LKA Longhorn, Stuttgart, Germany17th April 2007
Subway to Sally - "Nackt" Tour
During the last decade, the German medieval Rock band SUBWAY TO SALLY has become quite famous and the darker part of the German music scene is nowadays not to be thought of without them. They are known for rank songs with rocking guitars, accompanied by sometimes mellow, sometimes fast and virtuosic violin play, but also ancient instruments like the hurdy-gurdy or different flutes. For sure their dreamy, fabulous ballads provide an attraction, too. When such a band, normally kicking up a fuss on stage and using plenty of electronic support, decides to go on a completely acoustic tour, then this plan sounds very interesting to me. They adequately gave this tour the caption "Nackt" (=Naked), wanting to reduce their songs to the core and with this evoke them to an entirely different being, with yet unknown facets and more down-to-earth. After having finished their "Nackt" tour, the band is currently working on their new release, so far entitled ‘Bastard’. But on this evening of April, one can imagine that I was really excited to see and hear how SUBWAY TO SALLY would put into action their absorbing project. The Longhorn was well filled, and so the conditions were perfect for an enthralling concert night.
The band from Potsdam, Germany, has been founded in 1990. During the band's history, from their first album ‘1994’ to their latest regular one ‘Nord Nord Ost’, which was their greatest commercial success up to now, they have gone through some immense changes. Their style has developed from Folk-oriented Rock with English lyrics more and more to electronic instrumentation, nowadays and since their label change from BMG to Nuclear Blast again routing towards medieval Rock and some Metal elements are audible. The language they are using for their lyrics today is German without exception. In October, their fans will finally get the new stuff from SUBWAY TO SALLY, when their new full-length album is released. http://www.subwaytosally.de/
Music
The seven musicians from Potsdam/Germany, who almost make up a small orchestra, play a melange of Rock music with medieval tunes and classical influences also. On their "Nackt" tour they were supported by B.Deutung (former INCHTABOKATABLES) on cello. These days, this kind of music may not be very exceptional, quite a few bands, alone from Germany, have dedicated themselves to it. But for sure they were one of the groups who made this music famous and known to more than a few lovers of Middle Ages-influenced tunes. On this tour, they were passing on electronic instruments and only used minimal electronic support, so some of their songs took on a completely different character. Nevertheless, they did not lose their power and special spirits, and experiencing SUBWAY TO SALLY in such an unusual way surely was a special event.
Performance
It is always some kind of strange to see a band performing on stage and remaining seated during the whole set. Especially while they are playing the more energetic songs you sometimes wish or expect the vocalist, for example, to jump up suddenly and see to some more action. SUBWAY TO SALLY had a fantastic stage installation built up for them. In the background a drapery had been hung up, showing beautifully drawn Gothic church windows, and together with the mainly blue or red and rather gloomy lighting this could give you the expression of standing in such an ancient building in a completely different era.
On two levels big, wooden, old-style chairs had been put on the stage for each of the eight musicians, decorated with artificial ivy and flowers. Without Eric Fish (vocals, flutes) and his band mates romping about in front of their audience, one could concentrate more on the music and lyrics and also on the facial expressions and gestures of the different musicians, like Frau Schmitt playing her violin completely lost the music, the band members joking or Fish's expressive singing.
Setlist
01. Böses Erwachen
02. Das Rätsel I
03. Minne
04. Rose im Wasser
05. Horo
06. Hofnarr
07. Sieben
08. Element des Verbrechens
09. Kruzifix
10. Alle Psallite
11. Mephisto
12. Das Rätsel II
13. Kleid aus Rosen
14. Die Hexe
15. Unterm Galgen
16. Traum vom Tod
17. Sanctus
18. Maria
19. Liebeszauber
20. Die Arche
21. Sag dem Teufel
22. Die Braut
23. Der Bräutigam
24. Carrickfergus
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25. Schlaflied
26. Ohne Liebe
27. Julia und die Räuber
28. Feuerkind
29. Seemannslied
Rating
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 8
Light: 7
Total: 7
All pictures by Ruth Gräbeldinger
{jos_sb_discuss:17}
Music: 7
Performance: 7
Sound: 8
Light: 7
Total: 7
All pictures by Ruth Gräbeldinger
{jos_sb_discuss:17}
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