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On December 20, 2008, at U5 in Berlin
Christmas pogo in the Platte
Once again, a concert at the youth club U5, right in the Platte in Berlin – Hellersdorf.
Although we left home relatively late this time, we were still surprised on our way to Hellersdorf. There were hardly any other people who looked like they wanted to go exactly where we were headed. And so it was. On the way to the youth club, we encountered no one. That was different a few years ago.
At least we saw a few young punks in front of the U5. Before the entrance, we met the guys from FAHNENFLUCHT. They had a lot to share, and we listened intently to what bassist Marc had to say. He first told us that some complete idiots had smashed two windows of their rented bus during the night. It happened in Dresden. The gig at the Chemiefabrik. Although the venue had advised the band not to park the bus in front of the club or on the club grounds, the mishap occurred. A few weeks ago, the bus of the Berlin pogo punks from HAUSVABOT was completely robbed on the club grounds. It seems someone has it in for the place.
By now, it was shortly after 9:00 PM. The U5 was surprisingly empty. So empty that I began to doubt whether it would fill up.
Around 9:30 PM, the first band, PIRATENPAPST from Eberswalde, started. After some initial technical problems, the band really put in the effort. Especially the singer kept rallying the audience. Since the band had also brought some fans along, the atmosphere quickly became very good. The band offered solid German punk, which still has room for improvement. Some songs were convincing. In itself, that would have been fine if the band had ended after half an hour. But they didn’t. The band played for at least three-quarters of an hour. In my opinion, that’s too long for a support act. PIRATENPAPST had nothing new to offer after 30 minutes.
The second band, WOCHENENDTICKET, took the stage. The sound was significantly worse than with PIRATENPAPST, almost as if by ghostly hand. The band's music matched the sound. Scrappy with barely understandable vocals, and a drummer who pounded on everything his kit could give in every song. The mood also sank. At least WOCHENENDTICKET didn’t play quite as long as the first band. However, why the band was allowed to play second is beyond my understanding.
PIRATENPAPST definitely had more to offer.
By now, the U5 had also become pleasantly full. However, it was the least attended FAHNENFLUCHT concert that I could remember in that youth club.
When FAHNENFLUCHT finally took the stage, almost the entire audience was packed tightly in front of the stage. With the first notes, a massive pogo broke out, so that the band and the club must have been worried about the equipment. The band from Rheinberg, in my opinion one of the best German punk bands at the moment, enjoyed the atmosphere and fired off one highlight after another. They played a colorful mix of their last three albums, with the songs from the first album being the most well-received. Titles like “Willkommen in Deutschland” or “Demokratie” capture reality incredibly well. With their socially critical, political, and contemporary lyrics, wrapped in powerful punk attire, FAHNENFLUCHT has become indispensable in the German punk scene. The band proved this once again today. The audience and the band gave their all. It was a great concert by an outstanding band. After about an hour of FAHNENFLUCHT, the concert came to an end. Almost every concert-goer left sweaty, exhausted, but happy. FAHNENFLUCHT also looked very satisfied. It was a great evening for everyone, which deserved even more spectators.
Frank