Medieval market, let’s say goodbye!

So the past weekend (well, actually Thursday to Saturday evening) I once again and for a last time spent my time at the medieval market in Rastede, just like many times before. The lineup wasn’t as great as the last year, but it had bands that I wanted to see for a last time: Subway to Sally and also Versengold. and because I am a poor soul and not willing to pay, I decided that I was going as a photographer again, which means tons of work afterwards but at least no entry fee.

The weather was kinda weird this year, it was nice during the early lunchtime hours, then quickly became super hot and massively sunny (hello sunburn on my whole face!) just to also quickly cool down in the evening hours. So I was packed with all kinds of clothes, and even had squeezed my winter jacket into my backpack and I honest have been super happy to have it because I was freezing so badly during the last band of each of the days. But I felt like a donkey dragging along tons of luggage that barely fit into my backpack.

So it started on Thursday, usually it’s a rather slow day, but I tried to get a lot photographed already in regards of the bands that were playing – but somehow…motivation was low, though it was cool to see the familiar faces within our photographer group again. It’s like coming home every year in some way even though everyone has their own little schedule for the days, depending on own preferences and the focus they put.

I ended up spending a lot of time photographing Harmony Glen – I can’t even remember having seen before though I think they were there at some of the MPS I was at, so weird. I know the name, but never actually watched them – so this year I changed it and really had a good time, also when photographing. Also also on Friday I did spend a lot of photos on them – so much work ahead! But anyways, loads of small bands, and many I barely have seen before or not at all – e.g. Kupfergold, even coming from Cologne, were the ultimate discovery for me on this MPS.

Also for a change, this year I managed to at least watch a part of the knight fights and take a few photos – at least when they were on their horses. God I miss horseback riding somehow. Whenever I see horses up close and someone is riding, my heart immediately goes like “I want to do it, too!”. The little horse lover in me…guess it will never fade.

On Friday I was then super happy when it was time for Subway to Sally, and whilst like everyone of the other photographers was super professional and focused, I was dancing through the photopit whilst singing and yes, sometimes I was also photographing. joking aside, of course I was photographing, but air couldn’t hold it back and it was visible that some band members thought it was quite entertaining. Aaaaand I LOVED the setlist though I was missing quite some songs that also work super nice when played live. Some songs they barely play, so I was super surprised but it was just great.

I made my way into the crowd after my time in the photopit, and I was just letting loose and was dancing and singing like there was no tomorrow. Maybe I am a little fangirl here and there still. After their show, they also did a little signing session that I attended…well, mostly I just stood there watching and feeling totally misplaced because yes, it might come as a surprise, but I can be super introverted. So yeah. I would’ve wished for a group photo but that was impossible, you know, as something to print and take with me to the Maldives. But at least I got one photo…

…because I then had to rush to the photopit again to photograph Feuerschwanz – I honestly don’t understand why they were headlining, because that would’ve been the spot that Subway to Sally would have deserved. But maybe that is just me and my dislike for that band, so after leaving the photopit I didn’t stay for too long anymore because why would I stand in the cold and watch something that I don’t even enjoy at all. But at least the crowd was much bigger than when Rapalje played the big stage the day before – it was so sad to watch. They clearly were better off with playing the smaller stage, even though it’s been weird this year because that stage also was comparably empty (in comparison with last year at least).

But you know, so far so good I thought. When I woke up on Saturday, my gut feeling told me something was gonna happen. And I felt like I was dragging around a dark cloud over me, on a leash, and it was permanently following me. And I was just waiting for the moment whether cloud was gonna blow up.

But nothing bad seemed to be happening, I met with some mates and had a few meads, was tipsy here and there but still in a way that I was able to normally photograph. The MainStage photopit had been reduced to maybe 1/3 of what it had been before, because they had set up all the pyrotechnic stuff for Saltatio Mortis already. So over the damn top, and it gets worse every damn year.

So I kept running from stage to stage, and photographing the main stage wasn’t that much fun anymore because of the very limited space and rules, but it was still bearable – just again I was annoyed because I love working with different angles for my photos and that wasn’t possible at all this time. Everything was just fine until shortly before Versengold.

I was looking forward to it, because no matter how little I enjoy their new songs, photographing them is just a lot of fun still. But then happened what I had felt was happening. Something blew up. Big time. We were told there was no photographing in the photopit anymore due to the pyrotechnic stuff in there. 2h before, photographing them was still fine when we were in the photopit for Mr. Hurley & die Pulveraffen and also Tanzwut earlier on (both fun shows!) , then all of a sudden not anymore. Everyone was in shock, irritated, confused, annoyed, angry. So within 2 minutes of talking with the security guard, the day pretty much had ended for me.

I stayed for Versengold, and broke into pieces because I was so damn upset about the situation and being confronted with this change so short on notice. I was able to hold back my frustration and tears until all other photographers were gone, and then the tears were running under my sunglasses. And when I just wanted to run away from the situation, I ran into my mate who I got to know thanks to Versengold years ago – and I was so glad she was there, just hugging me.

I really had no idea what was going on, but it was like someone had opened the gates of my eyes and a waterfall came pouring out. Whilst writing this, I am still upset. So yeah, I went to check out some other places where to watch the shows afterwards, but shit places stay shit places because it was so crowded. I know that onc ethe show was over, I was gonna go home.

Initially had wanted to photograph the fire shows, but I had to just get home. And also I decided to not go on Sunday, because why would I create myself even more work for organizers that think it´s totally fine to treat photographers like this. Hell no. I was just relieved when I left the festival area, and called it a day. So yeah, that was my very last MPS. My last time seeing Versengold. What a bitter taste it left. Oh but don´t get me wrong – I did some research and I know it´s not the fault of Versengold, as the “no photographers” rule did not come from them. But still…

Concert: Coppelius – Hameln (26.04.2024)

It’s been one of those days where I woke up to the elephant like dances of my neighbors from upstairs, and it hadn’t stopped to amaze me how they seemingly kept running around like they were fleeing or doing sprints within their apartment. So based on that I decided I was going to leave early – after having taken care of yet another bunch of flowers for one of the bandˋs songs.

First went to go and cut the tulips from my garden, and then grabbed some from the store, drove him, made it a nice flower bouquet, added something funny, got changed and then got going to Hameln. Honestly though, I was surprised when the gps told me I was gonna need 3h, somehow I had calculated with 2h – in the end I therefore wasn’t there as early as I had thought, but still earl enough to be enjoying a hot drink and some book reading in the cafe right next to the venue. Initially had thought about going for a walk and checking out the town, but the weather somehow made me not feel like it, and I was also rather grumpy. So no, no additional moving. Not today.

I was later on joining some people that also were already waiting, it’s nice you just never stay alone when going to a concert without anyone coming with you. At least I usually don’t stay alone for long, unless I want to be antisocial. Anyways, the venue was cute and small, there was no barrier between the stage and the audience, so you were right up front when being in the front row where I ended up. Those shows without any kind of distance can be cool, but sometimes it´s also just a tad too close for me- I know, I am weird, but I am not a fan of sweat dripping onto me, but that´s alos what I partially had that night. But it was bearable.

The support band was Nathanael, of whom I just knew one song as one of the Coppelius band members was involved in the video there and so I listened to it once – I am just slightly tired of support bands, because I am not there for them, I have been driving there, I have waited, and it´s just yet another hurdle to take until I get to see what I wanna see.

And by that time I am often just tired already. Anyways, mix this attitude with a not so amazing sound that ate the vocals (where was the frontfill?!), I had a hard time to really get into the right mood – I swear I tried, and it worked after a while but it felt like hard work. Overall I think the audience liked them, at least from their unique style they did fit in to the evening quite well!

What is funny about this whole evening…last year I kept attending Coppelius shows because their cellist was announced to quit so I was like “yeah. one last show with him, you don´t know how it´s gonna be without him” – well, he is still playing with the band. I stood there and watched him playing and thought: bro, you still here, and now I am the one who is planning on leaving and believe me, I will really do it! I love that he is still with the band, but I guess the only reason is that noone else was found to replace him – Coppelius are just too unique for most people I suppose.

The setlist…well, let´s start with the positive things: it was full of tracks that I hadn´t heard live, or barely did hear live before, so yes, some surprises too where I had to wait a second or two and listen before I recognized the song. I noticed that I am not enough of a fan to be able to sing along the really rarely live played tracks, also because my spotify in the car seems to focus on a certain set of songs and ditches the rest. So many times during this evening I just enjoyed, with eyes closed, listening and going with the music – and enjoying the show they´re always putting on.

The downside? Two of my very favorite songs were not played – “Si dolce” will always be the most magic song for me ever, and I will never forget how I listened to it on repeat when I had a tattoo session when the album came out and I immediately had fallen in love with it. The other song that I also missed was “Rightful king” – well, actually I was just sad it wasn´t played because of one certain part of the song which is really cello heavy. If I could marry a song-part, this would be my marriage-candidate for sure!

So overall – good setlist with fresh wind compared to all the shows last year without surprises, but with it came that my faves dropped out. The show with all the acting and everything was so cool again – it´s always just so amazing to watch. So enertaining, and it never gets boring because no show is like the other!

After the – as usual – reaaaaalllly long show, being sweated and having a sore throat still, I just watched how everyone was gathering around the band that came to have a chat with the fans, had a little fruit juice and then hopped into the car and vanished into the darkness of the night…sounds amazing, doesn´t it?

Well, it wasn´t – the first hour was fine, but afterwards my back was just terribly hurting, I was grumpy and exhausted and was craving my bed so badly!

Concert: Rea Garvey – Hamburg (29.04.2024)

Do you know the saying „there is good days and there is today?“ – mostly, a negative is meant, but today really has been a special day. So yes, outstanding, and even in a positive way. But let’s start from the start.

I had won two guestlist spots for Rea Garveys show in Hamburg – some of you might still remember his band Reamonn from back in the old days. But that’s long in the past. Anyways, so I had won those spots but I had no idea what kid of ticket it was going to be, so I was really having low expectations. When I drove to Hamburg, I was early as usual – this time simply because I wanted to make sure that I was off the streets when rush hour was going to hit. So an hour before doors open I went to the entry for guestlist and such, and teamed up with other fans standing there. But they were different. They had some early-entry wristbands, because they had signed for it somewhere. Don’t ask me, I guess I am not enough of a fan for that to follow it all.

So when they were about to get in, the lady for the doors open there went around again and asked if someone still needed a wristband and I, already standing aside to not block anyone’s way, said jokingly I would take one if she wanted to get rid off them. No, not she provided me with one, but another fan who heard me saying it had a spot, so a wristband, left – and then I was, entering the venue 15min early.

At least I managed to come to the guestlist desk, first step survived. So I told them I was on the guestlist and such and they looked at me and were like „damn, we don’t have the info on the ticket kind yet, but I guess…“ – and his colleague was asking me if it was just me and not also someone else, and when I told her I was alone she just gave me one of the tickets of the most expensive kind – sort of front of stage tickets, in the HALO area. I looked at the ticket, looked at her, and was speechless. This was so much more than I had ever expected to be getting. So honestly, I rushed away as quick as possible to ensure she wasn’t able to change her mind anymore.

I rushed into the venue and into that special area where I sort of re-united with the ones I had been standing outside…and I was just still super speechless, couldn’t really comprehend what happened in the last maybe 5minutes.

And that state of mind lasted for pretty much until the show started after the two hours of waiting time.

The support was the Irish band PICTURE THIS – really enjoyed the singers voice, but their music maybe is a bit too pop for me. Maybe not. I am not entirely sure just yet. But they clearly have some songs that were sticking to my mind.

But their performance was pretty cool, sure they are lacking the experience on such a stage and you can see they can still learn a lot when it comes to engaging the audience, but they’ve done super well. It’s funny how Rea Garvey so far always had artists supporting him on his tours that rally were good, none where I would’ve said „nah, totally not my taste“.

And then….Rea Garvey. This show felt like snuggling into a warming and comfy blanket on a stormy day. It was comforting. Though for my taste, and because I like the old songs a bit more, he could’ve put more of those onto the setlist. What was super cool though was that he was playing quite some songs off his coming album which isn’t released yet. And the title track of the album, „Halo“, really went straight to my heart with the lyrics. Some songs were just nice, but those one…damn. So emotional right away.

Talking about emotional…hearing “Supergirl”, an old Reamonn song, was really like someone was stabbing my heart as it had been played on my cousin´s funeral last year as she loved the song a lot. And I didn´t expect them to play it to be honest. So it was like a love-hate moment, simply because I also like the song a lot but…the memories…

And even though I was longing for more older songs, it was a really good mix of songs, and we really had a fun time. It was also super fascinating to see how much he was walking around on the long stage that was set up so that he was reaching more fans in the standing area. And also it was cool because once he was off the main stage, you had a good view onto the rest of the band.

Needless to say, I haven’t recognized some of the band members – I mean, I just saw them like two years ago in Bremen when I photographed Rea, but e.g. their drummer had short hair back then and now looks super hot with his curly blonde hair. Daaaaaamn. What an improvement.

It’s like wine aging with some men, I love it! Maybe it’s the right thing to stay single for a bit longer, and then go on the hunt frontiers now well aged and hot men 😉 So yeah, whilst Rea killed his beauty with his new haircut that looks like a lawnmower went over his head, at least his voice remained the same beautiful and touching voice. And I just love it when he talks German, it’ll forever be my favorite thing.

What I was missing throughout the whole show though, and that’s not caused by himself, was the mood in the audience. I don’t know how it was in the other areas, but in the super expensive area where I was, I felt like…it was different than back in the very old days in Brussels, or Oberhausen or also on the outdoor stage in Bremen with chairs. I was missing the magic that you usually feel from the audience, the love, the enthusiasm. Everyone was visibly happy and such, but it felt like it was toned down passion. Maybe just everyone got older, I don’t know, but it felt so weird to me.

So, overall it was a show that was balm for my soul. I felt grounded in a positive way, and like I said at the start – like I had been wrapped up in a comforting blanket. Just what I needed after all those energetic and ecstatic shows.

Once I made it off the parking lot and out of Hamburg itself, the drive back home was super relaxed – no one on the streets anymore, just me, myself and my happy and calm thoughts. So chilled.

Concert: Fiddler´s Green – Bremen (20.04.2024)

It´s the day after the concert now that I am writing this, i am exhausted, full of bruises and emotional. When I had bought the ticket for yesterday´s show, I was a bit sad that I didn´t also get a photopass for this show – in the end, I am glad it played out the way it did because I would´ve not enjoyed photographing.

Instead, I was getting myself a spot in the front row, nice in the middle of the really small stage- In general, that venue was weird. You only had space for like 7-9 rows of standing folks, and then the tribune startet.

Super weird, and it als felt super crammed. That it was getting extremely hot because it was sold out, I didn´t expect to be fair. In general I had expected the venue to be bigger, like the one in Köln. But nope, small and sweat it was this time.

The supporting band was again The Feelgood McLouds and whilst I had the feeling that they felt better and had more fun on the small stage, close to the crowd (I had max 40cm from barrier to stage), the sound was super disappointing. Standing where I stood I already worried a bit that if there was no proper frontfill it might turn into karaoke – and that´s what it mostly did.

You barely heard the vocals, and 90% of the sound was just drums. It´s really been a pity because I enjoyed the show this time much more, and with a bettersound it would´ve been just a perfect start into the evening.

When then Fiddler´s Green entered the stage, I immediately felt like this was gonna be my very personal time of turning my thoughts off and focusing on enjoying. Since I returned from Mexico, I didn´t really get the chance to really relax and my mind needed this concert so much.

And every damn second of it was needed. Being so close to the stage and everyone on stage gave the atmosphere the ultimate kick – I always feel like being far away from stage makes it harder to have the energy and flame jump over. And here, you were close. Super close. If I had longer arms, I could´ve just reached onto stage (would never do that, but that´s another story).

I just loved it, even though the sound also wasn´t perfect – but you gotta have to make the trade – good sound or front row, usually both doesn´t go hand in hand unfortunately.

What really really surprised me was that they really did put up their violinst, onto the ladder again in the crowd and had a circle pit going around him, in this limited floor space. I am writing this like I stayed away, but I was right in there and to say that it was risky, well, that would be an understatement. Someone pushed me at some point and I was super close to stumbling into the damn ladder – the ultimate nightmare.

The ladder was already shaking a bit, both of us looking for a second like we saw a monster. Nothing happened though, and no matter how much fun it was, I was also glad when it was over and the rest of the band also joined the circle for some more “crowd bathing”. I just love how close they are to the fans, in many ways. Standing in this circle and dancing and singing along to the music right next to the band is something I simply enjoy – for a while I can also be “just a fan”, too right?

With all the press-work and photography stuff I really suck up such moments, being just a fan in the crowd, even more. Had a good laugh when their singer nearly kicked the violinist´s head whilst trying to get down the ladder he had been sitting on – one of the clumsy happenings of that evening, including slipping from the barrier and other smaller things. It was experience, being so up close!

And I was glad that the fans weren´t rowdy in that moment, because in all other moments the crowd was ecstatic and wild. Whilst their singer liked to place his foot on the barrier in front of me, I had the moshing crowd in my back and now a bruise on my chest because someone pushed me and I hit the boot. Oh the good old joys of small and happy shows! Honestly, I walked out of there with so many bruises, it´s incredible.

What really touched me again – and this time even more – was “Fleecy cloud”. I couldn´t hold back anymore, stood there like a crying idiot in the front row – as I got to know later on, it seemingly felt good to see that someone was “feeling” the song like I did. Being told that by the band´s singer afterwards when waiting for them nearly made me cry again, but I was able to hold it back, luckily. It´s enough to be all emotional during the song being played live, even having a security hand me a paper tissue to dry my tears.

Last but not least I gotta say: I thought that the show in Köln had a good vibe, and came to this show with the thought of “okay, it´s nothern Germany…” – and then band and audience just ripped down this damn venue.

Honestly, a show like this I haven´t experienced in fucking ages. And it will be really hard to beat that this year!

Concert: Fiddler´s Green – Köln (12.04.2024)

When I was requesting press passes, it was either Köln or Bremen – and in the end it had come Köln, which was a good match. Why? That’s two reasons: it’s been a good day to visit family in Köln due to a birthday, and then secondly the venue had a nice big photo pit, so that the time photographing was quite relaxed.

So before actually going to the show and the venue, I spent time with my aunt and uncle, which was super nice. It’s always too long since the last time, also because I don’t go to Köln that often anymore. As simple as that.

Well fed I was then driving to the venue – and it’s funny that I never have been there before. Seemingly it was created quite a while after I left Köln. Never heard of it, and had no idea where it was. It really felt weird to be in my hometown, going to a show in a venue I’ve not known.

Generally, the venue reminds me a bit on the Palladium, just with better sound – at least from what I remember about Palladium, the sound wasn’t as good as it had been at Carlswerk Victoria.

Downside of the venue? The machine for the parking house tickets only takes cash, which is hilarious looking at the fact we’re in 2024. so the first thing I did was going to the bar inside of the venue to get cash so that I am not gonna be stuck there.

It started with The Feelgood McLouds – and I wasn’t sure what to think. And I will be honest, I had the feeling they felt lost on the wide stage (spoiler: Bremen on the small stage felt so much better!), somehow I felt like the spark wasn’t jumping over from them to me.

Or maybe it was just the wrong day for it, I am not sure. It’s weird writing this now, as I enjoyed it in Bremen so much more. On the plus side: the sound was pretty good even in the photopit, and that’s a rare gift though so important especially for the people in the frontrow.

Talking about the audience…it felt weird. you know, I am from Köln and I know how enthusiastic people here can get but somehow it wasn’t as I had expected. The mood was great, especially later on with Fiddler’s Green – but something was missing. Maybe the venue has been too big, and despite it being crowded, people had so much space to dance and move and you were able to walk through the crowd during the show. So odd.

Just once it got really crowded, and that was when the circle pit around violinist Tobi happened. I just looked at the nice security guy, he nodded, and off I went to join it. For me, working as press is one thing, but it doesn’t mean that I cannot be a fan at the very same time – and with shows like here I just wanna live this.

I wanna enjoy, so once I am out of the photopit I of course continue to snap photos and whatnot but I don’t feel like I have to be super neutral and what not. I am human, and here I am also just a fan. Being out there in the circle pit and having the whole band join in there afterwards was super cool. Didn’t know they were doing that at every show, so it was a great surprise.

Talking about surprise – I was super surprised to see „A fleecy cloud“ being played. It’s a slow and thoughtful song, and I had not expected it to be fitting into a fun setlist. And somehow it also did not fit, but for me it was like…I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. I usually skipped it on the album, but I stood there and it touched me so badly in this moment, and also touched me a lot afterwards still. I was irritated, usually slow songs speak to me on the album already, and don’t need a live performance. But well, sometimes it’s different.

Anyways, it’s been a great long show, and I was rather tired and sweated after two circle pits when I hopped into the car – and enjoyed the looooong time it took me to get out of the parking house and out of the area around the venue.

Energy drinks and sweets kept me away and going on the way back home, and by the time I actually did get home, I was super over that dead point and needed ages to fall asleep…but I fell asleep super happy.

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Official report: https://stalker-magazine.rocks/en/2024/04/14/fiddlers-green-the-feelgood-mclouds-koeln-2024/

Official gallery: https://stalker-magazine.rocks/de/2024/04/14/fiddlers-green-the-feelgood-mclouds-carlswerk-victoria-2024/

Concert: Versengold – Aurich (23.03.2024)

When I asked for the accreditation, I didn´t know just yet that I was going to stay in Mexico a few days longer – so when I noticed, I was like “nice, a show when still being in the bloom of jetlag, that´s gonna be fun”. Do you hear my heavy sigh about my own stupidity?

On the day I was tired, in a terrible mood and really not willing to leave the house – but well, I had to, because if I have requested an accreditation, the only excuse for not showing up is either being sick or a case of death of someone close to me.

So I dragged myself to the car and drove to Aurich, and was shocked how long it actually takes to get there – been there two years ago last, also Versengold, and it felt much shorter back then. Or my mind plays tricks on me, I don´t know. The car ride was relaxed, but due to roads being blocked off thanks to construction work, I got lost, didn´t find my way to the parking lot and ended up parking somewhere as close as possible and sprinted to the venue just wearing my hoodie.

When I entered, I was confused already when picking up my photo pass. It said that I was allowed to photograph during the whole show, except for very few songs where it wasn´t allowed due to pyrotechnique. I asked several people that might know, but I kept getting the information that I had gotten at the start.

I stood there shrugging, thinking “nice, gonna be a relaxed one then” – not realizing that “more time” equals “more photos” and then “more editing” afterwards. But it was comfortable to be able to hang in the photopit during the whole show, not needing to stand or run around to find a spot.

What was really cool was that they had the same support band as back in 2022 – von Grambusch. I love them, they´re lovely guys and just make great music and are fun on stage. It really was a great start into the evening!

Standing in the photopit, I was surprised to be able to say: the sound was surprisingly good there, but I was happy about my earplugs. And I wish the photopit would´ve been bigger, I mean, it was big but since I haven´t followed their shows lately since they started with pyro, I had no idea when comes which pyro or confetti and whatnot so I felt a bit suspicious all the time.

Music wise, well, they didn´t play any of my fave songs – I´ve reached the point unfortunately where I start enjoying songs that I disliked before from the past albums, because the current album I just cannot get to like mostly.

I was sad that they didn´t play one certain song that I would´ve needed to hear so badly because…well, I felt like shit since I had returned in Germany and was full of doubts, worries and this song is right about this, depression. But no, it probably didn´t fit into a setlist with songs about beer and its magic, and other funny but for me rather niveau-lacking lyrics. I am still so upset what happened to the band that once so spoke to my heart with their songs – sure, I also have changed, but their music changed a looooooooot too.

And whilst I was standing and sitting in the photopit, I noticed that this is probably going to be the last club show of theirs that I will be seeing – on one hand because I am planning on moving away from Germany, and on the other hand because the music doesn´t touch me anymore. And I need music to speak to me in order to enjoy photographing as I am not making money from this, and pay with a lot of my time for it.

Don´t get me wrong, the show is fun, and the pyro and effects work well on such bigger stages, no doubt. Their songs are easy to sing along and people like to party and that´s what they get – and as long as the paying people and the band itself are happy, they did everything just right. So I guess they did everything right, looking at the ever growing venues and amounts of fans that are attending the shows – and it´s great to see that they are selling out those venues on this tour so much and thus might be able to go even bigger.

Because each of them is a great musician and deserves to be able to live from this job, which is tough enough. But I just happen to be one of those that they lost on the way, and that hurts after like 15 or more years.

Afterwards I rushed to the car and home and since it was just midnight and I started feeling fully awake, I first took a relaxing bath and since that also did not make me tired at all, I was living my jetlag life and started editing the photos already…whilst listening to their old songs and watching videos of old performances. Yes, I am bad at letting go at times. I know that.

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PHOTOS:

Versengold: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stalkermagazinerocks/albums/72177720315661348/

von Grambusch: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stalkermagazinerocks/albums/72177720315662673/

Concert: Royal Republic – Karlstad (27.01.2024)

New day, new madness – or something like this. Got up early because I once again wanted to do sightseeing before the show, and let´s be honest: it´s been the worst decision ever. Because when I arrived in Karlstad and had survived the extremely slippery walk to the hotel (it´s even more slippery than in Uppsala), I had to face the fact there´s like nothing to see in Karlstad.

So all I did was check out the venue and it was good that I did – because it´s been just a part of a complex with a bowling area, some other venues and such stuff…super confusing. But at least I knew where to go in the evening. And after some more walking around I decided that I was gonna stay in my not-so-warm hotel room and take several naps and just recover a bit from yesterday´s show. My neck was still hurting, and I am just too old for this stuff.

After dinner – it was included in the room booking fare – I then immediately went to the venue and of course was the first one. Dropped off my coat as it was mandatory and then sat around, a bit away from the door because I didn´t want to look like a total freak. Which then led to other people crowding around the entrance door, so I then also had to go and sit there.

I was super annoyed, but happy when I got some great company – new and known people. And you know what, when dors opened, I had expected to be doing the sprint of my life to the really small front row. But: it was not needed, because that group in front of me went to one of the tables on the side. It still amazes me. And confuses me.

Anyways, I was glad it was like this, wasn´t in the mood for fighting for front row – in the end I had to because the poeple here were more ignorant and rowdy than in Uppsala, but still, mostly bearable. Mostly – not mentioning some people that would´ve deserved their heads to be chopped off…but let´s focus on the positive sides.

Rowdy also meant, better mood – and that was already visible during FELIN – and boy, something happened. Maybe it was because the whole mood was much better and ecstatic, but I really loved it from start to end and would´ve loved to have a longer performance. I really enjoyed it, it was so much fun.

Really. Guess this is what you call love at second sight or so, maybe also because I started listening to their songs on the train ride to Karlstad and thus was also here and there able to sing along. Anyways, I enjoyed it so much more and this already made the start into the evening much nicer than in Uppsala.

It also continued much better – finally, concert vibe. Finally, sweating. This was how I expect a ROYAL REPUBLIC show to be – a bit rowdy, full of happy people, shouting the lyrics…so damn amazing, really. I felt so alive, I felt excited, I felt enthusiastic, I was just maybe a tiny little bit of a fangirl for a change.

You know, yesterday felt like coming home, today felt like stepping into a party house somehow. You really cannot compare those two shows, and I am so glad that I went to the show – it was fun. And my throat was so sore already after the first few songs, and weirdly enough today I didn´t really mind the very same setlist again. I just enjoyed it – maybe also because my heart said: enjoy, you don´t know if it´s the last time.

And even though it´s been the second time in a row, the b-stage time was again my fave. But in general, this show felt so much more intense, so much more closer to the band and to being on the same vibe.

Everything just felt so much more emotional. So much more full of power, and the thing was: also my lung felt better than during the first show yesterday, maybe it needed some acclimation to this kind of very different exercise – jumping, singing and breathing at the same time maybe possibly is just a challenge.

It really was a show how I had wanted it – I was sweated, the band was more sweated than in Uppsala too and it just had the vibe and mood that a proper Royal Republic show had needed. I was a 100% happy, and even though I had wished for a souvenir, I was fine without – I thought at the end of the show.

So whilst Adam and Per took off their pearl necklaces, I did a halfhearted try to get Per´s attention but I was like “okay, I never got anything, so this won´t be working either, but let´s at least try”. The next thing I remember was how he handed the necklace over to me. I was clinging to it that hard that I felt like the blood wasn´t circulating properly anymore. I didn´t fully realize the whole thing until the band was off the stage and everyone was leaving. It´s felt like I had watched a movie and didn´t notice this was real. Just after a while I noticed that, fuck this, I got the necklace. A souvenir to take with me, maybe a good luck charm for the things to come – something that I will hold onto, that´s for sure.

That was the happy ending, the partially happy ending. Whilst one of my buddies and I went to grab some water and later on moved to the party location hall right next to the concert room, I was really hoping to be able to say “thank you”, now even more. But whilst we had a fun time there and a few drinks, my hopes got destroyed. Slightly tipsy I then went back to the hotel, or should I say: I was sliding to the hotel, I was super sad. I had the necklace but would´ve traded it in immediately for meeting the guys. But it wasn´t supposed to be, no can do.

So yeah, I sat at the hotel room with the necklace in my hands and was totally upset, with the thought “maybe this was the last show and last chance to meet the guys for along time”. And really, this trip made me wonder a lot about my plans, added a lot of doubts.

Concert: Royal Republic – Uppsala (26.01.2024)

Finally! It´s kinda crazy thinking back to summer when I saw the band last – in one way it felt like forever, on the other hand it felt like it had been just a week ago because I´ve been so super busy with life in between.

And believe me, with being all this busy, I´ve probably never needed a Royal Republic concert as much as I needed it this time. After all the daily hours of studying scuba theory, my mind was stressed, my heart empty and my soul was screaming for balm 24/7.

Weirdly enough though, this pre-show excitement wasn´t there before the show in Uppsala. Like, not at all. I was calm, happy from within, I felt like I was going to open the door to my home rather than all excited. Calm and happy, and at ease. So I was rather relaxed when it came to the hours before the show, had coffee/drink with a concert mate, and then waited inside the bar next to the venue until doors opened.

I am always so skeptical when it comes to venues that have different entry points – one from the outside and then this one from the restaurant/bar next by. The last time it had been like this things kinda became messy as they opened the inner door with massive delay, so I am always a tad stressed in such situations – but this time I was partly just too tired from all the sightseeing to really stress about it. I was just happy to be sat on that chair.

It´s the 15min before doors open when you get suspicious about everyone approaching the door though, it´s funny – and once again it´s been this phenomena of people waiting and then just going to occupy the seats by the tables in the back. The frontrow was not exactly crowded for a long while, the first several rows took a long time to actually be full. I like that, it´s so damn relaxed compared to e.g. Germany where it feels like war breaks loose when the doors open. But the downside is: it´s been damn cold. I was standing there in my hoodie and with my scarf and wished I had my jacket still – maybe that´s the normal concert venue temperature in Sweden, I really don´t know.

The evening started with their supportband FELIN – I will admin, I hadn´t checked them out before, and I wasn´t really keen on a supportband even though Royal Republic have profen to have a good taste when it comes to those (KoKoMo and Saint Chaos were already fab!). And well, what shall I say. They were okay. The audience was somehow weird, I had too much space and there was something missing.

Spoiler: I fell in love with them in Karlstad. Their singer´s voice is amazing, the rest of the band is also pleasant to look at (yes, I am a girl there), but they flt like too much for me in Uppsala. The overall vibe was just not working for me, and after three songs I pretty much had enough. It was over, and then the waiting for Royal Republic started. It was like waiting in front of your house door, you rang the bell and now need to wait until the people are opening the door.

And when the band entered the stage, I still remember what I felt. There was two things actually: first it was “now I am home” and this calm vibe in my soul, and then it was the pain of realizing this and tomorrow´s show in Karlstad might be the last ones for a while. It maybe took a minute or so to swipe away this sadness, and thn it was time to just enjoy.

The only downside that I saw really was, that it´s been once again the very same setlist mostly since the show in Bremen like 1,5 years ago. I love the songs so much, and they´re super fun,but why can´t they change the setlist once in a while and exchange some songs for other ones, or at least rearrange them in regards of in which order they´re playing them. But no, it´s the very same over and over again.

With one twist – it´s been the very first time that I barely understood a word that was said in between the songs, as my Swedish sucks so bad that it´s really a hopeless case. But it was funny, 80% of the frontrow just looked at Adam with a lot of “???” in the faces because they were not Swedish speaking – he was joking about German and French invasion, and we actually had a blast.

The Swedish fans remained pretty much reserved during the show – I mean, they visibly had fun and everything but I am just so used to a totally different atmosphere and level of enthusiasm. The show in Hamburg and the two shows in Poland are what I am used to now, and then there is Sweden. Well. I had fun, I enjoyed it, it felt good to be there and se that some things just never seem to change – and that´s what makes it a “homecoming” for me, a place where I feel safe.

What really made little me happy, was just one thing: FINALLY there was no b-stage, maning they played “Boomerang” and “Addictive” acoustically right in fucking front of me. Finally. Finally. Have I mentioned that I was happy? I had hoped for that in Poland already but the venue allowed a b-stage, and now the point had come to just enjoy it right in front of me. I was excited like a kid that got his fave ice-cream as a total surprise, really. I think that was really my highlight of the show, I sucked it all in!

What I was surprised about was that with certain things, the Swedish crowd seemed not to be so familiar, I don´t know if there´ve been many first-time-goers in the crowd, or if I and the front row people are just too dedicated and addicted so we know every hand move by now, but it was funny to watch. Felt so much more natural in central europe than here in Sweden. Worked out nevertheless but it really felt different.

So yeah, it was a cool show, rocked as always, the band had fun, I had fun, I met new cool people and that´s what I enjoy so much about. But: I wasn´t sweated, not at all. It´s that moment where I noticed that something had gone wrong during the evening, because until now I always had been sweated a lot and rather felt like being showered in sweat.

Afterwards, I wanted to wait for the band, because, you know, I wanted to say thank you and maybe goodbye, not knowing how my close and longterm future looks like and where I will/might be going due to my instructor work. In the end we were reezing our asses off and close to midnight just called the quits, me with the thought “ah well, tomorrow is another day, that´s gonne be maybe more relaxed”. Had no idea that I was gonna be wrong.

Anyways, so I went back to the hotel and noticed I wasn´t quite in the mood for directly having my midnight pasta and going to sleep, so instead sat in the lobby with a terribly expensive cider (it´s not just alcohol that´s expensive here) and used the time to unwind, let my mind calm down and then went to my room again, had some food, showered, and dropped into bed and slept like a dead man. Woman. Whatever.

Festival: Kleinstadtfestival Meppen (28/29.07.2023)

It´s been a while since I photographed the last real festival, if you´re not counting the medieval market – and it´s been even longer that I actually have attended a festival where I exactly knew one band: Royal Republic.

When I requested my press pass, I had just gotten to know about the event thanks to Royal Republic having it in their tourdates and I was like “oh, neat, that´s rather close by, let´s go”. And what I can say eight from the start is that I didn´t regret it for a single second, because everyone has been lovely and it´s been so much fun, despite some rain issues here and there.

The first day I still spent alone and with full focus on my work as press, and it´s also been a quite relaxed day as it only got crowded with the last band – which was really sad because my faves already played earlier on – no, not Royal Republic. I am talking about newl found fave bands off that festival! Whilst most poeple were there for Hi! Spencer and Montreal, I totally gave my heart to Marathonmann from Munich. I so loved their music and show and just everything. Really. Just a pity that when I turned on Spotify in the evening, I had a “what the f*ck”-moment because on CD they sound so different compared to the live show I had just seen.

And not exactly to the good to be fully honest, so I really was upset driving home in the dark after an exhausting day…and then google maps decided to drag me through the tiniest villages it was able to find to get me back home. It was an adventure, really. And when you´re tired and just want to go and sleep and then need ages to get back home…nope, no fun. On the other hand, knowing myself I wouldn´t have fallen asleep directly after coming home anyways, so no big change in my sleeping hours.

The next morning I edited and published the first images of the bands before I hopped into the car again to get to Meppen again – I prefer driving the highway, so that´s what I did and even my gps agreed that it was a good choice. Once again I faced a totally empty parking lot, so I decided to take one close to the Royal Republic tourbus. Not that you could get there anyways or see anything with the high barriers, but well, the feeling is what counts.

I didn´t feel like being in the mood for all of this at all this time, I was tired, and due to some reasons pretty grumpy and angry – but that faded once my friend had arrived to have a good time. The one drink we had pretty early clearly helped, especially when it here and there started pouring and we nearly got soaked – okay, the feet were soaked anyways, and I felt like I was growing fins. But it was so much fun, so many laughs and everything. The lineup on that day was somehow odd, it really didn´t feel like it was fitting together well – the changes in music genres was immense.

Whilst I had been photographing Royal Republic ( I love confusing musicians, that expect me to be in frontrow but not in the photopit) wearing my fan shirt, my mood was having swings – on the one hand it was great to photograph them again, on the other I already then was rather upset about the light because I knew it´s gonna be much to make them look lovely afterwards. Once I was done, I dropped my backpack with my friend who was in frontrow, and then danced my way to frontrow (thanks to the unknown fellow Royal Republic fan who secured me a spot together with my friend).

For a second I had thought about continuing to photograph as I would´ve been allowed to do so, but something told me to pack the camera into my trashbag and store it in my backpack. And shit it was the right decision. Frome one second to the other it started pouring, heaven´s gates were opened, it was insane. I felt like within seconds I was all soaked and dripping wet. Did I care? No. I just secured my halfway ripped rain cape over my backpack and continued dancing and singing along because I mean, I was there to have fun, right? And hell, I did have fun. I loved every second of it, and really had wished for it to last longer – the usual, when you´re having fun, time is running…

Soaking wet we went to my car, changed clothes a bit and then drove home, again through the darkest of all villages – but it´s been a different route than at night number one. So irritating. What then followed was “far after midnight”-pasta and a lot of chatting, until we dropped into bed all exhausted…

What can I say as an overall feeling? Loved it. And if the lineup next year is having just one band I know, I´ll make sure to be there once again!

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Official report:
https://stalker-magazine.rocks/en/2023/08/04/kleinstadtfestival-2023-2/

Gallery Day 1:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stalkermagazinerocks/albums/72177720310177945/with/53086661021/

Gallery Day 2:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stalkermagazinerocks/albums/72177720310154055/with/53084465081/

Concert: Versengold – Worpswede (30.06.2023)

It was one fine day, when I sat at home still stomach sick from my salmonella infection, and this band that i followed a lot and loved a lot was playing an invite-only (you had to win the tickets) fan-concert. I hadn´t won initially and had been fine with it, why be angry, no can do anyways. And then they had on Instagram a raffle for the very last tickets, and it´s been an easy question.

They showed a buddha statue and wanted to know where it was – easy, because I´ve been to worpswede the last time the guys had played there and when walking around I saw this ugly statue. So damn, as I was that quick, I won my ticket. That was at like 1pm, doors open at 7pm, and it also takes me some time to get there.

So despite feeling exhausted I got myself ready, drove there, got soaked by the rain and was then really happy when I saw that you were also easily able to get yourself a seated place, no need for standing permanently. That really made my day, otherwise I´d have had to look for a chair or something. I sat in nice company, so the waiting time passed rather quickly – and then we finally got to know what this show was all about, and I got confirmed what I already had thought: release-show pretty much of the coming album, out in November.

I will be not giving song titles, and there is no videos – but I had high hopes because I got some hints it might be more the traditional Versengold, the band that I musically once really loved. But let´s be honest, it´s been nothing like what I had expected and so hoped for. They played most songs, except one tune and a ballad, so I can still hope on those being great. I doubt it though. Music wise it´s improved, but the lyrics of the coming songs are not my cup of tea at all – they´re not my humor, they have no depth for my taste and the topics are, excuse me, lame if not even partially really primitive.

Two of the new songs, or well, three, are already known – one of those I like, the other two are okay but anything besides this. Nope. Except one song, that really spoke to me because I felt like it was exactly about how I am currently feeling, and that touched me. And of course “Lautes Gedenken” again touched me as one of the few known new songs, it´s like someone presses the “tears” button and I can´t help but cry. So yeah, it´s been a not so convincing time, it´s been fun nevertheless because the atmosphere was great and the audience was fun and that pulled me along.

I was even happy about “older” songs that I also don´t particularly like, but they were still better than what´s about to come. I really don´t know, I had so hoped to be brought back to loving the band and the music and instead the evening just did the total opposite. And that´s so sad, but I fear it´s pretty much been the goodbye show for me, unless they play a festival that I am also attending.

So yeah, it´s been a good evening, a fun time, I had a sore voice afterwards and was exhausted, but it´s been good to attend – time for closure, it is!