CONCERT GUIDE & LIVE MUSIC RESOURCE VOL. 2 / N0. 5 / September / 2019
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CONTENTS 04 11 12 18 19 20 22
Show Calendar Musician Classifieds Torstrassen Festival 2019 History Witch Album Review: Cat Cloud Shows of Note Fake News
What is this filth? This is a free, monthly resource to help you navigate Berlin’s textured music scene. Within these pages you will hopefully find something useful, interesting, or amusing. What you will not find is any place for bigotry or intolerance of any kind. If you like what you see here, consider visiting our beautiful website: schmutzberlin.com
CONTRIBUTORS
CONTACT
Wordsmiths
Web
Colette Pomerleau,
schmutzberlin.com
Gabriel Dunn, Emily Gale, Ani Samperi, Kevin Chow Design Wizard
Mail hallo@schmutzberlin.com Facebook
Wenhui Zheng
facebook.com/schmutzberlin
Deputy Design Wizard Oleksandra Pshenychna
Instagram @schmutzberlin
Cover Art Ido Back - Gulf War @idoggggg
2
Don’t be a turd. Please recycle this when you’re done with it.
Yee haw. It would seem that we’re back in the saddle after our summer break. With our irradiated skin and swollen livers, we bid adieu to summer with a reluctant kiss on the forehead. While returning to the post-holiday ‘real’ world can seem like a drag, it’s actually a pretty fair trade for the decreased likelihood of death by drunk tourist on an e-scooter. Besides, all that idle time leaves too much room for wayward thoughts. After all, you can’t experience existential dread when you’re busy workin! #livelaughlove
BTW, if you’ve ever wondered who’s behind this mediocre publication, now is your chance to come meet us in the fleisch. On 7 September, we’ll be sat alongside the other actual businesses at Torstrassen Festival’s Indie Label Market. Come say ‘hi’ and get an autograph or something.
Yours Truly, Schmutz
3
Recommended Shows
Schmutz Presents
01 14:00
‘STA/G-MOS’ BY KATE DE LORME IN 4DSOUND MONOM Composition | Electronic | Experimental
05 21:00
ANKA & THE FREE SPIRITS | GRRL HAUS Loophole Experimental | Folk | Indie
€8
€TBA
01 18:00
BERLIN ATONAL 2019 Kraftwerk Composition | Electronic | Experimental | Techno
06 21:00
OIL THIEF | SPIT MASK | KRISTIAN OLSSON | NO NATION & EVROPA an der Autobahn Dark Techno | Experimental | Noise
€37
€TBA
02 20:00
FIDLAR Columbia Theater Indie | Rock
€19
L.O.X + MOPE GROOVES Ziegrastrasse 11 Art Punk | Lo-fi
€TBA
THIRST PLANET | APTERA | BOON GOON Schokoladen Heavy Stoner | Metal
06 21:00
02 20:00
€TBA
06 20:30
MANKO FEAT. OTIS SANDSJÖ Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
02 21:00
MAECKES Heimathafen Neukölln Singer/Songwriter
SOLD OUT
07-08 10:00
LOLLAPALOOZA BERLIN 2019 Olympiastadion Indie | Pop | Rock
€139
03 20:30
FIGHT THE FIGHT Cassiopeia Metalcore | Nu Metal
€10
07 19:00
ROCKO SCHAMONI & MIRAGE Lido Easy Listening | Pop
€28
03 20:00
KLAZZIK: JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ Konzerthaus Berlin Folk | Singer/Songwriter
€26
03 20:00
TORSTRASSEN FESTIVAL 2019 Volksbühne Fun | Garage | Indie | Pop | Post Punk
€26
LIMP WRIST | KLEFT | ANTI-CORPOS | PISSY SO36 Post Punk | Punk | Queer
07 12:00
€16
07 20:30
CIVIC 8MM Bar Garage | Punk | Rock
€TBA
04 20:30
BOREL | BORGHINI | DYBERG | DÖRNER | EREL | GRIENER | GRIP | HONSINGER | KHORKHORDINA Petersburg Art Space Dance | Experimental
07 23:00
FLUGMODUS REC. SHOWCASE Loophole Electronic
€TBA
05 21:00
SLIFT 8MM Bar Rock
07 22:00
DIRE WOLVES | EINSEINSEINS West Germany Experimental | Kraut | Psych
€TBA
05-07 21:00
BERLIN BEAT INVASION Marie Antoinette Fuzz | Garage | Rock | Surf
09 20:00
COFFINS + DROWNED Urban Spree Death Metal | Doom
€16
05 21:00
PALM SQUIRREL | PAUL ARAMBULA | NINJA RACERS Urban Spree Experimental | Indie | Punk | Rock
LORD VICAR | THRONEHAMMER Slaughterhouse Doom | Sludge
€15
€7
08 21:00
05 19:00
BEASTLY & BEWITCHED FEST #1 Zukunft am Ostkreuz Film | Garage | Lo-fi
€TBA
08 14:00
‘IMAGINING THE HYPERSPACE’ BY IOANN MONOM Composition | Electronic | Experimental
€8
05 20:30
ANDI HABERL MEETS Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
08 20:30
BERNSTEIN ZIMMER Donau115 Jazz
4
€10 €5 €TBA
€TBA
06 21:00
BRUITAL NIGHTS VOL. VI / BRUITAL FUNDRAISER PT. I Loophole Experimental | Noise
€TBA
09 20:00
PIP BLOM Kantine am Berghain Indie pop
€TBA
09 20:00
ICE BALLOONS Privatclub Experimental | Noise Rock
09 22:00
BODYSNATCH Monarch Baile Funk | Dance | DJs | Grime
10 21:00
MINAMI DEUTSCH Kantine am Berghain Kraut | Psych
10 20:00
TACOCAT Marie Antoinette Garage | Melodic Punk
10 20:00
STEVE GUNN | VALLEY MAKER Lido Chamber Pop | Folk
€19
10 21:00
THE PROTOMEN Privatclub Experimental | Film Score | Noise Rock
€18
10 21:00
SLEAFORD MODS Festsaal Kreuzberg Drum Machine | Spoken Word
€33
10 20:00
MASUDA / MORLEY / TZEKOS Kaduka Eclectic instrumental
€TBA
11 19:00
ARMAND HAMMER + KENNY SEGAL Kantine am Berghain Experimental | Hip Hop
€10
11 20:00
SÜDEN Panda Theater Experimental | Jazz | Rock
€10
11 20:00
ANDREA POGGIO + ITACA (DUO) Schokoladen Electro | Indie pop
11 20:00
WAYNE HUSSEY | ASHTON NYTE Bi Nuu Goth | Rock
11 20:30
STEREO HEART Donau115 Jazz
€18 €TBA €15 €TBA
€6 €24 €TBA 5
Recommended Shows
Schmutz Presents
14 20:00
POSTFORD + GWEHRMUTTER Schokoladen Punk
14 20:00
LYGO | MR. LINUS Badehaus Melodic Punk
14 19:30
CEEYS | CLEMENS CHRISTIAN PÖTZSCH Filmmuseum Potsdam Neo Classical
€TBA
14 20:00
KAPOW! ESCHSCHLORAQUE SUMMER TRILOGY #3 Eschschloraque Electro | Jazz | Techno
€TBA
14 20:30
FYNN GROSSMANN QUINTETT Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
14 22:00
KING AUTOMATIC + BURLESQUE Arkaoda Dance | Performance
€TBA
15 14:00
BIS AUFS MESSER TURNS 13 TOOTH DECAY | RAUNE Bis Aufs Messer Recordstore Electronic | Noise | Fun
FREE
15 20:00
DEAD LETTER CIRCUS | SIAMESE Cassiopeia Alternative | Rock
€20
€15
15 19:00
ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY – DEMOKRATISCHE STRUKTUREN IN DER MUSIK Heimathafen Neukölln Composition | Jazz
€17
€TBA
15 13:00
‘OFFSET’ IN 4DSOUND MONOM Composition | Electronic | Experimental
€8
€10
15 20:30
THE HOLYDRUG COUPLE | DARJEELING Kantine am Berghain Neo Psych | Shoegaze
€19
€24
15 20:00
EARTHGANG | INNANET JAMES | WIFISFUNERAL Festsaal Kreuzberg Hip Hop | Rap
€TBA
15 20:00
DEVIL DRIVER Bi Nuu Nu Metal
€25
€16
15 20:00
RHYS FULBER & PRIEST | CRAVEN | KRYPTOMORPH Gretchen EBM | Electronic | Industrial
€28
12 20:00
WILCO Tempodrom Indie
12 12:30
JA JA JA BERLIN X ICELAND AIRWAVES WITH ROKKY | LYDMOR Fluxbau Electronic | Indie | Pop
12 20:30
HIDEOUS SUN DEMON + BABY SATAN RECORDS DJ SET 8MM Bar Garage | Punk | Rock
12 21:00
FLOWERLEAF Hangar 49 Power Metal
12 22:00
EXTRAMETRIC Monarch Dance | Experimental
€TBA
12 20:00
WOLF CITY 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Toast Hawaii Death Metal | Thrash
€10
13 20:00
ALICE COOPER | BLACK STONE CHERRY Max-Schmeling-Halle Glam | Goth | Rock
€70
13 20:30
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS | THE MURDERBURGERS | AWKWARD REUNION Cassiopeia Punk | Rock
13 21:00
KOLLAPS | ESPECTRA NEGRA | MALA HERBA Urban Spree Electronic | Harsh Noise | Industrial
13 20:00
YEAR OF THE COBRA & VORDEMFALL Zukunft am Ostkreuz Doom | Noise | Post Punk
13 19:00
THE WEDDING PRESENT Lido Alternative | UK Rock
13 20:00
CEEYS | SUBHEIM Kantine am Berghain Experimental
13 20:00
ALI AZIMI Yaam Folk | Rock
6v
€38
€5
€TBA €10
€6 €13
€TBA
15 21:00
GRAF LANZ + JACKET CONFUSION Loophole Electronic | Experimental
€TBA
16 20:00
FOREVER UNCLEAN | WAYL Schokoladen Punk
16 20:00
SHORTPARIS | HOPE Festsaal Kreuzberg Experimental Pop | Synth
€15
16 20:00
THE HORMONES Kantine am Berghain Dream Pop | Shoegaze
€16
16 19:30
JOOKLO TRIO KM28 Experimental | Improv | Noise
17 20:30
SASAMI Kantine am Berghain Indie | Slacker Pop
17 20:30
HOUSTON & RAILTON PLAY MORTON FELDMAN KM28 Composition
€TBA
18 21:00
DRAHLA | SCAR POLISH Zukunft am Ostkreuz Experimental | Noise | Rock
€10
18 20:00
K TRAP Kantine am Berghain Grime | UK Hip Hop
18 21:00
RVG + TALLIES Acud Macht Neu Indie
€TBA
€TBA €16
€TBA €11
18 21:00
ISLANDMAN Gretchen Electronic
18 20:00
PAPER BEAT SCISSORS Monarch Jazz
18 20:00
LA VELA PUERCA SO36 Folk | Latin | Reggae
€22
18 21:00
ED FRASER Urban Spree Alternative | Singer/Songwriter
€10
19-21 19:00
BERLIN SWAMP FEST 2019 Zukunft am Ostkreuz Death Metal | Doom | Sludge
19 20:00
WREN + IRK Schokoladen Math | Noise Rock | Sludge
€15 €TBA
4 GREAT REASONS TO BUY AD SPACE IN SCHMUTZ
STEVE GUNN
& BAND
10.09.19 Lido
TACOCAT
10.09.19 Marie Antoinette
SASAMI
17.09.19 Berghain Kantine
RVG / TALLIES 18.09.19 ACUD
SONNY & THE SUNSETS
#1 We’re a young business that values your support
#2 You’ve always wanted to be in a magazine
24.09.19 8MM Bar
HUTCH HARRIS [THE THERMALS] 26.09.19 Privatclub
MARISSA NADLER 29.09.19 Berghain Kantine
CHASTITY BELT 06.10.19 Frannz Club
ROBYN HITCHCOCK 10.10.19 Privatclub
JESCA HOOP 22.10.19 Privatclub
AUTOMATIC
28.10.19 Urban Spree
SHANA CLEVELAND 30.10.19 ACUD
SHEER MAG 30.10.19 Zukunft
#3 We’re not Facebook
KEVIN MORBY
[SOLO]
04.11.19 Heimathafen Neukölln
WHY?
05.11.19 Frannz Club
CORRIDOR
09.11.19 Westgermany
#4 Print media is obviously the future
SURF CURSE
11.11.19 Berghain Kantine
MAC DEMARCO
11.11.19 Columbiahalle
JAY SOM
12.11.19 Berghain Kantine
WEYES BLOOD 13.11.19 Bi Nuu
€TBA
ANGEL OLSEN
30.01.20 Huxleys Neue Welt
€TBA
hallo@schmutzberlin.com
TICKETS: PUSCHEN.TICKETS.DE
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Recommended Shows
19 20:00
YANN TIERSEN Admiralspalast Composition | Pop
19 20:30
FAUX FEROCIOUS 8MM Bar Nashville | Punk | Rock
19 20:00
LIVING HOUR Monarch Dream Pop | Indie
Schmutz Presents
€50
21 21:00
THE STROPPIES Ziegrastrasse 11 Indie
€TBA
21 18:00
THEODOR SHITSTORM | CULK | DENA | WINTERBOURNE Musik & Frieden Indie | Pop | Rock
€32
€12
19 20:30
DEMENTED ARE GO Lido Horror Rock | Psychobilly
€23
MARIE KRUTTLI TRIO Donau115 Jazz
21 19:00
€TBA
EXEK | AEMONG Ziegrastrasse 11 Post Punk
MOVING TARGETS Urban Spree Alternative | Melodic Punk
€14
20 21:00
21 20:30
€TBA
PATIENCE | EILIS FRAWLEY Arkaoda Electro | Synth Pop
€TBA
20 19:00
BONNACONS OF DOOM | DREAMHERBS | DEF!CIT | FLACCID | HORACIO POLLARD Urban Spree Experimental | Noise | Psych
21 20:30
€12
21 20:00
AZIZA BRAHIM Yaam Folk
20 18:30
RIVERS OF NIHIL | BLACK CROWN INITIATE | MØL | ORBIT CULTURE Cassiopeia Death Metal | Experimetal | Prog
€23
22 13:00
‘HERE THE WORLD BEGIN’ BY ALOIS YANG MONOM Composition | Electronic | Experimental
20 19:00
STARS | BOTSCHAFT | THE NIGHT CAFÉ Musik & Frieden Indie | Pop | Rock
€32
22 20:00
TOUCHÈ AMORÈ & DEAFHEAVEN SO36 Black Metal | Metalcore | Shoegaze
€25
20 20:00
FATAMORGANA Monarch Dark Wave | Post Punk | Synth
€8
22 20:00
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME Lido Metal | Prog
€29
20 20:30
HAAGEN/ KLATT UND BAND Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
23 19:00
TEEN Schokoladen Electro Pop | Indie
€TBA
20 17:00
SUCK | METZER58 | BANANA OF DEATH SO36 Garage | Punk
€TBA
23 21:00
PILE Urban Spree Alternative | Noise Rock
€TBA
20 20:00
ROCKABILLY MAFIA + RUSTY ROBOTS + DJ HARIBO Nuke Psychobilly | Rock
24 21:00
THE MYSTERY LIGHTS Kantine am Berghain 60s | Garage | Psych SONNY & THE SUNSETS 8MM Bar Beach Rock | Garage
€TBA
20 18:00
JAPANESE MUSIC ON VINYL & JAPANESE BENTO! Oblomov Kreuzkoelln Dance | DJ | J Pop
24 20:00
€TBA
24 21:00
COSMIC DEAD Urban Spree Jam | Psych | Shoegaze
€14
21 19:00
WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS Columbia Theater Indie
€27
24 20:00
THE MAGNETTES Monarch Glam | Pop
€12
8
€18
€TBA
€18 €8
€17
24 21:00
HAILU MERGIA Gretchen Accordion | Ethiopian Jazz
24 21:00
STARLING MURMURATION NR. 36 Loophole Experimental
25 21:00
RAM | VULTURE | INDIAN NIGHTMARE Cassiopeia Metal | Rock
€16
26 23:00
JULIAN CHARRIÈRE & INLAND Berghain Dance | Techno
€18
26 20:00
STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS Burg Schnabel Alternative | Rock
€20
26 20:00
HUTCH HARRIS (OF THE THERMALS) Privatclub Indie | Lo-fi
€16
26 19:30
SHORELINE | CROSSHILL REBELS | SHOPLIFTERS Schokoladen Punk
26 21:00
TEQUILA AND THE SUNRISE GANG Cassiopeia Punk | Ska
€12
26-27 20:00
MÚM Zeiss-Großplanetarium Ambient | Electronic
€30
26 20:00
BEASTS | MEXICAN RADIO Badehaus Disco | Garage | Punk
€11
26 20:00
HOLY SERPENT | KALAMATA & ECHOLOT Toast Hawaii Fuzz | Psych | Stoner
€15
26 20:30
LUDESCHER/GAWLIK/ADOMEIT/ HUBER Donau115 Jazz
€TBA
26 20:00
JAY ELECTRONICA | GRETCHEN | BERLIN Gretchen
€TBA
26 20:00
NOCNY KOCHANEK + SUPPORT Nuke Metal
€26
€17 €TBA
€TBA
9
27 20:00
FÖLLAKZOID Bi Nuu Psych | Space Rock
€17
27-28 19:00
MAGNIFICENT MUSIC FESTIVAL 2019 Roadrunners Rock & Motor Club Fuzz | Psych | Rock
€26
27 20:00
SHALOSH Silent Green Composition | Jazz
€16
27 19:00
KEELE Schokoladen Melodic Punk | Post Punk
€TBA
27 20:00
MORTALITY RATE | ANGST Cassiopeia Hardcore | Punk | Rock
€10
27 20:00
BANANE METALIK + BLATOIDEA Nuke Gore ‘n’ roll | Punk | Rock
€15
28 21:00
D*B*S | DAMPFMASCHINE Zukunft am Ostkreuz Noise Rock | Stoner
€12
28 21:00
WOLF MOUNTAINS Urban Spree Garage | Lo-fi | Punk
€13
28 20:00
THE WHAT FOR | CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON Schokoladen
€TBA
28 19:30
VALLEY OF THE SUN Cassiopeia Heavy rock | Psych
€TBA
28 20:00
HAVEN | KHROMA & DESCOMUNAL Nuke Metal
€10
29 13:00
‘THE SOUND IS THE SCENARY’ IN 4DSOUND MONOM Composition | Electronic | Experimental
€8
29 20:00
MARISSA NADLER Kantine am Berghain Folk | Singer/Songwriter
€17
29 20:00
JORDAN RAKEI | ARLO PARKS Columbia Theater Pop | R&B
€22
30 19:00
VANESSA WAGNER | SIMON GOFF Silent Green Modern Classical | Piano
€23
10
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MUSICIAN CLASSIFIEDS Quit playing with yourself
Aug 21st 2019 Mohit Shrestha GUITARIST LOOKING FOR CASUAL BANDMATES I’m a guitarist looking for drummers/bassists/keyboardists to jam with once in a while, preferably more casual, but also would be fine with working on a project of sorts. I have been playing the guitar for around 12-13 years, and play classic rock, blues and jazz influenced music. I would also be willing to branch out to other genres of music :D Aug 20th 2019 Akshat Mathur BOLLYWOOD BAND NEED A BASS PLAYER, KEYBOARD PLAYER I’m forming a Bollywood band! Need a bass player and a keyboard player. We have a drummer, and I sing and play the guitar. We’ll play not just Bollywood, but English songs as well from time to time ( as required by the venue and situation) Aug 19th 2019 The Mystery Planes BASS PLAYER NEEDED (RECORD/TOUR) Hi! We are the Mystery Planes, a band based in Berlin. Our music is in between a dirty psychedelic surf punk from the 60’s with hints of rock’a’billy and latin grooves! We’re currently looking for a full-time bass player (we have also a double bass available to play!) to record, and tour worldwide with passion for it! Female would be preferred but ANY rock’n’roll lover can definitely answer back Aug 19th 2019 Eden NOT GOING TO WAIT! Everyone looking for a good singer just reply here not going to wait more than 10 days for a reply and you will miss your chance...
(continued) Can sing Metallica, Queen & Alice in chains. Aug 19th 2019 Alex LETS START A NU METAL BAND Hello, my name is Alex, I am a 24 year old Bassist and I am looking to start a Nu Metal band. Something on the heavier side (Early Slipknot, Maximum the Hormone, Static X, Kittie, etc.) I only need 1 Guitarist, Drummer, Vocalist and possibly a Rapper. Email me for more information, Age is not important but at least be 18, thanks! Aug 18th 2019 Dave ANFÄNGER BASSIST SUCHT LEUTE FÜR NEUES METAL/ PUNK-BANDPROJEKT! Habe vor 5 Jahren ziemlich überstürzt mit Bass spielen angefangen. In der letzten Band war ich ca. 3 Jahre und habe mit dieser auch ein paar Auftritte gehabt. Allerdings war es eher ein auswendig lernen meinserseits. Ich möchte jetzt nen Reset machen, Unterricht nehmen und nochmal von vorne anfangen. Ich suche daher gleichgesinnte Leute, um sich gemeinsam alles zu erarbeiten... Aug 16th 2019 Genevieve WASHBOARD PLAYER + T .BANJO + VOCALS Washboard player + vocals + tenor banjo (hardworking beginner) is looking for musicians to go busk, rehearse, play gig’s with =) Mainly play American 20s-30s music; so far – open for new stuff tho! About me: 33, Berlinerin, busk experiences, living in Neukölln. Give me a write!
Aug 15th 2019 Felix Jaentgen LOOKING FOR A DRUMMER My name is Felix. I´m 21 years old and I´m currently looking for a Drummer. I spent the last half a year writing and producing a couple records and now I´m looking for somebody to join and transform it in something else. Actually I´m really looking forward for you to bring new Ideas. :) That’s why I left lots of space for it in the music. I don’t wanna be that Guy to tell you what to play. Aug 15th 2019 George LOOKING FOR PRODUCER Hi aim a singer songwriter looking for producer who can add drums and bass over guitar tracks here s some of my demos Soundcloud.com/orangeblue-3. Hit me up Aug 11th 2019 George LOOKING FOR BEAT MAKER hi i’m george 23 i write most of my songs on guitar i’m looking for someone who can program drums and bass who knows software well and can perform live if needed i will send you demos later Aug 11th 2019 livia o BOLD, DARK SINGER SEEKING BOLD, DARK MUSICIAN[S] FOR NEW PROJECT i’m a chick with a lot of stage presence. i write excellent, heavy lyrics. i sing raw and powerful. i am a dead-serious artist with drive and talent seeking musicians who can compose who would like to collaborate. the project is largely undefined, as i envision colliding with other artists and growing it together.
(continued) my aesthetic is dark and i’m not interested in otherwise. if you have an acidic burning need to express yourself through sound, let’s talk. mainstream inspirations: radiohead, pink Floyd, Chelsea wolfe, lingua ignota, author and punisher, tool, grieg Aug 10th 2019 Gerry GUITAR PLAYER LOOKING FOR STONER/DOOM / PSYCH MUSICIANS i am a Guitar player (33) who is looking for other musicians (Vocals, Drummer, Bass, Guitar, Sitar, Saz or other strings) to start a Stoner / Doom / Psychedelic Band to have fun, practice, play and when there is coming something interessting out of it also play on stage. I play mostly Rythm Guitar and i know my way around some scales. Iam not super technical but also not a bloody beginner. My prefered Style is in the direction of Brant Bjork, Melvins, Samsara Blues Experiment but iam open to any direction this could go... Aug 10th 2019 Michael Sheridan METAL GUITARIST SEEKING BAND Sorry for lack of German. Just moved to Berlin, played guitar for 12 years, mostly into playing metal. Influenced by SikTh, Metallica, Protest the Hero, Deftones, Death, Black Dahlia Murder. I have experience recording and producing, as well as sound design and synths. Aug 10th 2019 Valery Heer DRUMMER Hi, im a drummer who’s looking for gigs! I play a lot of live and recording sessions and I recently moved to Berlin (X-Berg). If you’re interested, hit me up! Batomae ( Luxuslärm/ Fabian Römer )/ Misty Boyce (L.A.) (Sara Bareilles/ Sting/ Lord Huron)/ Ka Boom Live Hiphop Mashup/ HEEN (soul from cologne)
Listing supplied by Noisy Rooms. For full listing, to reply, or to post your own, visit: https://noisy-musicworld.com/rooms/#board 11
TORSTRASSEN FEST 2019 The music festival pushes into its ninth year as the surrounding neighborhood continues to change
This year marks year nine for the festival that focuses on community first, and showcasing a diverse range of local music through that - from hypnotic pop to “Afroelectronik” to staycore to experimental space jams. The iconic Volksbühne will host this “one-off special edition” for one full day and one full night of an “intersection of musical expeditions”. 28 performances, including DJ sets will merge with the Independent label market, promising all kinds of goodies for any kind of music lover. Schmutz recently chatted with one of the festival’s founders, Melissa Perales, ahead of this year’s combined party of performances and label market on September 7th.
by Colette Pomerleau 12
Photo credit: Camille Blake
My first thoughts when I imagine wandering through present-day Mitte? I see moms decked out in designer brands with tiny dogs, holding bright green elixirs. Beyond the moms, nearly everything else is tidy, composed, and accommodating for a specific community – until Torstraßen Festival takes over the Kiez for a day.
SCHMUTZ: Which acts are you most excited about on this year’s lineup? Melissa Perales: Starting off, we have a much smaller lineup than usual – which does not make it any easier to choose my list – but of course I have some discoveries (in my job a very nice thing indeed) and those that I am excited for; those whom I was rooting for and have yet to see live. We also have, as every year, a good number of Female-identifying and other marginalized artists that make me very happy to support. The list is as follows!
SCHMUTZ: How has the festival evolved in ways you’re surprised and happy with?
Duendita
Volksbühne Main stage #1 2019 discovery living in Berlin / NYC absolut hammer! Photo credit: Celeste Call
Perales: First of all, I’m super happy that we made it to year nine! Running a festival in a city full of culture is not easy, but we have maintained our mission since the beginning: promoting first and foremost local talent who are on the cusp of new career moves or ones that have made a mark on the city and have been around in different projects for a while. Come this year, we have new material with artists like Chris Imler, Michela Miese and The Chap – top bands, top people. And of course always inviting touring international artists who we find connect with our year’s theme and music relevance, as well as matching our general philosophy. I love having a team of very talented colleagues, each having different areas of expertise and introducing different genres of music. It’s a good fit. Looking at year ten and the future, it would be good to think of next steps and growth and also have new blood coming in with new ideas and energy. The good thing about making something with the potential for longevity is that you can see it grow, not necessarily in size, but in concept and what we can do for artists.
Shunaji
Roter Salon Party Very talented young rapper from London who is out there promoting good vibes, supporting her community and those who need a spotlight.
We have a much smaller lineup than usual because of the special issue of the festival this year, opposed to our normal eight-ten venues, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out in one space together with the label market. I find it especially a good move and experiment having both in one location. I see in my other work, including that with Music
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Pool Berlin and promoting live shows, that we can connect the live world to the business side of music. I long to have more communication between all parts, increasing all of our chances of making a career within the independent music world. SCHMUTZ: What informed the decision to run the label market and festival at the same time? Perales: Last year, both were on Sunday, so it worked well with concerts in the evening. This year, with having just one day, we decided that it was also an intricate part of the ecosystem and a part which could be further connected. This is where fans, collectors and DJs come together, and we believe the artists, organizers, labels and graphic artists could do more for each other in closer proximity aside from live gigs. A community vibe happens naturally when these elements meet. SCHMUTZ: How do you define the ‘marks’ on a city - the ones local artists have the opportunity to make? Which of those have stood out to you since last year’s festival and does that play a major role in the curation?
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Perales: To me, the marks are the musicians that have been around for a while. This is one of the reasons behind our Super Sunday shows in the past. We ask TSF alumnis who have made movements in their careers since they played the festival to come back for a set on the big stage at the Volksbühne (Jaakko Eino Kalevi, Fenster, Alex Cameron).
Jealous Roter Salon
Super energetic and great music. I really admire these ladies for giving it their all, on top of running a label (Baby Satan Records). Photo credit: Joe Dilworth
John Moods 3. Stock
I have been a supporter of Fenster, his other project from the very beginning and am very excited to see his solo set live. Photo credit: Colette Pomerleau
P.A.Hülsenbeck Volksbühne Mainstage
Completely in love with their last album. It gave me big feelings. Photo credit: Casey Ayers
MAINTAINING THE SPIRIT AGAINST THIS IS NOT EASY, BUT AS A LONGTIME MITTE RESIDENT, I FEEL THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT PART OF MY MISSION IS. IT SHOULD BE FOR ALL CULTURAL PROJECTS LEFT IN MITTE AND FOR OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SEE THIS KIND OF CHANGE. RESISTANCE IS PART OF IT AND SAYING ‘HEY, THIS IS STILL OUR NEIGHBORHOOD!’
Cuntroaches at TSF 2018
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SCHMUTZ: Where did the concept originally come from?
SCHMUTZ: How does the venue and atmosphere inform the general feeling of Torstraßenfestival?
Perales: We (Andrea Goetzke and I) began nine years ago after Andreas Gebhard, who worked with us through a2n (platform for music business) and Andrea in Newthinking had been to London to attend the Camden Crawl Music festival. He asked if we would be interested in doing a festival in Mitte, where we lived and worked. Of course, were were intrigued and a bit leery, but in two months we put together a festival. This is the base for what we are doing nine years later, a festival set up using the infrastructure of the neighborhood, the various music scenes and communities.
Perales: Generally, I would say it gives the visitors of the festival and artists different insight into the neighborhood as each stage is a different size. With previous years, the few were cafes or shops set up as stages, rather than being a standard music venue. This year, we are tying the festival together for year nine to catch our breath for year ten. We are lucky to have the grand dame of the neighborhood, the Volksbühne! It is the location of my very first cultural event I ever did in the city, so for me it’s an important venue and my personal connection to the neighborhood.
SCHMUTZ: How has the neighborhood, Mitte, changed in your eyes, both in general and in the context of supporting the festival?
SCHMUTZ: Are you already working on your decade anniversary festival?
Perales: The neighborhood has seen change since the first issue of the festival and this mostly has to do with gentrification. We have maintained a good core of the venues but have seen venues change hands, move, close or be dislocated because of golddigger landlords. We have good, long-term partnerships in the neighborhood that get what we are doing and continue to support us (e.g., ACUD, Z-bar, Prassnick, Volksbühne). Who knows what could happen next year when we begin planning our ten year anniversary? It could be a whole new landscape and we will have to think how to shape things to keep the spirit. Having the festival this year in the Volksbühne only for one day has a lot to do with the logistic exhaustion caused by these exact reasons: trying to keep the festival structure and maintain the numbers of tickets according to venues. Our focus is still to come up with new ideas and ways to connect artists, fans, and neighborhood folks along with our changing partners.
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Perales: We have already begun to think of the tenth year anniversary issue in concept, what we would like to see happen after these ten years, as we have created a good archive in the independent pop culture music scene in Berlin. In order to begin this fully, we would need structural funding in order to keep the momentum after each issue. We have already applied for this sort of funding and been denied, though we hope the next will help us to be more effective to use our time and energy wisely. Rebooting the whole apparatus each year is a challenge. We would also love to have the freedom that this would bring: doing what we love, working with artists and thinking of ways to bring people together locally as well as from outside Berlin, in order to share professional and personal experiences together. This is vital for a strong musical community and helps with the creative strife that we are all faced with.
Illuminating Hospitality. Breakfast in Mitte.
FATHER CARPENTER Coffee Brewers
WWW.FATHERCARPENTER.COM 17
HISTORY WITCH with Emily Gale
History Witch celebrates voices that are all too often left out of musical narratives and simultaneously provides historical context for why discussions of gender and sexuality in music continue to matter. Each month the column spotlights historically significant albums or tracks by women, queer, trans, or non-binary musicians. The Slits released Cut (Island Records) on 7 September 1979. When they formed in 1976, singer Ari Up was 14 years old. The group would also include Viv Albertine (guitar), Palmolive (drums), and Tessa Pollitt (bass). For their first album, the U.K. post-punk band worked with reggae producer, Dennis Bovell, at Ridge Farm in Surrey over a ten week period. Cut reached number 30 on the UK charts and has now been remastered and rereleased a number of times. Critics have often focused on The Slits’ amateurish musicianship. I don’t hear it or buy it: young women musicians, in particular, face a degree of scrutiny seemingly reserved for their gender. On Cut I hear energetic, exciting performances: intricate layers of vocals, angular dub grooves, and complex articulations of gender theory. Not that I need a man’s authority to back me up, but producer Bovell agrees. He recalls hearing cassettes of their live performances and thinking “Yeah, they can certainly play.” He adds that the band had clear ideas about what they wanted; they labored intensively in the studio to achieve their sound. Cut covers a range of contemporary topics: “Instant Hit” and “So Tough” describe the constrictions and contradictions of conventional masculinity; “Spend, Spend, Spend” and “Shoplifting” speak to the impossibility of capitalism; “FM” and “Newtown” voice prescient, anxious messages about mass media; “Love und Romance” and “Ping Pong Affair” express irreverence towards heteronormativity; and “Typical Girls” provides a critical map of traits
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usually—and still—gendered as feminine: they are sensitive and emotional. Musical gestures undergird these themes. Unusual song forms and shifts in tempo destabilize musical and gender roles. Up’s chaotic melodies, wide vibrato warble, and shrieks challenge patriarchal norms of feminine vocality. Harmonies—sometimes dissonant—celebrate distinctive women’s voices and emphasize cooperation. And throwbacks to 1960s girl groups trace a feminist lineage; The Slits use “girl talk” in which they talk to each another on record, articulating feelings and experiences, while hollow, syncopated “heartbeat” drum patterns echo that of The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” among others. The album’s infamous cover features Up, Albertine, and Pollitt in front of a cottage, covered in mud, topless, and sporting loincloths. In a 24 June 2013 Guardian interview with Caroline Sullivan, Albertine noted: “We knew, since we had no clothes on, that we had to look confrontational and hard. We didn’t want to be inviting the male gaze.” Indeed, these women look tough and in charge, their steely gazes reaching past the camera’s lens. Of Cut, Albertine stated that The Slits “wanted to make a classic album that never dated.” Forty years later, Cut’s feminist stance sounds not just eerily necessary, but insistently fresh. Dr. Emily Gale is a feminist pop music scholar who lives in Berlin. Email: emily@sentimentalmuseum.com
ALBUM REVIEW that taunt and torment the unsuspecting, until the moment the dreamer detects the dream and is gently released into waking life.
CAT BALLOON LAF Tebano 28 August, 2019 Musician and visual artist, Lorenzo Tebano, does not give a damn about your comfort zone. His very first full-length album, Cat Balloon, makes this very clear from the first few relentless seconds. Its abrasive, improvisatory, dirgey dungeon-synth orchestrations reveal an apocalyptic approach to songwriting and musical composition, with morbid fantasies of death and schizophrenic dreamworlds, eerie enough to make Salad Fingers blush. If it could be briefly summarized, “Whitehouse meets Throbbing Gristle meets Coil meets cats playing synthesizers in space” would probably be as close as mere words could describe this strangely bewitching album. The opening track, ‘Hollow Earth’, wastes no time with pleasantries as it begins mercilessly with drillbit-perfect industrial dredge from the very first note, revealing a diverse layering of analog percussive and theremin-like elements that quickly climb to a disorienting halt. ‘Pets’ effectively puts Animal Collective through a pixelated meat-grinder with a generous dash of agro drum synths, sonically alluding to a nightmarish dream world consisting of shapeshifting funhouse mirrors and ghoulish clowns
‘Nothing to be Done’, originally written by The Pastels, acts as the eye in the center of the storm, passing by in a suspiciously pleasant lull, as if blurring a Mad Max-esque background as it washes over. “Nothing to see here…” The following track, ‘Multi Storey Car Park’, and the album’s 8th track, ‘Human Minatures’, share a similar ad lib phenomenon while retaining their own uniqueness: what could be affectionately compared to that hopeful yet lonely moment of attempting to jam with your cat on key synths as you set up some sick electronic hi-hat beats and industrial fuzz, and then acquiesce to ersatz synth position as said jam backfires. Because cat. ‘Leaving Town’ puts us back on the seething agro-electronic track, with arresting dry vocals imagining the grotesque atomic ending of a dystopian world, which together with that of the following track ‘Surprise Death’ makes TG’s ‘Hamburger Lady’ sound like Alice in Wonderland. In the same vein, we then arrive at ‘Aftermath’, a vividly described tail of toil, destruction and false hope, ending in surrealistic tragedy where heaven is inaccessible and death is only the beginning. We close out the last minute and a quarter of the album with the aggressively percussive yet otherworldly ‘Experience’, which acts as a haunting yet tender funeral request to resist the final image of death and remember the deceased as they were when they were alive. Freshly pressed on custom markered t-shirts and released as a special download code as of 28 August 2019, LAF Tebano’s Cat Balloon is set to carry you away into the nether regions of one’s own subconscious, the collective unconscious, and the thin veil between humour and tragedy. /AS
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SHOWS OF NOTE Pretend you value our opinion KATE DE LORME SUNDAY / 01.09
MONOM After a small lull in programming, MONOM (the center for 4DSound at Funkhaus) has returned with a month-long festival series, co-presented by Spain’s MIRA Festival. Taking place with multiple sessions every Sunday, the series kicks off with a unique presentation from Canadian sound designer, Kate de Lorme. What better way to celebrate sonntagsruhe than with an experimental sound performance?
Urban Spree Dust off your chaps, because the boys are back in town. The nice thing about chaps is that they seldom require much dusting, since they usually come in vinyl or (p)leather and messes just wipe away clean. Anyway, don’t let the Daisy Dukes fool you – Limp Wrist is fast and fucking heavy. While the aesthetic could be written off as a shtick, representing the queer demographic in hardcore is vitally important, since the genre is sadly still rife with machismo and antiquated views on gender roles. They don’t tour often, so don’t miss your chance. FFO Aus-Rotten, Warthog, bears
OIL THIEF + SPIT MASK FRIDAY / 6.09
LIMP WRIST TUESDAY / 3.09
an der Autobahn An unholy alliance of two of the city’s darkest labels is responsible for this special evening of industrial electronics in the city’s nether realm (aka outside the ring). The event celebrates new releases from both Oil Thief and Split Mask, which will hopefully be as terrifying, yet strangely danceable, as their previous albums. FFO Operant, Author & Punisher, brutalism
Urban Spree Is it death-doom or doom-death? The answer might shock you! The Japanese DD metal band has been doing their thing since ’96 and are showing no signs of letting up. But if the pulverizing funeral dirge machine ain’t broke, why fix it? FFO Dark Throne (specifically Soulside Journey), Noothgrush, Autopsy
COFFINS MONDAY / 9.09
Kantine am Berghain TRAUIG UND UNTANZBAR FRIDAY / 13.09 With a name that really sells the fun factor, the Traurig & Untanzbar series is back with its third edition of dark-ambient nights at Kantine. This particular iteration features the talents of some of our favorite ambient composers, CEEYS, the very same who organize Q3Ambient Fest. The night will run the gamut, covering tape loops, neoclassical, and experimental-industrial. Seems like a safe bet for a spooky Friday the 13th.
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Kantine am Berghain The LA veteran musician made a name for herself through various other notable projects in California’s indie scene, like Cherry Glazerr and Wild Nothing. Her solo efforts land somewhere under the warm duvet of shoegaze, with an overarching melancholic tone occasionally juxtaposed with playful synth and flute melodies. In the end, it's feel good music for staring pensively out the window (even if the view is shit). FFO Snail Mail, Deerhunter, Alvvays
DRAHLA WEDNESDAY / 18.09
Zukunft am Ostkreuz Angsty post-punk with just the right amount of dissonance, Drahla is high on our list of favorite recent discoveries. Luciel Brown’s minimal vocal range and drawling cadence are strikingly reminiscent to those of Kim Gordon, which easily ropes us in.The Leeds-based outfit will be supported by the solo, electronic meandering of Berlin’s Scar Polish. FFO Sonic Youth, Marbled Eye
Zeiss-Großplanetarium Along with the likes of Sigur Rós and Björk, Múm are some of the early pioneers in bringing the Icelandic sound (aka whimsical elfin electronic soundscapes) to international audiences. Though Elves don’t age in human years, they’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of their perfectly titled debut album, Yesterday Was Dramatic, Today is OK. In true whimsical nature, the two-day show takes place in Prenzlauer’s planetarium. FFO Sigur Rós, amiina, Under Byen
FOLLÄKZOID FRIDAY / 27.09
SASAMI TUESDAY / 17.09
MÚM THUR-FRI / 26-27.09
Bi Nuu It’s actually a bit frustrating that Folläkzoid, Minami Deutsch, and The Holydrug Couple are all playing this month on separate occasions. While they respectively offer something slightly different from one another, they’re all a bit like different branches of the same tree, or perhaps gills of the same psychedelic mushroom. Folläkzoid specifically is like a harmonious marriage of droning psych and live, minimal techno, with 10+ minute long songs revolving around a single, hypnotic bass line. FFO Minami Deutsch and The Holydrug Couple (both of which you should also see this month)
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FAKE NEWS/FAKE NEWS/FAKE
Punk Totally Doesn’t Give a Fuck But Prefers Guests Use Coasters, Also Fuck Cops by Patrick Coyne Local anarcho-punk Tommy Mauro “totally doesn’t give a fuck,” but does prefer guests use coasters, even if it’s “no big deal, and also, fuck cops,” annoyed partygoers confirmed. “I strongly believe destruction of property is an acceptable and appropriate method of achieving social change. But I also believe in dusting the top of the broken fridge we use as a bookcase, even if no one can see up there,” explained Mauro. “And just because I prefer the superior cleaning power of Clorox over a handmade lemon juice and vinegar solution, doesn’t mean I’ve been co-opted.” Mauro and roommate Sofia Alvarez were hosting a party when his anal-retentive tendencies became particularly obtrustive. “We were discussing politics or something, and Tommy kept interjecting with his ‘totally no biggie’ suggestions,” admitted Alvarez. “He’d say things like, ‘I agree, drugs are an instrument of oppression. Also, we should use coasters because the table is real mahogany.’ Prefering to keep a tidy home is one thing,
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but why is he so worried about things like mustard stains on a futon he helped me pull out of a dumpster?” The party was later broken up by local law enforcement, which, according to guest George Varnava, further exacerbated Mauro. “They barged in without a warrant and searched the house for drugs or whatever. So, understandably, Tommy was pissed,” said Varnava. “Not because his rights were violated, but because the cops refused to take off their boots or use the runner as they raided the place.” One of the police officers, Tanisha Watkins, was surprised by Mauro’s unique and seemingly un-punk ways. “Oh, yeah — I remember that asshole. After he yelled at us for leaving the door open, he pointed out that my badge looked dull and kept asking if I wanted him to get some white vinegar so I could polish it,” said Watkins. “Honestly, I would have rather he spit on me or call me a pig like all the other punks do.” At press time, Mauro had angered his roommate by scrubbing the bloodstains out of her shirts, thus ruining them. Quality music journalism provided by thehardtimes.net
NEWS/FAKE NEWS/FAKE NEWS JUST THE TIPS with Kevin Chow
sneakers as they are very comfortable for walking around the galleries. Walk around with your arms crossed and behind your back This is the internationally recognized posture of someone appreciating art. Take slow, long strides through the
Ciao Berlin, it’s your boy Kevin Chow.
arts space and try to avoid eye contact
Here again and, mama mia, what a
with others. This signals that you are
summer it’s been. After the tragic failure
“appreciating the art” and would “not
of my turtle farm, I was devastated.
like to be bothered.”
But rising from the ashes like Joaquin Phoenix, I managed to have a great
Furrow your eyebrow and furtively
summer. I learned how to rollerblade.
place a fist under your chin
Other than that, I’ve also been nurturing
This is best done when standing in front
my mind by exploring the arts.
of an art (also referred to as a ‘piece’ or
Navigating the contemporary art scene
‘work’ or ‘a Motorola Razr Glued to the
(especially in a city like Berlin) sure is
wall’). Also be sure to say something
tough, but this month, I’d like to give
like: “Hmm, right right. Okay, hmm,
you some tips on how to understand,
ah yes.”
interpret, and give colourful commentary on art. As they say, “To understand art,
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
you have to become art” - Kevin Chow.
It’s okay to admit that you don’t
Let’s do this!
understand something, so feel free to ask other patrons questions like “Hey,
Cool sneakers
what’s up with all these paintings?” or
As they say, “You gotta look the part to
“Wowza that’s a bad haircut. I hope you
enjoy the art” - Also Kevin Chow. These
fired your barber, heh” or “Dad, I want to
days, people in the arts bleach their
go home.”
eyebrows to prevent “interference with their art experience” (- Kevin Chow). They also wear super chunky FILA
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SEPTMEBER SEPTMEBER SEPTMEBER T O R S T R A S SEN FE S T I VA L VOLKSBÃœHNE
SH O R T PA R IS
FE S TSA AL KREUZBERG
SASAMI
K ANTINE AM BERGHAIN
ED FR ASER URBAN SPREE
S WAMP FE S T 20 19
ZUKUNF T AM OSTKREUZ
07 16 17 18
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SCHMUTZ PRESENTS SCHMUTZ PRESENTS SCHMUTZ PRESENTS Every month we cohost shows we like and give away free tickets. Visit schmutzberlin.com for a chance to win. 24