The Berlin punk band NO EXIT celebrated its 20th anniversary on Friday, May 13, 2011, and Saturday, May 14, 2011. The anniversary was not celebrated with a regular concert, but with bands that have accompanied or are still accompanying NO EXIT over its 20 years. Thus, it was much more than a normal concert; it was more of a gathering among friends.
Day 1:
Friday the 13th. Is it a good omen to celebrate on this day? At least for Zaunpfahl, it was not a good omen, as they had to cancel their gig at short notice for health reasons. Instead, HALBSTARKE JUNGS stepped in at the last minute. This was written at the entrance of the club H.O.F.23. You could read it several times, as the entrance, which began at 6:00 PM but was only used for the start of the first band at 7:30 PM, was not the fastest. So we had to wait and practice patience. We shortened the waiting time by greeting the first familiar faces and handing over our birthday gift to NO EXIT.
Finally inside, SPANX was already playing. This band features Hoitling, who had played guitar for NO EXIT for a long time but then decided entirely for SPANX. There he plays bass.
The concert room was still quite empty. Perhaps 40 people watched the band, many of whom were direct friends of the band. The guys were not disturbed by the almost non-existent backdrop and played their sound cleanly, which can be found somewhere between (guitar) rock, dark punk, and pig rock. It didn't sound bad and was quite enjoyable, but with so few people in the large concert room, no atmosphere could really build up. The not-so-great sound that the mixer was mixing at his large desk did not contribute to increasing enthusiasm either. So we went out to the small courtyard while SPANX was still playing, and lo and behold, there were the people. We secured a spot where we weren't completely in everyone's way and enjoyed our first after-work beer.
SPANX probably played two encores, as it took a few minutes until HALBSTARKE JUNGS took the stage and the first notes sounded.
I had not seen HALBSTARKE JUNGS until then and was accordingly curious about what the five would show. By now, the concert room was better filled, so that a real concert atmosphere slowly arose. The guys gave it their all and blasted their version of Oi mixed with street punk into the audience. The audience thanked the band with pogo and loud singing along. There were some fans present who knew the band well. The songs I caught, like “Nie Skinhead,” which is particularly against all the right-wing people without hair and makes a clear statement, but at the same time is also against any extremism, were well received, although after 5-6 songs, one did notice that the band could use a bit more variety. But it could also have been due to the sound, which was not the best for this band either. However, the sound particularly pleased the present skins, and so it slowly but surely turned into a good party.
As the third band of the evening, DIE ZUSAMM-ROTTUNG took the stage: a band I had never seen live before, but which was also closely connected to NO EXIT. The band is even a year older, having formed in 1989. The concert room was well filled with 200-250 people. DIE ZUSAMM-ROTTUNG visibly enjoyed the gig and played their sound, which somewhat reminded me of 90s punk rock with influences from Deutschpunk and '77 punk, very cleanly. The music reminded me of the old days when recordings were still made analog and the music sounded overall purer and simpler. DIE ZUSAMM-ROTTUNG also pleased those present, although many were mainly waiting for NO EXIT and for BERLINER WEISSE, who were to play next.
BERLINER WEISSE, who had to take a break for a few months for health reasons, went full throttle from the first second. Singer Toifel appeared almost excited and nervous, which was allowed since BERLINER WEISSE brought the first real party atmosphere of the evening. BERLINER WEISSE immediately played “Thor Steinar,” their song against all right-wing nutjobs. On this evening, you could also buy their merchandise “Thorten Schneida” shirts. A clear statement against the right.
However, BERLINER WEISSE are mainly known for great parties, and this evening was no exception. A great set with classics like “Haltet die Welt an” thrilled the audience. The atmosphere rose minute by minute. It was a really great, exuberant mood. At the peak, singer Toifel announced three songs, one of which was “Berlin,” sung by NO EXIT's singer Rio. As soon as the songs were played, it got bright, and the guys were gone. It can happen that quickly. BERLINER WEISSE were once again fantastic and, in my opinion, have become one of the really good bands in this genre, who have clear positions and with whom you can have a lot of fun.
As the last band, the birthday child got ready. The sound was checked again, and lo and behold, suddenly it sounded quite decent. This is also due to NO EXIT's mixer, who always does an excellent job and brought out the best from the system that evening.
As expected, the concert room was now full, with about 350 people. However, it was not sold out, which was a bit of a shame, as seeing five bands for 12 € is truly just worthwhile. NO EXIT were supported that evening by Tobi (Zusamm-Rottung & Commando) on the second guitar until former guitarist Roland took the six-string and played some songs. It looked good, it sounded good, and as a long-time companion of NO EXIT, this was a highlight of the evening. The band, led by singer Rio, played a varied set between older and newer songs, although real rarities were missing, meaning songs that are rarely or never played live, but perhaps the band will present these on Saturday. The party atmosphere from BERLINER WEISSE remained, and so it was a really great time with a truly great band that is indispensable from Deutschpunk.
After the performance, it was either home or around the corner to the aftershow party.
Day 2:
“Does it have to be this bright?” Ah yes, it's mid-May, the sun is shining. After turning over several times and hoping that sleep would hold me once more, I eventually woke up when others were already starting with coffee and cake. The night was long.
After the renewed humanization, I went with friends to the favorite Italian restaurant, and then in the rain to Weißensee for the second day of NO EXIT's birthday celebration.
On this day, the entrance was quicker, which was also because at 7:30 PM there were even fewer people in the hall than on the first day to see the first band, BOTOX.
I had a completely different memory of the guys and was pleasantly surprised by what they had to offer. Melodic punk rock, which in its best moments reminded me of Alarmsignal and was entertaining. By the end of the half-hour playing time the band received, a few fit punks were even dancing. However, the majority of the audience was still quite calm. Taking it easy was the motto, as this evening was also going to be long.
As the second band, KAFKAS took the stage. By now, maybe about 100 people were present, with more arriving minute by minute. I had stored KAFKAS in my mind as a terrible fun punk band, so I only listened to the first songs of the band. These were nothing special. Deutschpunk, with a touch of ambition, but nothing you hadn't seen a thousand times before. I could better pass the time, and so I drifted into the small courtyard, where beer and sausage were served, and smokers could indulge in their addiction. Since the cool people are usually where smoking is allowed, it was not surprising that I was no longer very interested in KAFKAS.
What did interest everyone present, however, was the first performance of N.O.E. since their breakup 13 years ago. The approximately 350 people now in the concert room were eagerly awaiting the performance of the band from Delitzsch.
After a small line check, it was finally time, and N.O.E. began. Although the sound that evening felt louder but definitely better than on the first evening, one of the band's first announcements was, “This sounds different than before.” Then the stage sound was adjusted a bit, and off they went. You could sense the band's nervousness but also their enthusiasm, especially during the announcements, which came across as unpretentious and honest. The band was celebrated in the truest sense of the word. It was great to watch, even as someone who didn't think much of the band back then, I was swept away by the sheer enthusiasm. The band stopped far too early, and despite loud calls for an encore, the Delitzschers did not come back on stage.
Instead, a band that doesn't play very often was getting ready, FLUCHTWEG!
This band should be known to every NO EXIT fan due to years of close ties and a joint tour. FLUCHTWEG changed their style after the release of their last album “Corporate Identity” to a calmer, sometimes big band-heavy sound. While this was musically demanding and nice to watch, it couldn't really captivate overall. Nevertheless, the audience was numerous in front of the stage today, and visually it already looked like the band had changed their style again during the setup.
And so it was. The band had changed their sound towards punk rock, country with a touch of rockabilly and ska. The band stood elegantly, completely in black on stage, and you could see the fun they were having, which promptly transferred to the audience. There was pogoing, singing along, and simply enjoying every song. In my opinion, FLUCHTWEG's performance was one of the best in years. This was due to the new style, especially the young second guitarist made a great impression, and the very good sound coming from the speakers (here a big compliment to the mixer). The band played far too short, and as the last song “Big fat Trucker,” a song that doesn't always make it onto the setlist, was performed, it was staged just like every song of the band that evening.
This is how I like the band again. Maybe they'll honor us again this year.
As if the evening hadn't already been filled with enough highlights, after a short break and a fresh beer, RASTA KNAST was up next.
The approximately 400 guests present went wild after the first notes of the band. Up front, there was plenty of pogoing, and of course, almost everyone was singing along loudly. The sound at RASTA KNAST was almost as good as with the previous combo, and so their fast and highly melodic punk rock thrilled from the very first second. RASTA KNAST played a great set that included the classics “Die Katze beißt in Draht,” “39 Grad,” the great song “Trümmer,” and of course, since we were in former East Berlin that evening, also their song “Ost-Berlin,” which is always requested in the capital. I believe the band had an hour of playing time, which felt like half an hour to me. It was a raucous punk rock party, and one more band was still to come. Heart, what more could you want?
NO EXIT, as the last band of the evening and birthday child, was of course, as expected, received frenetically. The band looked surprisingly fresh on day 2 of their party. The band from the eastern part of the city played a set that could have been a bit more varied, as many songs had already been played the day before, but since the setlist was very good per se and offered something from all phases of the band's work, it wasn't too bad. The atmosphere was, as expected, very good. The audience and the band gave it their all once more before it slowly went home or to the aftershow party.
It was two really great days that were worthy of a 20th anniversary. The location was well chosen, the sound could have been better on the first day, but so be it. It was two days that were almost perfect.
Many thanks to NO EXIT and many thanks to Puke Music as the organizer!
Let's hope that NO EXIT will stay with us for a few more years! It's great that you guys exist.