a moment. an image. a thought.

incubus (berlin, huxley's 2011)

2011-06-25T22:40:00.000+02:00

berlin was a lucky place to be for those who managed to get a ticket for a special night with incubus. not only did the band perform new songs from their upcoming and eagerly awaited album "if not now, when?", they also let all of their fans worldwide be a part of the show by offering a live stream of the event. new songs like "promises, promises", "adolescents" or "in the company of wolves" completed an evening that was filled with many well-known songs from almost every little corner of the band's long and successful career. while the intensity and energy of the performance was clearly visible onstage, the crowd, however, seemed a little too calm and not as excited as it could have been throughout most parts of the show. "if not now, when?" will be out in the middle of july and some more shows on german soil are hopefully planned. until then, have a look at some of my photos from a truly memorable night at berlin's huxley's.

interview: patrick wolf

2011-06-25T21:36:00.001+02:00

self-definition is a necessary part of every artist's life. patrick wolf has been a real master of finding new ways of doing so in his career so far. whether he does it with a plan in the back of his head or it is simply a spontaneous reaction, he always comes up with something surprising in terms of his sound and lyrics. having found his true love and being in a happy relationship certainly shaped the current uplifting and happy sound on his latest work "lupercalia". the former melancholy of his previous albums has drifted away and made space for brighter melodies that long to embrace your ears. find out about patrick's secret ambition to be a matchmaker as well as his opinion on big studio productions in my interview with him below.

interview: patrick wolf (gaesteliste.de)

interview: the head and the heart

2011-06-25T21:23:00.000+02:00

seattle has always had a good reputation for classy music and many talented artists. the head and the heart is the latest discovery from that area that has caused a stir in the world of music. their heartfelt songs that float between folk and pop have taken many listeners in and outside the united states by the hand. with their debut album being out now, the band surely knows one or two things about releasing records in the good old do-it-yourself-style. well, but sub pop has taken great interest in them now and cares about them so much, they agreed to focus on the music again instead of the business aspects. during a quick stopover in berlin, i talked to them about authenticity in music as well as their home base seattle.

interview: the head and the heart (roteraupe.de)

fleet foxes (berlin, columbiahalle 2011)

2011-06-25T21:11:00.001+02:00

delays are not something an audience looks forward to very much when seeing their favourite band live, but somehow the berlin crowd did an excellent job tolerating the late opening of the doors as well as the technical problems throughout fleet foxes' set. with the band clearly not being satisfied with their performance and the unfortunate sound difficulties on top, the evening seemed to be cursed from the beginning until the end. the effort to fix things was there, the ability to turn things around was lost somewhere inside the dark venue. although the band did their best to deliver a stunning performance, the volume and the blurry lighting killed many good moments. what could have been a beautiful evening soon became only a momentary glimpse of what fleet foxes are usually capable of.

25.05.2011 fleet foxes live in berlin (roteraupe.de)

sufjan stevens (berlin, admiralspalast 2011)

2011-05-15T20:10:00.059+02:00

attending a sufjan stevens' show is like gaining a glimpse of a fantasy world that is so shimmering and delightful at the same time that you wish you could take some of that back home with you. in any case, you are more than welcome to escape from anything that might keep your mind busy. in recent years, most people have probably associated his live shows with a more classical approach of performing in a singer-songwriter-setting. his latest album "the age of adz" allowed him to be more nonchalant, even wild and very humorous at times. playing in theatres fitted perfectly into the concept of putting on a show that contained elements like dancing, laser effects, colourful costumes, spectacular props, confetti and a bunch of balloons. however, sufjan did not lose a tiny bit of his credibility as a serious performer which he proved when playing less vivacious songs from previous albums. during his two-and-a-half-hour set at berlin's admiralspalast, he created a highly entertaining show that captured his versatility as a songwriter/musician and held many magic and memorable moments for the audience. in one of his most famous tracks "chicago", he sings "all things go, all things go...", but how we all wished he would have stayed to keep playing until dawn that night.

07.05.2011 sufjan stevens live in berlin (roteraupe.de)

interview: fran healy

2011-05-15T20:00:00.042+02:00

for many years, fran healy has done an extremely good job at being the leader of the pack in travis. now, as a devoted family man on top of his band duties, he is juggling both pretty well and is embarking on a new musical journey too. the temptation of a solo album has been floating around and tickling his senses with great success. unlike numerous unlucky attempts from fellow musicians who went that way, fran healy has managed to release an album full of fine melodies that embrace his past with travis, but also document that he is capable of being a solo artist in the present. he shared some personal views on his life and musical journey in a conversation with me and treated the interview questions with the same kind of honesty that he awards to his songs.

interview: fran healy (gaesteliste.de)

interview: noah and the whale

2011-05-15T19:50:00.039+02:00

what would you do on your last night on earth? if you have no idea and don't even dare to think about possible options, you can still look somewhere else for inspiration. noah and the whale have made the brave move to ask themselves a serious question like that and their brainstorming obviously resulted in a new album. while plunging into topics like the nighttime and romance, noah and the whale have emerged with a youthful, optimistic record that also pays tribute to people like charles bukowski or frank o'hara. i met charlie fink in berlin to talk about the new album "last night on earth" and you can dive into his answers right here.

interview: noah and the whale (roteraupe.de)

interview: noah and the whale (gaesteliste.de)

interview: iamx

2011-04-25T22:21:00.003+02:00

rainy afternoons are meant for insightful and deep conversations. perfect timing to talk to chris corner about stability, having doubts and facing reality. highly recommended reading matter.

interview: iamx (roteraupe.de)

patrick wolf (lido, berlin 2011)

2011-04-25T22:03:00.007+02:00

"lupercalia" will not be out for another couple of weeks, but that did not stop patrick wolf from going on a little tour where he was able to perform his new songs in front of an audience in an intimate club atmosphere. with the new material shouting the word "POP!" in big, bright letters, patrick wolf put on a show that did not lack the necessary sparks or entertaining moments. his versatility as a musician as well as his charming anecdotes in between the songs turned the evening into a little celebration that left him dancing through the crowd, excitedly swirling around the stage and inviting alec empire for a short collaboration before the grand finale with "the city" spread a feeling of rapture everywhere. repetition required!

full review and more photos:

05.04.2011 patrick wolf live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

interview: wye oak

2011-04-19T20:43:00.000+02:00

some musicians cannot even handle one instrument properly, andy stack from wye oak can play two instruments simultaneously! ambition is one thing the duo wye oak from baltimore has been graced with ever since they started making music together. it has started to pay off too. just having signed a deal with city slang and touring in a pace faster than a rollercoaster, the band is preparing for an even bigger coup in their already successful career. with an album as irresistible and tempting as "civilian", jenn wasner and andy stack have marked their highest musical triumph to date. reason enough to sit down with drummer and keyboarder andy stack in a room at the band's new label, the city slang headquarter in berlin.

interview: wye oak (roteraupe.de)

interview: wye oak (gaesteliste.de)

interview: the low anthem

2011-04-19T20:17:00.000+02:00

recording in an old pasta sauce factory is an unusual way to capture ideas for new songs, but then again, the low anthem have never followed any rules. instead, they have let themselves get carried to places where their music could breathe and unfold to its very own beauty and captivating nature. after a long winter and overcoming several difficulties that made the recording sessions challenging, but fruitful in the end, the band released their new album "smart flesh" and they have every reason to be proud of it. celebrating the occasion, i was able to talk to ben knox miller and jeff prystowsky in berlin.

interview: the low anthem (roteraupe.de)

interview: the low anthem (gaesteliste.de)

interview: bright eyes

2011-03-01T00:08:00.002+01:00

when conor oberst is making music, he is reaching out for a feeling that he can take by the hand and release again when the moment is right. "you better make people feel something, you know?" - he could not work closer around one of his own principles. his ability to capture feelings with carefully thought out words and a striking sensibility when it comes to melodies have made him one of the most talented songwriters of his generation. "the people's key", his latest album, is already on its way to follow this particular path and assure his position as an ingenious and sharp-witted young man. he certainly does not like to spend his time walking on the surface of things when he can get underneath and dig a little deeper. i met conor oberst together with his friend and colleague mike mogis in berlin to talk about the new album, faith and what life has taught them so far.

interview: bright eyes (roteraupe.de)
interview: bright eyes (gaesteliste.de)

interview: those dancing days

2011-02-25T19:32:00.001+01:00

sweden has a very good reputation when it comes to successful pop bands. it is no surprise that five girls from the suburbs of stockholm are now attempting to keep up exactly this reputation. with their follow up album "daydreams and nightmares", those dancing days have made another record that combines dozens of catchy pop melodies with the urge and thirst for adventure. i caught up with cissi efraimsson and mimmi evrell to talk about group cohesiveness, growing up and being challenged by picky producers.

interview: those dancing days (roteraupe.de)

arcade fire berlinale press conference

2011-02-25T19:17:00.000+01:00

arcade fire have been on a phenomenal career high for a little while now. despite causing controversy with their recent impressive and brilliant coup of winning grammy's, brit awards and nme awards for their last album "the suburbs" all within a glimpse of an eye, the band is not only hardworking in the music business. in fact, they teamed up with spike jonze to make a short film called "scenes from the suburbs" which was premiered as part of the berlin film festival this month. after an exclusive screening of the film, three members of the band were happily answering questions about it at a press conference. find out what they had to say about their work with spike jonze and what it was like working on the film in my review:

berlinale: arcade fire "scenes from the suburbs"

words: annett bonkowski

photo: hella wittenberg

cold war kids (berlin, lido 2011)

2011-02-25T18:51:00.001+01:00

confidence is generally a good thing. well, until it takes up too much of your personality and overshadows your actions. so far cold war kids have been on the right path through their career, but their latest performance at berlin's sold out lido was far from their former convincing thrill they used to spread in the room while being onstage. on a purely technical level they managed to put on a perfect show, however, their attitude revealed a less perfect image. despite filling the stage with energy, real enthusiasm on the band's behalf was almost not visible. the band appeared to be fully focused on what they were doing, but still failed to light that much needed spark to make their show exciting. the new songs from their album "mine is yours" also did not help to change the mood that only got a short boost in terms of cheering from the crowd when older material was played. cold war kids, you really need to try harder onstage next time and get your sparks back.

11.02.2011 cold war kids (berlin)

interview: cold war kids

2011-02-20T12:43:00.000+01:00

after two studio albums, cold war kids took a step back from the wordly happenings and spent time at home with their family and friends. that's where they realized that it was about time to focus on themselves and what kind of personal changes they had gone through. what followed after this was a careful examination of life, love and relationships. growing up for them means dealing with these issues and trying to find what independency really means. i sat down with nathan and matt and their philosophies about the mentioned topics go something like this:

interview: cold war kids (roteraupe.de)

interview: cold war kids (gaesteliste.de)

interview: the bewitched hands

2011-02-20T12:25:00.000+01:00

sometimes less is more, sometimes more is better. the bewitched hands must have had a few moments in their lives when this was heavily discussed. at one point, they cut short their name by six words and they also decided that the average number of people in the band was not enough for their music. tending only towards one side is not their thing, but writing music is. sebastien adam talked about their album "birds & drums" and how a number of influences of all kinds shaped the outcome.

interview: the bewitched hands (roteraupe.de)

interview: sea wolf

2011-02-20T11:54:00.001+01:00

alex brown church is one busy man whose passion for music, film and literature forms a circle that keeps him spinning and leads him to places where he can unfold his thoughts with utter dedication. writing songs, scripts or reading a pile of books - the creative flow is constantly feeded. in the following interview with him, he explains why his hunger to create is based on all three forms of art and why parrallels between them can easily be found.

interview: sea wolf (roteraupe.de)

the white stripes era has come to an end...

2011-02-02T21:39:00.001+01:00

today is a truly sad day for all candy cane children. the white stripes have announced they will no longer be recording new material or perform together. thanks for all the good times, jack and meg!

interview: tu fawning

2011-01-10T21:06:00.001+01:00

don't we all wish to put our hearts on hold sometimes? whether it is to hold on to a pleasant moment for a bit longer or simply to protect ourselves from getting hurt. while the secret button for doing so has not been found yet, we can at least try to imagine what it would be like. tu fawning from portland have even made a whole album full of stories about it. although the band has been around for several years and its two creative heads joe haege and corrina repp are well-known figures in the music business, "hearts on hold" is only their debut album and at the same time their playground where they can switch between different instruments, characters and sounds. with an album full of brilliant ideas, they kick off the new year with a musical bang and leave the listener taming the echo on an emotional and haunting trip.

interview: tu fawning (roteraupe.de)
interview: tu fawning (gaesteliste.de)

the ghost of a saber tooth tiger (berlin, frannz club 2010)

2011-01-08T17:18:00.003+01:00

sean lennon is a one talented allrounder. after a few solo albums he is now touring across the globe with his latest project with the elaborate name "the ghost of a saber tooth tiger". on his side, the pretty charlotte kemp muhl who is mainly playing bass, but is not too shy to play the accordion, keyboard or open her mouth for some delightful singing. the duo released the beautifully written "acoustic session" last fall and offered a first glimpse of what to expect live on their little tour through europe which also made them stop over in berlin. with a full band onstage, the night did not turn out as "acoustic" as expected, but the ghost of a saber tooth tiger still knew how to cast a spell on the audience in the small frannz club. spicing the evening with some humorous anecdotes in between songs, sean and charlotte never failed to entertain and put on an overall very pleasant performance that will hopefully lead them back to berlin sooner than later.

full review on roteraupe.de:

13.12.2010 the ghost of a saber tooth tiger (berlin)

these new puritans (berlin, hebbel am ufer 2010)

2011-01-08T16:27:00.004+01:00

there is no doubt about these new puritans being a young band with many ambitions. their lates studio album "hidden" was just another proof for their minds bubbling over with ideas and lot's of creativity. while their attempt to perform these songs as a four-piece-band went relatively well on their last tour in spring 2010, it still did not quite get to the same dynamic level as the studio recordings which was natural because nobody would be able to replace a full orchestra on a small club stage. despite the fact that it would have been an immense financial endeavour. that is why they performed "hidden live" for one night only in berlin with support from the stargaze emsemble, a choir and with the help of andré de ridder. with a line-up like this, the music that was created onstage sent multiple shivers down people's spines and developed its full dynamic and beauty at the same time. jack barnett could not always live up to the expectations in terms of his singing that sometimes seemed a bit too soft and plain, but the overwhelming sound of all the instruments was a good compensation. where the band will be going sound-wise after all of this, we can only imagine...

full review on roteraupe.de:

06.12.2010 these new puritans (berlin)

suede (berlin, c-halle 2010)

2011-01-08T16:05:00.000+01:00

it was no surprise to see a crowded venue full of people in high anticipation when suede announced their only german show to happen in berlin's former columbiahalle. when the band decided to call it quits in 2003 and brett anderson pursued a solo career, the fans were still secretly hoping suede would get back together sometime. years of speculations and rumours later, they finally got what they wanted all along. suede's show in berlin was a bit like turning back time. middle-aged fans were celebrating their long gone youth and brett anderson put on the much loved hip-shaking and impressive dance moves as if not a single year had gone by. if the band will hit the studio to record new material is still not certain, but even if they only got back together for this one tour, they have nothing to regret because their performance was highly entertaining and they played a setlist containing the most memorable songs in the band's career which undoubtedly pleased the audience so much that they would not stop cheering to show their devotion.

full review on roteraupe.de:

03.12.2010 suede (berlin)

klaxons (berlin, lido 2010)

2011-01-02T15:43:00.001+01:00

the party is where the klaxons are. simple as that. they don't waste any time getting their messages out to their fans who burn in excitement to move their bodies as much as they can. while the band played songs from their latest album "surfing the void" at berlin's lido, the fans themselves were busy crowdsurfing instead. it didn't matter if old or new songs were played, the general pleasant anticipation was high on a friday night, although technically it was more or less an early evening when klaxons kicked off their show. jamie reynolds was not as feisty as usual due to a knee injury that prevented him from going wild on his bass. to make up for the lack of movement on his behalf, he had put on a shirt from the local berlin ice-hockey team as a thank-you for the successful physiotherapy he has had the day before, otherwise we would have seen him limping on crutches during the set. he could probably have pulled off a pretty decent show still. next time they should put a sign on the door of the venue saying "beware of the klaxons. you are in serious danger of a big party!". everybody who was looking for a bit more depth should stick to their recordings which are not entirely focused on pure entertainment.

full review on gaesteliste.de:

26.11.2010 klaxons (berlin)

black rebel motorcycle club (batschkapp, frankfurt 2010)

2011-01-02T14:53:00.001+01:00

keeping warm in cold winters is not always an easy mission. however, this goal can be achieved fairly easy when black rebel motorcycle club are in town. their thrilling and captivating rock'n'roll tunes as well as their piano driven songs will warm your heart and your feet quicker than a heater. when the diffused lighting only lets you catch a glimpse of the band's silhouettes, the vibrant bass lines close in on you, the drums sweep you off your feet and the guitar swiftly grabs you with a hook that will not let go, you are right in the middle of a rebellious and very intense two-hour long set. the batschkapp in frankfurt was lucky to have black rebel motorcycle club playing two nights in a row in late november and everybody who knows the band could be certain that they would come up with more than one surprise when it came to the setlist. while the first night clearly put the spotlight on robert concerning the choice of songs, the second night gave peter the opportunity to showcase his vocal abilities as well as his striking guitar playing. the band seems to be so at ease onstage, no matter how exhausting the setlist might be and how much they are sweating. their overall appearance signals that they truly belong there up onstage immersing in their own music, however, sharing it with their audience with so much passion and joy of playing. it feels like that is exactly the most natural thing to do for them. hopefully, they will preserve this feeling for many more years to come.

22./23.11.2010 black rebel motorcycle club (frankfurt)

the drums (berlin, maria am ostbahnhof 2010)

2011-01-02T14:45:00.002+01:00

well, we have reason to believe that jonathan pierce's statement "berlin, you stole our hearts!" was truly meant that way. after all, the drums have played their third show in germany's capital in not even twelve months. for their last stop at maria am ostbahnhof they made the crowd wait for what seemed like an eternity, but as soon as they danced all across the stage with their instruments firmly in their hands, it was the fun, not the grudge from all the waiting that was most obvious. jonathan pierce has an interesting way of capturing the audience's attention: swinging his college jacket in the air, always pattering with his feet on the floor and creating dance moves you have most likely not have seen somewhere else while his tidy hair turns into a mess and his facial colour into a deep red the more songs they have played. somehow, the lyrical darkness and despair always seem secondary to the uplifting melodies and so the fans have plenty of time to get their groove on until the drums leave the stage after another one of their infamous short performances.

full review on roteraupe.de:

21.11.2010 the drums (berlin)

vampire weekend (berlin, astra 2010)

2011-01-01T18:24:00.003+01:00

there are no ups and downs at a vampire weekend show. the band usually kicks off the set with a bang and finishes it with one, while in between, they maintain a high energy level and the audience is busy singing along and dancing as if there was no tomorrow. it is almost scary how similar the show at berlin's astra was compared to the show vampire weekend put on almost exactly one year ago. scary, but very professional and good at the same time. a tight set filled with dozens of hits and a few cheery interactions with the crowd until the lights go on and the show is over way too quickly again. a little bit more variety concerning the setlist would do the band well, but they still manage to put on a highly entertaining show every time.

full review on roteraupe.de:

18.11.2010 vampire weekend (berlin)

villagers (berlin, lido 2010)

2011-01-01T18:08:00.001+01:00

villagers have released one of the most stunning debut albums in 2010 with their much critically acclaimed "becoming a jackal". their live performances are without a doubt equally stunning, whether it is only conor o'brien onstage with his guitar and a microphone or a performance with the full band. berlin was treated with both within only a couple of months. while the solo performance in the summer perfectly captured the beauty and at times fragility of the songs, the latest show at berlin's lido sent out a more vivid and wilder vibe with the band drawing a much more energetic picture. especially songs like "pieces" or "that day" appeared more sublime that way. villagers also treated the audience with two brand new songs which perfectly blurred with the other songs that were played that night. hats off!

full review on roteraupe.de:

15.11.2010 villagers (berlin)

electronic beats 10 years anniversary party (tape, berlin 2010)

2011-01-01T17:54:00.002+01:00

the 10th anniversary of electronic beats magazine was so special that it simply had to be celebrated in style with two different parties within only two days in berlin. because of the bigger party featuring an impressive line-up such as the human league, róisín murphy and delphic being sold out quickly, the organisers decided to throw another birthday bash. to make it even more exclusive only lucky winners had the chance to attend the evening promising performances by electro-darlings caribou as well as barbara panther. not even technical difficulties during caribou's set could cut back the general thrill of anticipation at berlin's tape club that night and so the party continued until the early hours of the morning. happy 10th anniversary!

full review on roteraupe.de:

02.11.2010 electronic beats 10 years anniversary party (berlin)

i am kloot (postbahnhof, berlin 2010)

2011-01-01T17:37:00.004+01:00

the trio from manchester has been been around for years and looking back at the band's history, i am kloot have paid berlin more than the occasional visit. in 2010 alone, their total number of gigs over here reached three, all of them being remarkable, yet very different from another. their latest tour stop at berlin's postbahnhof could not have been a better finale with an exceptionally good performance and setlist. so good, in fact, that a guy in the audience could not help, but utter an overwhelmed and excited "wooow". at an i am kloot show you get the big sing-along songs as much as the needed quiet where not even the bar staff dares to make a sound. i am kloot's latest release, "sky at night", has pushed the band even further up in the most respectable lists of critical praise, making 2010 another successful year in the band's carreer which will hopefully see them touring again over here many more times...

full review on roteraupe.de:

27.10.2010 i am kloot (berlin)

mumford & sons (c-halle, berlin 2010)

2010-12-31T18:11:00.002+01:00

they keep telling us "sigh no more", but oh, how we want to sigh considering the fact that mumford & sons' music has put a spell on us for over a year now and their songs have warmed out hearts ever since. a packed venue full of people willing to sing along to every tune was chanting the band name into the air and continued to do so even during the show. in return, berlin was blessed with a cheerful band that could not help cracking jokes when they were not busy playing. with a few brand new songs being squeezed into the set, worries about a follow-up album can easily be put aside. the new ideas are simply too good. the boys will hopefully get a decent rest and some time off from touring to hit the studio. until then, we will hug "sigh no more" and keep our little fingers on the "play" button for sure.

full review on roteraupe.de:
28.09.2010 mumford & sons (berlin)

interview: paul smith/maxïmo park

2010-10-03T15:42:00.000+02:00

being a full-time member in a successful band does not mean that creative independence is impossible. this year, more band members than ever are embarking on musical solo adventures. bands like bloc party, tv on the radio, snow patrol, travis and maxïmo park are only some of the big names in the indie music scene that are among those who give a solo career a shot. paul smith from maxïmo park is one of them, but while some of his colleagues do not diverge too far from their main bands musically speaking, his album "margins" could not be more different from his previous work and the nature of the songs is clearly more emotional and personal than anything he has ever done. in an insightful chat with me, paul talked about his love for berlin, his dislike against musical clichés and what it means to him to release a solo album.

interview: paul smith (roteraupe.de)

interview: ben folds

2010-09-26T22:45:00.000+02:00

ben folds has done it before. now he's doing it again...collaborating with nick hornby! only this time, they decided to make a full length album together instead of working on just one song like they did in the past. the result of their fruitful work is called "lonely avenue" and contains eleven songs. they were born soon after hornby sent folds a couple of lyrics who then went into the studio to add some music to them. simple as that. at least according to ben folds who i caught up with in berlin lately to bombard him with questions. check the interview below to find out what he had to say about his collaboration with nick hornby.

interview: ben folds (gaesteliste.de)

berlin festival 2010 (tempelhof airport)

2010-09-21T10:50:00.011+02:00

for a second time, the former airport tempelhof was turned into a dancefloor this year with three stages, an exciting line-up as well as thousands of fans from near and far who had one big mission: having FUN! even the weather decided to give berlin a break from rainshowers and treated the audience with lot's of sunshine instead. it seemed like there was just the right kind of musical diversity for everyone. you could get your ears blown off by soulwax, dance until your feet hurt with hot chip, get your groove on with robyn, hum along with the morning benders, feel the energy with caribou or start day-dreaming with junip's melodies. unforeseeable circumstances and safety issues led to an early cancellation of the festival on friday night, but luckily nobody was harmed. everybody who had hoped to see 2ManyDJ's or fatboy slim got disappointed though. even the line-up on saturday suffered from major changes. let's hope that these kind of problems will be sorted out when berlin is ready to take off and experience another festival in the city's heart next year.

full review and more photos:

berlin festival 2010 (gaesteliste.de)

eels (berlin, astra 2010)

2010-09-16T20:51:00.012+02:00

mark oliver everett gives so much to us. not only has he released a remarkable collection of songs in his career, he always treats his fans with very special shows as well. never getting tired of playing new interpretations of his songs live and including incredible cover versions in his shows too, an evening seeing eels onstage is truly exciting for many reasons. "E" usually doesn't speak much during his shows, but when he does open his mouth, he quickly fires humorous comments into the air that leave you with little tears in your eyes. some artists like to spoil their audiences with cheesy anecdotes, during his performance in berlin, though, "E" opted for a much simpler way to win over the crowd: ice-cream! it doesn't happen every day that you see an artist happily throwing ice-cream cones into the audience while the rest of the band is jamming wildly. while hiding under a very impressive beard, sunglasses and a headscarf, "E" certainly didn't show much of himself at his recent gig in berlin, however, he didn't fail to reveal the most important thing - his soul. the one he's turning inside out with every song he's playing, always sharing his thoughts and feelings with his listeners and taking them with him. 27 songs later, you're leaving the venue looking back at an evening that has been so comforting and joyful at the same time that you're trying to keep this feeling in your heart for as long as possible. the one thing "E" repeatedly shouted into the night was "dankeschön, mein schatzi!" - and yes, i would like to shout that back as an echo for him to hear.

click here for full review + live photos:

10.09.2010 eels live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

cd review: klaxons

2010-09-15T23:44:00.008+02:00

let's be honest, it's not just the fantastic cover that is attention-grabbing. klaxons have also managed to create a follow-up to their much acclaimed debut album "myths of the near future" that stands on its own feet without hiding what has happened musically in the past. the songs on "surfing the void" are not solely hitting the listener's auditory nerves in the form of a dancefloor bomb, klaxons have grown into a band that is also able to write less-disturbing and more melodic tunes as they prove on their latest adventure together. yes, they still like giving you a headache from time to time when they're so enthusiastic that they're almost destroying the whole structure of a song, but don't we like that about them too? yes, we do.

klaxons - surfing the void

cd review: the morning benders

2010-09-15T23:43:00.008+02:00

hello california! the morning benders have released another album that is set to turn heads and most of all cause big waves and big echos. maybe they knew what kind of album they would create in the studio when they came up with the title "big echo". most of the songs make you drift into a state of weightlessness without making you feel like you're lost. there is always an element in the song that catches you before you might fall. with chris taylor from grizzly bear as the producer of the record having an undeniable influence on the songs, there is another reason why you could easily fall in love with these tunes.

the morning benders - big echo

cd review: junip

2010-09-15T23:43:00.006+02:00

how can it take over ten years for something good to happen? maybe the members of junip have a satisfying answer for you if you ask them. until then, they are finally treating us with their first full length album "fields" which not only contains a whole bunch of catchy melodies, it also proves that sometimes it's all well-worth the long wait. josé gonzáles has had a great solo career in the past few years, now it's time for him to team up with his fellow band members and show the world what he is cabable of with two talented fellows by his side. the result speaks for itself.

junip - fields

cd review: interpol

2010-09-15T23:42:00.014+02:00

a goodbye does not always means it's completely over. interpol may have said goodbye to their bassist/keyboarder and long-term band member carlos dengler, but at the same time they are back with another album and are looking into the future without him. surely, denglers shoes will be hard to fill, but on their self-titled album with dengler still playing the bass, the band does not have to worry about these issues. however, the first half of the songs is lacking a bit of inspiration and does not quite live up to one's own expectations. too much of what we hear sounds like the band we perfectly know. only in the second half of the album, the songs offer more moments of suspense and shed their existing coolness a little bit more. if they only had done the same thing at the beginning of the album too, we would have an almost perfect listening experience.

interpol - interpol

interview: villagers

2010-08-04T21:36:00.006+02:00

"becoming a jackal" is only a few months old, however, these past months have been quite a ride for conor j. o'brien also known as villagers. not only has his debut album claimed the top position in the irish album charts, it was also recently nominated for the prestigious mercury prize. things are looking very bright for one of dublin's musically most gifted boys. his tight schedule didn't stop him from sitting down to answer a couple of questions. you can read the full interview by clicking the link below.

interview: villagers (roteraupe.de)

interview: junip

2010-08-02T23:56:00.007+02:00

sometimes, a break is the best thing you can do to recharge your batteries. musicians are no exception. they also feel the need to devote their time to something else than playing in the same band forever. after the release of their first ep, the members of junip all went into different directions, either working on solo stuff like josé gonzáles or trying their luck working with other bands. only a little while ago, junip decided it was time to play together again. now they are back with a bang and treat their fans with two releases - another ep (rope & summit) as well as their upcoming album called "fields" which will be out in september. i talked to josé gonzáles and tobias winterkorn to find out more about their break, their new-found joy of makig music together and their views on releasing a full length album after two ep's.

interview: junip (roteraupe.de)

interview: tired pony

2010-07-24T14:12:00.003+02:00

there is hardly a successful band out there whose lead singer has not been tempted to make it on his own and persue a solo career. gary lightbody from snow patrol had the same opportunity, but decided to choose a different path to walk on when writing new songs that would not be found on the next snow patrol album. instead of going solo, he went into the studio with fellow friends and musicians such as r.e.m.'s peter buck or belle & sebastian's richard colburn among others to record the album "the place we ran from" under the name of his new project called "tired pony". the country-tinged songs that emerged from these sessions express the long love gary has felt for this particular genre of music, although the new songs will not disappoint pop fans either. i talked to gary lightbody and peter buck to find out more about the background of tired pony as well as possible future plans.

interview: tired pony (gaesteliste.de)

interview: norman palm

2010-07-13T00:15:00.008+02:00

"shore to shore" is a pop album that comes along with just the right amount of easy-going melodies as well as a touch of thoughtfulness to give a lousy day a more uplifting feeling. norman palm is back with his second album that spins around the ever-present topic of love and all its complications. sometimes the songs say it all, but a few additional thoughts and comments from the artist himself never fail to give a deeper insight into the creative mind. click the links below to read what norman palm has to say about love, travelling to distant shores and working on an album that gave him the name "the male lady gaga of city slang".

interview: norman palm (roteraupe.de)

interview: norman palm (gaesteliste.de)

villagers (berlin, comet 2010)

2010-07-06T17:11:00.010+02:00

some concerts are preceded by unusually high expextations. either because you have been waiting forever to see a certain band playing or you are all excited because a new piece of music has simply blown you away the first time you heard it in your cd player and now the time has come when you will get to hear these spectacular songs live for the first time. villagers have released exactly such an album with their debut "becoming a jackal". their stripped down live set at berlin's comet club only featured conor j. o'brien on acoustic guitar and his voice that you want to keep in your head for at least another few weeks. the musical, lyrical and vocal beauty of conor's performance made the audience listen to his songs in an appreciative and charmed silence. it does not often happen that support acts are treated with such admiration and respect, but conor deserved it as much as the enthusiastic applause that followed each of his songs. the way he stood there all by himself onstage, pouring his heart and soul out to the people in front of him and having this sincereness and truthful aura around him, made his performance even more likeable.

check out a full review on roteraupe.de:

05.07.2010 villagers live at comet club (berlin)

review and photos by annett bonkowski

the dead weather (berlin, huxley's 2010)

2010-07-05T15:57:00.006+02:00

taking some time off is not exactly on jack white's personal agenda as it seems. only a year after he released "horehound" with his fellow friends from the dead weather, another new album "sea of cowards" hit the shelves in stores world wide. the city of berlin got treated with one of only a few european shows and for a consecutive time, the band delighted the crowd with an intense and sweaty blues-rock-set that did not fail to kick you off your seat, that's if you still dared to sit when the band started playing. alison mossharts cat-like behaviour and jack white's coolness as well as superb playing on the drums and the guitar made it all the more fun to see them playing in front of an even bigger audience this time than during their last stop in berlin a few months ago. if they keep up the speed of releasing quality songs on such a regular basis and deliver such impressive live skills on top of that, they are more than welcome to come back rather sooner than later.

photos by annett bonkowski

interview: the acorn

2010-06-20T19:23:00.005+02:00

there has been so much good music coming from canada in the past. this year is no exception with the acorn having released their latest album "no ghost" in early june. in celebration of all this, the band embarked on a tour through a bunch of clubs in europe giving their fans a little taste of the new songs. fortunately, they were also in the mood for an extensive talk before they hit the stage in berlin. i caught up with the acorn's singer rolf klausener and his drumming pal pat johnson to ask them a couple of questions, which they answered truthfully and with no rush. check out the full interview below:

interview: the acorn (roteraupe.de)

interview: the drums

2010-06-19T18:12:00.004+02:00

the long and cold winter seemed a little less annoying when the drums appeared on the screen, giving us sweet melodies and reminding us of the sound of the summer. now they are back with their debut album and they just played a handful of shows in germany. luckily, they had a few spare minutes in berlin and they were kind enough to sit down for a very pleasant chat on a rainy evening just before they went onstage. if you'd like to know how they are coping with all the media attention they receive and why the label "pop band" is nothing to be ashamed of, check out my interview with adam kessler and jacob graham.

interview: the drums (roteraupe.de)

interview: these new puritans

2010-06-16T19:32:00.004+02:00

sitting in a very dark basement that is filled with loud music is not the greatest environment if you're interested in having serious conversations, but somehow the interview with jack barnett, the singer from these new puritans, still turned out to be a very interesting and fun experience. jack opened his thoughtful mind for twenty minutes to talk about these new puritans' latest release called "hidden".

interview: these new puritans (gaesteliste.de)

interview: annett bonkowski

photos: hella wittenberg

spex live (berlin, berghain 2010)

2010-06-11T17:35:00.002+02:00

if something's good you should do it again. last year's spex live concert with headliners phoenix proved to be a big crowd pleaser and the party went on until the early hours of the morning at berlin's infamous berghain club. this year's line up was reason enough to get there early and stay until you could no longer feel your feet. norman palm, high places and robyn were all up onstage to entertain berlin's party-hungry audience with robyn heating up the place within seconds with her bouncy dancing routine and heavy beats. check out a full review of the night here:

spex live at berghain (roteraupe.de)

cd review: villagers

2010-06-11T10:33:00.004+02:00

the first really good surprise this year has taken a little while to come to the surface. villagers from ireland have just released their debut album "becoming a jackal" and please our ears with eleven ambitious, honest and sometimes heartbreaking little, musical gems. in true story-telling fashion, conor j. o'brien opens his heart to the world and has so many soothing words in one song that "becoming a jackal" has the potential to become a less expensive and most of all a more effective therapy than you can imagine. some of the songs instantly remind you of how cruel life can be, others instead, are looking out for you and give you the hug you were waiting for. in any case, this debut album is shining brightly and is the soundtrack to any broken heart and soul that wants to be patched up.

full review (roteraupe.de):

villagers - becoming a jackal

cd review: the dead weather

2010-05-28T13:20:00.004+02:00

jack white is, without a doubt, a man on a mission. a man whose day is fulfilled when he is creative and he can devote a decent amount of time to one of his numerous bands. all the critics who considered his last project, the dead weather, as a pastime that would soon vanish again are now proved wrong. not even a year after the release of their debut "horehound", the band is back with the follow-up "sea of cowards". the new songs are sparkling with energy, aggression and the unmistakable urge to let your nerves shiver and pull you down to the ground with a bang. song after song, you get up again and wait for the next attack on your senses. furthermore, the music's rawness and intensity keeps you captured from the beginning until the end. this band is not over, it has only just begun.

check the full review:

the dead weather - sea of cowards (roteraupe.de)

cd review: foals

2010-05-22T20:46:00.004+02:00

"antidotes", foals' critically acclaimed debut album pushed the band into the limelight and wherever the band was mentioned, the term math rock was not far. now they are back with their new album "total life forever" and it's not all about fast songs, complex rhythms and wild guitars anymore, although the band does not turn their backs on their roots completely. it's just that they have learned to appreciate a more relaxed approach and they do not feel the urge to jump straight into their songs anymore. it's okay to take your time. "spanish sahara" is teasing the listeners' ears until they are begging for the musical explosion to happen. eventually, foals give in. good boys. "total life forever" unfolds its beauty in a way that keeps you standing on your toes in anticipation all the time. the wait is worth it for sure.

check the full review:

foals - total life forever (roteraupe.de)

black rebel motorcycle club (berlin, astra 2010)

2010-05-07T14:34:00.005+02:00

a night out seeing black rebel motorcycle club always turns into a very special evening. there is an intensity and persistent hunger in the air that explodes from the first note that is played and can hardly be satisfied. however, peter hayes, robert levon been and leah shapiro know well how to keep up the high energy level in the room. at times, distorted guitar or bass melodies erupt like a storm, paralyse your senses in a good way and throw you around if you want to or not. it is easy to sink into the songs, soak up their intimate nature and let yourself go completely. over recent years, black rebel motorcycle club have managed to add more versatile songs to their repertoire than most bands are able to come up with in their entire careers. the 24-song strong setlist at their recent show in berlin left fans entirely satisfied and still, it was not the end of a magnificent night. with an extra acoustic set in the beer garden after the actual show, fans were treated to another handful of songs, while robert levon been and his joyful attitude could not even be stopped from playing, although two guitar strings broke. berlin bows down before you, dear rebels.

full review of the show:

04.05.2010 black rebel motorcycle club live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

interview: foals

2010-05-07T14:33:00.004+02:00

sometimes, a little break away from it all is exactly the right thing to do if you want to clear your mind...or record a new album. foals left their hometown oxford behind to record their follow-up album "total life forever" in gothenburg, sweden. feeling like the "lost boys" in neverland, the band spent weeks working meticulously on new songs behind closed doors. i caught up with singer yannis philippakis to talk about life in the studio, the perils of taking a risk and levelling criticism at band members. check the full interview here:

interview: foals (gaesteliste.de)

interview: foals (roteraupe.de)

caribou (berghain, berlin 2010)

2010-04-30T21:01:00.006+02:00

berlin was in for a special treat this week with caribou coming to the city to play songs from his latest album "swim" at berghain with the venue having been sold out in advance. with gold panda getting the crowd into the right mood, it only needed the mere presence of caribou's live band and the first few notes that were hit to get the audience even more excited. 65 breathtaking minutes and several brilliantly performed songs later, the venue was boiling over. the band will be back in september as part of the annual berlin festival and you better go and check them out, it's a must see.

28.04.2010 caribou live in berlin

cd review: walter schreifels

2010-04-30T11:39:00.004+02:00

for someone like walter schreifels, who has been around for so long and playing music in such noteble bands as rival schools, gorilla biscuits or youth of today, a new step in his career does not mean getting involved with a new band, but going solo instead. his journey leads him to a place where the songs become much more personal which is not only reflected in the lyrics, but also beautifully expressed with an atmosphere full of acoustic guitars. walter schreifels manages to combine his musical past with his present intentions in a meaningful and convinving way that only lasts about 30 minutes, but is definitely asking for another solo album in the future.

walter schreifels - an open letter to the scene

cd review: broken social scene

2010-04-30T11:32:00.006+02:00

ladies and gentlemen, the wait is officially over: the new broken social scene album "forgiveness rock record" is finally here and while some of you must have exploded with excitement until this moment, the record is all the more pleasing and was well worth waiting for. with an army of musicians involved once again, broken social scene come around the corner with 14 new songs and a bunch of melodies that are so strong and catchy at the same time, you will hit the "repeat" button until it shrieks. enjoy!

broken social scene - forgiveness rock record

interview: blood red shoes

2010-04-27T16:05:00.004+02:00

there are some things in life that are well worth waiting for. interviewing blood red shoes is officially one of them now. a long waiting time that was filled with an awfully loud soundcheck, an almost numb bum and cold hands finally led to a pleasant conversation with steve ansell from blood red shoes. despite telling us that he had barely slept the night before, he put on a happy face and granted us twenty minutes before he went onstage with laura-mary in berlin. check out the interview to find out about steve's revelations!

interview: blood red shoes (roteraupe.de)

interview: annett bonkowski

photo: hella wittenberg

mumford & sons (astra, berlin 2010)

2010-04-27T15:03:00.019+02:00

staying at home is definitely not an option when mumford & sons are in town. remember these words next time the band is touring and stop whining because you chose to spend the evening sitting on your sofa instead. the songs on "sigh no more" can already have a great impact on you when you're listening to them at home, you can only imagine the beauty that emerges when the songs are played live. for some reason mumford & sons make you feel very much at home with the venue turning into a living-room within a blink of an eye as soon as they start playing. marcus mumford's haunting voice is cutting the air around you in slices and sends occasional shivers down your spine while the intensity of the music grows with every minute. with a debut album so full of potential and a showcase of three brand-new songs that totally live up to one's expectation, there's little to worry about the future of the band. the only worry is that their continuing success means you'll have to wait a bit longer to see them live again.

full review of the show:

15.04.2010 mumford & sons live in berlin

review: annett bonkowski

photos: anne bonkowski

foals (c-club, berlin 2010)

2010-04-27T15:03:00.018+02:00

"total life forever" - would it rather be fun or a burden instead? we'll probably never know, but foals from oxford have chosen to name their new album that way and might have an explanation in their pockets. before its release, they came all the way to berlin to kick off their tour in style and with a big bang too! with a stage that could hardly fulfill the much needed space for the band that was very lively that night, foals were in for an hour of straight forward and complex music. despite the known hits from their first album, the audience got a taste of brand-new songs as well. on top of that, some people probably also experienced a not so pleasant moment of getting close to the band when yannis jumped into the audience in what seemed to be a very spontaneous matter. let's hope nobody was hurt and foals will be back with another bang sometime soon.

read my full review of the gig here:

12.04.2010 foals live in berlin

interview: caribou

2010-04-01T21:21:00.006+02:00

the first single "odessa" from caribou's new album "swim" has such an addictive beat that you can only wonder how many more great songs like that will be on his upcoming release. daniel snaith, the mastermind behind caribou, has many great talents. not only his knowledge in mathematics is impressive, but also his sense of catchy and elaborate tunes that he gives to the world with every new album. that's why it was an absolute pleasure to sit down with him and get answers to a whole bunch of questions. find out what he had to say in the interview with me here:

interview: caribou (roteraupe.de)

interview: caribou (gaesteliste.de)

i am kloot (lido, berlin 2010)

2010-03-30T23:03:00.004+02:00

it was a friday night in berlin. i am kloot were in town and so i found myself anticipating a pleasure. it's been a few years since i witnessed my last i am kloot show which only increased the excitement. did the band know that? at least they didn't let their fans wait for too long and there was no supporting band either. bonus! the show was kicked off with a fairly majestic intro which john bramwell closed with the words "prost! guten abend" before playing the first song of the night "from your favourite sky". how you cannot fall in love with their songs, i don't know...there's something so direct, touching and real about their tunes that i am kloot easily take you on a journey with you when they're playing. whether it's the intense "one man brawl", the melancholy "proof" or the beauty and despair of "to you". referring to their songs being about "drinks and disaster" earned them the reaction of people nodding their heads and raising their glasses in appreciation. the whole show was far from being a disaster though. one and a half hours of story-telling at it's best and haunting melodies are quite the opposite. cheers to i am kloot, cheers to manchester!

26.03.2010 i am kloot live in berlin (roteraupe.de)

interview: the soft pack

2010-03-28T13:25:00.003+02:00

the soft pack from san diego have devoted all their time to music and they've been through a lot of things in the past few years. line up changes, a new band name and quitting their jobs are only some of the things. however, no obstacle was big enough to stop them from doing what they love the most - making music. now they have released their self-titled debut album and just finished touring around europe. matt lamkin and brian hill sat down for a little chat with me before their show in berlin...and what did they have to say? read the full interview here:

interview: the soft pack (roteraupe.de)

interview: black rebel motorcycle club

2010-03-12T18:31:00.005+01:00

rock'n'roll is much more than music. it's an attitude and black rebel motorcycle club live it every single day. it's not about wearing black leather jackets or writing loud and rebellious songs. it's about following your own ideas and not letting anyone or anything stop you from what you're doing. black rebel motorcycle club don't try to fool anyone and have remained true to themselves for as long as they have been making music. on their new album "beat the devil's tattoo" they have welcomed leah shapiro as their new drummer into their circle. find out what they had to say during a very entertaining conversation with me on a cold and snowy day in berlin here:

interview: black rebel motorcycle club (gaesteliste.de)

interview: black rebel motorcycle club (roteraupe.de)

interview: annett bonkowski

photos: tessa angus

cd review: black rebel motorcycle club

2010-03-12T18:25:00.003+01:00

you have every reason to be excited. the new black rebel motorcycle club album "beat the devil's tattoo" has just been released and it is beaming with guitar driven rock'n'roll tunes, a cutting atmosphere that throws your mind around and not to forget beautifully arranged mellow songs on piano or acoustic guitar that hit your soul in a way that makes you feel very much alive, yet a bit contemplative. it's a combination of the early and rocking black rebel motorcycle club days with the most heartfelt moments of "howl" - rock'n'roll cannot sound better in the year 2010.

black rebel motorcycle club - beat the devil's tattoo (roteraupe.de)

interview: erik penny

2010-03-07T17:04:00.003+01:00

there is always a special something in the air at record release shows. well, there was definitely something in the air when erik penny played at privatclub recently. having moved from los angeles to berlin over a year ago, he didn't waste any time to get productive over here. his new album "bend" has just been released and what better timing to ask him a couple of questions than at his record release show in berlin. there you go!

interview: erik penny (roteraupe.de)

interview: brett anderson

2010-02-26T14:30:00.012+01:00

going solo does not always work out when you've been in a band for a long time. luckily, it did work for brett anderson after suede no longer existed. in the last couple of years, mr anderson has released three solo albums with the latest one being "slow attack" and while he was in town on a stop on his current tour, he said yes to a quick chat about his music. brett has spoken and you cannot listen, but you can read what is on his mind these days here:

interview: brett anderson (gaesteliste.de)

interview: annett bonkowski

photos: hella wittenberg

vampire weekend (astra, berlin 2010)

2010-02-26T14:30:00.010+01:00

their latest album may be called "contra", but when you see them live onstage you are more likely to use the word "pro" for the joy and good atmosphere they are bringing with them into the room. furthermore, they somehow manage to make you feel like you're enjoying a holiday in the sun, where it's warm and tropical. if your wallet is not able to afford a real holiday in the sun, make sure you go and check out vampire weekend instead. the effect is almost the same. you will end up dancing the sorrows away, distract your mind, start sweating because it gets so warm and you might even meet a few new people...and all in your town! vampire weekend didn't waste a second to get the crowd moving at their recent show in berlin. it felt like every song that was played was merely there for this purpose only. with only two albums having been released, the band still had a wide range of hits to choose from. the only minor point of criticism was that they didn't play the title track "contra" which would have been a welcome change from the fast and entertaining bunch of songs. nevertheless, this holiday will surely stay with people's minds for a while.

vampire weekend live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

brett anderson (lido, berlin 2010)

2010-02-26T14:29:00.005+01:00

a little gesture or a look from the man himself is everything the devoted brett anderson fan needs to lose control. brett anderson's return to berlin was a truly heroic one and the audience honored it with joyful faces and loud applause or silence when it was needed during quieter moments on the setlist. although his latest work "slow attack" is beautiful little realm of haunting melodies that sends shivers down your spine. surprisingly, the quietness of the songs on the new album was often replaced by very vibrant arrangements and a rock'n'roll sound of a full band live on stage. the dance moves were as entertaining as ever though. it is not difficult to believe brett anderson when he says that the next record will be a rock album. he already looked like he wanted to give the fans a little glimpse of what they can expect at his recent show in berlin. did we like it? oh yes.

full review of the show:

brett anderson - berlin (lido)

photos:

01.02.2010 brett anderson live in berlin

air (huxley's, berlin 2010)

2010-02-02T16:55:00.008+01:00

some things in life will never disappoint you. seeing air live is one of them. back on tour with their new album "love 2", air can still make your heartbeat go faster, let your mind wander around and play all those melodies that will warm you up in the darkest and coldest winter day. their gig in berlin was no exception. jean-benoît dunckel and nicholas godin have the ability to capture your attention by only playing and almost no talking. what's there in the music finds its way to you immediately. both grace the stage with their elegant presence, their love for heartfelt music and the ambition to drag you into their little kingdom as much as possible. they did an extremely well job on their last attempt in berlin.

27.01.2010 air live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

words: annett bonkowski

photos: anne bonkowski

interview: tegan and sara.

2010-01-29T12:23:00.005+01:00

yes, they are twins. yes, they're making music together. no, they are not interested in creating an image that only focuses on the fact that they were born a few minutes apart. you may have troubles telling them apart, but once they sit next to you, you quickly realise that tegan and sara have their own personalities and they are very much aware of how the media sometimes wants to put them into this special category of "twins". the truth is though, that both sisters are keen on making music together and have been struggeling with the "twin image" for over a decade. not that it would do their music any harm as they are productive as ever. despite writing separately, they always find their way back into a room together and the results show how well their songs work, even if they come from completely different directions sometimes. with their latest album "sainthood" just having been released, they were so kind to tell us a little bit more about their new "baby".

interview: tegan and sara (gaesteliste.de)

interview: annett bonkowski

photos: hella wittenberg

2010-01-29T12:16:00.003+01:00

cold war kids are back with a new ep containing 5 songs. some of them are leftovers from the "loyalty to loyalty" sessions, some were written afterwards. good things usually come last, but the band obviously ignored this saying and decided to open the ep with the strongest song "audience of one" which contains 2 piano chords that will grab your attention throughout the whole song. the other new pieces do not all have the same effect on the listener, but are a good addition to the already existing cold war kids music catalogue.

cold war kids - behave yourself ep

cd review: these new puritans

2010-01-29T11:57:00.004+01:00

disturbing pictures and horror are two things that can easily be connected with watching the news on tv. you don't necessarily expect them to haunt you when you play a cd. well, these new puritans evoke the same feelings inside you with their new album "hidden". until you're able to see the beauty of all of this, you have to endure a lot of dark and depressing sounds that carry heavy weight on their shoulders. drums, choirs, brass and a woodwind section produce an almost frightening sound at times. this atmosphere is only broken with light piano and strings parts a few times. these new puritans have managed to create their own little world with "hidden". if you want to enter it, be aware of the perils. once you're in though, you will be captured by dynamics that will stay with you for a while.

these new puritans - hidden

interview: first aid kit.

2010-01-22T18:55:00.003+01:00

sweden has a long history of successful pop music. now it is time to turn the head into another direction and see what else is out there and throws itself into our arms and pleases our ears. "first aid kit" from stockholm are waving from the shores and tuning their guitars to play gentle and sweet folk music that wants to capture your attention. the heartfelt and simple songs by the young sisters johanna and klara söderberg will surely tell you a couple of good stories...if you only let them.

interview: first aid kit (roteraupe.de)

cd review: devendra banhart

2010-01-22T01:18:00.004+01:00

being different and doing your own thing can sometimes get you into trouble. not if your name is devendra banhart though. devendra, being someone who seems to be living his life with nonchalance as his first priority, is known as a person who pursues his ideas with a great deal of a carefree attitude and this particular temper is reflected in his music too. the perfect proof for all this is his latest work "what will we be" that reminds the listener that the sunny side of life is not far away and maybe even in your living-room if you look a little bit closer. devendra seems to have found it a long time ago and shares his personal wisdom on how to feel it in his new songs once again. go and catch a bit of optimism and sunshine with him!

devendra banhart - what will we be

julian plenti (berlin, festsaal kreuzberg 2009)

2009-12-19T22:40:00.008+01:00

everyone who has tried to disguise himself or herself knows that it is not as easy as it seems. paul banks who is known as interpol's lead singer has given it a go and released his first solo album as julian plenti. of course, it didn't take very long until the word had spread who was hidden behind that name. especially not, when you play the album and immediately recognize his striking voice. before 2009 is over, julian plenti graced berlin with one of his rare performances in europe. you can read a full review of the show here:

09.12.2009 julian plenti live in berlin (festsaal kreuzberg)

interview: beach house

2009-12-19T22:39:00.005+01:00

in the winter time, all you want is a bit of warmth and a pleasant feeling when you listen to the records that are sitting on the shelves in your room. you start warming up with a hot cup of tea in your hand and get carried away by some tunes that promise sunshine or simply touch your heart. "beach house" from baltimore exactly do that. their dreamy, floating songs easily wrap themselves around you without you even noticing it. in the middle of february, when snowflakes are probably falling gently on your window sill, the duo will release their new album called "teen dream" and will provide the musical blanket that you have been looking for. alex and victoria recently jumped into a plane to berlin and talked about their new album with me. you can read all about it here:

interview: beach house (roteraupe.de)

phoenix (berlin, huxley's 2009)

2009-12-19T21:55:00.006+01:00

phoenix have enjoyed a phenomenal success with their latest album "wolfgang amadeus phoenix". in terms of live shows, nothing can stop them from turning a boring venue into the biggest party you have ever seen with people shouting for more hits all the time. phoenix have proved to be a truly great live band in the past. however, they still put something on top of that every time they come back to berlin. the stage invasion by happy fans at the end of the show, the special happy birthday song for thomas or the incredible energy in the room all made the evening unforgettable. à bientôt!

click here to see more photos:

21.11.2009 phoenix live in berlin (huxley's)

full gig review:

phoenix live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

phoenix live in berlin (roteraupe.de)

words: annett bonkowski

photos: anne bonkowski

interview: mumford & sons

2009-12-19T21:47:00.004+01:00

how often does it happen that you listen to a new band and you immediately fall in love with their songs? probably not that often i suppose. mumford & sons have managed to sneak their way straight into the hearts of many listeners when their first single "little lion man" came out. it was the same with their debut album "sigh no more" that was released in october. quickly, their name appeared in many magazines and their songs were played on dozens of radio stations across the uk. in november, they came back to germany to play a magnificent gig in front of a sold out crowd at the magnet club in berlin. how lucky we were to be able to ask them a couple of questions before they got ready to go onstage. you can read the full interview here:

interview: mumford & sons (roteraupe.de)

interview: annett bonkowski

photos: hella wittenberg

grizzly bear (berlin, postbahnhof 2009)

2009-12-19T21:46:00.011+01:00

some people imagine that heaven is a peaceful and quiet place where you feel safe and happy. if that is the case, i'm sure grizzly bear's music is played in every corner of it. at least, i was wondering if i was catching a short glimpse of what life in heaven will be like when grizzly bear made a stop in berlin to perform songs from their latest album "veckatimest" at postbahnhof. the lighting was beautiful, the smoke machines created some kind of heaven-like atmosphere and most of all, the songs that were performed that night could not have been more beautiful. if heaven is perfect, so are grizzly bear.

click here to see more photos:

11.11.2009 grizzly bear in berlin

full gig review:

grizzly bear live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

the dead weather (berlin, astra 2009)

2009-12-19T21:18:00.010+01:00

bang! the dead weather surely do not lose a second when they get onstage. they are on fire from the very first to the very last moment. jack white being behind the drums and occasionally on guitar while sharing singing duties during the show was undeniably a highlight that a sold out crowd at the astra venue was able to witness. what can this talented guy not do? it seems like there's not much he has not tried so far. he manages to successfully continue his triumphal march with each of his different bands and still does not lose his credibility at all. although alison mosshart clearly tried hard to pull off her very own show as the rock chick on lead vocals, she did not manage to steal jack white's greatness that night. not even by rolling around on the floor, licking her fingers seductively or posing continuously and with great effort throughout the show. ever felt like shaking your hair until your head hurts or being blown away by heavy and dark blues rock tunes? you should make sure to buy a ticket for a dead weather gig.

click here for more photos:

02.11.2009 the dead weather live in berlin (astra)

full live review:

the dead weather live in berlin (gaesteliste.de)

interview: the rifles

2009-12-19T21:11:00.006+01:00

the festival season is a glorious one. the berlin festival in august offered a whole bunch of very good entertainment with electronic and indie bands as well as superb dj sets from all around the world. during a rollercoaster-like ride of fantastic performances, the rifles sat down for a quick chat with me before it was their turn to get the crowd moving.

interview: the rifles (gaesteliste.de)

interview: john vanderslice

2009-12-19T20:57:00.004+01:00

impossible is nothing. sometimes, a few things in life do not go ahead as planned. sometimes, you ask yourself why the ideas in your head do not come out the way you wanted them to. sometimes, everything seems lost and suddenly, new opportunities pop up and everything will be okay in the end. my interview with the wonderful john vanderslice was a little journey through ups and downs, which had nothing to do with himself though. when all signs could not have looked worse and the interview was quickly running towards neverland because record companies do not seem to be very reliable, john vanderslice became the hero of the day and saved the situation. with the clock ticking until his peformance, he spontaneously took some time and agreed to do the interview. my whole conversation with him turned out to be very interesting and funny at the same time and it was nice to see with how much passion he talked about his music and answered my questions in general. you can read the full interview here:

interview: john vanderslice (gaesteliste.de)

john vanderslice (berlin, admiralspalast 2009)

2009-12-19T20:17:00.010+01:00

"romanian names" came out in spring and followed me steadily through the summer. even now, after the album has been on heavy rotation for a while, the songs have not lost a tiny bit of their beauty. in fact, they seem to have grown into something even more precious. with the album being clearly one of my highlights this year, i had high expectations to hear the new songs live of course. the wonderful thing about a john vanderslice gig is that you will surely not be disappointed afterwards. there's no way. mr vanderslice is too much of a warm-hearted and good soul for that. someone who will not only shine with pretty and thoughtful songs, but also someone who will give you the feeling that what he is doing is very real and matters to him very much. there is no better thing than seeing an artist who is capable of leaving an impression on you with his music as well as his words. if you have not come across someone like that yet, i recommend that you catch a glimpse of him when he is in a town near you next time. his recent performance in berlin has proved that he is more than worth listening to and a very likeable chap too.

some photos from the show:

12.10.2009 john vanderslice live in berlin (admiralspalast)

my gig review on gaesteliste.de:

john vanderslice (berlin)

words: annett bonkowski

photos: anne bonkowski

interview: the beaks/cupcake

2009-10-14T01:04:00.009+02:00

interview: the beaks/cupcake (roteraupe.de)

more photos from the interview can be found here...

the beaks/cupcake interview

interview: annett bonkowski

photos: hella wittenberg

patrick wolf (berlin, astra 2009)

2009-10-04T12:01:00.008+02:00

dressing up for the occasion doesn't happen every day, but in case of patrick wolf this might not be true. he always puts on some of the most original outfits onstage. at his recent show in berlin, he brought along a whole suitcase with revealing, bright and sparkling clothes and on top of that, he also played a captivating set full of new songs and classics. apart from the music, patrick wolf also shared some funny stories straight from the heart which made the evening even better. if you're not afraid of seeing his naked bum and you're up for a real taste of musical talent, go and check him out!

click here for more photos:

01.10.2009 patrick wolf live in berlin (astra)

my gig review on gaesteliste.de:

patrick wolf - the naked truth (gaesteliste.de)

interview: air

2009-10-03T12:47:00.007+02:00

how can i make a song sound sexy? well, if you have asked yourself this question before, you should go and seek help from the french duo air because they have been writing sexy music for years now. their new album "love 2" is just another proof for that.

read here, what jean-benoît dunckel has to say about his favourite sensation, his optimistic view on the world and why he thinks prince is a genius..

interview: air (gaesteliste.de)

zoot woman (berlin, maria 2009)

2009-10-01T16:48:00.005+02:00

dancing - who doesn't love it? one of the best opportunities to put on your dancing shoes is when zoot woman hit a club in your hometown and play their excellent songs for you while you start sweating because of all the moving people around you. zoot woman were back in berlin after their brilliant performance at the berlin festival in august and there was absolutely no excuse why one should miss another very enjoyable night with good tunes, catchy rhythms and a wonderful vocal performance by johnny blake. the venue was packed with people willing to dance the night away and throw their arms into the air with excitement and the band didn't hesitate to entertain the crowd as best as they could. some snaps from the show can be seen here:

click here more photos:

30.09.2009 zoot woman live in berlin (maria am ostbahnhof)

cd review: simian mobile disco

2009-10-01T16:38:00.003+02:00

you might enjoy this album for a little longer than only the occasional spin on your record player. the guest line up on simian mobile disco's new record "temporary pleasure" looks like a collection of some of the finest dance/electro artists around, but does that automatically mean the songs are irresistable too? further explanations can be found here:

simian mobile disco - temporary pleasure

cd review: the dodos

2009-10-01T16:29:00.002+02:00

time to die? no, not yet. the dodos will not be going anywhere near the grass or dark and silent soil. in fact, they are so afraid of death that they have decided to record a very uplifting album instead. by looking at the cover and the colourful confetti, they are more likely to have a party and are clearly miles away from dying a sudden death with their brilliant music. my rambling speech about the record is right here:

the dodos - time to die

cd review: arctic monkeys

2009-10-01T16:21:00.003+02:00

humbug! what a lovely word that is. you can use it for all kinds of things...or even call your album that way. arctic monkeys did it first, so maybe you should look for a new title instead. back from their recording sessions in the desert with joshua homme they have a whole new bunch of tracks ready for your ears. if you would like to read a few words about the songs, go here and get a tiny taste by reading my review on gaesteliste.de:

arctic monkeys - humbug

cd review: julian plenti

2009-10-01T16:12:00.003+02:00

julian who? oh, julian plenti. it's him...the singer, paul banks, from interpol. while his main band is still locked away and busy recording the new album, "julian plenti" has left the depth of the studio and released an album all by himself. what it sounds like? well, read all about it here in my review:

julian plenti...is skyscraper

interview: the dodos

2009-09-23T20:32:00.002+02:00

the dodos have released another fine record with their latest piece of music called "time to die". therefore, it was time to chat with them about life and death just before they got onstage at their recent show in berlin.

interview: the dodos (roteraupe.de)

words: annett bonkowski

photo: hella wittenberg

interview: zoot woman

2009-09-18T19:00:00.004+02:00

last month the berlin festival was kicked off in style at the new location in tempelhof and a whole bunch of great bands joined the fantastic line up. among them were zoot woman who popped into the press lounge for a little chat before they hit the stage. it went a little something like this:

interview: zoot woman (gaesteliste.de)

the dodos (berlin, magnet 2009)

2009-09-18T18:46:00.004+02:00

there was surely not much room onstage for the dodos at magnet club, but they still seemed to feel very comfortable and managed to make the audience feel the same way with their music. now a three-piece-band and the third album called "time to die" waiting on the shelves to be picked up (which you better do!), they came to berlin to play for a crowd that instantly embraced the at times crazy percussive style as well as straight to the point fingerpicking with nodding heads. if you would like to read more about the dodos show please visit roteraupe.de for a full length review:

11.09.2009 the dodos live in berlin (magnet)

muse (berlin, admiralspalast 2009)

2009-09-18T18:40:00.006+02:00

now that muse are selling out huge arenas within the blink of an eye, they returned to berlin to showcase new songs of their album "the resistance" which was released earlier this month. the exclusive club show was held at admiralspalast and fans were able to catch a first impression of the new material live on german soil. it felt a little like "back to the roots" seeing muse performing in front of a fairly small audience and playing a rather stripped down show that once again focused on the music in the first place and not on special effects, huge screens or pyrotechnics. for a more detailed review please visit roteraupe.de:

07.09.2009 muse live in berlin (admiralspalast)

cd review: muse

2009-09-18T18:17:00.002+02:00

muse are back with a new album called "the resistance". it is fair to say that within the three years of working on it, they have grown once again and they will surprise your eager ears. whether it is with r'n'b beats or a little symphony and whether you like it or not. a full review of the album can be found on roteraupe.de:

muse - the resistance

interview: brendan benson

2009-09-04T11:32:00.006+02:00

brendan benson has been fairly busy with his mates from the raconteurs lately, but touring the world and releasing two albums with them didn't stop him from writing a new solo record. "my old, familiar friend" just crawled out from the studio walls into the shops and i had the pleasure to talk to him about the record. click here to read the full interview on gaesteliste.de (in german):

brendan benson interview

interview: jet

2009-08-28T11:50:00.006+02:00

not too long ago i talked to jet about their new album "shaka rock" while sitting in the sun with a beautiful view over berlin. 3 bottles of water, funny stories and dozens of answers later, the interview was done. you can read it here in full length:

jet interview

kings of leon (berlin, o2 world 2009)

2009-08-01T02:10:00.009+02:00

the good old times were kings of leon played intimate venues are obviously over in the year 2009. they graced berlin with a second performance in only 4 months and managed to sell out the o2 world quicker than you could play their last album "only by the night" on your record player. no matter if you had been listening to their music for years or perhaps just fell in love with their tunes due the incredible amount of airplay that songs like "sex on fire" received over the recent months, in the end it made no difference as kings of leon pulled off a remarkable show in front of a sold out venue that made you realise just once more how much they have grown as a band in the past few years. some blame their newly found success on their more accessable sound these days, but this band has always had a great sense of melodies. their fans in berlin got just another sample of a passionate performance which left the crowd equally enthralled. winning over thousands of people within a blink of an eye can be a really big challenge, somehow kings of leon faced it with an easiness that can only be explained by the strong faith they seem to have in what they are doing. they must be doing something right if people are screaming their hearts out to every single song on the setlist and others are jumping on their seats through the entire show. only by the night? well, you can bet it works by day too!

(27.06.2009 - o2 world)