Images and words by Mark Gromen

Come on, is there really anyone who claims to be a metalhead who doesn't know DORO PESCH? I contend that anyone saying otherwise really doesn't know of what they speak and CERTAINLY doesn't love OUR music! Against the backdrop of a city on heightened alert, due to 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attack in NYC, this was the biggest crowd I've yet witnessed for the Metal Queen on our soil since her appearance at the BW&BK; 6-Pack Weekend, in '04. Perhaps people subconsciously just wanted to get out and have some fun on a Friday night in the Big Apple, after being inundated with somber reminders of a past tragedy. Then again, the only other show was scheduled for Chicago, so there probably were a few out-of-towners. Regardless, the audience was predominately older, the "kiddies" across town at ARCH ENEMY, DEVILDRIVER et al. Why do promoters insist on scheduling conflicting metal shows (there's so few of them to begin with)? Next month they've got SAXON and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN on the same night! Just as well the underage set was elsewhere, since a coke or water was $4 and a Red Bull $6. Made $8 for a 16oz. Guinness look cheap, by comparison. Speaking of which, kudos to DORO for offering $20 (in NYC!) t-shirts.

The show had a bit of a bum's rush to it, the Gramercy kicking the metalheads out practically as the last note sounded, so they could hold a second (albeit smaller) event downstairs (which is usually open to the public throughout the evening, but was not, this time around). Concert over by 11:30 on a Friday in this city? During the set change from the last of two local opening acts, they showed about a 20 minute trailer/teaser for the 25th Anniversary DVD (filmed in '08, just now being issued in North America) and when the lights went down, BOOM, the band hit the stage with a revved up 'Eartshaker Rock'. I had a chuckle in the back of my head, comparing this (the real deal) to the purposefully restrained attempt at the same song a week ago, when they played a short set in a Best Buy store, where they were warned about making too much noise!

'I Rule The Ruins' and 'Burning The Witches' makes a winning trio to kick things into full speed. Slowing things down, 'Night Of The Warlock' saw the stage filled with pink and red lights. A cover of DIO's 'Egypt' is a better choice than the seemingly abandoned 'Breaking The Law' (JUDAS PRIEST). At the conclusion of 'True As Steel', Ms. Pesch took a gulp of Gatorade/Powerade before launching into 'Metal Racer'. She plays off guitarist Bas Maas (ex-AFTER FOREVER) throughout one of her more uptempo tunes. Sadly it fell on deaf ears, almost no recognition from those in attendance. For 'East Meets West', she called out new ACCEPT singer, Mark Tornillo (a Jersey resident). After Tornillo, it was Chris Caffery's turn. A frequent guest, the former SAVATAGE guitarist added a second set of strings to 'Fur Immer', as well as 'You're My Family'.

As she introduced her band, this was the first time I'd heard her claim over 120 bassists originally tried out for the gig (20+ years ago), before Nick Douglas got the job, which he's kept, to this day. She was obviously in a playful mood, later saying, "You know I'm German and I've got an accent, but I'm American in my heart," leading into 'Raise Your Fist', the newest Wacken anthem and addition to the Doro catalog. Caffery was back on stage, sporting a red Angus Young style guitar, for 'All We Are', which closed the proper set. As Bas and Nick sang together at the same mic, Doro prompted the crowd to join in, motioning her mic towards them. On 'Fight For Rock', they are joined by backwards wearing ball cap former guitarist Joe Taylor, who hangs with Nicholas and drummer Johnny Dee back home in south Jersey/Philly area.

You're my family, now and forever, apparently.

A gallery of photos from NYC can be viewed here.

Check out fan-filmed footage below: