The Boss Hoss Article

03.08.2012 The Boss Hoss

Wacken Open Air XXIII

Wacken (Germany)

(Pentax K-5 with Sigma AF 70-200mm 2.8 EX DC APO HSM II)

The rain was over but in front of the stages the rest of the weekend it was quite muddy. Never mind! After rain sun was following and if it was only in musical form via The Boss Hoss. They were also just like Kamelot in 2010 for the last time live at Wacken and again brought their complete pack with them.
That were nearly Oomph! dimensions on stage as not less than seven The Boss Hoss members plus three blowers were crowding the stage. Each squaremeter was really effectively used. And especially effective they seemed also when it was about getting the crowd moving. That directly followed during the first song and so the whole thing really quickly gathered pace. Already during the second song "Stallion Battalion" it was nearly at its climax. Of course also their most famous song "Don't Gimme That" may not be missing. Permanently anywhere on stage something special happened. No matter if it were the blowers wearing Mexican clothes, swirling around masked as Lucha Libre fighters or the anyhow permanently moving singer Boss Burns and Hoss Power. First one showed also quite impressively and with full use of physical strength to be able to play the unusual theremin. All I'm asking myself is who of the "muppets" on stage had the idea that all in front of the stage should go down on their knees during "Don't Gimme That" (the guys on stage could talk as there was not a some centimeters thick layer of mud lying).
Overall a quite entertaining thing although I have to say that the gig was way weaker than the one in 2010 and the atmosphere was also not as good as then (OK, that might be due to the weather issues). At least I had expected a little bit more.

Setlist:

  • Intro
  • Last Day (Do Or Die)
  • Stallion Battalion
  • Rodeo Radio
  • I Keep on Dancing
  • Live It Up
  • Riding High, Singing Low
  • Shake & Shout
  • Don't Gimme That
  • Run Run Devil

Encore:

  • Word Up (Cameo cover)
  • Outro (Cheyenne - Theme from 'Once … more)

Weblinks:

Map:

Pictures: