The Brew live from Saturn

A Live gig from Saturn will look good on their CV, we in Germany though know that Brit Rockband ‘The Brew’ weren’t playing where no band has played before, but in fact in a German Megastore.  Since the band came complete for a full blooded show with amplifiers and electric guitars though, this might seem almost as odd as a Galactic Gig – but not so far to travel of course.

If you’ve read my previous reviews of the rockers from Grimsby you will know that A- The Brew are pretty loud and B – They jump a lot.  My first thoughts when I walk into the Hansa Ring Megastore are related to this:  A – The Classical Music section is on the floor right above the stage set up and B – The said  stage looks to be constructed by a toddler from a Christmas Edition Meccano building set.   Spectatorwise, the Classical Department actually provides a perfect ‘balcony’ to watch the band from.  Even better,  it’s also deserted before the first song is over.  An elderly gentleman flicking through the Beethoven concertos either headed downstairs to headbang frontstage or more likely, headed for the exit to avoid having his head banged involuntarily.  Either way it suits me fine. Just me, the soundman and the house photographer are left to survey the throng of music fans jostling for a good view below.

Young guitar wizard Jason Barwick is clearly enjoying himself, under the watchful eye of John Lennon (courtesy of a half dozen Greatest Hits posters) and I think the late Beatle would forgive the wry commercialism of an in-store gig and smile if he could see the enthusiasm on Barwick’s face.  As it is, the posters are to the young guitarists back and Lennon’s face remains deadpan.

The Saturn Manager told me that there have been a few such shows in the past, including OMD.  Musically, considering the location is a very big room filled with CD’s and DVD’s,  the sound is actually very reasonable and,  With the possible exception of  the dust on a few Count Basie CD’s in the Jazz Basement below, there is nothing and no-one to be disturbed.  Certainly any dust on the stage is getting a good beating from the band – bassist Tim (father of drummer Kurtis) has even joined Jason in the odd ‘air-jump’.  From my position now immediately above and behind the Band I can actually see the stage bend under the jumpers like a circus  trampoline.  Fortunately they both land at separate times and avoid a plunge into the Jazz special offer box immediately below.  Both stage and non Rock music lovers get a brief respite from the high energy with the plaintive  ‘Kam’ but volume is restored – along with stage jumping, for the album title track ‘A Million Dead Stars’.

So, six songs, a thank you from Tim to ‘Saturn’ for helping to promote Live music  and it’s autograph time.  Question time too – “Why the instore gig?” I ask Tim afterwards.  “Well we thought we needed a bit of practice.  We haven’t played in, oh, maybe three weeks now” he smiles.  Of course it’s also useful advertising for their November 25 gig at The Kantine in Cologne.  Last year the band played the much smaller Yardclub’ next door, so things are falling into place for total world domination and Arena tours in a year or so.  If you’re reading this Bonn promoters – book The Brew again while you still can.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Rooftop Royalty

The KAH Rooftop ‘ Sommergarten’ show was a bit different last Sunday.  For the first time Rock music was on show – and it attracted not only lots of visitors but also lots of glorious sunshine.   With a band called  The Queen Kings onstage you would expect lots of loyal subjects at their Garden Party – but where are the caviar sandwiches?

Status Quo cover bands have it easy:  Simple songs and simple arrangements that sound good in an arena or in a garden tent.  But Queen –  Masters of larger than life performances in mega arenas?  Try playing Bohemian Rhapsody in a tent, or on a roof even.  Queen Kings did.

Crazy?  Maybe not.  All it needs is ‘A kind of Magic’ and they have it.

I could spend a lot of time and computer screen arguing whether Queen Kings succeed in recreating Freddie & co onstage.  To Jan it simply doesn’t matter.  Jan you see is just a small boy.  He ran in front of the stage and danced.  Jan doesn’t know who Freddie Mercury is or was,  Jan doesn’t care.  All Jan knows is that ‘Crazy little thing called love’ makes him want to dance – and so he does.  That’s what really matters.

The original Band were so much larger than life that it’s easy to forget the strength of the music itself.   Mirko Bäumer and his Band put that right.  Here is ‘Rhapsody’ and ‘We are the Champions’ in plain shirts, jeans and sneakers.  Waiting with my Nikon to catch Bäumer striking  Freddie Mercury poses requires a lot of patience and when they do come they seem natural rather than put on.  I mean, how can anyone sing ‘We are the Champions’ without at least the slightest strutting walk and jutting jaw?  The words demand it.

Whilst there’s no doubting the quality of the Band – both Rolf Sander (bass) and Matthi Schmidt (drums) were in demand for Germany’s version of the Queen musical ‘We Will Rock You’ – It’s fair to say that to truly appreciate Queen Kings complete Show visually you need a spotlit stage and enclosed space to manage the sound perfectly.  Sunshine and small children are not quite what Freddie, Brian, Roger and John were about – maybe Jan though would disagree?!

Popularity: 38% [?]