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| 2012-07-21-22
DE – Cologne - Tanzbrunnen |
| The Sisters Of Mercy - Eisbrecher - Camouflage - Corvus Corax - Mind.In.A.Box - Spetsnaz - A Life Divided - The Wars DAF - Apoptygma Berzerk - Haujobb - [:SITD:] - Assemblage 23 - Seabound - [X]-RX - Tyske Ludder - Eisenfunk Spiritual Front [Janine] On Saturday Berlin-based indie/rock band :: THE WARS :: was allowed to open the Main stage. They were introduced by Alexander Wesselsky from Eisbrecher. For me it was the first time I saw them and because of the good feedback that reached me way before the festival I was looking forward seeing them. I guess many others did, too. In this “morning” - it was 12:00 am - the Tanzbrunnen was already pretty well filled. And you know what? The weather was phenomenal. Back to topic... The band did a good job and brought us in festival mood. I like their music. The only thing I missed was a little conversation with the audience.
[Kira] But let us go to that great industrial looking building Staatenhaus. While people outside have to squint, here it was night 24/7. Staatenhaus was the real exile on those days. Inside you could hide from the sun and heat. And so a completely different day was starting here. The light sources here were presented just by the fluorescent sticks, clothes-elements and of course stage. :: EISENFUNK :: started the party at the Staatenhaus. It is hard to imagine any other situation, when such music would play in the morning. Maybe, just after a night-party, when the morning isn’t the beginning of the new day, but continue of the previous one. However, people were already overexcited. There were several dance-battles in different parts of the club: People were standing in circles, dancing and enjoying themselves. The music is pretty hard, with live drums, giving a nice tempo for the dancers. It was the best way to start the day. And so the electro party in Staatenhaus went on.
[Janine] :: A LIFE DIVIDED :: Oh wow. I already knew their music is good, although there’s only one album they’ve released. The live performance from the Eisbrecher guitarist and his crew was so amazing. They performed a song called Lost which will be released on their new album in January. And I think we may look forward to this new album. A LIFE DIVIDED - it was a lot of fun, from the very first second they unchained the audience. They had no problem to inspire the fans with their music; they presented yet so good stuff for the eyes and ears. I was happy to be there!
[Kira] Back to Staatenhaus, where :: TYSKE LUDDER :: were on the schedule. TYSKE LUDDER is one of the few bands from Electro-90s, which have managed come back successfully. The band uses provocation in their music and content pretty much. The concert went literally under the Israel flags. It wasn’t just the singer, waving the state banner, but also there were some big and small flags in the public. The first lines seemed to really enjoy the show. They were jumping, singing along and greeting the band. As for the lines behind - there it was much calmer as at the previous show. There were less people, and less people were dancing. The sound wasn’t that good, already at the opposite wall from the stage the music sounded messy and it was hard to recognize separate elements of songs. It was funny to meet a person in TYSKE LUDDER t-Shirt outside, while the band was performing, the fact, that there was nobody performing at the moment at the Main stage, makes the situation even more ridiculous.
[Janine] :: SPETSNAZ :: was the next act on the mainstage. With some well-known songs like Alligance they kept the pulses going. Singer Pontus Stålberg himself seems to have tons of fun. He dances on the stage and said that it is good to be back. While he gave full throttle the front rows began to dance and Stefan Nilsson pounded on his e-pads, it was a joy.
[Kira] Cologne-band :: [X]-RX ::, being next on the indoor stage, combines Aggrotech and Techno with Hardstyle. As later it is, as less there are people and as calmer and more tired people are. Maybe it’s because, they danced so hard with previous two acts, but even if it was already (or just) 14:30, people seem to be very quiet and calm. There are still enough people to have problems to get right to the stage. The first lines were creating the whole atmosphere. Probably because of the light on the stage, it looked like the first lines vibrated along with music. While the musicians ran all over the stage shouting their manifests, people in front of the stage had not many options, but to move mainly vertical. Fans in that area seemed to be absolutely happy and excited about the show, they jumped, shouted and greet the band. But the picture was a bit different behind. Stunned people hardly moved, some stood still looking at one point, some were leaving. Just one dancing circle left, it was somewhere in the corner. People still had fun there and showed their best dancing. But we have to be fair. At the same time at the mainstage Spetsnaz was acting, so no wonder a lot of people left the Staatenhaus. The show was fine; there was a lot of energy from both sides: the musicians and fans. With a bit more luck and different schedule the band would have as big public, as the previous two acts.
[Janine] A highlight at this year’s AMPHI FESTIVAL was one of the few stage appearances by :: SEABOUND :: They played at 15:30 and the Staatenhaus was again completely filled. What an amazing feeling. They played some well-known songs like Scorch The Ground. But also new songs were in the repertoire of electro popper, like the track Nothing But Love, from the forthcoming album, which was very well received. I like the new material although the sound was really bad at this time in the Staatenhaus.
[Kira] Finally the time for dream-electronics came with Austrian electronic music project :: MIND.IN.A.BOX :: and mastermind Stev Poiss. He manages to unite in his music Futurepop, Progressive Trance and cyberpunk. From the very beginning there was the wonder of the day that on the main stage the sound was the worst. Maybe it was because it’s outside or maybe there are some other logical reasons, however, the peak of this was at the MIND.IN.A.BOX show. The sound was faded out all the time, once it was away for more seconds, once the band took a break… a break in a 50-minutes long show. But away from all the bad things, the show was fine. The band's songs were presented by the use of vocoder vocals and guitar, bass and drums. While Staatenhaus was shaken by the EBM and Industrial beats, and after Spetsnaz rocked the mainstage, the MIND.IN.A.BOX show with their light and dreamy melodies was kind of relief. The vocal effects give a strange impression. On the one hand it is very unusual and when it is done well, it is kind of funny to listen to it live. On the other hand there were some thoughts that it would make no difference if I listen to the CD. But it is worth being caught in the Dream Web live.
[Janine] Formed by Castus Rabensang, Meister Selbfried and Win :: CORVUS CORAX :: released their first album in 1998. They’re still performing - with authentic instruments and period costumes. The band was the only "medieval band" at the AMPHI FESTIVAL. I could just see one song of their show since Assemblage 23 at the Staatenhaus was calling!
[Kira]
The :: SPIRITUAL
FRONT :: concert was the first concert after all
the readings, which were running in the Theatre. SPIRITUAL
FRONT is a Neofolk band based in Rome, although their music
is known better as “nihilist suicide pop”. The influence
of neoclassical and rock music elements, as well as tango and
experimental feel, is unquestionable. So, to get to the theatre
before the concert was a real quest. An hour-long queue was at
the doors. Some had no more patience and left wishing to have
a good time. Yeah, it was not much fun waiting for the entry,
but those who were there, knew that it was worth. Note for future:
it is not necessary to stay in the queue while there are some
readings, if you don’t want to visit the reading. It is
clear, that the place inside the theatre is limited. But after
the reading were finished all the guests were leaving and the
entry was free again. soundcheck was pretty quick while the public
was gathering. And finally the show went on. This time the band
used new acoustic backtracks, which of course presented the new
intensive and intimate atmosphere. It is no need to say how SPIRITUAL
FRONT music influences people. If you look around, there are
always hundreds of inspired faces, shining eyes and smiles. During
the concert, more over if it is the theatre-concert, there is
a very good chance to look deep inside of you and let all your
beautiful emotions come outside with the music. The time while
the band plays its sincere pure and heartfelt songs somebody’s
life can be turned upside down. With time it becomes clear, that
the only instrument the musicians play is the listener’s
soul, and they manage to touch that strings, that were secret
even for the listener himself.
[Janine]
Tom Shear and his project called :: ASSEMBLAGE
23 :: is one of my all-time favorites and I listen
to him very often. The first time I saw him live was at the Blackfield
Festival 2 years ago. I remember that I got disappointed (oh damn,
I missed Disappoint on the set list this time - what I
pity). The performance on this stage was more than satisfying.
After some minutes of start-up difficulties Tom found his full
strength of his voice and started to entertain the people with
a mixture of some wonderful old and some brilliant new tracks.
I can say that the news songs from the latest album Bruise
are really good - and they are going very well at this live performance.
[Janine]
With :: CAMOUFLAGE
:: the AMPHI FESTIVAL offered one of my most
looking forward top-acts. The cult synth-popper camouflage began
their show with "Suspicious Love". In the fashionable
white suit Marcus swept across the stage and looked good. My favorite
songs came after 40mins. And then the show ended very quickly.
At the end I was disappointed. It could be that I’ve set
too high expectations. But it doesn’t change my opinion.
What a pity.
[Janine]
Tom and Casi - known as members from ::
[:SITD:] ::
took part right after A23 gig. They started with songs like Code:Red
and Lebensborn and made friends with the audience, who
appreciated the fast start.
[Kira]
Back to the Theatre again with :: HENKE
:: First of all Oswald Henke is famous for his previous
band Goethes Erben. If visiting the show of the previous band
there could be some questions, like why is everybody sit? Doesn’t
anybody want to dance? Now there is no shadow of such a question.
The rich decorations, big preparations, the number of classical
instruments (played by Goethes Erben) and the real theatrical
play - welcome to HENKE’s world! First of all this
show is for German-speaking public. So if you don’t belong
to this category, it would be useful to get some translations
of his songs before you come to his concert. The play is very
personal, telling a story of the whole year of life of the main
hero. It is a wonder that somebody would ever dare to bring that
deep feelings and thoughts on the stage. But especially in modern
art people got used to the idea that for many artists exactly
this kind of emotional exhibitionism is saving. The whole story
is quite emotional and pretty sad, and the public seemed to be
really involved.
[Janine] :: HAUJOBB :: was the next act at the Staatenhaus and I always like to see Daniel Myer but this was my first attendance at a HAUJOBB gig. And you know what? Wow, what an amazing EBM sound. He for example played Let’s Drop Bombs (which you can get for free I you want to – or just offer the price you think it is worth it). The concert ended too early.
[Kira]
:: EISBRECHER
:: are famous for their shows. It is always the concert
you want to visit, and this day it was one of the main shows.
Loud guitars and beating drums and of course one of the most famous
vocals on the German scene won over Tanzbrunnen. Not much people
stayed indifferent and even those who wasn’t look at the
stage, because one moment it became just impossible to get any
closer and see the stage at all. Rolling all over the park up
to Rhine EISBRECHER attracted more and more people. Of
course it was great to listen to the tracks from the new album
as well as the unfading hits, like Schwarze Witwe. It is hard
to believe that the song is eight years old. So much beautiful
years spent with EISBRECHER’s music flew away like
one day, but it always a great pleasure to listen to it and visit
shows of the band.
[Kira]
:: APOPTYGMA
BERZERK :: was one of the most awaited acts at
AMPHI this year, even if it wasn’t on the first version
of the festival’s line-up. The founders of the genre Future
Pop with the tongue-twisting name APOPTYGMA BERZERK has
about twenty years of history, six studio albums, three live albums,
four collections of singles, remixes and cover versions and the
legendary status behind. After the successful tour around the
world back in 2009-2010, the band is going to visit the US again,
Canada and South America in September as well. The concert that
night was great. There was the absolute unity of the band and
the public. It happens when both catch the same wave. The band
was very energetic; Stephan was running the stage and communicating
with fans all the time between the songs. Fans have been singing
all the songs together with the band, so sometimes it was hard
to hear the band. With every new song the public blew up and with
new force sent a lot of energy back on stage and around itself.
And it works like a chain reaction, so if you in the radius of
its effect, you’re automatically infected by the crazy energy.
Stephan, who will never get old, made the whole crowd jump and
dance non-stop and to sing all the songs along. It was one of
the shows when the band was hardly to hear, because fans sang
over it. There was stuffy atmosphere of absolute unity and brotherhood.
[Janine]
Now we can talk about king-size-blockbuster acts - lead by the
legendary :: THE
SISTERS OF MERCY :: headlining the main stage on
Saturday. One of England’s leading Goth bands of the 1980s.
They play slow, gloomy, ponderous hybrid metal and psychedelia
- often incorporating dance beats. This created an erotic atmosphere.
All the people danced and sang along - some of them half naked,
while sitting on someone others shoulders. The place in front
of the main was totally filled.
[Kira] And the real legends closed that evening - :: DAF :: It is fantastic, that the band still exists. Although “still exists” doesn’t really mean that the duo is quite active. What is even stranger that the band is not just the headliner at such a Festival as AMPHI, but it has its public and greeted pretty well. Or maybe it’s the AMPHI public, which is that special and there is a demand on such bands. However it was quite weird show. For those who aren’t really good in history, Robert Görl and Gabi Delgado-López could give an impression that German American friendship has always been pretty… minimalistic. I would say Germany and America probably got to know each other in the late 70-s, got drunk, had good time, and all the time they met afterwards they could hardy remember what happened that night, but somehow felt, there was something they should be ashamed of. And just a part of public really enjoyed it: old-school fans and some music nerds, who are interested in that kind of music. The others either tried to have fun amain, trying to fight the tiredness, the others enjoyed the legendary show, they hardly ever see again. The rest seem to be troubled to understand the minimalistic bacchanalia on the stage.
Pictures by Simon Hönscheid:
A Live Divided, Apoptygma Berzerk, Camouflage, Corvus Corax, Eisbrecher,
Eisenfunk, Haujobb, Mind.in.a.Box, Seabound, Sisters Of Mercy,
Spetsnaz, Spiritual Front, The Wars |
| stories • Janine Szacaks & Kira Kalinina |
