Information
Date: June 26, 2005
City: Berlin, Germany
Author: Die verrückt Schwesters
Review
Well where here yet again, lucky us no storm on this fine evening. We both decided on this night we'll sit in the tiers to get an overall look of the show.
Whilst watching Apocalyptica (wish they'd shorten their name)! He he. Even Till had a job with the pronounciation of their name, the pretzel man was busying himself around the crowds trying to make a bob or two (English slang)! Sat in the row in front of us were a few German fans (no, really)? One of them turned around to talk to us, then on realisation we are English he commented 'ah I haven't spoken English since I was 18'. Put us to shame as we only know a handful of German words which we hardly can sentence together. He was impressed that we came to Berlin to watch a German band and singalong in German. Shame we never found out his name, we only knew he is 32 years old. When we told him we are sisters of similar age to him he turned around, stood up, removed his hat and bowed at us. Moments later a Mexican wave began around the arena which we all participated in and even one of the road crew started filming this spectacle!
Then the show commences. The fall of the backdrop, smoke being pumped out at great pace across the stage and the band emerges, behind the mist, after the roadies do their thing.
REISE REISE Seems to be a long intro and we are all waiting for Till to appear through the 'pursed' lips. Here he is the stadium bursts into even more cheers, applauding and my little sister screaming down my left ear. But to our amazement, oh dear, mic isn't working and on rushes the roadie to offer a replacement... PHEW!!! The younger generation of rock fans stayed seated, never at any gig have we ever stayed seated... up on our feet we always are, god the young ones have no stamina! STAND UP! Much better atmosphere when your standing and moving! The band get a much better feedback. How strange we thought and felt. We must be getting old!
Straight into...
LINKS 2 3 4 During this one our newly acquainted German friend turned to face us, and placed his hand over his heart, acting out the lyrics to us as we thrust our fists in the air to the rhythm of the beat.
KEINE LUST Same as the night before but never boring we just love this one (still no fat suits)! teehee.
FEUER FREI Great to watch up in the tiers, you can see the full effect of all the pyros from up here, only thing lacking, can't feel the heat! Poor Flake being the one abused again, Till bashes him on the head, down he goes for a few moments whilst the others prepare themselves for the 'fire'. We also notice Oli almost disappears into the shadows, hoping we think, he doesn't get roasted! Ends with Schneider and his sparkling popping drum sticks.
ASCHE ZU ASCHE From here you can see the fans begin to mosh, loads more smoke but for here its red smoke. Igniting mic stands we're glad they had put this one back in the set. Hope the band don't get bored of playing this old one.
MORGENSTERN Can't keep up with the lyrics on this one, sung too fast for us. Same review as last night.
MEIN TEIL Click click with the sharpening of the knife. Get your knife and forks out!! We don't feel hungry right now, would you? Here comes the master chef as he walks past his pot. Till taps his knife/mic againist the side of it and the sound reverborates around the stadium. Within is Flake, yet again poor sod being tortured by this man. The song pauses while Till gets ready and then... flambe! We couldn't smell burning flesh, so good news all round Flake escapes... until the next time!! Till is chasing him around the stage as flares from the top dropping down around them. We are so preoccupied with watching this scene, you forget about the rest of the band.
STEIN UM STEIN Pretty much the same as the night before...powerful.
LOS No close up of fishnets and hot pants for us tonight! Shame. Seems like the band like to have a jamming session on this, no need for any fancy effects, just Flake doing his 'bit' on the podium with keyboard parts raining down on the hungry fans below.
BENZIN We've already had a taster of this one and really excited for another review! Red lights, pyros all around inside the stage, very effective, great song. Can't wait for the album release.
DU REICHST SO GUT Yeah! DER WAHNSINN (how loud does Richard shout this)? Excellent! Bow and arrow, more sparks whizzing around like a Catherine Wheel on 5th November. Not to be felt undone more sparks come from Richard and Paul's arms, yahey!
DU HAST This time its the crossbow, halfway through this song its fired and flares travel along lines that go from the stage to the rear of the stadium our eyes follow their journey. DU HAST MICH we point to the band and then to ourselves (ladies off course responding but by this time our behaviour is certainly anything but womanly). Our German pal turned around and said 'do you hate me', NEIN!!! It's 'to have'!
SEHNSUCHT We have 4 bangs then flashes then this is repeated. Straight into another classic, green lighting, long taper like flames at front of the stage eerie effect with the green light flooding through it. Sounds great in this outdoor venue, as usually the sound gets wafted away outside. Were not usually keen on outdoor venues as we feel you loose sound quality, but not here, not tonight!
AMERIKA Not just Flake that gets bashed on the head.. I did too again for saying Amerika not long before the encores! Red, white and blue the theme for this one. No surprise, eh?! This one always makes us think of our Mum she replied to us one day, when playing the CD in the car, 'I thought you said they don't sing in English'! She only heard the first few words. Have to say that she does like 'Los'. Silver confetti then red, white and blue confetti billowing from the front of the stage, then we notice it was also being pumped out of the back of the stadium. Flake enjoys himself again wheeling around the stage!
Then its over we all start chanting Rammstein and the encores begin.
(ENCORE 1) RAMMSTEIN Search lights all round the stadium light up the sky above, (shame it hadn't gotten that dark yet). Then they lower just as they did in LAB DVD. Great to be here such a great atmosphere. The flaming coat has been ditched but flame throwers have replaced that. Arms extended 'Rammstein' flames burst upwards there was plenty of this, never to disappoint.
SONNE More search lights above our heads and around the stadium as like in Rammstein but this time yellow lights. As they get lower the beams fall on top of the stage canopy giving a warm yellow glow. This you wouldn't get in an indoor arena. Glad we made it here.
ICH WILL Superb! Hande sehen, hands were thrust into the air. Paul points out to the fans at the responses. Blue lighting was used, so much interaction.
(ENCORE 2) OHNE DICH Accompanied again tonight by Apocalyptica cellists. Standing both sides again of Schneider, moving song. At the end Till thanks Apocalyptica, in his deep voice if faltering on the pronunciation. Some of the fans in the tiers have now stood up.
STRIPPED What a sexy husky singing voice when sung in English. At last all the fans in the tiers stand up! Atmosphere is now electric. We do not want this to end. Back home tomorrow, back to reality boohoo, we totally love this place! Oli in the boat sails across everyones heads all the way round the stadium and back to the stage again. All done.
I don't want to say this but they take their bow and thank the fans, our German friend turns to face us again to say what Till said in English. He then shakes hands with us and says 'same place and time next year'? MOST DEFINATELY!!
Somewhere during the set can't remember where, there were flames and fireworks going off behind the stage, which we didn't notice the previous night as we were so close to the stage.
One good thing about coming home, is that its only another 2 weeks to wait until we see Rammstein again in Birmingham, UK.