Deutsch- Norwegische Freundschaft, Zeppelin (Schwerin, DE)
Location:
Zeppelin, Schwerin, Germany
Lineup:
Zensor, Orpheé, P-24, Cue to Recall
Audience:
70
Duration:
47 minutes
Setlist:
Weeping Wall
Nothing
Saliroman
Residuum
Intimat
I Wish
Epikris
Mausoleum
Wither
Stasis
Zensor's comments:
A small venue for our first gig in Germany. The PA was not up when we arrived, and we spent some time waiting for the local crew to figure it out and mount it, together with what looked like a pleasing set of lights. Watching the thing grow arouse our suspicion that the rider had not been read. This was confirmed first by the lack of vegetarian food, then by the lack of lines available. Trying to make the most of what was available, we improvized a setup that could work, in theory. No monitor for the synths and drums, single line for the vocals, single line for DA and synths, DI only for guitars. However, the complete mess of cables covering every inch of stage floor, together with crossing power from the lights, assured interference and noise of amusing proportions. Rigging and re-rigging proved two things: The hired (audio)crew were rubbish, and the concert was destined to be a poor introduction of Zensor to a new audience. As hours of waiting clocked by, the lights proved to be for the next night's event, and we were left with 8 cans of various merry colours, with no one to control them. Given the decoration at the walls, we could only assume we would not look our best, either. A perfect night for drinking before the gig. Not that we did, of course.
Instead, we found the way to our lodging and relaxed, returning to the venue only shortly before our presence was needed to complete the program. We had retrieved our motivation, and someone nice even offered to blink the lights. As for the set, it played out none too bad, to a point. Then came Mausoleum, with the effect of killing a string for Glenn this time and making a solid dent in the build up. Starting Wither, Sakari was out of both cigars and water, and left the stage to return with a bottle of vodka, which did little to improve allready strained vocals. Stasis was never so wooly and distorted, but at least it was loud and the audience seemed happy, shouting for more when we left the stage. The effort soon transformed into a checklist for what to do in worst case scenarios, but we still concluded with toasting the first exposure in Germany. It can only be uphill from here.
Thanks to all who kept their temper during the confrontations preceding the concert, and to Orpheé for lodging and excellent breakfast. Also to the nice girls who helped us with lights, bar - and computer-services. As for the Freundschaft, it was a great relief to be able to finally mention the war ( after a short entymological dissection of Kindergarten, Blitzkrieg and Schnitzel) . This certainly led to a lighter tone in conversation onwards.