Europe @ Sweden Rock Festival 2023-06-08

8/10

Joey Tempest

Europe have never really gotten enough credit in my opinion. Back in the 80’s when they had their breakthrough, perhaps they were considered too commercial and mainstream for the die-hard hardrock fans. To make things worse, add a couple of successful power ballads and you are just not cool any longer.

But Europe have always been very good musicians and 2023 they are better than ever. John Norum is a guitarist of highest international level and Joey Tempest has a fantastic and powerful voice.

The opening of the set is very impressive, with first Walk The Earth followed but one of their best early songs – Seven Doors Hotel.

Compared to the old days Europe feels slightly heavier. It feels like they have slowed down many of the songs a tiny bit and Mic Michaeli’s keyboard sounds more like an organ than a synthesizer today. The influences of bands like Deep Purple and Whitesnake is a lot more obvious today than 35 years ago. Europe even surprise us with a cover of Whitesnakes Here I go again.

This was all quite unexpected. I have not seen Europe live since 1986. A friend told me that they are really good live a couple of years ago. But this I did not expect. I feel slightly of blown away.

We start leaving the festival area with a couple of songs to go, just to beat the traffic. When we get to the car park we are right behind the stage, across the road, when Europe play the finale, which of course is The Final Countdown. The response of the crowd is amazing. They are even louder than the band itself.

If someone had told me before that I would think Europe was the best gig after two days of the festival I would have laughed a bit – but wow! The best live experiences often come when you don’t really expect much but is hit with a punch in the gut. This was one of those moments.