THE CREEPSHOW + GUESTS, Wild at Heart, Berlin @

Thursday, August 20, 2009, had already been announced at the beginning of the week as the hottest day of the year. Not only because THE CREEPSHOW from Canada were supposed to play at Wild at Heart in Berlin that day, but also because the thermometer was expected to rise to 33 degrees or more. Good conditions to sweat in the sauna of Wild at Heart. We will keep quiet about the opening act. Not because I didn’t notice them, but because I did. The band didn’t fit the venue, and the sound didn’t match THE CREEPSHOW. It was some kind of German rock nonsense. The two songs I actually caught were poorly written, musically generic, and the band wasn’t exactly visually appealing either. I preferred to go outside and enjoy the mild summer evening, like many others did. Wild at Heart was already quite full when I arrived, but as the Canadians headed towards the stage, I was curious how everyone would fit in. The audience was quite young and very mixed. From gothic girls to punks to psychobillies, various scenes were mingling at Wild at Heart. In front of the stage, it was already extremely warm before the gig. The Canadians did keep the audience waiting a bit longer than necessary, but once they took the stage, the long wait was immediately forgotten. Sarah Blackwood stepped onto the stage in sexy short shorts and a skin-tight top, while the keyboardist and double bassist were even wearing long sleeves on stage. The drummer came on stage shirtless. A good decision; it wasn’t going to get any cooler. The quartet opened with “Rue Morgue Radio.” This is the first song from the current album and quite a banger. However, it took a while for the crowd to really get moving. It took a few more songs before people started dancing, and a handful of psychobillies ensured clear conditions on the dance floor. The atmosphere was great, even though some people went to the back after the first half dozen songs. It was brutally hot up front. Singer Sarah then announced that this was the first show where she was considering taking off her top because it was so hot. It had already been hot at The Real McKenzies on Monday, but it was really a few degrees warmer here, and especially extremely humid. Everything was sticky, and the floor became increasingly slippery from song to song. However, this did not deter THE CREEPSHOW. The band played a fast, powerful, and captivating set. Especially the songs from the current album were bursting with melody and speed. What singer Sarah does with her voice, even under these conditions, is unique and admirable. She hits every note, has power in her voice, and sings fantastically. THE CREEPSHOW are top-notch horrorbilly. After an hour, the band finished their set. After loud calls for an encore, they played two more songs. The first song was supposed to be a slow piece, and Sarah asked if that was okay since it was so hot and the band actually needed a break. Of course, it was okay. This song was very heartfelt. Purely acoustically, Sarah's voice came across even more strikingly and intensely. It was an emotional moment. Then came the last song, and then it was time for everyone to go outside. Outside, it felt like it was 20 degrees cooler and, above all, dry. I have really experienced many concerts at Wild at Heart, but it has rarely been this damn hot.

THE CREEPSHOW + GUESTS, Wild at Heart, Berlin

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