ColumbiaClub, Berlin, Germany
23rd January 2009
And One, F.O.D
It was a cold, wet winter’s night in Berlin, when AND ONE invited to the Ladies’ Night at the ColumbiaClub. But it wasn’t raining. These were the combined tears of all men, knowing exactly how much fun their girlfriends and wives would have tonight. For the first time in music history, there should be concerts separated by gender. Of course the ladies made the start…
F.O.D
Initially planned as a studio-only project, F.O.D went public short time later due to pressure from the fans. First singles already were released in 2002 as appetizers for the upcoming debut ‘Crucified’, released in 2003, followed by a top chart notation and a successful concert tour, closing with a placement amongst the Top 10 of the Europe-wide Sonic Seducer “Battle of the Bands” contest. In 2005 followed the next album ‘Made in Germany’ accompanied by a tour starting in Tel Aviv in November 2005. In spring 2007, the band eventually signed a record deal with the Fear Section label of Chris Pohl (BLUTENGEL, MISS CONSTRUCTION).
Works for a new album began which would eventually be released in February 2008. It’s called ‘Synthesizer Tanzmusik’: F.O.D is Daniel “excess D” (vocals, keys, composition, arrangement, programming), An/dress (lyrics, keys, composition, arrangement, additional programming), and André (keys, live special effects, presentation, PR, G.C). http://www.fod-band.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/excessdance
Music & Performance
Shortly after 20:30, the support act F.O.D entered the stage and unleashed a firework of electronic music. The band members were dressed in white suits and wore white respiratory masks and made the crowd dancing right from the start. Singer Daniel “eXcess D” was excessively marching and dancing over the stage and both of the keyboarders An/dress and André “van der gerk” partied behind their tools.
The sound was quite powerful and electronically-charged and it was much fun to watch the guys. During the cover version of ‘No Good’, originally by THE PRODIGY, Daniel was supported by guest singer Eva Pölzing, better known for being a singer of the band BLUTENGEL. She could as well convince the nearly 600 girls with her voice and performance. Then the song turned into a more than successful cover version of the MODERN TALKING classic ‘You’re my Heart, You’re my Soul’, doing no harm to the great mood. Besides the aforementioned medley, they played ‘Runaway’ as the last song and after only 30 minutes it was already over again and the guys and the girl left the stage.
And One
If the name AND ONE appears in regards to a concert, then wild partying is guaranteed and usually when Steve Naghavi enters a stage, hell breaks loose on and in front of the stage. Songs like ‘Technoman’ or ‘Deutschmaschine’ can’t be missed out on any party and still belong to the fixed repertoire of most DJs but only the music excites thousands of people since many years, it’s also Steve’s “special” form of lyrics that always cause discussion amongst fans and press alike. Just remember the text of ‘Pimmelmann’. After a longer absents, amongst others caused through the events of 9/11 and their harsh consequences for Steve Naghavi, AND ONE returned in 2003 with a new album ‘Aggressor’ and three years later ‘Bodypop’ the ninth AND ONE studio album sees the light of day. On 19th December they released a limited 7” single with the name ‘Paddy is my DJ’. AND ONE is Steve Naghavi, Chris Ruiz and Gio Van Oli. http://www.andone.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/andoneofficial
Music & Performance
Following now was a seemingly endless rebuilding break, but actually it “only” took 35 minutes. While the guys of AND OE went straight through the crowd, heading for the bar, we had to cool our heels, waiting for what was to come. The show started eventually. Gio van Oli and Chriz Ruiz took their positions behind the keys, only one person was missing “Mr. Bundeskanzler” Steve Naghavi; and he wouldn’t appear on stage for the time being. No, he was literally standing on top of the bar and started his show from there. You can imagine how it can be hearing 600 girls screaming at once. As for me, I was deaf for now. While Steve made his way through the crowd during ‘Paddy is my DJ’, he as well was busy with shaking hands and kissing one or the other girl. Arrived on stage, he told us the reason of our little “meeting”: The 20th band anniversary which took place on 14th January 2009 should be celebrated a posterior, and as you’re only doing such a celebration with friends, the boys decided to raise ticket prices.
Because that was the only way to make sure, only friends would come to the event. And then there was this “gender separation” thing, only because Mr. Naghavi wanted to have “1,200 tits” around him. As usual, the front man was a perfect entertainer. During the cover song ‘Rebel Yell’ originally by BILLY IDOL, he thanked all the girls for the amazing concert, and everybody who helped, realizing this tour and making it such a great experience. A few irritated faces, but everybody who knows Steve was perfectly aware that this was pure entertainment; and there was lots of pure entertainment on this evening. The T-Stage offered the whirlwind a magnitude of space, which he and Chriz Ruiz used extensively, much to the likes of the girls in the first rows. Of course, he couldn’t resist putting a g-string over his head, which was thrown onto the stage. Now we know exactly what Steve is doing in his spare time.
Besides the aforementioned track they played i.e. ‘Get you closer’, ‘Big in Japan’, ‘Wild Pain’, ‘Love you to the End’, ‘Techno Man’, ‘Schmerzengel’, ‘Evil Klaus’, ‘Rote Tulpen’ and ‘Zauberstab’ as the closing song. In-between he kept roaming through “his girls”, singing from the merchandize booth, and of course, the “Old Man” showed everybody how fit he still is and laid down a typical, wild Steve Naghavi dance. By the way, the guys decided not to do encores anymore. Not, because they didn’t want to, as there still were encores. They just think it is nonsense, leaving the stage, when re-entering it a few minutes later anyway. At about 11:45 PM, this wonderful evening sadly came to an end and I suppose many entered the Silverwings club to close the evening with lots of alcohol and AND ONE at the big after show party.
I opted for the LOLA ANGST party bus as that’s always the place with the best bus parties; and it was standing nearer to the ColumbiaClub. In recent times, you can also meet BLUTENGEL mastermind Chris Pohl there, which I find quite astounding.
Setlist
01. Paddy is my DJ
02. Rebel Yell
03. High
04. Get you closer
05. Tonight
06. Big in Japan
07. Wild Pain
08. Für
09. But not tonight
10. Love you to the End
11. Military Fashion Show
12. Techno Man
13. Fernseapparat
14. Over there
15. Deutschmaschine
16. Steine sind Steine
17. Sometimes
18. Uns geht’s gut
19. Only you
20. Schmerzengel
21. Evil Klaus
22. So klingt Liebe
23. Stand the Pain
24. It’s a Sin
25. Schwarz
26. Traumfrau
27. Rote Tulpen
28. Zauberstab
All pictures by Nadine Ginzel
Written by Susann Ruppert, Translations & Band Intros by Sebastian Huhn
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