Passion colors everything - On the road | Touring with the bands I love

Martin and James – Luxor, Cologne; Mai 14th 2011

“In my blood, there’s a beat I’ve gotta turn it up
I can hear that you’ve been playing inside my head too long
In the air, there’s a wave that’s trying to get there
and your call is breaking down these walls you’ve built so strong”

After not getting too much sleep, I was back in Cologne, a few meters down the road from the Blue Shell, to see Martin and James once again, at the Luxor this time. Somehow I had arrived much too early and spent the first hour alone outside. I was lucky enough to hear the soundcheck though and say hello to Oh Napoleon as they arrived.

The audience seemed considerably younger than at the previous gigs. I would have made a bet their music didn’t necessarily appeal to teenagers, but I guess I was wrong. When they let us in I picked a spot on the side – I needed a different perspective for taking pictures.

Oh Napoleon started on time and warmed us up nicely. I’m really happy they were picked as a support act. I could not think of a better match. The Luxor was packed and people were going nuts already – this would become a loud concert.

At 20:30 it was time for Martin and James. The crowd was excited and somewhat pushy, greeting them loudly. They kept the setlist change from the previous night with only three acoustic songs in the beginning. There was already good crowd participation for ‘Turn it up’ and ‘Lay this down’ that only got louder as soon as the band came out and went into ‘Wrong Directions’.

Martin and James were in a great mood and sure had fun with the people responding so much. They told us it made them less nervous. A lot of clapping and singing along was going on through the entire full band set and got to it’s peak for ‘Crashing into love’. Once again James told us they were still dreaming of being rockstars and we happily obliged, celebrating them, yelling, screaming and clapping. They stretched out the song for quite a while, amazed by the reaction they got and ended with Martin claiming “We were almost rockstars there for a moment!”. I have to agree.

All in all the atmosphere was amazing and the audience partied so much that at one point James remarked with a smile “You don’t have to scream every time we say something.” The second acoustic set was beautiful and for the encores the band came back. ‘Devils in the Dooorway’ was not played this time – it would have been too sad I guess. All in all one amazing concert and certainly the one with the loudest audience.

Once again the guys came out after the show and took their time chatting with everyone until we were all kicked out of the club. We chatted a bit of the album being more polished and the live songs being rougher. They agreed with me that the rougher versions are better. Apparently they love playing live and it shows. Otherwise, I would not go back again and again. In my head, there’s your song, I’ve gotta turn it up!

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 (full band):
Maybe it’s time
Somebody
You’re alive

Martin and James – Blue Shell, Cologne; May 13th 2011

“This was the best one so far!” were my first words to James (and a bit later to Martin) after the gig. Neither of them was convinced, but it sure sounded amazing from where I was standing. There was a lot more audience participation and singing along than at the previous two gigs and both of the guys seemed more laid-back that night…

It started with the usual waiting. A handful of people were there before me, but getting to the front was no problem. I was surprised at just how small the Blue Shell is. I’m really bad at guessing such things, but I’d say it holds 200 people at most. Anyway, it was sold out and packed soon after the doors opened. The stage was small too and rather low. No backstage either so both bands had to come through the audience and walk up the two steps to the stage.

Oh Napoleon started a little late at 8:15 p.m. I enjoyed their set once again and by now I could even sing along a little bit. By the time this tour is over I might actually remember their setlist.

Martin and James came on at 9:15 p.m. and climbed the two steps to great applause. As usual, they started with an acoustic set. They had shortened it by one song, only playing ‘She’s light guiding’, ‘Turn it up’ and ‘Lay this down’ before bringing out the band. This worked well for me, gave the concert a bit more drive.

The audience was really into it from the start. This was the first concert where many people were singing along, at least in my corner of the room and they knew the lyrics too. It wasn’t only the current single they sang along to either, they knew the album and then some. I was impressed and happy to witness such a reaction for once.

There’s nothing wrong with just listening and Martin and James’ music certainly calls for that, but once in a while it must be good for the guys to get some feedback. They seemed less nervous than at some of the previous gigs and had to work a little less hard. They became more talkative as they went along, telling a little bit about each song and even making a few jokes. They seemed to be getting into a routine.

The funniest story told that night was the one about their morning at the Sat 1 “Frühstücksfernsehen” – they had been driving all night from Hamburg to Berlin, arrived at 5:30 and were expected at the TV studio at 6:00. When they got there, they expected it to be one song, pre-recorded, but actually it was “three songs and two interviews”. James really drew out the story. The best part was the bit about their manager repeating it was live and how they kept hoping it would not be – “Stop saying the word LIVE!”

Martin joked about their backstage passes and how, when they toured with other artists, they could use them to get into clubs, but “now we have these with our own picture and we tried to get into the clubs, but no-one knows who we are.” All in all they were more relaxed than the previous gigs.

All the songs worked wonderfully, with the band and without. I was especially happy to hear ‘Devils in the Doorway’ again, but everything else was wonderful too. The highlights, ie.e the songs that got the loudest audience reaction were Bad Dream’, ‘All over the News’, ‘Wrong Directions’, ‘Somebody’ and of course ‘Crashing into Love’ The audience loved it and lots of them stayed to chat with the guys after. A great night!

Setlist

Encore (full band):
Maybe it’s time
Devils in the doorway
Somebody
You’re alive

Passion colors everything – On the road

Touring with the bands I love

“We were almost rockstars there for a moment”

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