E-Werk, Cologne, Germany
26th October 2011
The Baseballs
THE BASEBALLS met by chance in the kitchen of a rehearsal complex in Berlin and quickly found they were vibrating on the same frequency. Their debut album 'Strike', released in 2009 climbed up various chart list and laid the foundation for their continued success in the respective countries, naming Germany or Switzerland for instance. Their second album 'Strings'n'Stripes' has just been released this year and fans who will come to their concerts of course will be graced with hits from both of their albums like their uber-hit 'Umbrella'. THE BASEBALLS are Sam, Digger and Basti, live extended by a four-head backing band. http://www.thebaseballs.com/
Music & Performance
Well, I've seen a lot of queues at concerts, I really did. But honestly, one reaching across half of the street and around the corner for one single show was new, even for me. Seems like THE BASEBALLS attracted a lot more people than expected. Since there was no support band planned for the evening the main act entered the stage already at 8:15 PM to an excited audience. If I recall correctly 'No Diggity' was a hip hop track originally. Hearing it in an old-fashioned Rock'n'Roll / Rockabilly version was somewhat strange. Still you couldn't help but tapping with your toes like a madmen. 'Hello' and 'Bitch', originally by MEREDITH BROOK's continued the set and the crowd became more enthusiastic by the minute. Really, nothing compared to the chanting to 'Angels', exactly the one ROBBIE WILLIAMS once became famous with. While announcing the next track someone up there on the gallery felt the need throw glowing things on the audiences head. The result was a batch of security personnel heading upstairs to catch whoever that might be. At the end this were obviously some confetti “canons” spreading its content during the next song.
A few minutes later that was all forgotten since the hip-shaking guys were capturing all the people's attention. Mostly the ladies'. The next surprise rolled in quickly with all the microphones of the seven band members built up at the front and them performing one song a-cappela, righteously hailed with applause. Next thing was a beach bar built up on stage serving actual cocktails to the audience and band members while they were performing ‘California Girls' to create some “Caribbean Atmosphere”, as the band told. With a little help of the staff they could evoke even a little bit of a beach atmosphere with a blue cloth creating waves in the photo bit. As if that weren't enough there was a special form of crowd surfing. Actually it's better we call it crowd climbing. The goal was to bring keyboard and player together so he could play atop the crowd. Worked really well actually .The time flew so fast you were surprised the show already came to an end. Well, a least the main set did. Of no one would let them off the hook without a proper encore. To sum up: Fun, fun and...fun. Really, if you get the chance go and attend a show!
Setlist
01. No Diggity
02. Hello
03. Bitch
04. Angels
05. Don't Feel Like dancin'
06. I Do
07. Torn
08. Candy Shop
09. The Look
10. Roll Thru The Night
11. Surfin' Bee
12. Hard Not To Cry
13. California Girls
14. Let's Get Loud
15. Follow Me
16. Tik ToK
17. 20 Flight Rock
18. Hot N Cold
19. Chasing Cars
20. I'm Yours
21. Outro
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22. Never Ever
23. Quit Playing Games
24. Suspicious Minds
25. Umbrella
26. Born This Way
Rating
Music: 8
Performance: 9
Sound:8
Light: 8
Total: 8.3 / 10
All pictures by Daniela Vorndran (http://www.vorndranphotography.com / http://www.black-cat-net.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/vorndranphotography / http://www.facebook.com/blackcatnet)
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