The Gems

This is one of those November days one tends to forget as soon as possible: cold, foggy, rainy. It is the right day to celebrate an after-summer blues, far away from the romantic vision of an Indian summer. It usually is. Today is different because something will happen which brightens the day…

Three plus One

It is the day of the concert of The Gems from Sweden at Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg during their Phoenix over Europe headliner-tour. I’m scheduled to spend the afternoon with them and interview the band and their live bass player prior to the show. So here we are with some impressions of the soundcheck which was included in the VIP-meeting. Do you recognize the bass player? None less than Mia “Coldheart” Karlson! Most of you will know her as the lead guitarist and vocalist of Crucified Barbara. She is also going to be the support act with a short but impressive acoustic set.

Merch, Bar And More

Once the doors open, the venue starts filling. Most people have a short look at the merch, some buy their stuff immediately, but most will wait for the end of the concert and buy it afterwards. Having a drink at the bar on the left side of the venue is another well-used option. Sadly, the show is not fully sold out but at least filled well enough to The Gems’ expectations.

Mia Karlson

When the clock strikes 20:00, it is time for Mia, her little guitar, and the acoustic set. I tell no secret that there will be an album out next year. Some songs have already been published as singles anyway and will be performed tonight. These are “I’m Not the One”, “Breathe Now”, “Would You”, “Embrace,” and the cover of John Hiatt’s “Nothing in My Heart”. The additional and last song is an old Crucified Barbara song: “My Heart Is Black”. I really like this short but puristic set and Mia’s powerful vocals.

Getting Ready!

Changing the stage settings is easy. Removing the stool, that is almost it, so the waiting time for The Gems is very short. It is barely enough time for a visit to the restrooms, OR a visit at the bar, OR a look at the available merch.

Soon we hear the sounds of “Aurora”, the prelude. Emlee on drums , guitarist DeMona, Mia as live bassist and Guernica on vocals enter the stage and The Gems open their set with a track which indeed suits them well: “Queens”. There is no rest for the wicked and they “Send Me to the Wolves” for a little game of “Domino”.

Some Old Gems of The Gems

Guernica sings with a “Silver Tongue” and we get ready for DeMona’s “Viper Attack”, her six year old solo song which still sounds very fresh and could easily be mistaken for a brand-new song. The same can be said for the next song, “Inception”, Guernica’s solo single from 2022. Afterwards we get to find “Undiscovered Paths” with the help of the four musicians. At least there is nothing better to “Ease Your Pain”.

Powerhouse Emlee

Even if the Colos-Saal is no athletics stadium or racetrack, we keep on “Running” as if there is no tomorrow. And we run into Emlee’s impressive drum solo. Drum solos have become a rarity in the age of Nu Metal and Doom so this one can’t be valued high enough. It is unbelievable how small Emlee’s drumkit is and what a sound she creates with it. The applause is well deserved for sure.

DeMona Virtuosa

We learn to spell “P.S.Y.C.H.O.” for good reasons before we “Kiss It Goodbye”. Keep in mind, everything which happens is due to the “Force of Nature” and, as Guernica claims, it results in “Fruits of My Labor”. Meanwhile the time has gone by but “I Don’t Know You”. What I know for sure instead is DeMona’s guitar solo. It is not one of those “dideli dideli du, I can play faster than you”-solos which often bore the audience to death with too many notes in too little time. No, it is a melodic demonstration of DeMona’s excellent artistic skills.

As a Phoenix

When Emlee, Guernica and Mia re-join her, there still are three more songs to be played. Some people are loud and proud, The Gems are “Loud and Free” instead and of course they are “Driving in Style” to the final song tonight. It comes from the ashes “Like a Phoenix”, reborn and renewed. It is the perfect description of The Gems for sure.

From The Ashes: The Gems

The tour was long, this evening was the 31^st day on the road for the band and their little crew, seven people altogether in one camper. It certainly was demanding and exhausting, but tonight, on stage, there were no signs of fatigue. There still were four more shows to be played with a few 1000 kilometres to be driven until they all flew back home to Sweden. If you want to read more about this tour, future projects, stories, etc., read our interviews with Mia and with The Gems which will be published soon. And I should not forget to thank my lovely friend Maryline Stein, the true Crucifier for inviting and introducing me to The Gems. Maryline, you are great!