Host of the Deep Dive on Today Radio, Natalie Von Laufenburg was at den Atelier last night to get all nostalgic and see German punk rock legends Beatsteaks.
It is April 28, 2007, the Rockhal is running its second season and 17-year-old me is about to attend her first concert with friends – no parents, no siblings – including her crush. No, this is not a teenage love story (she never told him how she felt), it is far bigger than that: it is the story of how I found my love for one of the most successful German punk rock bands.
The Beatsteaks formed in Berlin in 1995, and have since released 8 studio albums, 2 live albums, one compilation album, and God/Wikipedia knows how many singles. So, on that rainy April afternoon in 2007, I took the train down to Belval from Diekirch – which took (and still does take) forever – to see a band that I got into to impress a boy. Don’t judge me, we have all been there. I didn’t know it yet, but I was about to witness the best live band in the world.
For the very first time, I;
- found myself in the middle of a mosh pit and participated in a wall of death,
- witnessed Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß (Beatsteaks’ front man) stage diving off a 5m tower of speakers,
- left a show drenched in a combination of (everybody’s) sweat and beer.
I have lost count of how many Beatsteaks shows I have attended since, but to say that I was excited for yesterday’s show would be the understatement of the year. And at den Atelier of all places, one of Luxembourg’s smallest, most intimate, yet sweatiest venue.
Cutting to the chase: I was not disappointed. 22 of their greatest songs packed into a fast paced 100-minute set, leaving just enough room for an impromptu homage to Erasure (or Wheatus?) which had the sold-out Atelier singing ‘A Little Respect’ a cappella. When the band struck up the first chords to ‘Hand in Hand’ – their 2004 smash hit – only three songs into the set, I got a little nervous; there was no way they could possibly keep that energy level up with more than an hour still to go.
They proved me wrong. It almost seemed like there was some sort of unspoken agreement: the band played mostly fan-favorites from the first five albums and the crowd hailed them as if no time had passed, complete with mosh pit, crowd surfing and wall of death. After ending on another unforgettable rendition of ‘Let Me In’, the band came back for two encores, before leaving the stage to Édith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien’ – to which 1.200 soaking wet fans joined in.
Let's be honest, this is by no means an objective concert review. While the musical craft and showmanship that the Beatsteaks have consistently delivered over the past 25 years is exceptional, what really sets them apart is the feeling of nostalgia they leave you with after each show.
I guess my point is, crushes come and go, but that youthful teenage excitement over seeing your favorite band perform live is forever – as long as your favourite band is the Beatsteaks.
Catch up with Natalie on the Deep Dive on Today Radio every Saturday from 13h-15h with repeats on Tuesdays at 14h.
