It’s a thin line between special and strange

Ezio – Oberhausen; March 18th 2009

Last night I went to Oberhausen to see Ezio and what a good decision it was. I have known them for about 8 years now and they are one of those bands for whom you always hope for a breakthrough, but can’t help feeling they’ll never get it because it hardly ever happens for these virtually unknown but great bands, who still play bars and little clubs.

Back when I lived in Hamburg I used to see them every year, but it had gotten harder since I moved and this was the first chance in four years.

They were in a great mood and since it was the first show of the tour everything was improvised. No setlist, no routine yet, but lots of fun for everyone. They kept stopping between songs to talk and figure out what to play next. They also kept on taking calls from the audience and played hardly any of the well known songs they usually play.

What a great concert. I loved everything about it. The uninhibited performance, the jokes, the talking and picking the songs at random, the laughter. The audience was wonderful too, singing along, laughing at the right times, generally showing enthusiasm. The band kept surprising me and showed great energy. Much more than they did last time I saw them. The two hours went by quickly.

Afterward they were selling their own stuff. I bought the latest live CD and took the time to thank them for a wonderful evening. If they come and play anywhere near you, make sure to check them out. They are well worth it.

List of Songs played (not ordered and probably not complete)

Angel Song
30 and confused
Woo Hoo Hoo
Deeper
One mor walk around the dance floor
Thin Line
Darkness
Hotel Motel
Holding you now
59 yards
Wild Side
Everybody forgets sometimes
Moon burn (Booga singing)
Thousand years
At that Moment
Take me away

Are we human or are we dancer?

The Killers – Düsseldorf; March 13th 2009

The latter obviously…
Yesterday I had the pleasure to witness a concert by The Killers and it was bloody amazing. Granted, I had no idea what I was in for, but once I allowed myself to just go with the flow I had a great time.

Got there a bit after 16:00 and the lines weren’t all that long yet. Figured I’d make it to somewhere near the front. Got in around 18:00 and wondered why in the world they had a pit set up – I should have taken that as a clue. Ended up 3rd row on the left behind a few short girls/women and was quite happy with my spot. Sat down for a while, because I was dead tired and my back hurt, but could not stand people crowding in on me so I got up again. Some days I feel really old.

At 20:00 the support act Louis XIV started. They weren’t half bad. I enjoyed their set and had a good spot to take pictures. After they were done, we were in for a long wait.  The changing of stage set up took forever. Also it was long done before The Killers finally came out at 21:20.

The first song “Human” hadn’t even fully started when I realized why there was a mosh pit. Everyone around me suddenly started to pogo. I didn’t have the slightest chance to keep my spot, never mind taking pictures. I could only do one of two things: a) get the hell out of there or b) go along with it. After thinking for the second time that night “I am too old for this!” I shrugged, grabbed a firm hold on my camera and did as everyone else did: jump around like crazy.
Interestingly that jumping did a world of good to my back pain and it was fun. Within seconds I was smiling, shouting, drifting back and forth and enjoying it tremendously. I let myself be pushed to the back though because it was just a little too wild in the front. Ended up drifting between row ten and 20 at the center, dancing, singing, jumping and even taking pictures.

I don’t know the songs very well, but enough to recognize and sing along to my favorites. Everyone around me knew all the lyrics. I did not, but I didn’t care. The band had amazing power and didn’t need to do much to fire up the audience. The sound was great and singer Brandon Flowers sure has stage presence. The atmosphere was just wonderful, energy was flowing from the stage to the audience and back, everyone was part of a moving, breezing mass, attending a huge party.

My personal highlights were ‘Somebody told me’, because it was the first Killers’ song I ever knew and ‘Sam’s Town’, because it sounds so much like Springsteen, but it’s really hard to pick favorites. It was a great, great show. I totally loved it and by the time they ended 90 minutes later with confetti falling from the ceiling I was sweaty and ready to leave. I am so happy I decided to go there. Probably not for the last time either. What a great night and what a fun show!

Setlist

Human
This Is Your Life
Somebody Told Me
For Reasons Unknown
I Can’t Stay
Joy Ride
Neon Tiger
Bling (Confession of a King)
Shadowplay (Joy Division cover)
Spaceman
Smile Like You Mean It
A Dustland Fairytale
Sam’s Town
Read My Mind
Mr. Brightside
All These Things That I’ve Done
Bones
Losing Touch
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
When You Were Young