Ending March with a Bang!  This is how it’s done, drive to San Diego’s premier Heavy metal Venue, Brick x Brick and watch Udo Dirkschnieder rock the house.  The opening bands for tonight’s show were all at the top of their game.  Alchemy, Helsott, Warpath and Elm Street kept the crowd entertained while we all waited to see Udo’s band hit the stage.

It was a night of great Metal with some very talented groups performing some killer songs.  Udo Dirkschneider who came on the scene fronting the German band Accept and who brought us the cult MTV classic music video for the song “Balls to the Wall” was allowing us lucky few who attended the Brick X Brick show a chance to see him perform Accept songs one last time before he closes this chapter of his life, for good.  At a press conference in the VIP tent of Wacken Open Air, Udo announced his definitive farewell to the Accept song library.  Which might be why this night will be a night to remember and will be a night of epic proportions.  UDO will be performing tonight under the moniker DIRKSCHNEIDER and not under the name U.D.O.

From the opening number ‘Beast Inside’ to the finale ‘Balls to the Wall’ the band rocked hard and heavy and the songs made you feel like you were at an 80’s rock show. Dirkschneider, the band,  is made up of Sven Dirkschneider on Drums, Fitty Wienhold on Bass, Andrey Smirnov and Bill Hudson sharing the duties on Guitar, with the living Metal legend himself on Lead Vocals.  The band played many fan favorites from UDO’s extensive catalog with Accept and his own band U.D.O. and the hard core fans attending sang along with every song.  I was so happy to be part of the loyal fans who attended this show and got to see these songs performed the way they should be performed.  Bill Hudson and Andrey Smirnov showed what can be done when two guitarists mesh well on stage. Sven and Fitty held the backend down and kept it solid but making it happen was the Voice of Udo Dirkschneider.  Udo’s vocals were delivered with attitude and confidence and he still hits those screams that send chills up and down your spine.  Great job! I am looking forward to what Dirkschneider will bring in the years to come.

Set List:

1. Beast inside
2. Animals House
3. Bulletproof
4. Midnight Mover
5. Living for Tonight
6. Another Second to be
7. Fight it Back
8. Can’t stand the Night
9. Amamos La Vida
10. London Leatherboys
11. Up to the Limit
12. Breaker
13. Screaming for a Love Bite
14. Love Child
15. Objection Overruled
16. Wargames
17. Princess of the Dawn
18. Metal Heart
19. Fast as a Shark
20. Balls to the Wall

Venue: San Diego BrickxBrick

Reviewed: Storm@backstage360.com