"Friday was superb. The
Pipelines opened up with a rocketing sharp 7 minute set (Ace of Spades,
Jack the Ripper) and were followed by Fatboy with 3 vocal tracks (Good
Rockin' Tonite, Mustang, Born to Love One Woman). They revealed that
their bassplayer had backed up Link in the 80's.
Then it was The Bottle-ups
(Jack the Ripper, Fatback, Rumble), reunited after 20 years. These guys
did the instro-rock thing better than anyone in the 80's and it showed
here too, impressive. Stefan Ahlqvist from Problem, a legendary band
from South Sweden, joined them and did a great, great set.
Then the oddest band in the
line-up, Sci-fi Skane that comprises a DJ, a melodica/tambourine player
and a commentator. The singer Thomas Öberg screamed out anecdotes about
Link across the wild, weird Link DJ mix (Big Ben, My Alberta, Sunglasses
After Dark, Shadow Knows, Deuces Wild). Ridiculously good.
The Barbwires followed
with a Bunker Hill set (Drag-Strip, Run Chicken Run, The Girl Can´t
Dance) with Martin Savage on vocals and a piano player.
The Nomads played Fire
& Brimstone, Hidden Charms and I'm Branded, It was fun and Hans is
always great with tunes like that.
Robert Johnson &
Punchdrunks were probably the rawest and hardest band this evening.
Drums and two guitars roared (Genocide, Fuzz, Streets Of Chicago,
Streetfighter) to the huge crowd. The show was completely sold out.
Finally The Hives went on
without Howlin' Pelle. Jyrki Juvonen from Wildfire Willie & The Ramblers
took his place in the spotlight and showed us how to master a fender
stratocaster (Hang On, Rawhide).
As a grand finale, ten
guitarists joined together for a rousing version of Rumble.
Two and half hours of Link's
music was over and everybody was satisfied."
Jocke Ericson