Fury in the Slaughterhouse – Westfalenpark, Dortmund; September 1st, 2017

Back when I was in high school, Fury in the Slaughterhouse released ‘Won’t forget these days’, one of those songs that became a hymn for many people of my generation. Back then, some of those high school times were memories we wanted to keep forever and only much much later we might have realized they were not so important after all. Either way, the song still carries meaning for me, there are still times in my life that I want to commit to memory until the end and days I won’t every forget and the song is still the perfect soundtrack for those.
Fury in the Slaughterhouse were one of the first bands I ever saw live, way back in 1993. I saw them only twice after that and when the band split up in 2008 I had long lost track of them. Imagine my surprise when I found out they were gonna perform right here in my city for a summer open air. Since this year marks their 30th anniversary they got back together. The nostalgic part of my wanted to go see them and find out how many songs I still remember, if their music still means anything to me so I bought a ticket. I knew it was going to be a fun night. What I had not counted on were the emotions it brought forth. They played their hearts out and moved me to tears in the process. At the end of the night I felt deeply grateful to have been there. It was exactly what I had needed. 😀

The weather forecast had been OK so when it started raining in the afternoon I was not happy and did not feel like getting wet. Then again, I had a ticket so I was not gonna stay home. I walked there in the rain, but coming early meant a great spot in front row and soon the rain stopped and the sun came out. Perfect! People around me were nice, many old time fans showed up and some had brought their kids to see the band they loved. It felt like it was going to be great.

At 7.00 pm, Kai, the singer stepped on stage and told us they had thought they’d play a few gigs in Hannover, their hometown, for their anniversary and be done with in until people started asking for more and they obliged. He introduced their producer and friend Jan Löchel who was the night’s support act. Jan walked out, guitar in hand and started plying. It was nice music, I liked it. After one song he was joined by a familiar looking woman – Anne de Wolff. One more song and Ulrich Rode joined them too. It was lovely to see and hear two members of BAP with him on stage and I truly enjoyed their set. 🙂

They did not keep us wait for long until we saw a countdown on the big screen. As the first song was played from tape, they walked on stage with pictures from their years as a band shown in the background. How young they all looked in the early days. 🙂 Of course they did, we were all younger then. 😉 They promised us 30 songs for 30 years, new and old. Soon I realized that I remembered enough of the lyrics to enough of the songs to sing along and truly be part of the concert, not just a spectator. 🙂

Initially I had thought this was just going to be a nice evening with feel good music, memories of old days and happy thoughts without all the emotional involvement that usually comes with the bands I love. Turned out I was wrong. A few songs into the set, when they played ‘Radio Orchid’ I was in tears and not for the last time that night. Listen and cry…

That night we heard not only Kai sing, but Thorsten and Christof too and every band member was honored at one time or another. It was a joy to see them interact and play together. They must have had fun and they sure enjoyed the audience attention. Time after time Kai came to the front of the small catwalk and stood there, arms outstretched, letting us sing. And sing we did. From time to time he was joined by one of the others or he walked over to them.

Mid show they did an acoustic set on the catwalk too and explained they needed a break at their age. 😉 We also learned that Gero cannot play in the rain, because the accordion despite the German nickname Schifferklavier (Skipper’s piano) getting wet does not do this instrument any good. I saw some of the guys from the back only while they played there, but luckily they all turned at one point or another. We heard ‘When the Gods go home’, ‘The she said’ and for ‘Bring me home’ Kai and Christof went for a walk in the audience. They told us we had to sing until they go back. Of course. The walked out to the side, but Kai came back right where I stood. Many fans hugged them,patted their shoulders or snapped selfies with them on the way. What a cool thing for them to do. <3

We heard a few stories and some banter in-between songs, from not liking Milk with honey to stories of living together in the early days and one longer story before ‘Every generation got its own disease’ about someone who wrote to them after seeing one of the first gigs, complaining that he had wanted to see a rock show, but they were too political. Say what? Kai told us that apparently he did not like the images of Trump getting blowdried during one of the songs or the images for the following song. This guy just wanted them to shut up and sing. Their answer? “Fuck you, asshole, you are not going to tell us what we can and cannot say!” (“Fick dich Du blödes Arschloch! Wir lassen uns unsere Schnautze nicht verbieten!”) That was the point in the show where I raised my fist and yeled my approval and I was not the only one either. Way to go guys! For the song then they showed us images of Trump, Erdogan, Kim Jong Un and others in action and nothing could have fit better.

‘Trapped today, trapped tomorrow’ had me in tears again and I had not remembered just how beautiful ‘In your room’. Some of the songs cut me deeply that night and that’s exactly how I like it. We had everything. Beautiful music, fun, lights raised above our heads, waving in unison and lots of singing along. It could not have been more perfect. 😀

The guys have recorded an acoustic album that was released on concert day and support Jan Löchel had produced it. Thus, Kai called him to the stage for a song he convinced them to sing. It was The Cure’s ‘Boys don’t cry’. That was as unexpected as it was nice. Just before the encores (I think) they had another guest – Daniel Wirtz and performed the Goo Goo Dolls’ ‘Iris’ with him. I loved it. Then, they ended the main set with ‘Won’t forget these days’ the song they can never leave out. We all sang along loudly and continued until they were back on stage for a reprise.

They walked off again and came back, because they had not played 30 Songs yet. Before ‘Kick it out’ Christof thanked everyone involved with the tour, including the audience and told us he was going to lie to us now. “I’m just a lonely boy drinking to much liquor. Writing songs that no one wants to hear…” 🙂 Of course they could not leave us without ‘Time to wonder’, still one of my favorites after all these years. To my surprise they came back one more time and treated us to a beautiful version of ‘Seconds to Fall’ before finally saying goodbye.

At the very end, Kai walked down towards us and gave his guitar pic to a little girl who had been standing at the front with her dad all this time. Such a lovely gesture. She didn’t even know what to make of it, but it made all the adults smile. At was the perfect ending to this night. We got 2.5 hours of a great show that left me with a happy smile on my face. Thank you for the great time Fury in the Slaughterhouse. I loved it and I would not mind coming back again!

Setlist (not sure this is correct)

It’s a Long Way to the Top (Intro)
Dance on the Frontline
Dead Before I Was Born
Jericho
Radio Orchid
Words
Warchild
Dancing in the Sunshine of the Dark
Things Like This
30 (It’s Not Easy)
Milk and Honey
When God Goes Home (acoustic)
Then She Said (acoustic)
Bring Me Home (acoustic)
Riding on a Dead Horse
Haunted Head and Heart
When I’m Dead and Gone (McGuinness Flint cover)
Trapped Today, Trapped Tomorrow
Cry It Out
In Your Room
Are You Real
Boys don’t cry (The Cure cover) (with Jan Löchel)
Every Generation Got Its Own Disease
Iris Goo Goo Dolls cover mit Daniel Wirtz
Won’t Forget These Days

Encore
Won’t Forget These Days (Reprise)
My Personal Everest
Down There

Encore 2:
Revelation
Kick It Out
Time to Wonder

Encore 3:
Seconds to Fall