The Merlons:

I had just encountered the Merlons from the 2001 roster for the WGT and had done research in order to figure out what all of these bands that were playing sounded like. I had downloaded a few songs and all of them were really excellent, featuring very moving composures utilizing traditional instruments but with a cutting edge to them. What stood out most was the awesome voice of their female singer.

I hunted down two albums of theirs, my favorite being "Sinn Licht", which featured awesome songs like "Insomnia", "Angst", and "Salamandrina". I was really excited to get a chance to see these guys live and to be able to see the vocalist perform in person (now one year later at the 2002 festival). We arrived early and got into the photo pit just as the first of the musicians were coming onto the stage. All of the guys took their places and picked up their respective tools of the trade and began the first song's intro. It was a song I did not recognize but I awaited anxiously. Suddenly a male vocalist sporting a shaved head and a medieval style skirted outfit came out and started singing.

I looked around blankly to see if the other members of the audience were taken as off-guard as I was. I thought to myself, well, he gets the first song, and she will be out next. Well, all three songs that we were allowed in the photo-pit concluded and she never came out. Tina and I moved to the back to watch the rest of the show but about half-way into the set it became clear she was no-where to be found.

I would have to say they played pretty well but my disappointment of the vocalist change-out was too much for me and I had trouble enjoying the show. She really added something special that made them stand out amongst the other bands that also utilize traditional instruments - but without her, I just had trouble getting into it.

A lot of the audience members really enjoyed the performance and apparently had already come to terms with the new vocalist and style changes so my disappointment was not universal but I do hope that the vocalist re-emerges, either in this band or in some new work because she was super talented.

As for the remaining Merlons themselves, I only recognized one member - the others were either so changed in appearance from the CD inserts that I have, I could not tell who was who or they had changed as well. The lighting added nice deep red shades to the stage and the new singer looked kind of freaky with his super gaunt, thin appearance and shaved head and eyebrows.

As I said before, they did play really well and offered a new CD at the merchandise booth but I couldn't bring myself to accept their new sound yet, so passed.

So what happened to Antje anyway?

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