25.08.2019 Bokassa

Maimarktgelände at Mannheim (Germany)

Temperatures were above 30°C and the sun was burning from the sky when I went towards the stage in the afternoon right after the opening of the Mannheim Maimarktgelände. Everybody tried to stay as long as possible at the rare places of shadow until everything started at 17:45 with Bokassa.
The three Norwegian guys looked as if they got lost on this gigantic stage formed by a stylized M and A of Metallica and between these two a huge LED wall. Only in the middle a huge Bokassa banner was boasted with drummer Olav Dowkes sitting in front of it whilst guitarist and singer Jørn Kaarstad as well as bassist Bård Linga liked more despite the heat to change their places continuously and run across the gangway through the audience. They were on this tour as they were favourites already since their great debut album “Divide & Conquer” of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and from that one as well as of the current album “Crimson Riders” there was really much that could be heard.
The style is a mixture out of stoner rock and punk (the band itself calls it stoner punk) and that was really powerful. The first album was dominating the setlist and with lively songs like “Impending Doom” or “Crocsodile Dundee” the atmosphere of the unfortunately sparsely audience in front of the stage was rising from song to song. Again and again there were short speeches of Kaarstad directed to the crowd as this were willingly taken breaks. As not only the guys on stage had to drink a lot due to the heat, also in front of it the security was handing out water during the whole afternoon. A very big: “Thank you!” dedicated to all of them! However, time passed by like nothing and with “Walker Texas Danger” the band was coming to an end of their set.
Overall a quite entertaining gig of Bokassa and I would like to have heard more of them. Nevertheless, a great opening into a long evening.