Shades of Grey

Biohazard @ Batschkapp, Frankfurt - November 2008.

One week after my first concert in Frankfurt, I had a gig I was really excited, waiting for since 1997: Biohazard. They were making an European Tour and fortunately, playing here.

I was waiting since 1997, and I will explain why: I was finishing high school and trying to get into University and Biohazard played in the same day I had an important University test - and on the next day too, so I couldn't make it. Which sucked big time, because this weekend was full of great concerts: friday we had Cólera (a very important and awesome brazilian punk band), then Biohazard on saturday and then on sunday, Suicidal Tendencies. And that was very rare in our hometown in that period because of the costs these concerts implies and there are not that many fans to attend these concerts (ok, Biohazard yes, but the costs were still very high).

Ok, so I arrived very early so I could be in the front row. Actually, it was nice also to get to see the place. Batschkapp is an awesome place that breathes rock. It is the perfect size, not too big, not small, perfect. And you can easily go in the front and see the band very close. This place has a long story and important and big bands from Oasis to Sistem of a Down already step a feet on that stage.

So the concert was crowded, I believe it was sold out. There were so many people it was bad to walk inside. When the band came on stage, the whole place went mad. First because they were away rom Frankfurt for a while, and second because they were coming with the original band fromation.

And when I thought they were already in flames, Bobby threw some more fuel into them: since it was the original formation, they were going to play only old songs, from the first 3 albuns. I swear, I saw lots of big guys crying right there. And the concert was amazing, agressive, destructive. They started with Shades of Grey and some people were dead already. Then it was one hit after the other, they've even played "we're only gonna die" from Bad Religion. By the end of the concert, people were hurt, damaged, bleeding, but all of them, including me, with a HUGE smile on their faces. It was such a cool experience, and the crowd was totally passionate, so the concert was really great. And at the end of the concert, they've promised to come back. Let's keep our fingers crossed so it happens.

Cheers!

The impression that you get.

Dredg @ Schlachthof, Wiesbaden - November 2009.

When I came to Europe, I had no clue that Dredg was very popular here. And all my friends here were saying the same: "Maaaaan, and they are UNBELIEVABLE live!!" Well, what a shock, 'cause they already sound amazing on the record. But what could be so different that I was definitely going to be surprised? When you listen to a band very often and never get to see them live, you create some expectations. Even though Youtube is there to fulfill them, it is never the same. And now I just got even more curios. Damn, I needed to check them.

So I went all the way to Wiesbaden (1 hour away fom Frankfurt via Train) to appreciate the concert. And when the band started playing, I understood why my friends were talking about.

They are simply talented. All of them. The vocalist can sing so well, and his voice is very powerful and loud that he needs to put the mic away in the higher notes. Besides, he also plays lap guitar very well. The bass player, fucking genius notes, perfect dynamic. The guitar player, insane, not so much speed, but definitely presence, power and style. And drummer, fuck, what to say? Besides being incredible, the guy play drums AND keyboard at the same time. You are probably asking yourself how he does that. Well, check this out:



The concert was beautiful, The set list selection couldn't be better, and the audience was really contributing for the nice vibe of the place. And at the last song, something really nice. The intro was played only by the drummer, so the roadie goes on stage and take out one part of the instrument. The vocalist do the same, and then the roadie again and so on, until only the snare is there. He keeps playing, making music with just that and the keyboard at the same time, until the vocalist takes away the snares and leaves him only with the keyboard until the end of the song/concert. Pretty impressive. Definitely, one of the best concerts I've seen in my life.

For those who don't know them, here's their myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/dredg

See ya.

Funk and Roll.

The Notorious Beat Plank @ Batschkapp, Frankfurt - November 2009.

The Notorious Beat Plank was the opening act from a very random Sunday evening at Batschkapp, where 5 different bands (from different styles) were playing. And I might say, I just ended up there that night because my friend Alex is playing in the band. And I am glad I did. Usually, this is not my kind of music (even though I am pretty open minded) - they make a very stylish funk/soul with some rock attitude to it. Interesting mix.

This was actually my first concert of them, and it won't be the last. For those who were there, well, they had fun. The band sure knows how to position on stage and command the crowd. The vocalist is full of energy and don't run away from the "front man" responsibility, dealing with passion and adrenaline. His voice is also very different, and I gotta say, sounds way better live than in the recordings. The band is very rehearsed, everything fits on the right place. One guitar fills the ambient with its groove, the bass and the drums are very aligned, everything seems right. And therefore, the band sounds very consistent.

The crowd was also very diverse, and they manage somehow to put them together. Merits to the band, who is coming with a new single and a new label to project them. And I might say they are on their way.

For those who wants to listen to them, here is the link:

http://www.myspace.com/notoriousbeatplank

See ya.

Welcome gift.

The Miserable Rich @ Das Bett, Frankfurt.

This was a great surprise for me. Almost like a welcome gift. One of the first concerts I went to in Frankfurt was from a band I've never heard before - a very nice recomendation from a friend.

The Miserable Rich is a band from England, and I definitely don't know how to define them. Indie? Alternative? Pop? Soft? Sweet? I think it is a big mix of all of that. And acoustic. They are a band formed by 5 guys and no drummer. Violins, acoustic guitars, bass and small music boxes are the main instruments. Also, the voice is very soft and peculiar, and fits exactly in their style.

The concert was very nice. The place, Das Bett, is a very cosy place - I know I've mentioned it before, but this concert was on the old Das Bett, the small place. I think it could fit around 80 people, and this day was totally packed. Even though the opening act almost blew the night, the event was great. Miserable Rich is a band that communicates a lot with the audience and entertain a lot too, which is not very common from bands on the same style. They even had one song which they requested wine glasses from the audience, and it was one of their instruments. Very interesting. Also, the executions were perfect, they are very syncronised and very talented.

If you don't know them, here's the chance:

http://www.myspace.com/themiserablerich

Songs I would recommend: The Boat Song and Pisshead.

After this one, I went to another concert of them, but this will be told some other time.

See ya.

Sorry... I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

Dinosaur Jr. @ Mousonturm, Frankfurt.

How does a nice Sunday starts? When you know something special is about to happen. And of course, it comes with expectations of years and years of waiting. Dinosaur Jr was definitely one of the bands I was sure I would NEVER see in my life - when you live in a country far away from where all the cool bands are and where the dollar is not the actual currency (there was a big gap between brazilian and american money before, now it is getting better) it is extremely difficult to see some bands playing. But now Germany was offering me this great oportunity.

The place, Mousonturm, is one of my favorite places in Frankfurt. It is small, cosy, and has really cool atractions like Ben Folds, Mogwai and so on (of course I was there too). But it is more than a small theater, it is a cultural center, with dance presentations, theater and reading sessions. And the best part: 3 minute walking from my place! For those who wants to know the place, here it is:

http://www.mousonturm.de

So I arrived there and went straight to the front row. And it was funny because actually it was very easy to get there and I was really close to the sound box - perfect! So I could see the stage and the Marshall amp collection the band has. Just for guitars, there were 5 amps and a combo one, being used a feedback box. It was such a big wall for a small place like that.

So they finally reached the stage, and I could finally believe it was real. And when they played the first chord of the very first song, I definitely was sure it was real. And definitely sure that I was deaf. WHAT? The sound was so loud that no one wanted to stand close to the soundbox, where I was. And I understood that right why that spot was empty.

The concert kept going and Dinosaur Jr guitar hero legend J Mascis kept the volume up. During the songs, he was doing short solos so he didn't stop. And he didn't express himself during the concert... he said only one sentence: thank you. And it was enough. The sound selection was very nice, and apart from being that loud, the concert was really cool and I am still hearing.

And yes... J Mascis is a fucking genius guitarrist.

See ya!

What time is it? It's beer o' clock!

The Toasters @ Das Bett, Frankfurt - September 2009.

The Toasters, one of the finest SKA bands of the world. 9 albuns, tons of live recordings, big festivals, and tons of fans around the world - including Brasil, of course. When I heard they would play in Das Bett, I went nuts. So I decided to get my ticket, and I also got 2 friends with me (Oskar and Arne). I couldn't be a lonely witness on this event.

NOTE: For those who don't know Das Bett, it is a real small place in Frankfurt. Actually, they just moved now to a bigger one, I think the place supports around 300 people now. Before, 100 tops. Still, it is such a cool place, nice bands, nice crowd.

When we arrived at the place, I had a big surprise: it was totally empty. By the time we got there, there were around 40 people! Of course it started later than expected, and it was good because a few more came in, but still... it's TOASTERS you know? I was expecting a totally packed place, with people outside screaming their names... And Rob, the vocalist, was selling the merchandising alone inside there, because the 40 fans were outside smoking. I went to talk to him, and he was very cool. I told him I was surprised, couldn't expect such a small crowd, but he was totally fine, and so was the band. When they reached the stage, they made an amazing concert, like it was for 10.000 people. And they made everybody dance. There was no one there standing still, it was impossible. Besides bad quality of the sound of this new place, the mood was great: the set list was great, dancing, beer toasts, we even had a joke break between songs in the end of the concert. It was a really cool experience, felt almost like a private show. Too bad just a few people had this experience to share. And I am so glad I was one of them.

Don't let the bastards drag you down!

Cheers.

Once upon a time.

Green Day - October 2009, Köln.

Once upon a time, there was a punk band called Green Day. The band was formed by 3 punk dudes, with some serious drug issues and no sense of anything, but making great music. Time passed by, records came out, major label, more records, video clips, more records, fans, fans, fans, and some years after, there they are.

Not just the fans multiplied. People on stage too. Now they are six - The original members plus a extra guitar player, an extra acoustic guitar / vocals / dancing and an a keyboard / sax / dancing player - and very professionals. No mistakes. Every move is extremely thought and staged, and that is clear to everyone's eye. To complement that, fireworks and explosions, which made me think I was at a Kiss' concert for a moment.

Billy knows how to interact and conduct the crowd. His problem is that he doesn't know when to stop. He brought at least 6 people from the crowd to stage, and on each and every song he was trying to make the public react with the famous "I say heeeeeeee-eeeeeei" thing.

Damn, that must be really disappointing then, right? Actually, not. I like the band a lot, and the songs are great - and very well executed. The set list was incredible, and very organized. They even had a "Dookie" block, with one hit after the other (started with When I come around, then Basket Case, She and Long View with a fan singing the whole song on stage) and the last song was Time of your Life, alone in his guitar. COOL!

Also, the stage was awesome. Lots of projection, nice lights, even a camera in the crowd with high contrasted images. There was also a corridor in the middle, where Billy visited a lot. Also a place for the kids who were on stage to mosh.

It was fun, we got nice places (also another story... to make it short, the seats my friends Silvia and Timo bought online didn't exist and they moved us to a very nice seat in the guest area) and if Green Day comes to play again, I will go.

See ya!