Mike Tramp’s European Tour was well underway and it was now the turn of the Café Amber, a bijou pub come rock house, in Villingen, South Germany to be carved into the Rock ‘N’ Roll map.
Performing to a sold out crowd, Mike Tramp and his backing band, the Danish Rudeboys, emerged from the back of the venue. The ‘house’ was packed, so taking a leaf out of Moses’ book, Mike and the Rudeboys parted the partisan crowd, to make their way to the front and take their place on the ‘Jack Daniels’ Hall Of Fame’ stage. The blonde locks were noticeably shorter, but from the fast and furious ‘Live For Today’ opening, there was no mistaking that Mike’s Rock ‘N’ Roll was far from dead. Leaving the Villingen crowd ‘Hungry’ for more the band thrilled their fans by taking them on a two-hour, non-stop Rock ‘N’ Roll fuelled rollercoaster. Material from Mike Tramp’s solo albums dominated the concert; punctuated with ‘What Am I’ from his Freak Of Nature era, the ride continued, as the fans were treated to blasts from the past, when Mike revisited his White Lion years with the classics ‘Little Fighter’ and ‘Broken Heart’.
Lead guitarist, Oliver Steffensen, former Freak Of Nature, was obviously familiar with Mike’s material, adding his unique essence to the songs, with additional licks. Claus Langeskov (Hotel Hunger) fully complemented the band, with throbbing bass playing and driving backing vocals. The inimitable, irrepressible Kasper Foss (Hotel Hunger) on drums played his heart out, and as always, he proved himself to be the consummate professional. Together with superlative frontman Mike Tramp, they careered along the tracks. The audience was enthralled, and as the rush was nearing its end you could almost hear Mike thinking ‘I Don’t Want To Say Goodnight’.
Breaking from true Rock ‘N’ Roll encore tradition (realising the Moses ploy was only good for an entrance), the band remained on stage, as Mike announced “We’re going to take a one minute beer break and then we’ll return with some mean ass Rock ‘N’ Roll”. Mike made good his promise, continuing the set with two of White Lion’s most memorable tunes, 'When The Children Cry' and 'Wait', which was dedicated to a travelling English teenage fan (me).
But one encore was not enough for the Tramp fans. So after taking another onstage beer break, the band brought the ride to a fitting finale with an eleven minute rock mix. Neil Young’s, 'Rockin In The Free World', verses from the long lived rock anthems 'We Will Rock You' and Thin Lizzy’s, 'The Boys Are Back In Town' brought the Rock ‘N’ Roll ride to an appropriate end.
‘There’s Got To Be More To Life Than This?’ The Tramp faithful would certainly argue against that.
Kim Davies -7th April 2004