Universal D.O.G., Lahr, Germany15th December 2007
Dark Dance Treffen 24: Gothika; Bloody, Dead & Sexy; Diorama; Funker Vogt
This issue of the Dark Dance Treffen was not only the 24th but also the 7th anniversary of an event that lures people from every direction to Lahr every three months. It was hellish cold at the time we arrived at the venue and we had to wait some time to finally get into the warm again. We took our positions in the first row and waited for the things to come...
“Sexed up Electronica” is how this band from Tokyo describes its style. They started in 2001 under the name EUTHANASIA and are meanwhile well known in their home country. Their mini album ‘Queer Chronicles’ was released in 2006 and the first full-length album ‘120 Days of Sodom’ saw the light of day in this year's September. GOTHIKA are: Andro (vocals, programming) and 449 (synthesizer, programming). This time, they were supported on stage by Hanon on second keyboard. http://antimass.cool.ne.jp/ / http://www.myspace.com/gothikatokyo
Music & Performance
This band really is what I would call “Exotic” in more than one way. First thing is the fact that they are from Japan what made them “Outsiders” amongst the other German bands, the other thing is... we'll get to that later. Musically, they presented a blend of Industrial with EBM and influences 80s and Wave - a purely danceable mixture. Singer Andro was completely dressed in leather, while Hanon wore a long coat and a gas mask which he later laid down. Speaking of Hanon... the absolute of the performance was when Hanon licked on Andros butt. I still can't get this picture out of my mind.
Rating
Music: 5
Performance: 5
Sound: 5
Light: 5
Total: 5
Bloody, Dead & Sexy
Next one on the list were the German guys of BLOODY, DEAD & SEXY. Founded in 1997 the band and could gather a large fan base around them through extensive touring in Germany and the US. Their latest regular album ‘Narcotic Room’ was released in 2005. The album ‘Paint it Red’ released in 2006 was a re-release of their very first album + some additional bonus tracks. BLOODY, Dead & SEXY are: Rosa Lahm (vocals), Tim Schande (bass), Björn Henningson (drums) and Matias 13 (Guitar) http://www.bloodydeadandsexy.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/bloodydeadandsexy
Music & Performance
Musically it was Deathrock what the band presented on stage but with some borrowings of Punk, Gothic and New Wave without any electronic elements - just pure handmade music. Performance-wise, singer Rosa Lahm was the one dominating the stage in his special outfit with short & very tight pants, porous mesh stockings and a jacket with tiny pink patterns on it rounded of by something that looked like a feather headband .It wasn't my cup of tea but some folks seem to like it and got really ecstatic during the performance.
Rating
Music: 5
Performance: 5
Sound: 5
Light: 5
Total: 5
Diorama
DIORAMA was founded by Torben Wendt between 1994 and 1996. His long-time friend Felix Marc soon joined him as a co-producer and keyboard player. Some time later, bass player Bernard le Sigue and guitarist Sash Fiddler, who were fellow students of Torben and Felix, gradually grew into the line-up and last but not least drummer Marquess became a member of the band. Unfortunately Bernard le Sigue left the Band in October 2006. The latest album ‘A different life’ was released in March 2007. http://www.diorama-music.com/ / www.myspace.com/dioramamusic
Music & Performance
This was something I was really looking forward to and I was wondering what the guys would come up with as the show was announced as a “Special Christmas Show”. During the reconstruction break, a piano was built up and one could assume that that it would get acoustic at a certain point, but you couldn't really expect what the guys had up their sleeves... more on that later. Sash, Felix and Marquess were the first ones entering the stage which started to get foggier and foggier as time passed by. The first sounds of a well-known and much played song sounded to our ears. It was 'Advance' and right in time for his inset Torben finally entered the stage dressed up in a nice suit.
It was - as always – a very energetic and highly emotional performance the band delivered on stage. You could read the emotions from Torben’s face during the particular songs while he was moving around on stage making his gestures. The “demonic” Sash in his well-known kilt interacted perfectly with Torben and of course with the audience as he was always leaning towards the audience like he wanted to say “Come on louder... celebrate… Give me more”. Not that it was necessary because people already celebrated - especially some crazy folks with some Santa Clause jelly bag caps on their heads. ;) Now it's time for the special event of the evening. Torben sat down at the piano and after he commented the following song with the words “We hope you don't kill us for that” he stroke up the song that appears every year anew - ‘Last Christmas’ (Diorama Style). I'd suggest recording that song in the studio for a later release.
While the band was performing the song DJ Gillian dressed up as Santa Clause entered the stage and threw presents into the audience. Afterwards, the guys also presented an updated version of 'HLA' with which I had problems to recognize at the beginning. Much too soon, the set ended under ecstatic applause.
Setlist (no guarantee)
01. Advance
02. Definition power
03. Kein Mord
04. No Tears
05. Last Christmas (WHAM, new interpretation by DIORAMA)
06. HLA (new version)
07. Exit the grey
08. Erase me
09. Synthesize me
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 8
Sound: 6
Light: 6
Total: 7.8
Funker Vogt
After a reconstruction break it was time for the headliner of the evening. FUNKER VOGT was born in 1995. The name derives from a friend of the band who was a Radio Operator at the German Armed Forces at that time. The project has released several albums over the years with 'Aviator' as the latest and a DVD is also in the making. FUNKER VOGT Live are: Jens Kästel (lead vocals), Gerrit Thomas (synths), Björn Böttcher (synths), Frank Schweigert (guitar) http://www.funkervogt.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/funkervogt
Music & Performance
Danceable, danceable and of course danceable are the attributes to describe the music of FUNKER VOGT. At least I didn’t hear something different. The venue was packed with people celebrating and dancing to the music. For me it was too monotonous after several songs with the same beat patterns and only a little alteration of the tempo. The lyrics changed and also the melodies but the dominating element was the heavy beat at any time. Jens was always shouting at the audience and moving over the stage.
Rating
Music: 5
Performance: 5
Sound: 5
Light: 5
Total: 5
All pictures by Daniela Vorndran (http://www.vorndranphotography.com/ / http://www.black-cat-net.de/ / www.myspace.com/vorndranphotography)
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