The last concert of BANDA BASSOTTI in Berlin was more than two years ago. So when it was announced that the band would finally play in Berlin again, the anticipation was high. The concert had been eagerly awaited for weeks. Concerts of the band in Berlin had previously been unique celebrations.
On the night of the concert, however, those who arrived on time had to wait a bit. The doors were supposed to open at 7:30 PM, so some people, especially those who didn't have tickets yet, stood in front of the S.O. 36 on time. However, the door was still closed. So there was still some anxious waiting on this cold February evening. The narrow footpath in front of the club became increasingly crowded, making it difficult for passersby to weave through the waiting crowd. Faces and fingers grew colder, and impatience began to set in. At 8:00 PM, the doors finally opened, and it was time to enter the club. The frozen fingers slowly thawed in the concert hall. The first beer of the evening was ordered. A very relaxed atmosphere prevailed as the club was still quite empty. It gradually filled up, so that the first band, BANDA RUDE, started in front of perhaps 70 people but finished in front of about 400. The band was allowed to start a few minutes later than scheduled to avoid having their performance classified as a living room concert.
BANDA RUDE from Dresden and Bologna meant nothing to me, but I was very curious about what the band would offer. After all, the supporting acts at the last concerts of BANDA BASSOTTI had also been worth seeing.
When the band took the stage, the Korg organ was switched on, and the singer sang the first words into the microphone, it was clear what was coming. A super cool mix of danceable reggae, rock, and a bit of ska. The singer, who comes from Italy, had a fantastic voice and created a great atmosphere on stage. He jumped around, sang with passion, and managed to engage the audience. When he then asked everyone to come a little closer to the stage, some did, and dancing even began. The band was indeed very impressive. The singer reminded me at times of Dr. Ring Ding, and the sound also leaned in that direction. So very groovy and cool. At the end of their performance, they called for participation in the demo "Don't hesitate, block Nazis," as the idiots planned to march in Dresden on 13.02.2013, the day of the bombing of the city in World War II. A very good start for the evening, both politically and musically.
The second band was ERODE. A band from Como in Northern Italy. The band was founded in 1994, released a record, and played for a few years. Then they disbanded. Now the band is back together. ERODE plays old-school Oi with the pressure of street punk. Many were looking forward to the band's performance, as it was their first gig abroad. Many skins found themselves in the front rows, many Italians as well, and in between, many curious onlookers.
As soon as the first notes of the band were played, a respectable pogo developed in front of the stage, and many wanted to sing along with the singer. He didn't need to be asked twice and frequently held the microphone out to the audience, which sang along enthusiastically. The band sang entirely in Italian and played with so much heart and passion that the language barrier was broken in no time. Fists were raised, people sang loudly along, and some words were recognizable, and the excitement grew by the minute. It was getting quite hot in the S.O. 36, and if anyone still had doubts that this evening would not be sold out, they were now proven wrong. ERODE could absolutely captivate the audience. The only thing that seemed a bit surprising at first glance was that the national anthem of the GDR was played as the band said goodbye. In the context of the band's stance, this was certainly understandable, but it also caused some puzzled expressions.
After the gig of the four men from Como, I fought my way to the merchandise stand to see what the band had to offer. Nice t-shirts that underline the band's political statements and a vinyl record. For me, it was clear that I would buy something after the concert, and maybe I would also get a shirt from BANDA BASSOTTI. But first, I needed to ensure hydration, as it was no longer just hot, but also stuffy. The atmosphere resembled a hot day in Berlin.
If I hadn't mentioned it yet, the S.O. 36 was firmly in Italian and Spanish hands that evening.
After a somewhat longer changeover, BOIKOT from Madrid took the stage as the third band. To get to the front, one had to plan some time, but with skill and a smile, it was possible to make progress. It was really crowded, and the crowd was hot, hot for music, hot for BOIKOT.
While the first half of the set was a bit calmer, the band really stepped on the gas in the second half and strongly reminded me of Talco. The band played perfectly together, and the atmosphere was correspondingly extremely good. People danced, sang along, and enjoyed the band's performance. It didn't bother anyone that the brass sections in some songs came from a recording. It was fantastic how the audience almost completely went wild and had an extreme amount of fun. T-shirts were taken off to cool down a bit, and people jumped excitedly from the stage into the audience and were joyfully caught. It was a fantastic gig. Fast, melodic punk rock with many tempo and style changes. If you like Talco, you'll also like BOIKOT, and if none of this means anything to you, look them up online and let yourself be inspired.
It could have ended here. There were three great bands, it had been a wonderful evening so far, it was a pleasure to enjoy this evening with these bands, and the main act was still to come. The changeover for BANDA BASSOTTI from Rome was quite long, but no one was annoyed. Drinking, catching some air, and taking a breath was the order of the day, and of course, securing a good spot. The club was so full that there were places where it was impossible to get through. But no one was bothered; the atmosphere was too good for that.
Then the lights went out, and "Redemption Song" by Johnny Cash played. Pure goosebumps.
The band entered the stage in the cover of darkness but did not start playing immediately; instead, they made way for the singer of BANDA RUDE, who came on stage with an older gentleman from Italy. He introduced him as the son of a partisan who was murdered by Nazis. The short speech that the Italian then gave was received with emotion and enthusiasm. Even more goosebumps. It is hard to gauge what this means for him and for the band; it is far too significant. When the white-haired Italian ended by saying that he no longer felt old when he saw so many enthusiastic faces, it was a moment that could almost bring tears to your eyes.
BANDA BASSOTTI then quickly began their set, while the white-haired man followed the entire gig from the edge of the stage and even sang along at the microphone a few times.
The band was, of course, warmly welcomed by the audience. There was even more dancing than at BOIKOT, people sang loudly along, and every announcement from the band was met with enthusiastic applause. It was once again a celebration to see BANDA BASSOTTI. Even though signs of fatigue were visible among both the audience and the band after half of the set (the singer was somewhat weakened by a cold), the band bravely continued, and the audience enthusiastically followed along. No one left the hall; it was one big celebration. It is hard to describe for those who have never seen the band. Ska-punk, rock, reggae, folk… these are the ingredients from which the music of the Romans is made. Always antifascist, anticapitalist, against the mafia, against Berlusconi, for more human rights, for a social change of the system, for a government of the people, by the people, and not against it. When BANDA BASSOTTI plays, everything seems possible.
The band played for two hours and was sent off as they were welcomed. With loud enthusiasm, even though surely more than half of the audience was standing and exhausted.
So now quickly go to the merchandise and shop.
But what was that?
The merchandise was practically gone. The merchandise from ERODE was completely sold out, and the few items that were still available from BANDA BASSOTTI were either too small or too large. And I was certainly not the only one wanting to spend money. The merch seller was already getting desperate, but there was nothing he could do. What is gone is gone. I guess I'll have to wait for the next concert, which hopefully will be soon.
Three days after the concert, I'm still completely blown away!