This is the end. We are here to attend what probably will be the last ever German SWANS show. We are here at the end of a months-lasting farewell tour, which comes at a point, where the SWANS face the most productive and most successful chapter in their history. It is like to finish an era on a high note as the noise gods were disbanded in 1997 exactly due to those aspects missing in the band’s career back then.
However, founder, leader and mastermind Michael Gira already relativized the passing of the swans and hinted that this is just the end of the current incarnation of the SWANS and that he will go on creating music. How, what kind and with whom… he did not shed light on yet. He just mentioned that he will not tour again, but did not rule out single shows. Ok, hope dies last and my first ever SWANS show might not necessarily be the last ever one ;)
Before I enter Dortmund’s finest :: FZW Club :: (huh, for the third time this month), I roam the streets in the neighborhood and treat myself with a veggie dinner at :: subrosa ::. Well, sort of. I got me the appetizer twice, left out the main course and straightly went to the dessert ;) It all was extremely delicious. Strongly recommended! By the way, the veggie dinner is up every Wednesday and Thursday.
: pics :: LITTLE ANNIE ::
When I sneaked in, the main hall was just loosely filled. I was expecting a sold out venue. Ok, many people were still outside smoking and drinking beer and the hall was actually well filled at the time the Swans came onto stage. Though, the club was far away of being sold out.
The evening got opened by ::: LITTLE ANNIE :: - a New York-born singer, songwriter, painter, poet, writer, performing and recording artist, pastor and stage actor (says Wikipedia). She played with the accompaniment from Paul Wallfisch on piano and vocals, belonging to the Swans collective, but also collaborating with LITTLE ANNIE for many years now. Together they have released two albums so far. I realized that it was not the first Swans tour support for LITTLE ANNIE: she already did it the one or the other time, a collaboration that seemingly worked fine.
Let me mention that Swiss-born and in the USA living Paul Wallfisch was the musical director at the theater in Dortmund not so long time ago. For him, tonight’s show was sort of a home run.
Paul appeared on stage first, with a glass of red wine and drumsticks in his hands, with whom he was drumming on everything while doing his round tour over the stage to attract the attention of the audience.
And then LITTLE ANNIE gracefully stepped onto stage. She is what I would call a diva, a Jazz and Soul diva. A timeless beauty, classic, musically and voice-like similar to legendary Nina Simone, with an incredible stage presence. She sang, she whispered, she narrated. She played, she flirted, was witty and became dramatic. And she suffered. So intensive that I was scared she would break down. Most of her songs are sad, dealing with loss and death. She looked so fragile yet shined with an enormous inner strength. Pure intensity. Pure charisma. She is truly unique! Her voice and her songs caused goose bumps, sent shivers up and down the spine. The crowd was quiet as a mouse, at least close to the stage. LITTLE ANNIE got all the attention she deserved. Spellbound!
Despite this stunning performance I have to say, that a venue such as the FZW (hall) is the worst possible location. Such woman needs a small and cosy Jazz club, maybe a wicked one, or a noble and classy concert house, a theater, with red carpets velvet seats and such kind of things, you know… However, that was definitely a performance of awesomeness. Mind-blowing. Hauntingly beautiful.
Setlist: Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash cover), Adriana, Angels Gone Before, Gown Of Tears, Suitcase Full Of Secrets , Because You're Gone Song, The Good Ship Nasty Queen, If I Were A Man, Wild World (Cat Stevens cover), You Better Run, Shipbuilding (Elvis Costello cover), Dear John
:: pics :: SWANS ::
The change-over happened quickly, the equipment was completely put onstage before and just needed to be uncovered and line-checked. The :: SWANS :: got welcomed with thunderous applause and set in with the monolithic The Knot (which is an interpretation of 2010’s No Words No Thoughts). Lasting tones, Ambient like textures and jingling piano notes made it easy for the listener to access.
In a good old Jim Morrison manner, Michael Gira performed back-turned. He does not like photographers and he does not like people filming and doing photos with their mobiles. And Gira is a perfectionist and needs to conduct his band mates like a puppeteer. It was quite interesting to watch them reacting on every tiny Gira he gave but never satisfied him completely. He kicked his boxes and wove his hands towards the soundmen and his band mates. I can imagine it is not the easiest thing to work with him.
The show was loud, infernally loud, ritualistic, cathartic and a captivating performance. Earplugs are of highest need. Fans know. Gira does not use any. As louder it is as better he feels it seems. Rumors say he is almost deaf. A SWANS show is a transcendent experience for the body, soul and spirit. You have to FEEL the music with every fiber in your body. This only works when it is loud ;)
Songs were built up layer by layer, sound by sound and got densified. Guitar walls piled up, melodies rose and fell and ended up in infernal eruptions. Constantly repeated riffs and rhythm patterns mesmerized, put the crowd in trance. People got sucked into a tremendous sound cosmos. Gira whispered, screamed, and sang. He mantra-like repeated text lines close to the vocal fry chants by Tibetan monks. Prayers for eternity.
Songs from The Glowing Man were played, the already mentioned The Knot and The Man Who Refused To Be Unhappy, which is a new one. Six tracks in an outstanding two hours performance. It was mind-blowing! What a show! What an experience. It reminded me of the God Speed You! Black Emperor show at Paradiso, Amsterdam. A once in a lifetime show. The Paradiso is a wonderful old wooden church that appears to be a huge resonating body. Now imagine a show such as the SWANS played there. And they will do, in 2 days… *sighs*. The Dortmund show was awesome too. An evening of awesomeness! :)
Band: Michael Gira (Git), Christoph Hahn (Lapsteel-Gitarre/Hawaiigitarre), Christopher Pravdica (Bass), Phil Puleo (Drums), Paul Wallfisch (Keyb), Norman Westberg (Git)
Setlist: The Knot, Screen Shot, Cloud Of Forgetting, Cloud Of Unknowing, The Man Who Refused To Be Unhappy, The Glowing Man
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LITTLE ANNIE
