and find my head again


Sting in the Tail

Make It Real

Is There Anybody There?

The Zoo

Coast to Coast

Loving You Sunday Morning

Rhythm of Love

In Trance

Wind of Change

Holiday

Raised on Rock

Tease Me Please Me

Hit Between the Eyes

Kottak Attack

Blackout

Six String Sting

Big City Nights

Still Loving You

No One Like You

Rock You Like a Hurricane

[Deleted User 13688]

Wow!! They did In Trance???? And sorry you didn't hook up with Joanne!! Also, I can't wait to hear about their final curtain call so to speak, at their final USA show!!! sigh.....

[fos daddy]

This was Night Rangers set .. They were awesome as well as The Scorps


Lay It On Me

Sing Me Away

Touch of Madness

Crazy Train
(Ozzy Osbourne cover)

Eddie's Comin' Out Tonight

High Enough
(Damn Yankees cover)

Four in the Morning

When You Close Your Eyes

Don't Tell Me You Love Me

Sister Christian

(You Can Still) Rock in America



Cristy i was going to go pick up Joanne from the airport but at last minute my brother and sister couldnt fend for themselves at getting to the venue on their own ..
And since my sister takes care of my mom .. leaving early couldnt take place as we had to wait til 4 til someone came by to stay with my mom ...
I couldnt get my brother to drive my sister and he would have gotten lost anyway

So for the show ..Walking into Merriweather we met a couple from Germany that own a B&B at an ocean resort in Virginia.
They moved her 5 years ago and made the trip up here to see the Scorps
We stood around drinking for the hour long wait at the 930 clubs deck and bar
While we waited for Night Ranger to come on , Which took place right at 745
I went to my seat b4 my siblings
Jack Blades had to remind us how they were just here in May for M3
and also how hot it still was here
The break between their set and The Scorps wasnt very long . so i didnt see Scott nor Joanne and i dont think they could leave the pit area .
During the break we met a couple from France right in front of us .
( I guess they wanted to hear a differant set list )
And finally my friend from Russia and his wife arrived while i was getting another
They said they heard the last 3 Night Ranger songs
Then came The Scorps
The Scorps from start to finish were great ,, Klaus voice was 100000X better then 2 years ago when he was ill.
During Holiday we had our whole row rocking back and forth
When the band returned for their encore set, Klaus stated that this could be their very last show ever in the states .. and then said but you never know .. maybe they will find their way back across the atlantic again !
I hope under new management
So over all a great time .. i only wish more ppl i know from here had attended ..
Scott and I were hoping to see Chip and George as i held on to 2 extra tickets for them as did Scott.
I know i invited Chris,Berry, Candy and several others and none could make the trip
I hope the band does another tour again here and more fans can meet up ..
Its always great to rock out with great fans
As for today .. im off to the gym to sweat of this hangover i have
So i can go out drinking again later
Maybe at the baseball game tonite

[Deleted User 13688]

GREAT REVIEW TOM!! Wow the entire row was swaying? That sounds soooo nice! So what happened to Joanne? I will have to ask her on FB. Anyway, so are there any pix? I am glad you all had an awesome time! So maybe we can see them again sometime, yeah? sigh....how awesome!

[YNWA]

Thanks for the review, daddy! I really can feel the emotion in it, even though you usually try to hide it under your ironic sense of humor cover! Pictures?

[Deleted User 13688]

Thanks for the review, daddy! I really can feel the emotion in it, even though you usually try to hide it under your ironic sense of humor cover! Pictures?

I knoooowww right? He is always joking so much, that it's sometimes nice to hear him serious and tell a real experience. New to ya Tom? haha

[Scorplady]

Okay - my turn! I'm really tired, but still feel the sting, so I might as well get my thoughts down for this last NA show. I'm going to write up a things about all the experiences I had during this crazy month or so this weekend I hope. Oh it's going to be longwinded just to forewarn you!

Alrighty so lots of mixed emotions for this show in Columbia. First, I went to see Iron Maiden in Montreal the night before, then after maybe 4-5 hours of sleep I had to drive about 3 1/2 hours to an airport that is further away because of the cheaper airfare. Whew.

I'll try to keep this short, but I am exhausted so I might ramble a bit.

My flight got into Baltimore at around 15:30 or so, then I hiked it over to the car rental shuttle and it took forever to get the rent-a-wreck (what a crappy car!). But once it was all said and done, I got to the venue around 17:00, hungry and tired - oh and hot. Yech to summer. Anyways!

What I thought was supposed to happen didn't exactly happen - I thought I was supposed to meet Scott who was already supposed to be in line when I got there. Turns out he wasn't, but I was looking anyways. I was very confused of where to go, all the staff were telling me that there were 2 entrances - north and south. Well south I had no problems finding but I was confused when there were only 10 people in line waiting and Scott wasn't one of them. So I asked if there was another gate and I was told to walk all around to the north one - I was tired, hot and hungry - so I tried to hurry my fat butt but energy was missing for that. Anyways, I must of talked to 10 staff people and they all pointed me in the same direction which went through the VIP section...which confused me more. Next thing I know I'm sitting down and watching Night Ranger's sound check. Yeah I just had a seat by myself at the pavilion - tons of staff walked by and even talked to me and no one cared that I was sitting there.

Night Ranger had a lot of fun for the sound check. I stayed back as I didn't want to get kicked out but the lead singer Jack Blades was cracking jokes and what not.

Anyways, I called Scott while sitting at the sound check and he still wasn't at the venue yet. So I got comfy and when I figured he was there I went out to meet up with him. Got in line and ready to go.

The pit was REALLY tiny. They had the catwalk and the stage was the normal height (yay). I managed to get a spot over where James would usually sit on that chair of his in the middle of the catwalk. Good enough spot when that tired. It was so hot and I met some really cool people while waiting for the show to start. I know one of them will be a long time friend to come.

I had some issues with the couple to the right of me. Between the terrible greed and mean behavior of the girl and the HUGE mass of body the guy had (think refrigerator). I've never seen someone just be so damn mean when it comes to claiming drumsticks for their own and every time I got attention she either thought it was for her or would give me a dirty look and look condescendingly at my flag wondering if there was some sort of secret message that she didn't see. Even security didn't like them. But annoyances aside, screw that I was at a Scorpions concert, no one will stop the good energy. No one!

Night Ranger put on a good show. I didn't like the drummer's kit being over to the right, but the stage was tiny so there wasn't any help for it. I thought that they weren't going to play Sister Christian until they did the song before last - bah. Hate that song! But it was cool, they played Crazy Train since Brad Gillis used to be with Ozzy. I hardly recognized the guys in the band. I'm like - how can that be Brad Gillis? Where is the curly hair? Wait - Jack Blades you got older! It was overall a good show, although I think Tesla was a better fit in terms of opening groups. Night Ranger has some good tunes though.

There wasn't much time between Night Ranger and the Scorpions - good news they didn't have time to play Enter Sandman like they usually do before the Scorps begin! (Sorry I think Sister Christian and Enter Sandman are my two most hated songs and both in the same night would of made me grumpy!)

Okay - I'm going to say this because it was show #7 for me for North America. It was a strange energy last night. Klaus was spot on vocally and was in tip top form. Rudy started out strong but seemed to lose a bit of steam (I found myself going side to side more than him!). Pawel wasn't connecting much with the crowd at all, maybe sad that it was the last date? I don't know. Matthias was enjoying every bit of admiration as he always does in his special Matthias way. Something seemed a bit off with James both with his energy and keeping the beat. In my mind I figured that James and Pawel went out too late the night before and they were feeling that sting. But I have no idea.

For all the times I have wished them to change a song in their set list - maybe that's what screwed it up. They played In Trance - which blew me away. I was standing there with my heart on my sleeve - I could feel it pounding it was so emotional. But in exchange they didn't play Send Me an Angel which means there was no thing on the catwalk with the chair and that whole thing which I think really gives a great atmosphere. They also didn't play The Best is Yet to Come which for me is a great crowd pleaser.

Matthias did a great solo as always. James had the worst drum solo so far. I'm not sure if it was to shorten the length or whatever but it was terribly off. They edited the movie he plays during the solo, cutting out all sorts of things (whoever edited it needs to be shot, that was horrible) and James seemed to be floundering trying to keep up with the shorter version. He ended up almost forgetting to do his whole Rock and Roll Forever bit and it almost seemed like he wasn't steady while standing up there. First time I noticed that.

I had some amazing interaction once again, the nods and smiles and points. These guys are probably sick of seeing me in front again. Klaus tried to throw me a couple of sticks but the people next to me kept on doing some amazing things to catch them and even if they didn't touch them and they fell to the ground, you could hear the girl over the music scream "THAT STICK IS MINE" even though they got like 4 of them. Sweet justice happened twice though when once the security guard picked one up and instead of handing it over to her (man she was mean about it) he just threw it into the crowd randomly (she was pissed and spent a good 2 minutes staring at the security guard with an evil glare) then when another stick fell the security guard picked it up and gave it to me and told me "Since you came from so far, I wanted to make sure you got one." That was really nice of him. The times when James was pointing at me and interacting with me while playing, the people next to me thought it was for them - but I know better and so did my friend on the other side of them. We got a good laugh afterwards.

Caught up with Scott after the show - he got a bunch of picks and sticks and a set list I think from a roadie at the end of the show. Loved to see him so happy - had to make fun of him a bit about the comment he made a couple of weeks ago about not supporting the Scorpions anymore if they come back for another tour. Yeah right Scott!

During the show Klaus always talked about it being the last show, but he also mentioned that "You never know if it really is the last show." So I'm pretty hopeful that they will return for another couple of shows - I'm thinking in 2014 or at least I'm hoping.

I was really sad at one point when I realized this was pretty much the end of all these concerts I've been able to go to, but one look at Klaus and those negative thoughts were gone. He wasn't sad, so why should I be? At one point James looked really sad for maybe 30 seconds when Klaus was talking about the final show - since he is from the US, I imagine it's harder for him - but he recovered as a drummer only can.

I won't say that this was the best show I've seen in the last month, but it ranks up pretty high!

Oh before I forget a funny thing happened - Rudolf and Matthias played a trick on Klaus. It was Matthias' idea from what I saw...when it came time for the pyramid - Matthias looked over at Rudolf and nodded to put their legs closer together so that Klaus wouldn't have as much room as he normally did. It was funny Klaus had to really made an effort to stand up there on their legs. I loved seeing them playful like that. Klaus was a champion, when at first he didn't succeed to make the pyramid happen he tried and tried again until it did. I laughed really hard.

Also didn't get to meet fos daddy which makes me sad.

And that is the short version - I swear I blame my ability to type fast for all this writing.

[Deleted User 13688]

I just looooved ur review Joanne!!! But it sure sounds like sthg was very strange....could it have been a farewell party to the States that they hadn't gotten over yet? ha And hun, I am sooooo very sorry we couldn't get youBACKSTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even AFTER all those shows you went to and the money and the loyalty!! grrrr Makes me wonder what one has to do to get back there? snarl... I guess you weren't in the right clique, yeah?
Anyyywaaayyyy, so I am glad you met up with Scott but too bad about Tom!! He would have been a hoot to be with! Very cool about the stumbling into Night Ranger's soundcheck!!
Oh and that beyotch who was next to you???? See people? What makes you think this world, esp the world of Scorps fans is all peachy and flowers and rainbows? We are PEOPLE not gods or goddesses who are PERFECT simply cuz we are Scorps fans. I mean really? And these evil folks next to Joanne is proof positive!! sheesh! But I am so glad you got the stick tho hun. The security showed more kindness to you than...wellllll, more than the ones you asked to go backstage, did. Sorry for my surly attitude.... I guess they had other ppl on their list!! Anyway, didn't the boys see this sort of behavior from these two morons? I guess they can't exactly jump off the stage and hand you a stick tho. But I have heard stories where they have seen someone not get sthg and they try again.....with me, when MJ threw his pick and it was a little high, I just let it go over my head and didn't even care if I caught it, he didn't try again. ha I wouldn't have either as unenthusiastic as I was that nite!
Well, I am glad you had one final nite with the boys, albeit in the audience. And Klaus says they may be back....I also figure in 2014. AFTER they make another couple million in France and Russia. ha! Well Amend will unless they get rid of that sort of greed in their organization!!
So, can't wait for the pix girl! Thx for the reliving of ur experience!! woot woot

[berry]

thanks for the invite fos daddy , i so wanted to go but just couldn't swing it
with that set list i sure hope i find a good bootleg of it to enjoy .
here is a clip of Night Ranger i filmed till Brad had me shut down from recording ...

Watch on youtube.com

[Scottss8]

Okay i'm finally back..Just dropped off my buddy at the airport after a wild few days.Now onto Thursday night and the Scorpions show.. We left for the show at 2:30 from the Northern VA area. I had 7 people with me..5 in the PIT and 2 in the pavilion seats i won from the area radio station. I meet up with Thomas(FOS DADDY) at the Columbia Mall before the show. When my party and i got out of the car at the mall around 4pm you could hear the Scorps doing soundcheck and playing Sting in the Tail. The Mall is about 500 yards from the venue. When we left the mall Joanne called me and told me she was watching Night Ranger do their soundcheck. So i told her i'm on my way and will meet up with her in the concession area. After purchasing shirts and getting a group photo taken from BIG 100. below is the link to our group- I'm second from the left in the black baseball cap.

http://www.thebigdc.com/cc-common/galle ... 9/19448800

I then meet up with Joanne in the concession area and we all went to the pit to find our spots. I wanted right in front of Matthias since he is my guitar hero. So i was front row about 5 feet from him the whole entire night. Joanne was about 10 feet away near the ramp. I made sure to check on her between acts make sure she was okay. She had meet up with a facebook Scorps friend who had her 14 year old there. Very nice lady. In the PIT it felt like a family feeling around us. Everyone was talking about past Scorps and rock shows they had attended.

7:45-8:40 - Night Ranger
First off these guys are amazing live..Great musicians and a great stage show. I won't post the set list since Thomas has already post it but their tribute to Randy Rhoads "Crazy Train" was amazing and had most of the place on their feet during this song. They were the perfect opening act to the Scorpions. Jack Blades made a few comments about being great friends with the Scorps and in fact Klaus asked him to play "High Enough" (Damn Yankees song) since it was one of his favorite songs. When they were done the crowd gave them a standing ovation which was well deserved.

Intermission - 8:40-9:20
I could not leave my area in the pit since after Night Ranger left the stage the fans tried to push their way to the front.. Being 6 foot 1 i was okay and kept my spot..They played Pink,Nickelback,Maiden,AC/DC,Van Halen and the last song before the Scorps hit the stage was KISS "War Machine".

9:20-11:10 - Scorpions
AMAZING..enough said right there..The band was tight and full of energy. The addition of In Trance was amazing since it is one of my favorite songs from the ULI era. Having "Is There anybody there?" put in the set list on this tour was extra special since in the 28 years of going to Scorps shows i had never seen that song live. To me the set list was perfect with 3 ballads and a bunch of rockers. Like Thomas said in his review KLAUS voice was perfect after what he was dealing with two years ago coming down with the flu the night before our show in Maryland. During the Zoo Klaus throw drum sticks to me twice within 2 minutes. So i held on to those for dear life. I do have to beg to differ with Joanne on her review of KOTTAK ATTACK i really thought it was entertaining and better then 2 years ago. Also at the end of Big City Nights Matthias motioned to Klaus about during the pyramid at the back of the ramp going into the crowd since this ramp was not wide enough to do the famous pyramid. Klaus agreed but Rudy did not see Matthias gesture so Rudy ran to the front of the ramp and looked back at Matthias. Both shared a smile and Matthias said what the heck and ran to the front. Klaus started laughing and tried to climb at first and could not. He motion to the crowd like " what do you think" and the place went nuts..So he tried for a second time and it worked perfectly and what seem like 5 minutes he stayed there on Matthias and Rudy legs and the reaction from the crowd was priceless they went crazy. At the end of the first set i noticed it was 10:50 and the curfew is a strict 11pm. So i was worried they would have to cut out Still Loving You and No One Like You. Well that did not happen and we also got a great speech from Klaus about being the last USA show "for 2012" and you never know maybe we will see you again in the future. So it got all of our hopes up for future shows here in America. When the band finished Hurricane. Matthias came over to me in the front row and pointed and said this one is for you. And he handed me a pick and then throw two up in the air which i also caught one of the them. So i went home with 2 drum sticks from Klaus and 2 guitar picks from Matthias. It was a special evening for me after being a Scorpions fan for 30 years. If this turns out to be the last Scorpions show of my life then they went out in style Thursday night at Merriweather Post. And from the bands reaction to the fans maybe they are not ready to close the curtain on their 40 year career.

Only Time Will Tell and maybe The Best is yet to Come!!!

[YNWA]

Thanks for the review, Scott! And I loved the very final - yeah, the BEST IS YET TO COME!