Monday, December 11, 2006
Motorhead; Colmbiahalle, Berlin 05/12/06
The second mission for Kreuzberg was the catch Motorhead. Last time I saw Motorhead in Germany it was one of their best gigs I'd ever experienced, so in the capital I expected bigger and better. The Columbiahalle mightn't of been as large as expected, but its well tired upper floor vastly increased the capacity while also making it much easier for people to see in a land where the average height seems much higher than here.
This being the tenth time I'd seen Motorhead, and the third this tour I can't help feel as if involved in an experiment, a repeated measures one with endless extraneous variables and no reguard for bias or blind techniques. As could have been statisically predicted Motorhead where everything one would expect, following them abroad is like following a team in the European Cup, only knowing that they'll win every time. As ever they take the the stage to deliver pure, unadulterated Rock 'N' Roll, Lemmy standing with the strength and confidence of a Greek God holding apart the clashing rocks of The Sympegades. Playing so much of their new material its amazing to think how fresh they sound for a band with a 34 year career, and the mandatory classics such as Overkill are filled with an overwhelming force that you understand why the building has no windows.
Seeing them in Germany could put you off going to a gig in England, over there far more people get involved, headbanging, shouting and moshing up a storm. With an unelightend mind my accompanying sibling moved upstairs, wanting a better view. How could he not understand that we hadn't traveled 683 miles to see Motorhead, we'd come to feel and experience pure Rock 'N' Roll tribalism under the guidance of the Stoke-on-Trent Shaman, the be in and amongst the people and the most involved. I guess finding out he wasn't that tall after all must have been a blow to his ego and so upstairs we went, where the view was to be fair, fantastic. And perhaps thanks to an atmosphere and crowd intensity I'll come to only expect in Germany, the place was filled like a Cathedral, intense and powerful stuff. New to the set was early song Snaggletooth, and as well as usual live favourite Sacrifice having an increased brodding intensity, perhaps due to Lemmy smoking and singing at the same time, Just Because You Have The PowerThat Dont Mean You Got The Right struck a special chord and left me thinking that this is one of Motorheads best and yet hardest find songs. Sword of Glory remains my favourite of the new album and is mandatory in the set.
Once again Motorhead have proven themselves the most reliable event on my calendar, proving their abilities in three countries and two time zones. Seeing Motorhead everyone wonders if it will be the last show and so each year I commit to more and more evenings of ear ringing bliss, so I can only wait and wonder to see where my indulgence will lead next year. One thing for sure is that Germany will play a big part in the celebrations.
This being the tenth time I'd seen Motorhead, and the third this tour I can't help feel as if involved in an experiment, a repeated measures one with endless extraneous variables and no reguard for bias or blind techniques. As could have been statisically predicted Motorhead where everything one would expect, following them abroad is like following a team in the European Cup, only knowing that they'll win every time. As ever they take the the stage to deliver pure, unadulterated Rock 'N' Roll, Lemmy standing with the strength and confidence of a Greek God holding apart the clashing rocks of The Sympegades. Playing so much of their new material its amazing to think how fresh they sound for a band with a 34 year career, and the mandatory classics such as Overkill are filled with an overwhelming force that you understand why the building has no windows.Seeing them in Germany could put you off going to a gig in England, over there far more people get involved, headbanging, shouting and moshing up a storm. With an unelightend mind my accompanying sibling moved upstairs, wanting a better view. How could he not understand that we hadn't traveled 683 miles to see Motorhead, we'd come to feel and experience pure Rock 'N' Roll tribalism under the guidance of the Stoke-on-Trent Shaman, the be in and amongst the people and the most involved. I guess finding out he wasn't that tall after all must have been a blow to his ego and so upstairs we went, where the view was to be fair, fantastic. And perhaps thanks to an atmosphere and crowd intensity I'll come to only expect in Germany, the place was filled like a Cathedral, intense and powerful stuff. New to the set was early song Snaggletooth, and as well as usual live favourite Sacrifice having an increased brodding intensity, perhaps due to Lemmy smoking and singing at the same time, Just Because You Have The PowerThat Dont Mean You Got The Right struck a special chord and left me thinking that this is one of Motorheads best and yet hardest find songs. Sword of Glory remains my favourite of the new album and is mandatory in the set.
Once again Motorhead have proven themselves the most reliable event on my calendar, proving their abilities in three countries and two time zones. Seeing Motorhead everyone wonders if it will be the last show and so each year I commit to more and more evenings of ear ringing bliss, so I can only wait and wonder to see where my indulgence will lead next year. One thing for sure is that Germany will play a big part in the celebrations.
