Resist to Exist: Clearly simply THE punk festival in Berlin.
Now in its sixth year, the festival took place. It was founded to make a statement against the privatization of the scenically renowned Biesdorfer Park in East Berlin, which is why the festival was held on the park's own stage for the first three years (2004-2006). This also explains the name of the festival (“Resisting to exist”). By 2009, nothing of this origin could be felt anymore; the festival had become self-sufficient for its own benefit, and this year, like the last two years, it took place in the north of Berlin, with a lineup that would make anyone salivate, even better than the number one German punk festival, Force Attack, for my musical taste. Moreover, the Resist has many other advantages to offer:
Entry was only 26 evening box office euros for three days of festival with almost 40 bands ranging from punk rock to ska, good transport connections since it’s in Berlin, camping included, and a family atmosphere with only a maximum of 500 people on the campsite despite around 2000-3000 visitors. And from the campsite, it was just a one-minute walk to the next stage.
From August 7-9, 2009, one of the hottest weekends of the year, it was time again: beer bought, tent set up, and the festival could start promptly at 4 PM. The schedule was adhered to meticulously throughout the festival, so that it could end punctually at midnight on Friday and Saturday, as the local authorities were very strict about noise disturbances, as the organizing team mentioned. Many residents had complained in previous years, and next year the festival will take place again, but probably at a different location with less stress from the authorities.
There are two stages on the grounds, so that despite the changeover breaks between bands, there was always wonderful noise. The respective bands that played before 6 PM had a hard time, as usually no more than 50 people gathered in front of the stage, because who is fit at a festival at 2 PM and has survived or gotten rid of their hangover from the night before?
On the first day of the festival, a great lineup was already in place, with the band Frustkiller from Hanover playing at 6 PM, who, as far as I know, hadn’t played in Berlin for a long time or perhaps never. It wasn’t very full yet, but that changed around 8 PM with Alarmsignal from Celle, and later with Rasta Knast, there was no stopping. The four-member band showed their professionalism live, and all their well-known anthems were played, with the song Ost-Berlin having a particularly striking effect. Assuming the band wasn’t lying to the audience, the Resist is the best festival in Germany for them. At least they said so live.
To my great delight, Konflikt from Slovakia completed the first evening of the festival. A band that is somewhat like the Slovakian Toten Hosen in terms of recognition in their home country and even played with The Offspring a weekend later in Slovakia. I was very pleased to finally see the band live; the long journey to Berlin was certainly worth it for them.
The band Zusamm-Rottung ended the Friday night. It was the band's first concert after a total of 10 years of hiatus. The reason why the band dared to come back to the surface after ten years of obscurity was not clarified; I found them lyrically, but especially musically, not particularly profound or well thought out, and the atmosphere before with Rasta Knast was significantly better.
Saturday's musical program began at 1 PM with almost empty meadows in front of the stages, but at the latest with Hausvabot and No Exit from Berlin, who of course enjoyed home advantage at the Resist, a large part of the festival visitors came to life, and at 9:30 PM there was no stopping with the Gumbles. It was also nice to admire the Rotten Ratten (formerly HBW) live, who hadn’t played in Berlin in recent years. Songs like Gruppenzwang, Rote Zora, or Moskau were played, and the Ratten were the only band that actually dared to exceed their allotted time; you could tell they were eager to play. The Friday was completed by Popperklopper with their fast punk rock and a program (including announcements) that suspiciously resembled their program from last year, which shouldn’t be a problem, as I wanted to hear the songs they played again, just like most others.
After two days of punk rock, Sunday was reserved for rather calm music like ska and reggae, alongside Crushing Caspars from Rostock and Daily Terroristen (the band that emerged from Daily Terror, unfortunately without the now-deceased singer Pedder). Perhaps not a bad idea for the last day of the festival.
Punctually at 8 PM on Sunday evening, the festival ended, so that the gentlemen from the local authorities had nothing to complain about.
Overall, a great festival with a family atmosphere, without stress in any respect, with a super organizing team, with many small but also many big bands, with very good bands and also some musical disappointments (the band Roimungstrupp, which I remember as extraordinarily bad, apparently couldn’t even play their own songs and missed every cue) and of course with great weather. Also memorable was the affordable price: a beer for 1.50 euros. See you next year!