It's nice to be able to finally tell you that my trip was without any incident. No sob stories about delays, misunderstandings or horrible misfortune, everything went smoothly for a change. Oh how variation is the spice of life. More good news was that the expected heavy rainfall was polite enough to wait until we were all inside. At one point I did see quite a few thunderbolts raining down on the city, an impressive sight to be sure, but not followed by the actual wet kind of rain. Good thing too, since I had planned to meet with /u/kapitan_memo right after I'd arrived and he was already at the venue. I decided to not tempt Murphy's law the way I had in London and book a hostel first, which I found right around the corner from the central station. My luck did hold up quite well, as I looked at my room number: third floor, room 303, bed number three, nice and easy to remember. I had a good feeling about the rest of the day.
So here we are waiting at the venue now, there being a small line already when I arrived at a little past three. I join kapitan_memo for the impending long wait, and we talk for hours about all kinds of stuff. We are joined occasionally by /u/leahmetal and /u/daneguy, who both queued behind us together with some companions. Meanwhile I feel tension about making it inside before the inevitable shower, as the line grows longer and longer and wraps itself around the block. I don't know how many people we should expect but given that the show was sold out it would indicate at least 1200 souls or more. When the gate opens we enter the quaint little courtyard next to the music hall and contrary to Batschkapp we can walk inside straight away. While my companion tries to get as close as he possibly can, I decide to stay in the back. This to avoid getting crushed on the one hand, but also because it turns out I have to pay for the cloakroom, and they only take cash, so no choice but to keep my coat and all my stuff with me.
I observe the place as I pace around a bit. It looks typical for a venue like this; barren and industrial, a bar in the back and on the side, some posters here an there of upcoming events and a merch stand. The ceiling is flat and not terribly high. I do see one airconditioner hanging from the ceiling straight in the middle of the hall, but I suspect it'll still be quite hot in here when the place is entirely filled up. Another reason to stay in the back somewhat. I don't know how late the concert was supposed to start, but I don't have long to worry about it since as soon as everyone is inside the doors close and the lights dim. The familiar scene ensues when the DEATH intro starts playing and we greet the white faced musicians entering the stage, followed by the hooded trio. It seems they brought the spirit from Forta with them because they immediately try to summon the same joy and connectedness with the audience they showed there, and only falling a little short. At least, at first.
I pick my favourite spot to stand, right behind the moshpit, although all the heavy junk I'm forced to carry with me prevents me from joining the mayhem at any point. Problem is that it's not quite clear where the moshpit begins and ends. I take no chances and cautiously hold my right foot back, it being still sore from two days ago. Meanwhile they follow DEATH with Gimme Chocolate, where I first notice the terrible sound mixing. It's been bad before at a few BM shows, but this one takes the cake with me barely being able to hear the vocals. Su has to struggle against the instrumentals constantly. Good thing here voice seems to be back in top condition. By the end of the second song they are already sweating all over. That can't be good. But my mind is put to rest by the performances that follow. Yes the heat puts a dampener on the enthusiasm of both the audience and the girls, but it's still a great show overal. I think I can now safely add Karate to the list of Doki Doki Morning and Catch Me If You Can; of songs which I don't think are all that special on record, but are among my favourites to hear live. The new audience participation part really adds something that the GC one never could. There must have been some prearrangement I missed because during the sing along a few people in front of me kneel down, while one person beckons the rest of the crowd to do the same. I sit down, hearing and following suit Su's whoawing. After that she tells us to jump along with the chorus and madness ensues as everyone on the floor takes a leap right into the air and then keeps jumping. That might be the highlight of the evening right there.
Another one occurs when after a song Moa and Yui stay on stage with their backs to us, and immediately I know. An unfamiliar intro sounds, but when the sample at the start of Sis Anger is heard throughout the hall a cheer follows. I have to admit my first time hearing this song live isn't what I'd hoped, not only because of hardly being able to hearing the duo's harmonising, but also because at this point they're starting to look a bit fatigued by the heat. Still, I'm very happy to have heard it, it being among my favourites on Metal Resistance. At one point I also see Moa reacting to something out of my sight, trying to hold in her laugh. Glad to see those antics continue unhindered. With that I slowly get the feeling that everything's going to be alright tonight. I feel the show moving towards its grand crescendo of a finale. I feel I'll have to sadly say goodbye again soon, happy that I was here to witness it and already looking forward to next time. Then Road of Resistance starts.
The girls stroll in with their flags, staring into the air in front of them, trying to keep their composure as best they can. Moa and Yui manage still, probably falling back on the routine of their choreography which they must be able to dream by now. They both stay quiet when Su does her best to compel us into singing along with her. She's not smiling anymore. At one point she holds her head back and closes her eyes, looking so very, very tired. "Now Ben" I tell myself, "It's you who's tired. You've been tired for more than a week now. Are you sure you aren't projecting?" Yes that must be it. I put aside the thought and enjoy the the song as best I can. Next is The One. The girls once again enter the stage in the appropriate attire. Their hair is a mess, more than usual after a show I mean, which I only notice because it's so different from how we normally see them in public. They perform the song to which we all raise our arm skyward. Then, without saying a word, they leave again and the show abruptly ends.
I'm in shock and so is the rest of the audience. At first we refuse to believe it. When the lights go on and the doors open we keep calling for an encore. Even when the staff starts clearing the stage we won't leave. Finally I make my way forward to where kapitan_memo is standing. He suggests they may be taking a break. "I don't know man" I say, "I don't think it's happening". Outside we meet up with a few other people, daneguy and leahmetal among them. We're all clueless and speculating about what might be going on, but we all saw the girls didn't look good near the end. My mind goes back to that night in LA two years ago, when Moa was rushed to the hospital. I wasn't there of course, but from what I heard the scenario was eerily similar. Despite everything we spend the rest of the evening in high spirits. Despite my own fatigue I'm having a great time chatting and reminiscing. It's past twelve when I finally hit the sheets.
I've read a few things here and there since I came back home today, but I'm still largely in the dark. All I can say is: yes it was quite hot in there, but in my personal experience no hotter than it was in Brixton or Batschkapp. I suspect there must have been something else going on, something we'll never know. Which isn't to say the heat wasn't a real problem. That brings me to my next point: BM management have been booking all these venues that are normally populated by rock and metal acts, because that's how they want to sell themselves now. Apparently it didn't occur to them that most of those acts don't have dancers who have to go all out for 90 minutes or more. It always gets hot in there, but if you don't have to dance it's still doable. The BM format has this incredibly practical limitation of simply not being able to be performed under conditions like that. I hope they finally learned their lesson, but my mind is still plagued by all kinds of worries for present and future. When I post this the Stuttgart show will have already happened. I'm looking forward to reading how it went. In the meantime at the very least I can say the Cologne concert was a very unique experience. I'll just keep telling myself: it's the spice of life after all.
Music listened to while writing
Albums
- King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
- Neutral Milk Hotel - On Avery Island
- Metallica - Ride The Lightning
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