BACKLOG CLEARED ::

now that the backlog of concerts is cleared (i've missed so many that i'd rather have seen, but that's life) upcoming posts will be longer. hopefully. stay around. cheers.

SHITDISCO ::

SHITDISCO
flex / vienna, austria
14th may 2007

out of all the so-called "nu reve" [1999 they would've still been called electroclash] acts to crash into our hi-fi equipments these days, SHITDISCO easily rank among my favorites. and they proved their worth with a brilliant live show in front of tiny, lethargic (as to almost be autistic), yet quite appreciative audience.

BLOC PARTY / BIFFY CLYRO ::

BLOC PARTY / BIFFY CLYRO
gasometer / vienna, austria
05th may 2007

in terms of popularity BLOC PARTY had every right to be headlining this gig. but in terms of live quality... well, BIFFY CLYRO just couldn't be beat.
not that BLOC PARTY were bad, not at all! it was just a bit... lacking. standing in the audience you'd always expect something more, the moment where it all breaks out and you really feel their songs. that moment never really came. nevertheless, BLOC PARTY are indeed a good band, with highly talented musicians and i do like their music. perhaps expectations were a bit high.
then again so were expectations for BIFFY CLYRO. and they surpassed them. how can three people make this actually rather somber kind of music rock so wildly? i do not know but i do like it! more, please!

CSS ::

CSS
flex / vienna, austria
13th april 2007

there's just something about a bunch of brazilian girls/guys pushing out some electroclashy mix of rock and electro that has to go to your heart. and in CANSEI DE SER SEXY's (CSS) case it really did. at least for me. at least on record.
live? well, many are of the opinion that they are great live. and that they have been so this time. not me. i thought it was a big let-down. unfortunately.
but i still have the record and i haven't given up on them yet. next time we'll see just how good or bad they can be.

KING TIGER ::

KING TIGER
planet music / vienna, austria
06th april 2007

another outstanding but under-appreciated peformance by KING TIGER, this time at the fluxus wear party.
has to be said though that they had maximum audience, more than the supposedly headlining SHARONAS.

BEATSTEAKS ::

BEATSTEAKS
porgy & bess / vienna, austria
01st april 2007

FM4 surprise concert with the BEATSTEAKS? yeah! and it turned out great. porgy & bess was packed and damp and sweaty, the band ripped into their set (as always) and everybody went home very satsified. good, innit?

KLAXONS ::

KLAXONS
flex / vienna, austria
19th march 2007

"golden skans" made me check them out, "from atlantis to interzone" and "four horsemen of 2012" made me really appreciate them. they have been credited with coming up with the term "nu reve", more as a joke than anything else, but it's ironically quite fitting to the KLAXONS' highly recognizable blend of punk, british rock tradition, electro, acid and straight-out camp.
and even though 3 songs into the set their bass amp blew they did quite a good job at keeping the lethargic viennese audience entertained. bravo, young ones.

ROGER CICERO ::

ROGER CICERO
stadthalle f / vienna, austria
17th march 2007

ROGER CICERO is one of the many artists i have to work with and his music is, honestly, not what i would listen to in the sanctuary of my own 4 walls.
but he's a.) a great performer and singer, b.) has an amazing band to back him up and c.) is a very professional, friendly and nice guy to work with. all of these things together culminated in his first official gig in austria. and it was really quite superb.

jazzy and swing-inspired songs, all dead-on. great performance on stage, superb mood in the audience. what more do you want?

TOOL / MASTODON ::

TOOL / MASTODON
stadthalle / vienna, austria
19th november 2006

don't care what people say, MASTODON is a great live band!
seen them before in the arena - that was shortly before or after the release of "remission" - and they blew me away.
unfortunately that wasn't the case this time. shitty sound, quite unfocussed performance... don't know, maybe they had a bad day or it just wasn't the right venue for them. whatever the case, it just wasn't good.
actually it was so disappointing that i didn't stick around to see TOOL anymore.

ENTOMBED / DISMEMBER / UNLEASHED / GRAVE ::

ENTOMBED / DISMEMBER / UNLEASHED / GRAVE
planet music / vienna, austria
14th november 2006

hey, come on, what do i need to say?!

GRAVE? death metal legends in their own right. have to say i don't care much for anything after the second album, but that's just me.

UNLEASHED? if there's anything like soccer-anthem death metal, then UNLEASHED must be the king's of that genre. or do you know many other death metal bands were you can shout along most choruses even if you've never heard any song before? thought so.

DISMEMBER? damn! these guys are just tremendous, perfecting that raw yet melodic swedish death metal that they've helped make big. great stuff!

and of course my beloved ENTOMBED, best band in the world. what can i say? 1 guitarist short, no samples for the atmospheric depth and opening band (= shitty sound) and still they kicked ass like nobody's business. this is right honest music. by jove!