Review: Psychic Ills

Oh man, I'm lagging behind. Psychic Ills' Berlin show is already more than a week ago. It seems like the upcoming summer gets us away from our computers. And it all started when Psychic Ills played at Bassy, I remember that because I was just wearing a shirt this Tuesday night on my bike and screaming at too many drunken tourist standing on the bicyle lane. Berlin summer, everyone loves you.

When I first read Brooklyn's Psychic Ills are playing a Europe tour I was really pleased because their 2011 record Hazed Dream on Sacred Bones Records was one of my favorites this year. A super cool blend of psychedelic-, kraut- and spacerock not unlikely labelmates Moon Duo. Very laid back, infectious and poppy at once. I played it over and over.

I can't really remember when I was the last time at Bassy's Cowboy Club. It must be years ago. To be honest I do not fancy that part of Prenzlauer Berg anymore. It's only a couple of steps away from where I grew up, but nothing there reminds me of my childhood. Anyway, shortly after my arrival, opening act Delta Love entered the stage. Seems like they are becoming everyone's support. Like some weeks ago The Men's at Festsaal Kreuzberg. Delta Love is a duo and plays a lo-fi combination of garage and blues. From the beginning on they had a lot of sound problems and were really annoyed. And at one point I was more distracted by this gorgeous Robert Redford movie poster opposite the stage. Sorry.

In the meantime the Bassy filled up and when Psychic Ills started the club was packed. Hot and no air to breathe. Maybe they set this appart, because it worked just fine with the colorful light show. With the first guitar tone everyone moved slowly and it felt like a wave. In some way very hypnotic. Originally as a trio they invited two extra musicians on tour to fill up the sound. So with 2 guitars, a organ, a bass and drums they mostly played songs of their new record One Track Mind. For me, trademark of Psychic Hills' sound is always this reverb soaked solo guitar and kinda bored vocals and we got a lot of this. From time to time they stretched their songs to one big and massive lava stream. Groovy (!) and electrifying.

Over an hour and an encore later the band and the audience seemed very happy. And I was urging for air to find this side of Schönhauser Allee way too crowded, but this time I wasn't mad. We shared a super nice show together and that binds.

Review: Mission of Burma

Mission of Burma's band history is somehow interesting. They came together in 1979, were active for only four years and broke up in 1983 after having released only one EP and one full length record. They reunited again in 2002 and have released four new records since then with the help of Bob Weston as additional member and sound engineer (yes, the Shellac Bob Weston). Their active years and releases had a huge impact on later bands and notable musicians, ranging from Fugazi to Sonic Youth or the Pixies, who all mentioned them as important influences. That being said, I have to admit that I not once listened to any of their newer (post reunion) records and only knew their 'original' material. So my expectations were a bit mixed, but since many bands lately proofed that 'reunions' don't have to go wrong, I was also rather excited to see them.

I imagined Festsaal Kreuzberg to be packed and sold out this night and made sure to arrive on time so as not to miss anything and also to be able to secure a good spot. So we arrived at Festsaal Kreuzberg and it was far from full, in fact it looked pretty empty. I was a bit surprised but since it was still early, I didn't think much of it. 

The opening band, Delta Love from Berlin, of which I had never heard before, started shortly after I entered the room. They are a guitar and drums duo that plays a very lo-fi and noisy version of something I'd call delta blues rock, so their name did fit indeed. They reminded me of some other lo-fi bands, think of a bluesy and dirtier sounding Woods including heavy reverbed vocals and guitar. I actually liked what they did but it didn't work for the whole set, so I watched the rest from the back. They finished playing and a sort of lengthy stage rebuild for Mission of Burma began.