Music Concert impressions · 30 July 2010 ·
Themselves, Glasgow Stereo
Ladies and gentlemen, if your favourite rapper doesn’t rap fast, it is because he can’t.
Dose One of Themselves can rap fast, and this is what he demonstrated with Jel’s support on July 23, at the Glasgow Stereo. A video, so you can hear for yourself and some pictures from the event, including the support band, whose name I unfortunately forgot Dam Mantle.
Themselves – Oversleeping from Anticon on Vimeo.
Music Concert impressions · 16 June 2010 ·
Immergut Festival 2010
As it is in the tradition, right after the exams I went back home and attended this year’s Immergut Festival again. For me it was the 8th year in succession, in the 11 year history of the festival.
This year’s highlights include Lali Puna, who just blew me away, in just the same way they did in 2004. It was just such a brilliant, atmospheric concert. I also enjoyed William Fitzsimmons as well as Efterklang a lot, FM Belfast were terribly dancable. Unfortunately I missed Talking to Turtles. Apart from that it was a truly beautiful festival – once again. It was also one of the most relaxed ones I have ever been. A total success.
Concert impressions · 4 June 2008 ·
Immergut Festival 2008
Every year, near the end of May, there is a small festival in a town called Neustrelitz, about 100km north of Berlin. Since 2001 independent fans from all over Germany have been coming to this place to celebrate the Immergut Festival, a festival dedicated to independent music.
I’ve been going to the Immergut Festival since 2003. And this year, I’ve been there again. It’s almost a tradition. I even went there when I didn’t really know any of the bands playing. But at the end of each festival I would come home with a list of bands that I really liked. That’s how I got to know Ms John Soda, Palestar, Blackmail, for example.
So this year’s Immergut… I must confess, I did not stay overnight, unfortunately. But I only arrived the night before, not having slept at all Wednesday night as I had to pack all my stuff. It was all to no avail, I still got a cold, as I always do when I don’t get enough sleep.
This years line-up was damn good, I have to say. Notwist and Slut are amongst my favourite bands. Apart from that I didn’t know most of the other bands beforehand, but, again, I fell in love with some of them. Right the first act I saw was the Icelandic Ólafur Arnalds. Arnalds is a classically trained artist and creates really beautiful soundscapes. As he is from Iceland, you might want to compare him to Sigur Rós. (In fact Slut’s “Failed on you” from their new album sounds very much like Sigur Rós!) But Arnalds does in fact sound different. Whilst his music is as atmospheric and enigmatic as Sigur Rós’, you can clearly hear his classical influences.
Lo-Fi-Fnk take the opposite approach. Their music is quite danceable (some tracks more, others less). But hey, what’s up with their bass player? This guys was absolutely nuts! He was totally hyperactive. It was fun nevertheless…
A friend of mine already recommended the German band Get Well Soon to me, but I had to see them life before I really acknowledged them. They have a tendency to melancholy, but are still very intense and energetic. This is also due to the large number of instruments on stage, which included a violin and up to two trumpets! (Yes, bands get bonuses from me if they have trumpets!)
Personally, I was mostly looking forward to the Notwist. Those who know me, will already be aware of the fact that I’m in love with this band, and all related projects. I was not disappointed. What a joy to see them life again! Their set list (which I managed to nick, btw) included “My Phrasebook”, “On Planet Off” (my favourite song from their new album), “Consequence” and “Pilot”. And Martin Gretschmann, aka Console apparently had a new toy: Instead of keyboards, mouse or similar things, he controlled the sound using something that resembled the controller of a wii. It looked really interesting, I have to figure out what it is!
I’ve been a fan of Slut (yeah I have no idea why they picked this name, if it helps “Slut” also means “the end” in Swedish). In fact they have been the reason why I came to the Immergut in 2003. However, this gig has probably been one of the most intense, and the band seemed to enjoy it quite a lot, too. I only wished they would play some tracks from Lookbook, but their set list (which I nicked, too!) was still really good.
What else is there to say? The weather was absolutely stunning, the people really nice. I was hoping to see more labels in the label tent, but nevermind. I met a guy from Stirling University who studies Politics and Philosophy. Funny, eh?
Concert impressions · 16 April 2008 ·
Portishead, Corn Exchange Edinburgh - 12/04/2008
I was fortunate enough to get hold of some tickets for Portishead’s gig at the Corn exchange.
“And it’s only you, who can turn my wooden heart.”
Only few bands have been able to touch me as much as Portishead. Beth Gibbons ability to write highly emotional lyrics without sounding pathetic. (as it often happens with other artists) Oh, how I have cried to their songs, how I hid underneath the duvet. I have listened to their songs at lonely night walks, after relationship break-ups and generally when there was something to moan about. The live version of Wandering Star still makes me shiver. “Please could you stay awhile to share my grief/For it’s such a lovely day/To have to always feel this way/And the time that I will suffer less/Is when I never have to wake.” If I had a list of all the things I need to do in my life, up to the 12 April 2008 there would be an item reading “see Portishead live” and I guess it would be quite high up, maybe number 27. But apart from my personal life there are many other reasons why this band matters. They have minted the 90’s sound and are still one of the most important Trip-Hop bands together with their town-mates Massive Attack. Adrian Utley’s intuition for fine samples and the combination of Jazz-like smoothness with Geoff Barrow’s Western-style guitars and Gibbon’s gloomy vocals created a sound that was unique for the band and many others tried to copy.
“Been searching, but I have never seen…”
But after only two albums (and an orchestral adaptation of their work) they disappeared from the surface of the earth, with their members getting involved in various projects, of which Beth Gibbons and Rustin Man’s album “Autumn Leaves” is probably the most notable one. Rumours of a new Portishead album have since been floating about, but after almost a decade of silence it seemed as if the band more or less silently ceased to exist. There were many false alarms, rumours etc, but the band essentially seemed to be dead.
“Stranger things will come your way…”
Then the surprise in 2006: Acoustic gig with Massive Attack, but no new songs. Then in 2007 a mysterious myspace page appeared: portisheadalbumthree. Someone put samples on it, nothing resembling full songs, but an announcement was made: Yes, this is the official Portishead site and there will be an album soon. A date was announced, but many fans still had their doubts. But the sceptics seemed to be mistaken. Portishead played at the ATP Festival and also presented some new songs.
“A thousand flowers could bloom…”
At the beginning of the gig we were given a little thing which looked like a circuit board and turned out to be a small usb stick containing a 40 second video clip. This is nice but even nicer would be a full track. I hope I am not expecting too much of today’s music industry, but please don’t tease us like that!
The gig opened with “A Hawk and a Hacksaw”, a gypsy-style band with crazy, high speed brass and violins. At first this choice seemed to be odd, but then appeared to be most natural. A Hawk and a Hacksaw deliver a unique sound that does not compete with Portishead’s and thus stands out on its own, which the audience really appreciated and probably preferred over a mediocre Trip-Hop or one of the ten-thousand so-called Indie bands that seem to be so fashionable nowadays.
Portishead on stage is a unique experience. The band opened with the first track from their new album – “Silence”, the samples being played when the band entered the stage. The track – although only known by those who have gotten the track from the Internet – already built up an enormous atmosphere that would remain for the entire gig. Although Beth Gibbons was slightly tipsy during the gig, her voice was enormously intense and energetic. The set list was a good mixture of old and new songs. Compared to the previous two albums, Portishead’s new tracks are much rougher and harder to listen to. Those fans who expected the old Trip Hop feeling, will be disappointed. But for those who love Beth’s lyrics and melancholy will enjoy them. There is still not a single happy song. But it seems that the band has put all energy into making the tracks as radio unfriendly as possible. The old songs however still have the grove, except for the live version of Wandering Star, which is much down tempo and tense than the original on “Dummy”, which in my opinion suits the lyrics much better.
“Fully fed yet I still hunger…”
Now, at the end of the day I cross out item no. 27. And add a new one, no. 3842: See Portishead again. Now, please would you stay a while to share my grief?
Concert impressions Personal · 28 March 2007 ·
Console
Wednesday, 14/03/07 – Lido Berlin
Another highlight and for me as an absolute Weilheim-fan a must-see. This time I arrived too early, but that’s better than being late. I was on the guest list and so could invite a friend to get in for free, as I already had a ticket.
The opener was a band called God Enough For You. They made pretty arty music. The whole performance was crazy. At first I was puzzled, but then I really liked it. The drums on the ass, the axe-guitar, the jumping, dancing, and last but not least the music. The rest of the audience received the band with mixed feelings, some suffered a shock, whilst others seemed to enjoy it.
Then Console started a bloody amazing show. The songs really rocked. (though it’s electronic music) It was just what i had needed after all these days and my mind could wander off to long forgotten spheres. The pieces were quite varying in mood and style.
Philip Geist aka Video Geist was responsible for the fine video imagery in the background which was beautiful as always. Ranging from ewers to panda bears.
I really loved it. There aren’t many words to describe it, but may I add that I didn’t care about missing the last train to Potsdam and had to stay in Berlin overnight?
And you might be able to enjoy this concert too! I might get a copy of a soundboard recording of the gig, which will be published in the woods. Anyway, here are some photographs I took:
Good Enough For You:
Console:
Concert impressions Personal · 28 March 2007 ·
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Monday, 12/03/07 – Columbia Halle, Berlin
For me he is inevitably connected to my life in Cambridge and after spending months listening to Mr Matthews almost every day, it was about time to see him live. So I got my ticket early although it was quite expensive. But nevermind, I thought. This is an opportunity you wouldn’t want to miss, as you would regret not going there. (As I still do for the Beth Gibbons concert 2003)
Unfortunately I got lost on my way to the Columbia Hall and was 15 mins late. I was puzzled to see him already playing and as far as I’m concerned I missed the first song. Considering that in Berlin no concert starts without at least one hour delay, this was remarkable… Also there was no opener, but both had one reason: Mr Matthews (and Tim Reynolds) played for entire two hours.
As I was late I couldn’t get a good place too enjoy the concert. I ended up somewhere in the middle of the crowd, some tall people in front of me making it hard to watch and some very chatty people right next to me, which was really annoying. But even more annoying was the drunk guy who turned up at the end of the show right behind me. He tried to sing along every song, but was completely out of tune… Arrrgh…
Mr Mathews, being chatty as always (i have some bootlegs), talked about the streets in Europe being so quiet, compared to America… Also, after every song or solo Mr Reynolds played, Mr Matthews honoured Mr Reynolds: “This is Tim Reynolds”. I guess he feared that Reynolds would be overlooked and not get the attention he deserved, as the show was announced as “Dave Matthews Solo” with “Dave Matthews” printed everywhere, but Tim Reynoldds not mentioned at all. Mr Matthews seemed to feel a bit guilty about that…
And he was right. Reynolds did some pretty amazing guitar stuff and through his solos the songs got spiced up. The setlist was packed full of great songs, of which I especially enjoyed “Gravedigger” and “Sister” (Unreleased but… yeah, got the bootlegs)
A great concert…
Update:
Apparently quite a few people are googling for the set list of the gig, so here it comes:
01. intro
02. Bartender
03. Save Me
04. Stay Or Leave
05. Satellite
06. Crush
07. Old Dirt Hill
08. Smooth Rider
09. Everyday
10. Lie In Our Graves
11. Oh
12. So Damn Lucky
13. Where Are You Going
14. Gravedigger
15. Stream (incl. Kashmir)+
16. When The World Ends
17. Jimi Thing
18. Don’t Drink the Water (Still Water intro)
19. #41
20. Crash Into Me
21. Dancing Nancies
22. Some Devil *
23. Sister
24. Ants Marching
25. The Maker
26. Two Step
Personal Concert impressions · 15 February 2007 ·
In the places where I've been there is nothing left of me
News from my old house. I was bored this night and googled for my old address. And apparently the Cambridge Chinese Christian Church (CCCC) has moved into the very same place where I just lived half a year ago! Weird.
If I imagine this place as a centre for religious worship… I mean, it’s alright, I won’t complain. But it just feels weird because I spent one of the most intense years of my life there.
Anyway.
The recent two weeks have been enriched by various beautiful concerts. I just want to name them here for the sake of it:
Polaroid Liquide + Kaspar, I might be wrong, Logh, two days later Blackmail (long awaited, in my opinion the best of the 4 Blackmail concerts I have attended.) and another two days later Audrey. And two more upcoming shows are already planned: Console and Dave Matthews. Wooohooo… Dave Matthews has been one of my recent favourites and Console is from Weilheim. No need to say more!
Concert impressions · 17 September 2006 ·
About police cars hanging from the ceiling...
Impressions of John Bock’s Medusa
On Friday I went to John Bock’s “Medusa” at the Staatsoper in Berlin. These are the impressions:
At the beginning the show was confusing, it was hard to get into it… But with the time it really went off… crazy, insane. The most extraordinary thing was probably the police car hanging from the ceiling… The rest of the show was based on ketchup, toothpaste, running, climbing. Unfortunately the sound and view were not the best, thus it was sometimes hard to follow what was happening on stage.
But apart from that, it was great, if you take it as what it was and don’t try to compare it to “normal theatre”.
Here are some photos, mainly of the police car:
Concert impressions · 8 September 2006 ·
Finn + Me succeeds in Potsdam, 07/09/06
So these are the impressions of yesterdays Finn and Me succeeds concert in Potsdam. The atmosphere was great, the light effects hallucinating, the music so fragile. It was just so wonderful.
Thanks to all the musicians.
I took some pictures, however the quality is, well to put it mildly, not the best. It was the first time I used this camera under such conditions, so I had some trouble finding the right settings. Sorry.
