Reading over bits of posts like this one on Devendra Banhart's show "Devendra said hello and introduced himself and his band as "Hairy Fairy". The boys are all very hairy indeed, with their beards, moustaches and luscious long hair. One of the guitarist boys and the drummer were a little less hairy than the others, and took turns wearing a fake beard."
Or a comment left by Shane: "Fuck Off. You had Richard Parry for a guest? You should have given him the bed." on my Bell Orchestre post - where for some reason I neglected to mention that Richard sat up with me and my friend Daniel that night in the kitchen, flossing his teeth before us as we sat and chatted, and turned down a bowl of homemade ice-cream.
I thought it was sad that I wasn't keeping track of my concert attendance anymore. So...
I'll start with a gig from this weekend. On Friday I saw Achtung Hans playing at Grüner Salon. It is a beautiful space, small with mint green walls and mint green velvet drapes onstage, antique chandeliers adorn the ceiling, there are mirrored walls and beautiful cut glass in the doors and windows - it's a gem. The show was mainly a goodbye gig for Honey and the Greek who are leaving Berlin for New York, and I was djing in between bands. I had no idea who Achtung Hans were, but I was really happy when I saw that I recognised nearly everyone who had scampered onstage, just as friends of friends so I can't take credit in the "oh yeah i know them" sense, but you know what I mean. The whole crowd pushed forward to get close to the stage then, which was a telling sign since everyone had been hanging back towards the bar all night - alot of people had come to see these guys play. A five piece who are not afraid to make good use of a melodica, shakers, tambourines, clapping - and when they brought out the Ukelele - that was a crowning moment.
I was kind of mind boggled and remember thinking - is this twee-wave??! They have two lead singers, switching up between a boy and girl (sometimes she was busy playing the melodica, or he would sit down to take a break, or they would sing back and forth together). I don't know anything much about them, but I've got a fever to find out more. I will try and get a CD from them as I would love to play their music on the show, stay tuned! Their myspace page doesn't do them justice at all, but is still fun to listen to.
Achtung Hans on Myspace
It's good to be back!
