Text by Rust Machado and photos by Kristine Dias
On the last weekend of September, the state of Santa Catarina was graced with the presence of heavyweights of German heavy metal: Helloween , masters of melodic metal, and Scorpions , who have a permanent place in the pantheon of old-school metal fans. Delighted with the opportunity to see a large-scale event without having to cross state borders, the fans from Santa Catarina packed the venue and put on a spectacular show on the night of the 28th, singing, drinking, dancing, and making the most of the experience.
Long lines stretched along the sidewalk of the beautiful Arena Petry. Located in São José, a city neighboring the capital Florianópolis, the building boasts top-quality facilities and luxurious details, and welcomed approximately 10,000 fans to its dance floors, mezzanines, and VIP galleries. An entire family, from Irineópolis (400km from the capital) and completely decked out in Helloween t-shirts, took the lead on the platform that brought the musicians closer to the premium area. Next to us, a couple came from Itajaí (96km from the capital): examples of a vast, spread-out, and loyal audience. The long and tedious wait for the first performance ended at 7 pm. With the classic "Initiation" (the opening track of the classic Keeper Of The Seven Keys pt. 1 ) playing over the PA system, it was already clear that Helloween's set would be full of classics.
Helloween took to the stage in a state of pure euphoria, with Michael Kiske at the forefront, kicking things off with "I'm Alive." Those following the band's tour already knew exactly what to expect: a concise setlist, classic after classic. The band then launched into "Dr. Stein," bringing Andi Deris to share vocals with the legendary vocalist from the Keepers era, and in the combined voices, fans witnessed a true vocal spectacle.
Andi handles the formalities and communicates with the audience, always committed to keeping them entertained. He further fuels Kiske's mythical status by letting him lead the vocal performance of "Eagle Fly Free" alone, in which the guitar trio ( Sascha Gerstner, Michael Weikath, and Kai Hansen , who also returns to the band after decades away) delights the eyes and ears with every note of those familiar melodies. Following this, the melodic hard rock of "Perfect Gentleman" and the almost thrash speed of "Ride the Sky" give way to Andi and Kai, respectively, to bring to life interpretations that mark Helloween's versatility.
The ballad “A Tale That Wasn't Right” lit up the Petry Arena like a starry sky illuminated by cell phone flashes. The band, demonstrating masterful chemistry, delivered the anthems at breakneck speed, as if racing against the clock. The musicians maintained eye contact with the audience, threw guitar picks, and struck poses. In “Power,” the anthem of the Deris era, Weikath showcased a beautiful neon-orange Jackson guitar, further enhancing the band's visual experience, which also featured modern haircuts and consistent tour costumes. The audience was so captivated by the Hamburg septet's performance that some wondered how difficult it would be for the Scorpions to surpass the magnitude of that show, whose only weakness was its short one-hour duration.
Still performing Kiske's entire "Future World" and a three-part rendition of "How Many Tears," the band closed with "I Want Out," complete with a chorus from a divided audience and a shower of colorful balls, concluding what seemed to be a pocket version of the monstrous performance presented throughout 2017 (also in Brazil). Thus, the show presented serves as a perfect showcase for the release of the live recording launched this October.
But despite the excellent impression left by the 80s Germans, it was with Scorpions taking the stage at Arena Petry that the audience truly connected. In fact, this seemed to be the most anticipated show of the night, attracting a diverse audience in terms of age and appearance. Illuminated by a large screen and LED panels that helped enhance the feeling of "movement" on stage throughout the show, the band began the long Crazy World Tour with "Going Out With a Bang," followed by the melodic "Make It Real" and their first big classic, "The Zoo." The excellent instrumental track "Coast to Coast" created a purely contemplative atmosphere, finally allowing the musicality – and not the idols – to completely capture the attention of those present. On stage, what stands out is the extravagant presence of the iconic drummer Mikkey Dee and the enthusiasm of the Polish bassist Pawel Maciwoda .
Regarding the classic guitarists Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs , while they may offer little visually, their warm virtuosity and moving melodies speak for themselves. To the delight of the audience, Klaus Meine, at 71 years old, effortlessly showcased his powerful high notes, delivering a great performance leading the Hanoverian quintet. Alone with the audience, Mikey Dee had his drum kit hoisted onto the stage and, from above, delivered a devastating solo, proving himself in top form. While 80s hits like "Big City Nights" and "We Built This House" sounded grand, showcasing the band's heavy and melodic hard rock, it was the ballads "Winds of Change" and "Send Me an Angel" (the latter returning to the acoustic format that further popularized the band on the memorable live album Acustica) that made the show an unforgettable night for the people of Santa Catarina. In a devotional tone, the audience sang along to the hymns from beginning to end, with a special highlight being the large number of female rockers who offered the venue an emotional female chorus. For the encore, the band returned to the stage for “Still Loving You,” where once again the audience had the opportunity to shine. Following that, the Petry Arena transformed into a huge rock 'n' roll celebration, with everyone jumping and dancing to “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” The band left the stage to a standing ovation, and the fans, with their spirits cleansed, began to organize themselves to leave the venue.
Those who attended the event witnessed two great performances of classic hard rock/heavy metal. Beyond that, the uniquely Teutonic lineup, along with the location in a state that still doesn't host the number of international events it deserves, were the ingredients that made this a night to be duly recorded in the history books of Santa Catarina's rock scene. The overall weak point, it must be noted, was certainly the distance of the "general admission" area, practically out of sight even of the musicians on stage, while the premium area stretched unnecessarily empty at its ends. Aside from that, the people of Santa Catarina showed their desire for rock 'n' roll in their own land, enthusiastically embracing the event's attractions and looking forward to the next time they will be treated to other major events in their own country.
Check out photos of Kristine Dias :
