As a music fan, new and often unknown bands in small concert halls are always a gift. Sometimes it's ok, sometimes it's disappointing and sometimes it’s just fantastic. The question is often how to discover these bands. Through our own Radio RTV parkstad, with The Rock online, that works quite well. This time I was pointed to a still relatively unknown Finnish Rock band "Moon Shot" as a support act for the already popular Cyan Kicks in Finland at Club Volta in Cologne. Cyan Kicks was the support act for the farewell tour of the famous Sunrise Avenue last year. You could just pick out the Sunrise avenue fans. It was a young crowd, sometimes so young that it was accompanied by a parent who acted as a taxi.

Club Volta and the slightly larger Carlswerk Victoria are located near the much larger Palladium, but are mainly focused on concerts with a smaller number of visitors. With an industrial design and a parking garage, this is a great place to go out! In between both venues there is an open space where a small Biergarten is situated. Here you can eat and drink. Of course, venues themselves also have a bar. But as often is the case in Germany, cash is a requirement because debit card payments are not accepted.

Moon Shot, Bobby Lies & Cyan Kicks @Club Volta Cologne

Moon Shot

On their own website it says that they are a real 21st century band, with a lot of flying hours in performances / tours because of their past with bands such as Children of Bodom (Bassist Henkka Seppälä), Disco ensemble (guitarist Jussi Ylikoski and drummer Mikko Hakila) and Lapko (singer Ville Malja). Their performance rocks, but that was certainly expected with the experience that is present in the band. Ville Malja does not stand still for a moment and the stage is actually too small for all that energy. Despite all the crazy jumping around (because singing with a towel over his head is apparently fine), his voice sounds just as perfect as on the CD. An insanely energetic performance, with a fantastic band. Perhaps a little more aimed at a young audience, but definitely a band with potential! Overall a very good start to the evening.

Bobby Lies

The program was continued by German Bobby Lies (Boris Alexander Stein). As a former German Voice candidate, certainly loved by the young audience. At the time of the voice adventure, however, with a completely different musical style than now. With a whole band, under the tattoos and bare-chested (over which an open Hawaii shirt was draped in the beginning), he managed to make the audience ready for the main act.

The fact that Bobbie Lies is popular among the German youth was especially evident when he stood at the merchandise stand for photos and sales after his performance. Surrounded by teenagers and young people in their twenties, he willingly handed out autographs and took selfies. This is always a plus, especially with smaller venues. You can touch the artists, take a picture and have a chat so that there is a real complete experience.

Cyan Kicks

Finally, the main act: Cyan Kicks, an alternative rock band from Helsinki. In 2022 participated in the preliminary rounds of the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest, but unfortunately finished just behind The Rasmus. Cyan Kicks is more Pop Rock than the aforementioned bands, but fits perfectly in the current charts. They are often compared to the British band: Bring me the horizon.

Their recent CD release, contains catchy songs like "I Never Said 4ever" or "Into You", which fit right in with the current trend "Break-up" songs. Kind of like Miley Cyrus meets Kelly Clarkson, complemented by solid guitar rock. Certainly suitable for the young audience, but alsof for all others who are young at heart.

The entire performance shows a power woman in a cool leather ensemble, who together with her band members in pink dungarees (Leevi Erkkilä, bass guitar, Niila Perkkiö, guitar and Pietari Reijonen, drums) take the hall and make the audience jump and sing along. The bands favourit color is Pink. There is a lot of pink, smoke and hearts to and from the audience.

Singer Susanna Aleksandra indicated during the concert that her voice suffered a bit from the tour and the air conditioning of the car, but that was only noticeable very occasionally. This act makes impact and the solid rock, combined with pop-like melody lines and electronic instruments make it a cotton candy pink rock party. The real hard rock fan will not like it, but for everyone else this is a delicious guilty pleasure that will taste for more.

Just a great and lovely evening. If you feel old in the beginning, just jump along with the crowd and you feel years younger. The next day maybe a little older, but that will implicate the fun and joy you had! Or just take some younger family members with you and enjoy the show yourself.