Martin and James – frannz Club, Berlin; May 20th 2011
Last gig, last time to collect memories before we would all go our separate ways and see each other next tour – whenever that will be. I had mixed feeling about this gig. High hopes, because it was a gig at “home” so to speak, with friends around and last gigs are often special and some sadness in my heart for the same reason. It felt quite weird to know that after so many intense moments the past ten days, this would be the last concert to enjoy.
When we arrived around 6:00 p.m. we were the only ones there and even an hour later surprisingly few people were in line. All the better for us, no trouble getting to front row. The wait seemed so much longer than all the other times and yet I didn’t want the concert to start because I knew it would be over in a heartbeat.
We had a lot to chat about before the support act Chloe started. I liked them better than I did in Aschaffenburg, but I still missed Oh Napoleon. Chloe were not bad, but it didn’t fit with the music of Martin and James so well and I didn’t find anything special about them. Very listenable and a fine support band, but nothing tow write home about and not a band I can’t easily forget now.
By the time Martin and James came on at around 9:00 p.m. the place was finally packed. I saw lots of familiar faces from earlier during the tour – plus a large group of Scotts, all friends of Martin and James who had come to visit for the occasion.
They started with ‘She’s light guiding’ and immediately got a good reaction from the audience. In time for ‘Turn it up’, people were singing along and overall the gig was more lively than some of the others. They didn’t talk too much about the songs this time, but about a few other things. The tymbale was decorated with a kilt, because “We were both to shy to wear a kilt tonight so we put it on our drum,” and the mic stands were decorated with checkered fabric as well. They didn’t explain whose clan the kilt belonged to though.
After ‘Lay this down’ the band came out for ‘Wrong directions’ and stayed until ‘Crashing into Love’ brought the main set to a close. The audience was grooving along nicely and the guys apparently enjoyed being there, albeit being a bit sad because it was the last gig of their first ever headline tour.
The second acoustic set gave us time to breathe with ‘Broken Sword’, before ‘I have to fall’ transferred us right to the party where it had been written, with all the Scottish party guests from back then in the audience, smiling happily.
Way too soon the night ended with ‘Somebody’ and ‘You’re alive’. Yelling, screaming and much clapping brought the guys back out for one more song. “It’s Friday and we love you” was James’ explanation for choosing The Cure’s ‘Friday, I’m in Love’. He had much trouble selecting the right guitar and finding the right chord to plug in. To much laughter, Martin asked if it was Ok for them to just walk off again, but finally everything worked and they made the song their own.
A good end to a wonderful night. The guys retreated to give a few interviews and hopefully party with their friends later and we, the fans, had to get used to the thought that the tour was over and – after one last drink and a few hugs – go home.
See you next tour!
Setlist
She’s light guiding
Turn it up
Lay this down
—
(full band:)
Wrong directions
Wheels
Waiting
Beautiful
Bad Dream
I was blind
Tides
Live Wires
Crashing into Love
—
(acoustic:)
Broken Sword
I have to fall
Give a little bit
Little bits of Light
All over the news
Encore:
Maybe it’s time (duo)
With you (full band)
Somebody (full band)
You’re alive (full band)
Friday I’m in Love (full band)