Reflections of Darkness - Music Magazine - And One

Details: Written by: Carsten Leopold; Published: 13 April 2008

Pulp, Duisburg, Germany
12th April 2008
And One & Alexander Marcus

On 12th April AND ONE - one of the most known German Electro Pop bands - had invited to visit them in Duisburg at their current "The Bodypop Cover Lover Supershow" and a lot of fans had accept the invitation, so that the "Pulp" in Duisburg was sold out already some weeks ago. But before we were allowed to enjoy AND ONE, we had to be brave during the support act ALEXANDER MARCUS.

Alexander Marcus

ALEXANDER MARCUS is a German singer from Berlin who contrived the genre "Electrolore" which is conflating electro and folklore - in my opinion a creepy combination. http://www.alexander-marcus.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/alexandermarcusforever

Music & Performance
As the light went out and the show began I was prepared for the worst case, but my misgivings would be capped. 20 Minutes playback show, simple sounds, trite lyrics and goofy dance performance, ALEXANDER MARCUS, dressed with his pink trousers and white slippers, made a fool of himself; the performance seemed like a parody by a comedian and the crowd was partly amused, partly horrified. The best of the whole gig was the intro, because it was spoken by Steve Naghavi. Anyway, after 20 minutes the self-titled "King of Electrolore" left the stage and the crowd was relieved.

Setlist
01. 1, 2, 3
02. Spiel, Satz und Sieg?
03. Sei kein Frosch
04. Papaya
05. Ciao Ciao Bella

Rating
Music: 1
Performance: 1
Sound: 8
Light: 7
Total: 2

And One

At half past 8, after the usual change over, it was about time to expect the headliner AND ONE who are one of the most famous Synth-Pop bands in Germany. Inspired by DEPECHE MODE and other electro acts of the eighties, Steve Naghavi - the mastermind of the band - created a lot of hits like TECHNO MAN, PANZERMENSCH, DEUTSCHMASCHINE, SOMETIMES or METALHAMMER just to mention a few. In every electro club in Germany very often you can find AND ONE on the play-lists. And always when the DJ is playing an AND ONE-song, the floor is crowded. The current album BODYPOP was released in September 2006 and entered the German Media Control Charts at #30 and the German Alternative Charts at #1. Already in the past AND ONE, performed at their shows cover versions of well-known 80s songs like ‘Big in Japan’ or ‘The Walk’. So, the current "The Bodypop Cover Lover Supershow" woke up a lot of expectations by the fans. Unfortunately the release of the announced Cover-CD ‘Bodypop 1 ½’ was postponed and the fans still need to wait. AND ONE are STEVE NAGHAVI (voice, music, production), GIO VAN OLI (keyboards, backing vocals) and CHRIS RUIZ (keyboards, vocals). http://www.andone.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/andoneofficial

Music & Performance
At half past 8 the waiting time was over, the music from the tape was turned off and the stage was ready for AND ONE. First the stage mostly was hidden behind a black curtain and only a single microphone boom was standing on the visible part of the stage as the intro of the A-HA song ‘The Sun Always Shines On TV’ started the show. Still yet hidden behind the curtain, Steve began to sing and was welcomed with cheers by the crowd. Quickly the curtain was dropped and the stage became visible. Behind Steve in the middle of the stage two tape machines were arranged besides the known "Metalhammer"-symbol of AND ONE. Behind this, the both keyboard players Chris and Gio took their places one after another behind special
keyboard cases; on both sides of this construction two further keyboards were arranged pivoting like a door which was used alternate by Chris and Gio at some songs.

The anterior part of the stage was dominated by the great entertainer Steve Naghavi who infected the whole venue with his powerful and rousing performance. At the whole show he was running and jumping like a thunderstorm, dancing in his distinctive kind and entertaining the crowd with songs and jokes. The setlist was a great potpourri of well-known hits from the 80ies and the all-time-hits of AND ONE. Started by A-HA, the heroes of the eighties like DEPECHE MODE, PET SHOP BOYS, THE CURE, NEW ORDER, ERASURE and more took their place in the setlist, again and again alternating with own songs of AND ONE.

The temper hasn't evolved, but it exploded at the first sounds and lasted not until the last tone had died away. The time flashed past and much too early the main set was finished by the last single release of AND ONE ‘So klingt Liebe’; during this song Steve had congratulated Gio to his birthday, but I don't know whether really Gio had his birthday today, may be it was only a joke. Of course an encore was given with five more songs and at the last two songs ‘Techno Man’ and ‘Rebel Yell’, Chris left his place behind the keyboard, moved to the top sang the songs with Steve together. After about two hours and 28 songs, AND ONE finally left the stage and the crowd stayed happy and satisfied. Altogether a great show, a big party and a convincing performance.

Setlist
01. The Sun Always Shines On TV (A-ha)
02. Stand The Pain
03. Fools (Depeche Mode)
04. Recover You
05. It's A Sin (Pet Shop Boys)
06. High
07. Big In Japan (Alphaville)
08. Timekiller (Project Pitchfork)
09. Sometimes
10. Our House (Madness)
11. The Walk (The Cure)
12. True Faith (New Order)
13. Traumfrau
14. But Not Tonight (Depeche Mode)
15. Get You Closer
16. Only You (Yazoo)
17. A Little Respect (Erasure)
18. The Great Commandment (Camouflage)
19. Enjoy The Unknown
20. Blue Monday (New Order)
21. Für
22. Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat)
23. So Klingt Liebe
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24. Military Fashion Show
25. Sometimes
26. Schmerzengel
27. Techno Man
28. Rebel Yell (Billy Idol)