I was planning to attend an outdoor concert at Rheinbach’s Classic Car Festival in the nearby town, but heavy rain started while driving on the highway. I briefly considered going back home, but I decided to continue in the hope that the weather would improve. It was first time for me to visit the town of Rheinbach. Despite the rain, I strolled through the town with an umbrella. The necessary shops were there, and the small shopping street created a pleasant atmosphere.
I arrived at the concert venue a little before the start, still in the rain. Surprisingly, people seemed to be in a festive mood, enjoying food and drinks first, and there was no mad rush to the stage. I easily secured a front-row spot. This time, the featured band for “Listen to them before you die” was Slade. Typically known as a powerhouse of 70s glam rock, I’m a fan of Slade from the 80s, so my perspective might be a bit different.
By the time they started playing, the rain had subsided. When they performed “Run Runaway,” the sun began to break through the clouds around 8 PM. Despite having only two original members, Slade still puts on an energetic show. The drummer, Don Powell, at 70 years old, takes out his dentures to show off during the performance, playing the drums with incredible enthusiasm. Lead guitarist Dave Hill, at 71, runs around the stage, strumming his guitar intensely and occasionally moving the audience with the soulful tones of his guitar, sometimes with a Scottish folk arrangement. Their signature move is raising one leg like a dog lifting its leg (laughs). It feels like a comedic band, but with a barrage of their classic hits from the past, the audience, including me, was fully engaged. I clapped my hands, raised my arms, shouted the chorus, and left completely satisfied. Despite it being over 30 years since I used to listen to their records, I still remember the lyrics well. The crowd this time seemed to have an average age higher than mine.
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