Ana Popovic Hot in Cold Cologne
While blizzards were sweeping across the cold streets outside a storm called Ana Popovic was swirling across the hot stage in Cologne’s Stadtgarten.
Only a few weeks into 2010 and already the year is looking busy for Ana Popovic. Amongst the highlights already planned are three days as a live music guest of Fender at the prestigious MUSIKmesse in Frankfurt in March, a new appearance in the UK on the Paul Jones BBC Blues programme, a UK Tour in April/May and a live DVD.
Right now though it’s the Stadtgarten in Cologne that Ana is rocking. There was a disco due to start in the hall at 11pm so Ana had been told to finish at 10.30. She’s just back from holiday though and keen to play music. “Back home in Belgrade we’re just warming up for an evening out at midnight, but I can tell I’m in Germany – Everyone here is so punctual. You all arrive exactly for 8pm and we have to finish at 10.30pm!”.
“What time is it anyway?” she calls out. Ronald Jonker on bass guitar has to tell her – “Um, it’s 10.35 already!” Ana, bless her, just heads into another number, and another… the lady’s not for stopping!

Happy making music - Ana all smiles
Good thing too. It’s only the second show of the year and although everyone looks a bit drained as they come onstage after fighting through the snowstorm, after half an hour it’s like the band has been plugged into ‘recharge’ via their instruments. Ronald is doing his best to jump and hit the ceiling and Ana is all smiles as the band take their solos. Mike is solid as always on Hammond Organ and Stephane is a powerhouse on drums. At one point I see a stick go flying out of his hand and onto the stage. Ana is too deep into her solo to notice and by evening end we have another super concert by Ana and her very capable band. Ronald inevitably picked up roars of approval and a raucous sing-along as his bass solo segued into Queens ‘Another One Bites The Dust’. Great stuff!
A casualty of Ana’s ‘shortened’ set (even ignoring the 10.30 curfew she couldn’t quite make her usual three hours) was sadly ‘Navajo Moon’. So I missed out on one of my favourites but others were there to savour. ‘Steal Me Away’ with it’s down and dirty slide rythm and ‘Nothing Personal’ were two crowd pleasers. An acoustic ‘Blind For Love’ which maybe would be better without the drum (sorry Stephane but this song needs a light touch or no touch at all!)

Ana Popovic - black & white and red hot!
Despite the awful weather the hall was pretty well full and no-one seemed in a hurry to go home as Ana chatted and signed autographs afterwards. CD’s were being quickly snapped up by new Ana fans so the choice of Cologne on the tour map had paid off handsomely and I’m sure that if Ana comes back here the whole audience will do so to!
Needless to say – the APB are set to kick up a storm in 2010, catch them in Bonn on October 8th.
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