Last week, the guys from Europe took the stage at the magnificent Musis Theater in Arnhem. The band had plenty to celebrate, because not only did they recently release their latest album, “Come This Madness,” but this tour also marks the 40th anniversary of their ’80s hit “The Final Countdown”—the album that launched the band’s international breakthrough.
But first up is the Canadian band The Damn Truth, who are serving as the opening act on this tour. Since I’d already seen this band perform a few months ago—and that show was absolutely fantastic—I was looking forward to an evening full of great bands.
absolutely fantastic talents
And once again, The Damn Truth put on a great show; despite their limited 30-minute set, they managed to really get the crowd going. And that’s not surprising, given the passion and fire with which this incredibly talented band performs. Add to that the fact that singer Lee-la Baum has an amazing voice, and the party can begin.
Unfortunately, the show only lasted six songs, but it was a treat to hear beautiful renditions of “Be Somebody,” “The Willow,” and “Tomorrow,” to name just a few standout tracks.
The sound was still a bit shaky during the first two songs, but fortunately that was quickly adjusted, and the audience was able to enjoy The Damn Truth with great sound quality. I’m convinced they definitely stole the hearts of some Europe fans tonight. Another great show!!!
a killer opener
After a brief changeover, the lights dimmed for a second time and the intro tape began playing for the Swedish band Europe, which has actually been part of the music scene for quite a few years now. From the very first moment, the sound was tuned to a beautifully crystal-clear level.
After all these years, singer Joey Tempest still has a voice that seems even more powerful than it was in the ’80s; guitarist John Norum remains a marvelous string wizard; while bassist John Levén, drummer Ian Haugland, and keyboardist Mic Michaeli provide a solid foundation that’s as steady as a rock.
The show kicks off with a song from their latest album, “Scandinavian Eyes.” It really is a killer opener live. What an awesome song it is. “Walk The Earth” and “Superstitious” follow in quick succession. It’s a shame, though, that the lighting during the opening songs was really poor—which was probably done on purpose, because later in the show the lighting was absolutely stunning. That does make it a bit more challenging to take good photos of the guys. But hey, you can’t have everything perfect on a night like this.
Going home early
Musically, it was another treat with Europe, a band that just seems to get better and better with age—and let’s be honest, for most bands, it’s usually the other way around.
“Last Look At Eden” and “War Of Kings” are the next powerhouses the band unleashes on the audience, who are visibly enjoying this fantastic show at a stunning venue.
Well, most of the people in the audience, anyway. Somewhere in the middle of the show, two older ladies walked out of the venue—they’d clearly only come to finally hear “The Final Countdown” live, unaware that Europe doesn’t just play songs from that album, but actually has some really awesome [including harder] songs in their repertoire. “Well, we’re definitely not going to wait until they finally play ‘The Final Countdown’—we’re going home,” hahahah.
back in time
What Europe does at these shows is play their entire 1986 album live. And that includes songs the band has probably never—or very rarely—played live. And rightly so, because not every song from that album comes across as strongly live as many of the newer songs do. But okay, it’s still cool that they’re playing it live for this tour. Close your eyes and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to the ’80s for a moment.
The guys also play the album’s strongest songs during their regular tours, that says enough. As far as I’m concerned, Norum once again steals the show with his recognizable, unique sound, and you simply have to give Tempest credit for what an amazing voice he still has. He’s clearly taken good care of his voice and body, because he just looks incredibly energetic and fit.
After just under two hours, the show came to an end with the final song, “The Final Countdown,” and we headed home feeling satisfied. Europe never really disappoints live, and Arnhem was no exception to that rule. Great show!! I can’t say it any other way.
Setlist:
Scandinavian Eyes
Walk The Earth
Superstitious
One On One
Last Look At Eden
War Of Kings
Prisoners In Paradise
The Cult Of Ignorance
On Broken Wings
Rock The Night
Carrie
Danger On The Track
Ninja
Cherokee
Time Has Come
Heart Of Stone
On The Loose
Love Chaser
The Final Countdown
Report & Images by Raymond Helebrand
