Christ, it's getting
difficult for me now, but I'll have a try anyway....
To be honest, I didn't know what to expect, because, apart from the name
of the duo, which I heard before, I had no idea about this here.
And I'm not sure, whether this is a lack of musical knowledge or not.
But because education never does any harm, and I'm pretty nosy (bad
habit of journalists in generell) I get in into the cave of the lion. -
By the way, - in the truest sense of the word, because our Backstage
Werk - venue is filled 'till the very last spot.
One glimpse towards the stage, I keep getting down on the ground again,
when I discover this kinda freak, who abviously has fled out ot a
psychatric institute. Keyboard and Synthie are just visible on a screen,
the technosound comes from a playback rack. And Apollo creates some sort
of flying dutchman moving along in a strange way. It seems like a
special training for the next aerobics championships. He wears
sunglasses to give the whole appearance a certain collness, suitable for
this style. At least the voice is real, recognizable because of quite a
few wrong tunes. Jes... thanks god, I just have come in, and after about
15 minutes this breakdance of our paradisebird is finished for
good.
But there is more to come...
Alright, I confess, I have already the name of this funny artist
forgotten, who is from NY City. But compared to his collegue before, he
goes more for individual performance including some very exotic looking
instruments. Hard to discribe this monster, this independend artist uses.
It looks like a cut off horn, connected so many wires and some strange
looking strings.
This thing, - don't ask me
what it's called, creates some strange noises, which develop into
soundcompositions caused by countless samples. Including the voice, it
is a exotic mixture indeed. By the way, thanks to the promoter and bands,
that there is no photographic limit, and I can spend the showtime seated
in the photopit.
The Mini-Drumkit used as
stage outfit
|
a guiar played with a
little hand fan
|
There is also a kind of mini drumkit, but it doesn't work due to some
inconvenience on the transatlantic flight over here. At least it looks
pretty interesting and fascinating. And it is photogenic, so what ?!
And then it's showtime for
the star of tonight. Even I didn't know very much about them yet, they
certainly do have a solid fanbase, who are cheering them up. Why they
have chosen the name Dresden Dolls? Of course, because it sounds so
typical germany and seems somehow exotic to americans. That's how the
duo comments on that. You can realise, that the idol of singer and
keyboardist Amanda Palmer and drummer/guitarist Brian Viglione is the
composer Kurt Weil, who gave the theaterplays of Bertold Brecht a lot of
melody and rhythm and musical soul.
While Viglione comes from a hardrocking background, Amanda rather goes
for Depeche Moder or the Cure. She had studied for one year here in
Germany. That's why she speaks so well our language. In 2002 the two
kids met at a party in Boston and decided to give it a go together. The
theatrecal mixture of punk, cabaret and songwriting is a true goal
right in the middle and pulls immidiately many fans. It's somehow
abstract, but it's got something for itself. Amanda performs a rather
interesting version of 'Der Eisbär' a cover from the famous song of
german rockers Grauzone, and she proves once again her german knowledge.
It goes down very well. Brian beats the hell outta his drums and his
make up gets mixed up with pints of sweat.
Fact is, the fans like it very much, and me... okay what's up to
entertainment, - I do like it to a certain content. Although I leave
early out in the pooring rain and I'm glad, that at least I didn't
regret of coming here. But for me personally, no CD will ever be put in
my player at home.
But howdo we say? - Private is private and job is job, no more no less. |