Reviews Archiv 322

I bet you all had this before, where you're not sure, whether to attend a concert that very evening or not. Because spending the night at home as a couchpotato seems more comfi. And over all, you're not quite sure about the music of this entertainer.

So, that's how I felt about tonight, also because of the fact, that the music of Birthcontrol and Guru Guru is quite a bit strange and unusual. Both are left overs from the so called Krautrock era of the very first hour back in the glory sixties. - The other fact what makes me thinking about tonight is, that I've just been to six concerts in a row. And that's quite exhausting anyway.
But in the end I'm too curious to check out those two bands, who I've never seen playing live on stage before. It's been a good decision. Because, believe it or not... but seriously - this should develope to the best concert I've seen this year so far.

At the Metropolis tonight there are an average of about 200 postum hippies, Krautrock freaks and some youn audiance, who wants to convince themselves of Birth Control and Guru Guru and that it's still there the good old Kraufrock.

I'll arrive with a 20 minutes delay. But don't worry, Birthcontrol have just played themselves warm...

To take it very strictly, there is none left from the original line up. Because a certain Hugo Egon Balder played the drums in the very beginning. But he left before the first album was recorded in 1968. For him Bernd Noske came in. And it's him who is still there holding the flagship ahead. Apart from that in the history of Birthcontrol there have been so many line up changes and even a break between 1983 an 1993. Presently the band consists of Nossi, guitarist Peter Engelhardt, Keyboardist Sasha Kühn and bassist Hans Vesper.

Die Songs stimmen, nur die Reihenfolge ist etwas verdreht.

You realize that there are excellent musicians playing. Nossi is the hero of thonight and also of the band. Again and again he steps from behind his drumkit to the front, takes the voc micro to sing some solos. Apart from that he plays the drums and sings. And that my friends ain't easy at all.
The new songs of BC are not that much psychodelic anymore, than the classic tunes. But even them nowadays they sound straighteer and more modern as on the old records. In each case, Nossis still has got some fun in by what he's doing. Wow... I'm impressed by so much talent and the Kraufrock vibe of the present. And yes of course - Gamma Ray - ain't missing.

http://www.birth-control.de/

As an intersting matter of fact is, Guru Guru never count themselves to the Krautrockbands but more or less to the underdogs.....

Although they developed to the protagonists of this style during the sixties. The Line up of the band went through many changes throughout the 40 years carriere, whereby drummer and singer Mani Neumeiner played a leading role all the time. He once said within an interview, that he doesn't just play the drums, but sees himself as a orchestra boss, who exchanges his musicians all the time.
But actually all those present musicians came along with him from the seventies into this century. There is Roland Schaeffer (Git./Sax) Hans Reffert (Git/Voc) and Peter Kühmstedt (Bass/voc). Like in Birthcontrol also in Guru Guru it would be too much to explain their whole history. Both band underwent to many changes.
Back to the action tonight. - Right in the beginning also Amon Düül legend Chris Karrer is stepping with the band on stage to play a virous violin solo.

yiiipppiiieeehhh - Ramses the III. came out of his pyramide and celebrates his egyptian reggae. But you've gotta give him that much... he can still manage....

The show of Guru Guru is a colourful mixture of old and new, combined with witty announcements in deepest bavarian dialect done by Mani the Great... so you could easily think, he is from Bavaria... No he ain't....
But not only this, it's also the funny movement and the comic which is great. One thing is for sure, we get a lot offered for our ears, but also for our eyes. I presume - the pics speak for themselves.

This is great....- 'Rastavari in Bajuvari' or 'In The Woods, 'Tribes In The Vibes' 'Ooga Booga' and of course the encoure must not be missed out....
Whatever Gamma Ray is for Birthcontrol..... this is Electro Lurch for Guru Guru....

Therefore Pharao Chris from Amon Düül is entering the stage again for the finale of the Krautrock... - yeah well.... rather for the Psychodelic shockrock band Guru Guru....
And yep it's been very nice indeed, and crazy.... And believe it or not... but you really don't think those golden boys can manage to present us such a freaky show.
It's like old wine... the more it majures, the better it gets... And this one here is at least a Baron De'Rothschild from 1865....
http://www.mani-neumeier.de/guruguru/