The 69 Eyes take over the Galaxy
By Naughty Mickie
Photos by Byron Spears

I was counting the weeks, days and even the minutes leading up to The 69 Eyes show at the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana. I just love this goth n' roll band from Finland! Good and bad, I arrived and had to wait a little more because there were a few different bands to lead off the show.

I missed the very first local group, but could hear the last strains of their set outside. After a short wait, Spektra took the stage. These boyz had the looks, the moves and the music, but something was lacking. They worked the crowd and did all the right things, yet their performance was still a little flat. Perhaps I'm just a little jaded from the Hollywood scene or perhaps they just need some polish. I would watch them again, so it's all good.

The Becoming was up next. This band had its fans and were listenable. They weren't quite my thing, but I could appreciate their musicianship and style. The singer knew how to keep interest, one, by changing his shirts between songs and, two, by offering up some good vocals. The group worked well together and gave a good show. Worth checking out online if you're looking for something different.

Dommin had me. Their drummer was amazing. He had a great feel for when to spiff things up and when to leave it plain. He also chose some dramatic and very different approaches to the beats that really added to the songs. The rest of the band were fine in their steads and together, the players made a force with which to be reckoned. I was inspired to check them out further and will be purchasing one of their albums for sure.

Oooo! It was FINALLY time for The 69 Eyes. I have been following this band for several years, but had not seen them live. There were two guys in front of me during the show so far and I had been moving around so I could see. Just before The 69 Eyes took the stage, the taller of the two invited me to trade places with him, which meant I would be right up against the stage. What a great guy! Kudos and thanks to him!!

I was not disappointed with The 69 Eyes. They performed songs from their latest effort, "Back in Blood," as well as a number of tunes from previous releases with most of the audience singing along. They put out a ton of energy in their show and their musicianship was flawless. Lead vocalist Jyrki channeled Elvis during his performance, with the moves, attitude and style- and it worked, as the girls in the crowd could hardly contain themselves whenever he neared the edge of the stage.

The rest of the band were fun to watch as well. Their various personalities came out as they moved around on stage and when they took their solos and spotlights. The bass and drums were solid and the guitarists were very adept. The band played a nice long set and then came back with a three-song encore, leaving the crowd wanting. The 69 Eyes was one of the best concerts I have been to this year.... I hope they come back to the States soon!