"Fun for Free": ein supergeiles Wochenende mit Sechzehn Pferdestärken.

This weekend the beautiful city of Munich celebrated its annual 'Stadtgründungsfest'. A city near the Austrian border, which doesn't easily let a chance to throw a party, pass by. Who hasn't heard of the 'Oktoberfesten' and seen people singing out loud in the beergardens. It may sound stereotypical but in this land of Bavaria some people actually wear lederhosen, drink gallons of beer from huge mugs and eat enormous amounts of sausages, while listening to the link-arms-with-the-stranger-next-to-you-and-move-from-left-to-right music. ;-)

In connection with these 'festen', a small festival was organized at 'the' alternative venue of Munich, the 'Muffathalle'. A jugendstil construction built in 1894 that was used as a steam and power station. In 1990 it was restored under the monument protection act to serve as a multi-functional cultural center. Beautifully located in a small park on the banks of the Isar river next to an architecturally breathtaking bathhouse annex restaurant from the beginning of the 20th century.
At the end of the 20th century (believing in the theory that we start the 21st in 2001 ;-) the Muffathalle hosts a different cultural event almost every night. Today's offering: "Fun For Free! 16 Horsepower mit Support: Bitches Brew und Lunch Break Rodeo. 20:30 Eintritt Frei"

Surprised not to see The Czars name on the poster, we walk into a hall which could easily hold 1300 people. But it was still relative empty at that point. We watch Bitches Brew, German 'RockundRoll', for a few minutes. "Yeah, we might as well go and see what they've got at the merchandize corner, right now. ;->"

Besides the Hoarse CD, Secret South CD/vinyl and Clogger single, they were selling new T-shirts with Secret South/Clogger prints. A few of them in bright yellow, a colour that normally hurts your eyes. (Who is designing these things, anyway? ;->)
After half an hour Bitches Broom made way for a Johnny Cash-Bob Dylan-Pet Shop Boys-Lemonheads in country-style coverband: Lunch Break Rodeo. Meanwhile the hall got more and more crowded/krauted, and I was pleasantly surprised by the virtues of the Bayern-Germans.
When I checked out the bathroom it turned out to be miraculously clean, without even an arty-farty lavatory attendant. (Like one can always spot in our Dutch venues: they just sit there, cashing money, selling lollipops and acting cool. But do they actually clean something? ;->)

And they are so polite. Incredible. They hardly ever talk during songs, they don't push themselves up front (like the English), they drink without getting obnoxious (like the English? ;->) and they don't throw their plastic cups to the ground, (like …) but that's probably because you get a 2 DM refund if you return your "glass". ;->).

Around 22:45, it was really getting crowded, almost packed, 1000 or more people awaiting 16 Horsepower and listening to the latest Morphine record. We were ready to be enthralled again. Bring on the dancing horses. But out came a security guy (at least that was what his T-shirt said ;-) asking not to take any pictures with flash, otherwise chances would be high the camera would get confiscated. Something that had happened the night before when someone had heedlessly disregarded 3 such warnings. His camera was taken in a somewhat violent ("hard core" ;-) way, which actually had made the band feel uncomfortable afterwards. But is the no-flash photography mode the first proof of a more professional approach by the band?

The crowd "klatsch Beifall" when 16hp arrive on stage and someone in the audience welcomes them back when David is about to sit down.
Steve behind the keyboard for the intro of Silver Saddle, David: "Tonight you've caught your breath, you're lost your American spirit …", David's cowboy boots (Cuban heels and pointed toes) tap vigorously against the metal frame of his stool, "if only I could catch my death, just give me long enough to fear it …". And I'm bedazzled again.
It only took until the third song, Splinters, before 16hp have the audience eating (not sausages ;-) out of their hands.

This relatively older audience seemed to be well acquainted with the new album, because the band was received with a very warm embrace.
And out came more candy: while David played the bandoneon, which acted as a cool air ventilator to the ones standing just before him, they gave what I consider to be the best rendering of Harm's Way I have ever heard. I'm 'begeistert!' "Zugabe!"

Pascal, now with a full-grown goatee annex thinking pad, restrains his laughter when he sees David's foot thrown in the air again. Steve sings his back-up vocals not quite in the mike, but a few centimeters from it and therefore can't be heard. David breaks a banjo-string. Elin (pronounced E-a-lin - not alien - because it is Swedish, as we happened to overhear :-) still without the chewing gum, with her tongue between her lips when she needs to concentrate. Jean-Yves holds onto his drums, to stop the vibrations emanating from the bass. Just some images that stick.

The show lasted 80 minutes, which is considerably shorter than in March. But playing 5 or 6 nights in a row is hard on David's voice. The well-balanced setlist was business as usual again. That's why the band is getting tighter and tighter. You could see that they are getting more and more used to each other and the new songs. And as a result they're less 'messy' and more 'professional'. Personally, I quite like a mess at times; I don't mind a mistake or something unexpected happening. (This is not a plea to screw up all the time ;-) I just hope that performing doesn't turn into a routine. I welcome a healthy dose of chaos, probably more than the band does.

Don't get me wrong. It was a great show. And a smart move to do this free festival because they played before the biggest crowd on the (German part) of the tour so far. Looking forward to more shows in The Netherlands this week. But with a longer set, David! We expect more than 80 minutes.
And as they're not travelling in the "Plague Ship" this time, and if they keep continuing to eat those vitamins, I'm sure we will get more (82 minutes? ;->).

By Ing!