Blackout Problems (captured by K. Sonne Photography)
As part of several events hosted at the Landesmuseum in Mainz under the moniker Fenster zum Hof, Blackout Problems delivered their only headline set this summer amidst festival appearances. This unique event showcased the enormous amount of energy and songwriting finesse the band form Munich bring to their shows.
While this August has remained quite rainy, the courtyard of the Landesmuseum Mainz is filled with sunshine and not a cloud in sight. Many fans have gathered in Wiesbaden, where Indie powerhouse Kraftklub are also playing an open air concert - making this evening even more intimate for Blackout Problems and Sperling. Quite a number of people are sporting Enter Shikari merchandise and seem to have been won over at the club shows in April where Blackout Problems supported the British genre benders. With an added food stand and a beautiful scenery filled with trees, the perfect foundation for a good night out is already given.
Sperling take to the stage first with a mix of poetic spoken word passages, live string arrangements for a cello and songwriting similar to the widely adored Heisskalt. Bassist Jojo Gauch delivers his vocals both eloquently and fiercely, coinciding with the heavy touches the quintet implements in its sound. “Angst” stands as a prime example of this, opening the track with dissonant screeching that would not sound strange in a Knocked Loose song. However, each song takes different turns while staying compact and versatile within a post-hardcore setting. The juxtaposition between thundering passages and floaty guitar work manifests the group’s ability to fuse different sounds into a homogenous whole that is unmistakably unique. In their best moments, comparisons to German rapper Casper don’t seem too far off and justified. For those looking for emotional and impactful new music, Sperling might be your new band to discover.
Sperling (captured by K. Sonne Photography)
Up next: Blackout Problems. For many years, it seemed like the quartet from Munich still remained underdogs in the music scene. But especially after their 20xx release "DARK", however, their music has gained considerable traction in Germany and European countries abroad. The latest album offered a mixed palette of Darkpop, Alternative Rock and Punk that makes use of electronics and catchy hooks that reel the listener in from the start. A prime example is the album and set opener “MURDERER”: Building on a thumping beat, singer Mario Radetzky already goes all-in for the first song, hurtling across the stage with enthusiasm and a genuine grin.
“You know what day it is”, he posits in what seems like a call to arms in order to celebrate the weekend and the band’s politically charged lyrics dealing with activism, climate change and enragement with the status quo. Despite the bleak subjects addressed here, the band uses every chance to flip the narrative and focus on the joy of making live music instead. Answered through moshpits and singalongs in an enthusiastic crowd, the formula seems to work incredibly well.
Blackout Problems (captured by K. Sonne Photography)
It’s difficult to keep your eyes off Radeztky, who finds more joy playing from the crowd, climbing onto trees and drink booths than the actual stage. On multiple occasions, he invites the crowd to close their eyes and fully enjoy the moment, while also emphasizing that artists should not create pedestals for themselves. This touching moment undoubtedly refers to abuse of power in the music industry and the disparity between crowd and artist that is created by such acts. The level-headed mindset of the band carries through the set with classics such as “How Should I Know” or “Black Coffee”. The positivity of the members is electrifying and makes the evening go by quicker than anticipated.
The highlight of the show is “Rome”, a song which properly captures the alternative rock sound the band is loved for. Not only this, but Radetzky asks the crowd to make space for a moshpit solely consisting of non-male people, creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals in a normally unfortuantely more male-dominated environment. The outro of the song is played several times, arms flailing and throats aching from the insane singalong the song has to offer. Closing off the set with “GERMANY, GERMANY”, the band once again reminds the crowd to take care of each other and be aware of the current rise of right-wing fascism through political parties in Germany. After being summoned back to the stage, the unreleased track “WHALES” functions as a deserved last song of the set with a lot of punch.
Blackout Problems (captured by K. Sonne Photography)
All in all, both Blackout Problems and Sperling have proven their reputation as great live bands right. The current popularity of the headlining band can only skyrocket more, with a new album and dates supporting Enter Shikari and FEVER 333 on their biggest European tour just around the corner. There is little the band can do wrong at this point. Or, to put it into Radetzky’s words: "You gotta do what you gotta do - do it, do it!"
Rating: 4/5 feathers
Comentários