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2010-07-24-25
DE – Cologne - Tanzbrunnen |
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| And One - Anne Clark - Blutengel - Welle:Erdball - Ashbury Heights - End Of Green - Din [A] Tod - Zin Skinny Puppy - Project Pitchfork - The Crüxshadows - Solitary Experiments - Faderhead - Destroid - Miss Construction [Dajana] The AMPHI FESTIVAL got a new institution: the New Talent Special. Beside the “blockbuster line-up” the organizers made it to their business to find new and fresh talents and to expose them to a wider audience. Well, generally a good idea I really like to support, but here it got just half-hearted realized. If you really wanna give new bands a chance, why not one new band each day? Even better would be 2 opening newcomers each day. Instead we got the same bands from the last year’s billing… *yawns* :: pics :: [Dajana]
However, German act :: ZIN
:: won the first competition, out of four, on the day
before and opened the first festival day on the main stage. I
was quite surprised and really liked their blend of Electronics
and Alternative. Placebo obviously left a huge impact, especially
on singer Iven Cole, who really sounds like the little brother
of Brian Molko ;) But also a bit of IAMX was to sense out, especially
when it came to the synth parts. Though ZIN have an own
sound and an own attitude. They might sound a bit reserved, melancholically
nonchalant on CD, but live the gents have a much gruffer approach
and rocked the stage at this early time. Yeah, I think there’s
a bright future ahead for the band :)
[Janine]
The first day started for me in the Staatenhaus with ::
MISS
CONSTRUCTION :: The planning did not intend for
the visitors to have any quiet start of the festival. Their show
was absolutely a musical wake-up-call, which worked! The people
woke up very early and pointed out their enthusiasm with clapping
hands. If the Staatenhaus had been brighter, you surely have had
seen shining eyes when MISS CONSTUCTION entered the stage
– wearing nice costumes and with cool projector pic’s.
MISS CONSTRUCTION also understands how to entertain people
- singer Gordon took time to talk to the people and give some
extra-ordinary interludes. One example was the song Hass &
Liebe, which was sung in a suspicious way. Yes, he got talent
for acting as an actor – he also has got the mimic for that.
In the Staatenhaus I saw many Cyber-Goths dancing (e.g. at Kunstprodukt
- such an irony) - that fact would give you an impression of what
the music sounds like.
[Dajana] Next up on the main stage was :: DIN [A] TOD :: The Berlin-based duo first shocked with the outfit by sound wiz Sven, who actually appeared in shorts on stage, showing his hairy and pale stork-like legs. Female singer Claudia cut a much better figure, visually, but when it came to their live performance both pretty statically stood behind their keyboards. Their blend of Electro and Wave might be much danceable on the dance floors and perfect for your good-mood-home-entertainment but live on stage DIN [A] TOD remained just unspectacular. Out of sight, out of mind. Aside from these hairy legs…
[Janine]
I always love to see :: DESTROID
:: and so it was this time again. I highly expected
Daniel Myer entering the stage. While they did the sound check
he joked with the audience, but then the show begun. After a long
intro they finally broke the silence with the song Silent World
– from the homonymous EP which DESTROID had released
in February 2010. Daniel Myer screamed out the lyrics with a vehemence
and power that was absolutely remarkable. Judgement Throne
is one of my all-time DESTROID favorites I can’t
listen to often enough. That was the absolute highlight of this
show and made everybody (at least these ones which surrounded
me) overjoyed. This song always indicates a total explosion of
emotions. At the last years Blackfield Festival they played only
with computers, but at this year AMPHI FESTIVAL, Daniel
is supported by two men, responsible for synthetic sounds. Even
with live drums, which made DESTROID one of the highlights
this day.
[Janine]
The first time I saw them was in 2008 when ::
END
OF GREEN :: performed their Dark Rock music on
a sunny afternoon at the Blackfield Festival in Gelsenkirchen.
This time on AMPHI it was also a sunny afternoon –
which is probably not the perfect setting for END OF GREEN's
sound, which the band itself labels “Depressed Subcore”.
Well, this term wouldn’t tell you too much about the music
- just image a morbid mix of Gothic, Metal and Grunge. And I appreciated
it a lot that with a band like END OF GREEN brought some
variety to the festival's line up. I always love their songs like
She’s Wild or especially Drink Myself To Sleep.
A lot of people obviously agreed. But in the back, where I stood,
you saw only a few people dancing or head banging. By comparing
the mood of the listeners, I can tell you that the performance
of the crowd at the Blackfield Festival in 2008 was much better.
What a pity because END OF GREEN proved that they know
how to deliver a good show. But they performed as I already said
in the early hours of the first festival day…
[Janine]
Hard-hitting club tracks and balladry ones are remarkable for
:: FADERHEAD
:: But he’s not one of my favorite artists so
I didn’t set high expectations… As better as otherwise,
because he did a “remarkable” show - a bad one –
in my opinion! But the crowd although had fun - especially Cyber-Goths!
One of these less songs I like Horizon Born was sung in
such a bad way, that I already wanted to leave… Maybe it
was just the bad sound in the hall that gave me this opinion…
maybe it was his miserable voice… His live crew was Alex
Montana und Marco Visconti. Nevertheless - he rocked the stage
and the reaction of the listeners was fantastic. There’s
no need for discussion, the crowd had fun!
[Leo] After the change over :: ASHBURY HEIGHTS :: entered the stage in the afternoon and pleased the crowd with their set. After the first song they had some problems with their new equipment but after a short break the next track started and the show went on. The freshly sound, the pushing rhythms and the pleasing voices of the both singers which harmonized perfectly together enjoyed the crowd and infected the legs to move. The set ran about 50 minutes and presented songs out off the already released albums and very new stuff from the Origin release. The set finished with danceable Spiders when Kari - wearing some kind of Japanese Kimono - was even stealing the Cowboy hat from keyboarder Johan.
[Janine]
I highly expected the show of :: SOLITARY
EXPERIMENTS :: because I missed the chance to see
them live, the announced show in Krefeld I was expected to attend
was cancelled… Lots of fans of Berlin’s Electro formation
SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS took their places right in front of
the stage to celebrate the band. The members were dressed as normal
- in red shirts with black ties with the band logo. As they started
the melodic Electro sound coupled with hard EBM tones went straight
to the legs. The band delivered crackers like Delight or
Homesick and a grandiose show. Especially Dennis’
deep, memorable, not too raw voice was a pleasure for my ears.
The catchy melodies and massive beats were going down well with
the audience. Singer Dennis kept heating us up and animated to
dance along. My fear – I always have, when I see one of
my favorite bands live for the first time – they could disappoint
with their live shows wasn’t justified.
[Dajana] The next both bands - Funker Vogt and Nachtmahr - don’t get reviewed on our magazine. First one for their right wing tendencies. No matter what singer Jens Kästel might say, if one has tattooed Nazi runes on his arms one disqualifies itself. [Leo]
After the next change over :: WELLE:
ERDBALL :: entered the main stage and entertained
the crowd with their funny show. The set was started by a cover
version of Wir sind die Roboter (Kraftwerk), performed
with a kind of slow motion dance performance by the both female
band members before the both male band members completed the line
up for the second song. Like usual WELLE: ERDBALL impressed
with a crazy performance, the usual show elements of a WELLE:
ERDBALL show like sparklers, balloons, paper planes or flying
C64s didn't miss and the crowd was pleased by the show. Own songs
like Schweben, Fliegen, Fallen, Ich bin aus Plastik
or Starfighter F104G were alternated by some nice cover
versions like Fred vom Jupiter and Es geht voran,
highlighted by a cover version of Ein bisschen Frieden
– the winner song of the Eurovision song contest 1982.
[Janine]
Berlin Dark-pop band :: BLUTENGEL
:: came up with their appearance at this year's AMPHI
FESTIVAL with a special surprise. In collaboration with the
Dance Theatre Of Quilla the Swiss choreographer Sarah Keusch with
the dancers of Naway Dance Company transported the audience into
a different world. Dance performances by world-class in a stunning
combination of concert was really eye-catching!
[Leo]
The show was started by Quicksilver, followed by Immortal
and right from the start the whole crowd was bewitched by the
rousing and charismatic performance. The people were dancing and
singing along and had a good time. Like usual ::
THE
CRÜXSHADOWS :: impressed with a fantastic
stage performance and once again Rogue was climbing the stage
and walking through the crowd.
[Dajana]
:: ANNE
CLARK :: is without a doubt one of the heroes of
the glorious 80’s. And finally I could see her playing live.
Unfortunately Anne got the full afternoon sun in her face, so
she stood like nailed behind her micro, with closed eyes and spoke.
Her voice is still so mesmerizing, so clear and expressive…
just magical. And I liked that cello, which added such an emotional
touch. I guess an ANNE CLARK show works best in a small
and intimate club than on a huge open air stage on a sunny afternoon.
Too bad I was again in a hurry due to overlapping stage times
and could not experience the grandiose classics ANNE CLARK
played at the end of her set :(
[Janine]
Well, with this part of the festival I highly expected to hear
some of the songs from their new album Continuum Ride,
which is from my point of view absolutely fantastic. Finally I
left this concert with just one performed song of this album -
Endless Infinity… at least. Timekiller, an
absolute anthem of the band, was played really badly, from my
point of view. Generally I would say that this wasn’t one
of the good :: PROJECT
PITCHFORK :: concerts, I’ve seen a “few”
better performances of the band. The sound in the Staatenhaus
was miserable, the show was not good, not bad, but the fans were
really awesome and did a big party. I saw dancing people around
me all the time and many exercising a rather little urge to move.
[Leo]
Saturday evening, half past 8, the stage was ready for the headliner
and hidden behind a red curtain, which was removed at the start
of the show. In the centre of the stage a big "Y" (this
letter is a synonym for the German army) was arranged and the
keyboard racks too were formed like a "Y". The background
of the stage was military painted and the band members were clothed
in military outfits. Quickly the spirit went over to the crowd
and the people celebrated a big party together with ::
AND
ONE :: The set list included beside a lot of own
songs the AND ONE remix of Timekiller (Project Pitchfork)
and cover versions of The Sun Always Shines On TV (a-ha)
and The Walk (The Cure). For the pleasure of the fans Steve
announced a new album, which will be called Tanzomat
soon to be released. After about 80 minutes the show was finished
by Für, an encore was not allowed because it was 10 o'clock
and open air music after 10 was prohibited by the authority, wherefore
Steve performed a part of Klaus as an acoustic version unplugged
before they finally left the stage.
[Janine]
:: SKINNY
PUPPY :: once founded back in Canada, was great
to be expected, since the Belgian Gothic Festival in Waregem a
week earlier, which they have already cleared powerful, as I was
told. The stage consists of a drum set, one hung with white sheets
cage decorated as keyboards, a video screen and a number of beamers.
The lighting system created a totally surreal atmosphere, the
effect on the tissues and body of Ogre is absolutely intoxicating.
A scary mask on the face, the head is a huge pointed hat, joined
hands, and an equally veiled body as well as numerous blood stains.
The outfit and the music made you feel like a horror movie or
a bad nightmare. With Brap and Shore Lined Poison
the audience was then released into the cool night in Cologne.
What a crazy good show - it seems impossible.Their kind of music
is nothing I prefer to, but it was definitely something for my
eyes.
[Dajana] Ok, that was the first day of AMPHI FESTIVAL 2010. Exhausted the league of photographers met at the new VIP area for a few beers and nice talks. It took not a long time till we got swept out by the security. Back in the hotel we immediately started watching TV to learn that the rumors about the mass panic at the Love Parade were true with already 19 attendees confirmed dead… |
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© Dajana Winkel, Carsten Leopold & Janine Szakacs |
