Take My Shoes Off, And I Will Throw Them In the Lake

This weekend I was spoiled rotten. the Futureheads and Bell Orchestre were in town. Luckily enough I bought my ticket for the 'heads last Monday because it totally sold out! It was my first time queueing for a gig at Magnet. There were alot of chancers waving their tickets around trying to get ahead in the line, which was quite cheeky. Some people just barged their way through and up to the front. Oh well. It was really crowded and we did have to forgo our lovely front row places when everyone starting going berserk once the band came onstage. Moving just a few rows back was alright though, there was space to dance and it's always good when there's less risk of getting trampled. Arriving in the middle of support band, Winson's set there were a couple of noticeable things to em, note: first of all, they were kind of good. Second of all, the drummer was non chalantly eating an apple and playing a set of mini drums. The lead singer at one point dived into the front row and crowd surfed, but unfortunately everyone moved at a crucial moment and he plunged straight to the floor. He looked slightly dazed when he clambered back onstage, but in the bar later on with a beer in his hand he looked in one piece.

The Futureheads' set started off with "Decent Days and Nights" and continued in a frenzy of songs from their first album: "A to B", "Robot", "Carnival Kids", "The City is Here For You To Use", "First Day", "Meantime"...it was kind of surreal hearing "Hounds of Love". I've achingly loved this song for so long, it was almost too perfect. I was afraid to hear their new material, I'm still not sure about "Area". But the unfamiliar tracks they played, I loved. One in particular reminded me muchly of the Cars. I think it might have been "Fallout". They finished the night with a bloody great performance of "Man Ray", which sounds so great live. There was no encore, though looked like it might happen when it seemed like the roadies had come onstage to tune up the guitars.

This was my first time seeing Futureheads play. I loved Barry Hyde's jerky movements. I loved his little brother Dave's intense robotic scary-face drumming, i loved the sincerity in Ross Millard's eyes as he sang and played and I loved Jaff's harmonising. This band got skillz.

They were very thankful, and apologised for not coming to Berlin sooner, this was the first time they'd ever played here. I bet they will play a Postbahnhof gig in the not too distant future.

On Sunday night at the Roter Salon, Bell Orchestre came to visit. This gig was just what I needed. Upright bass, French Horn, Trumpet, Violin, Xylophone, Typewriter, Keyboards, Drums. The five people in this band are just amazing. I already expected Richard Reed Perry and Sarah Neufeld to be amazing seeing as their "other band" is Arcade Fire ( he as a multi instrumentalist/producer; she as violinist). The chemistry between Sarah and Pietro (on French horn) was intrigueing. She charged at him as she played her violin and he layed his head on her shoulders in the final denouement of one of their pieces. "Throw It On a Fire" was amazing live. "Recording a Tape (Tyewriter Duet)" was beautiful and quirky. Drummer, Stefan Schneider, came forward and sat in the centre of the stage, tapping elegantly at yes, a typewriter. It was a shock to hear them say that they hadn't been able to hear themselves for the crowd talking during that show at their previous gig in Italy. Richard said, "it was interesting playing that song angrily, though." Last night in the Roter Salon it was pretty much absolute silence for the whole gig. For their encore they scampered back onstage and played an Aphex Twin cover. WOAHZ.

The star of the night for me was Stefan Schneider. He has an elfin face with high cheekbones and pouty lips. His almost pointed ears and choppy haircut, plus his white outfit, gave him the appearance of some enchanted little pixie from a fairy tale. It was kind of sad seeing him later on, in jeans and a t-shirt, looking more like a normal person. He had me totally goggle-eyed for the whole show: he's unbelievably fast on the drums and did this cool thing that I've never seen before, playing with two sticks in each hand. Sometimes, Richard told me, he even plays with four.

Last week or so, the band sent out a plea on Myspace for help with accomodation, so i volunteered and ended up having Richard as my guest. After the gig, I asked him a little about both of his bands, Bell O. has been a project of his since school and we won't see Arcade Fire for a long time. The new record is coming out next fall (or maybe they will just start working on it next fall..) and they won't tour again until it has been released. Arcade Fireonly ever played once in Ireland, at the Electric Picnic Festival last summer, which i missed. Richard said it was one of the greatest shows, his eyes lit up as he talked remembered the experience. It was one of those times when the band played really well together, and they found everyone so warm and welcoming and were amazed that so many people were so excited to be there to see them. "Though", he added, "that doesn't always make a good show". Bands often say that about playing in Ireland. Yay! I asked what his favourite song was to play, and he actually said he goes between really hating and really loving each of their songs. Right now, he is feeling tired of the current Bell Orchestre material, but they have written some new stuff, and there are only 5 more dates left of this European tour.It was kind of a surreal night. After the gig we headed to White Trash for some drinks and chats with himself, Pietro, Kaveh and some other people who had been at the gig too: Kaveh was astounded at a young girl who had travelled 6 hours from Munich to come see them..there was also a guy who had come from Prague. Richard flossed his teeth and admitted that Bach is his favourite composer before laying his weary head down on my old-fashioned-y couch.

Deadly gigs.