2:54 - Lingby

Hardly 3 weeks ago I came across the beautiful video Scarlet by 2:54. I was so enchanted and captivated that I launched into the classic music journalist routine: searching the web, listening to the band's music and getting the latest album for a review. No sooner said than done. Last look on the band’s page and… whoops… 2:54 are going to embark on a small tour, just a handful of dates, and one surprisingly in Cologne (two days ahead). Nothing one has to ask me twice ;) And here we go… I hooked up with a friend and took the highway to hell… erm… Cologne, for an evening full of premieres as I never was at • Gebäude 9 • before, never saw both announced bands playing live and never drunk (sour) rhubarb spritzer. Oh, it's very delicious, I tell you ;)

:: pics ::

The venue is located right behind the Cologne trade fair area, in an old factory. A part of it still seems to be in regular operation. In other parts various offices and business settlements have moved in, like the club we are talking about here ;) Nice atmosphere and interior and very friendly people. I’d say, at the end around 75 people showed up. Okay, it could have been more as both bands would have deserved and the ticket prizing was really fair.

The evening got opened by :: LINGBY :: a young band with a Swedish sounding name that actually appeared to be Danish, while the band comes from Cologne. Here we also have two sisters involved: Judith (voice, e-piano, loops and trombone) and Carmen Hess (horn and trumpet), whereas Judith and singer/guitarist Willi Dueck is the core team of the band. Onstage they get accompanied by three, four or five musicians. Tonight LINGBY performed as a four-piece, with Judith, Carmen, Willi and Dennis Juengel (on drums and trumpet) who, by request, gets specially mentioned due to his charisma ;) I got the feeling that Willi did not hit every tone when singing and also Carmen did not manage to set in on time, what actually might be due to the PA and level control. However, except for Willi, all other always again grab a wind instrument, which, especially for Judith, turns out to be sort of multitasking. Luckily women are able to do so ;)
It is almost impossible to label the music in any way. Too many styles, genres and influences get blended, so I not even try. Or I do it the easy way, call it Indie Rock with wind instruments I actually like a lot. Most impressive moment were the last two tracks Count The Stars and I Worked For The Light, where LINGBY outdo themselves and reveal their true potential.
Setlist: Like A Stone, Marathon, Here And Now Again, Bye Bye Kirgistan, Empty Still, Count The Stars, I Worked For The Light

Thurlow sisters Colette and Hannah are already busily whirling around and sign our freshly purchased CDs. Too bad the t-shirt design wasn’t more creative, I would have loved to own a tee too. :: 2:54 :: play live as a quartet with Alex Robins on drums and Joel Porter on bass. This band is so likeable and this feeling gets even amplified on stage. Unfortunately lights ain’t half as good as the performance, so my photography desires don’t get satisfied. Anyway, Hannah is untiringly rocking in her dark corner, while Colette pulls out all the stops: her pout, lascivious moves, cool and short announcements and shaking her mane, all to charm the pants off men. And it works so well ;) Oh, most of the attendees have been men, by the way. On top her enchanting voice, pleasantly dark and charismatic. It’s just perfect. Not only for men. This music is made for gooseflesh. Songs mostly came from the selftitled debut, plus Got A Hold from the Scarlet EP and On A Wire from the 7“ single with Cold Front from its B-Side. Unfortunately 2:54 left the stage without an encore although the crowd was clapping very hard for minutes. That was a bummer, really. Though, all in all a splendid evening :) Thank you heaps!
Setlist: Circuitry, Sugar, On A Wire, You’re Early, Cold Front, Scarlet, Got A Hold, A Salute, Easy Undercover, Creeping