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On this cold January day, which was a Saturday, three high-profile bands from Southern Europe invited fans to the Kreuzberg S.O. 36. TALCO, as the headliner, had produced an absolutely top-notch album, accompanied by BOIKOT and OBRINT PAS. Arriving early was essential to ensure entry.
Just before 9:00 PM, when we entered S.O. 36, it was still quite empty, but more and more people were gathering outside the club. There was no doubt that it would get hot and crowded today.
BOIKOT from Madrid were the first to take the stage. Previously only known to me by name, I was curious to see what the band would deliver. BOIKOT started powerfully and quickly. After the sound had to be adjusted at the beginning, it was top-notch after four songs. People started dancing in the front, and the band responded with enthusiasm. BOIKOT offered very melodic, varied fast ska-punk. Here and there, even pop elements shone through. The Spanish vocals added extra power to the songs. The hall filled up song by song. After 45 minutes of BOIKOT, the first hundred people were drenched in sweat, and the hall was filled with an estimated 700 people, many of whom were Spaniards and Italians.
After a long changeover, the Catalans from OBRINT PAS took the stage. The band, which has been around since 1993 and often sings in Catalan, has many fans, especially among the left in Europe. Politically, the band is very engaged, which is reflected in their lyrics. Musically, the band has a very broad range. From ska-punk to folk-punk to heavily electronic-influenced songs, their spectrum is wide. With brass players, a keyboardist, and their own DJ on stage, they are also well-equipped.
When the band took the stage, a storm of cheers erupted. If one thought the atmosphere was already good with BOIKOT, it was overwhelming with OBRINT PAS. More than half the hall danced and sang at the top of their lungs. The band matched this energy perfectly. Despite the many instruments on stage, there was always room to jump. It was one big celebration. The atmosphere cannot be described any other way. The now really full hall turned into an oven with incredible energy. Absolutely fascinating.
As the last band of the evening, I doubted that TALCO could maintain the atmosphere, let alone top it. I was proven wrong. When the seven guys took the stage and unleashed the first notes from their instruments, the dam finally broke. For everyone in the hall. People danced, sang along, and celebrated like rarely seen at S.O. 36. After a few songs, the first stage divers jumped onto the stage. The band played a colorful mix of their three albums, with the songs from the new album having an incredible impact live. No one could stay still. The mix that TALCO plays is simply indescribably captivating. The ska-punk from TALCO, with its refined, sophisticated, and absolutely infectious melodies, is unique. Equally unique were the 90 minutes that TALCO spent on stage. After an encore, it was supposed to be the planned end, the house lights came on, but the band and the audience, now soaked to the skin and in a celebratory mood, wanted more. So there was a second encore, where everyone gave it their all once again.
It was a wonderful evening with three absolute top bands, both in terms of their political engagement and their music. The revolution can come! The soundtrack for it was provided that evening!
Frank