Review: Torstraßen Festival

I loved Torstraßen Festival, every minute of it, despite the rain or crowding at some gigs. Torstraßen Festival was fun. On our way up to Northern Mitte, we stopped in Friedrichshain at Bis Aufs Messer, where I had a quick chat with XNormanX. He said that he thought festivals that span across several venues never worked. This was an interesting view because, as I have pointed out before, that is exactly my kind of favourite festival. Funny how views on these matters can differ. 

To give you the quick low-down on what went on, here is what we did and saw.

Crime

Unfortunately, having watched his concert last December, we missed Erfolg (Johannes von Weizsäcker of The Chap) and the women's choir but we were told that the show was absolutely amazing. Instead, we headed straight to Bassy to catch the Crime ladies do their dance music action. The performance went well and the room filled nicely during the set but we had ants in our pants and made our way over to Ackerstadt Palast to catch Black Cracker.

A word about Ackerstadt Palast: Being an avid Schokoladen fan, I was intrigued to see what Ackerstadt Palast was about, never having frequented the Palast before. I don't know about you but I expected some old, grand theater like so many venues in Berlin. Don't ask me where I thought a grand theater was sitting behind Schokoladen - I did not think it through really. Ackerstadt Palast is of course a theater but neither old nor grand. It's fairly simple and yet very charming. Most friends we met commented "I had never been here before - what a great place!". So there - a strong recommendation for you: Ackerstadt Palast.

Review: Crime + Big Eater

New front for Marie-Antoinette

This night could have turned out disastrous. E.D. Sedgwick's flight was cancelled and with that their Berlin performance. Temperatures had taken a dip. The million dollar question: "Were people going to show despite all this?"

Well, as it were, the night couldn't have gone better. Of course it wasn't as packed as if E.D. Sedgwick had played. And of course we didn't hang around outside in the freezing cold. Of course not. But the musical offering was sterling, the crowd party-hungry and loyal, and almost everyone there knowing each other. I was reminded of those days when gigs were from my friends for their friends - a social happening you couldn't miss or you were the only one who didn't get the inside jokes weeks later at the dinner party.

I have a massive soft spot for Al Burian. Not only do I value this gentleman as a person but also as a great performer. Not many are this good at living the old punk attitude "I don't give a f**k" in this day and age without doing a dated street punk thing. Mr. Burian is a normal looking bloke who just loses his mind once a microphone has been handed to him. This holds true for his readings as much as for his musical endeavours. Big Eater, his latest project, was new to me. They have been very active these past few months but I had not managed to go see them play yet. But I have got to say I am very impressed. Rhythmic post punk from the three piece onstage while Al goes nuts at the crowd off-stage. I am sure a few people in the crowd were intimidated and that's what it's all about, isn't it? To challenge you, to move you, to question and push yourself. They have a couple more shows lined up - go see them while they are still underrated.

In case you have not been following this blog, Crime is a project by Mika Risiko of Sissters and Sarah Adorable. Very dance and electronically driven, and as such fitting in with a lot of the current rave trend, their punk rock roots remain evident. What they do is not new by any stretch, but these ladies are good at it, their songs being catchy and dancy. And this is what people at Marie-Antoinette did this night. The minor sound issues experienced could not stop those who were up for a good time. Crime like people and people like Crime, so wherever this duo appears, smiles and moving hips ensue. 

 A very easy and fun evening with nobody sad they had showed up despite the absence of the original headliner. Btw, a replacement headline act to please dance-hungry folks had been recruited in the form of Butterclock. However, I was too exhausted from a long week to make it a dance night, in case you wonder why there is one act missing in my review. 

Friday night party competition with E.D. Sedgwick & Crime

Howdy y'all! Friday night is party night and we are going to dance away to disco starlets E.D. Sedgwick and Crime. Please join us!

Tell us by end of day this Thursday, 22 November, your best disco tune, we mean D.I.S.C.O., as in the dead members of the Bee Gees turning in their graves, but maybe with guitars, and you could win 2 tickets to E.D. Sedgwick's and Crime's performances at Marie-Antoinette this Friday, 23 November 2012. You should know the email address to your luck by now: win at the craze dot de

Yummy Crime

Mika Risiko (Sissters) has got a new two-piece project Crime. They are currently on tour with E.D. Sedgwick, stopping by Berlin's Marie-Antoinette on the 23rd of this month. Get yourself in the mood by watching the new video, which they premiered at Berlin's porn festival last month. No kiddin'!