Graham Bonnet Band, Athens, Greece, The Crow Club

The show of Graham Bonnet in Athens, Greece was a great achievement for the concert goers because the Rainbow’s legacy still remains strong in Greece. The venue was half packed when I arrived and several fans were commenting on the potential playlist since this was the first time of the band in Greece. The support band was Angelo Perlepe’s Mystery which is an old metal band that has been in the scene for more than 20 years. The band’s music genre is neoclassical metal with a lot of similarities with Rainbow and Malmsteen. In general, the support act satisfied the fans who were familiar with the band’s old catalogue. The highlight of their appearance was a cover of Warlord’s “Child of the damned” featuring Giles Lavery, the former singer of the Warlord.

The time had come for the headliners of the show, Graham Bonnet Band. The club was almost packed and many persons started buying merchandise which had been signed by Graham. Graham wore his sunglasses and took over the stage while the enthusiastic crowd started shouting the name of the band.

The band seemed to be in a great shape and Jimmy Waldo, the original member of Alcatrazz was also present.

Graham while being in his 70s, despite of his age remains a strong figure on stage with voice skills that many young singers would be jealous of. The playlist of the show included tracks from almost all of the bands that he has contributed material, including Rainbow, Michael Schenker, Impellitteri.

It was such a great experience for those that attended this concert and this turned out into a will to bring the band back. The only disadvantage of the show was the fact that the sound quality in the club varied from good to medium depending on the location of the fan during the show. Maybe an option for another venue would be a better decision for both concert promoter and the band.