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December 11, 2008 09:48PM
the db-messageboard is not working anymore! 
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November 06, 2008 09:04AM
think I should say "hi" again to my Blog here...! 
I am soo lazy... and, honestly, I would like this blog more, if I could change more settings... and the design... and the font.
And I have just started a german language Blog... more political. I am lazy there, too. And I do not like the settings there, too. Think I have to change again soon... 
I am a bad blogger... 
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April 30, 2006 09:44PM
Just having survived another flu, here are very few updates...!
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Escapists of the world – unite! - on this website!
First of all - to all the escapist people here – are there some? - maybe you like to take part in this?
www.desiredescape.net
You can send them artworks, pictures...etc... which then maybe also might become part of some movie...
(well *cough* I am still thinking about my favourite sanctuary)
And here is the responsible artist:
www.shellysilver.com/
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John Cale 17th March
I’ve been to a John Cale Concert last month – was a good show, although less “avant-gardist” as I expected.
First I thought I was late, but then I noticed, the mostly a little bit older audience did not run to the first row standing places, they were eager for the very few chairs and other seating places in the small jazz club. Pah! Lucky me!! So we were very very first row. I mean, as close to the microphone as you can be in a very very small Jazz Club… eye to eye with Mr. Cale...
He played the more classic Rock from his new Album “black acetate”, but also some fine older stuff… even some Velvet Underground like Venus in Furs (this was also played by Lou Reed in 2003, when he had that great Celloplayer in the band…)!
And also the more classic Rock-Stuff did not sound boring – it still had some little weirdness, which made it very special.
Here are three pictures I took with my crappy digicam. Seems they did not like photographs very much, and so I just used the few minutes, when the press was allowed to take pictures in the beginning. It was not forbidden and we had not to leave the cameras at the entrance, but some security guy was throwing evil looks on every one who dared to take pictures…
So of course I did not dare to make videos directly in front of Mr. Cale… who indeed looks as old as he is. But good.
Unfortunately he did not communicate much with the audience and also did not come out after the show for autographs.
The setlist
Two pictures:
www.john-cale.com/
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Bauhaus -10th Feb.
At my birthday we went to the Bauhaus-concert in Berlin. Was also an highly interesting experience, although a friend (long time Bauhaus Fan) of mine complained, that Peter Murphy got old, bald and fat. Tzzzzkk… not nice.
As for me it was the very first Bauhaus concert I did not have any comparison with the past and could enjoy the show. And he still looked fine and – more important! – his voice still was superb!
Of course we were first row and so had good view – but unfortunately that also meant standing directly in front of some huuuge loudspeaker tower… oops, my ears were still whistling afterwards for quite a long time.
I must admit, I did not know much music of them before and liked more the “calmer” pieces in the concert. And of course enjoyed especially the “hits” at the end of the show: “Ziggy Stardust” (I recorded that, but seems it has now vanished from rapidshare…if you’re interested, let me know) - and “Bela Lugosi’s dead”.
(I ‘m not an expert, but started afterwards to get more into them!)
Two pictures I took:
"Ziggy"
"Bela Lugosi’s (still) dead"
Afterwards we went for dinner in a nice Greek restaurant. Good way to spend a birthday!
www.petermurphy.info/intro.html
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Cutting Crew -15th feb
…another show I was lucky to attend in the last months was the good old “Cutting Crew” - who can remember them?
“I just died in your arms tonight” – yes, the only song I knew when I went there. And, honestly did not expect very much – but they really surprised me!
Unfortunately not many people came to see them, but they still played a fine concert – some melodic, classic folk-blues-rock. Ok, nothing “new”, not “weird Indie-stuff”, which in I do more prefer at the moment. But very good live music!
Also the new version of “I just died in…” was stunning with some acoustic guitar in the beginning…
They played a lot from the new CD, a funny REM/Rolling Stones-Cover and as encore “what a day for a daydream”.
"I just died in your arms tonight" (unfortunately without the acoustic intro)
www.lopy.net/cc/cuttingcrew_berlin2006_diyat.wmv
snippet from „no problem child“ from the new CD
www.lopy.net/cc/cuttingcrew_berlin2006_npc.wmv
Bandleader Nick van Eede (the only one who’s left from the original Line up) enjoyed talking to the (small) audience - and in the 10 minute break he came out from the backstage area carrying a plate with catering food from the band and gave it to the audience.
After the show he stayed for a while for talking and giving autographs. Nice guy. I even bought the new CD, because it was not overpriced and I got it signed. Really can recommend them.
www.cuttingcrew.biz/
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Mick Rock
Yes, Mick Rock was in Berlin again! Opening an exhibition with his photographs at the so called “Rock-Photo-Gallery” in Berlin! (how appropriate!) - and presenting the German edition of the book “Moonage Daydream”. (I still don’t have it)
www.rockphotogallery.com
It was very crowded there and the place was much smaller than I expected. But the pictures were great and Mick Rock is always a very nice guy - and of course always the coolest.
I guess here Bowie was making fun of the photographer…
Was the third time we “met” him here in Berlin!
First time he was here was last spring, presenting the “Blood and Glitter”–Book in an exhibition at the “Dussmann Bookshop”.
There he also was spending a lot of time with people, answering questions and giving autographs (well, I got my old “Pin Ups” Album signed) – and taking pictures of the audience with his little Digicam! I really want to know if he keeps all those pictures!
Next time he came to Berlin, was in fall, presenting the “Rocky Horror Picture Show”-Book in the “Babylon”-Cinema. This was nearly an intimate meeting, as there was not such a big audience. But again he did spend a lot of time there, was watching the movie (and the rice throwing) with us - and giving autographs afterwards.
Looking forward for next time… when he will be back presenting a book about “Queen”!
www.mickrock.com
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Thru these architects eyes…
…Just before Easter we went sightseeing in the Berlin “Gropiusstadt”. Maybe the Bowiefan will remember that “Christiane F.” lived there, in the western part of Berlin, in “Neukoelln”. It’s a a kind of “satellite town” built after plans from famous Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius – but these plans were “changed” due to lack of money… So the houses got a bit higher and closer than Mr. Gropius planned.
(Although the idea of separating the functions of a town following the“Athens Charter” now in general is a bit outdated, as people now like to live more urban - and work is never as loud and dirty as it was in the early 20th century)
We went there expecting to see some old and ugly houses, poor people and bad places…criminality and drug addicts… but were indeed a bit surprised.
The Place looked rather clean, had nice Children’s playgrounds and a lot of trees between the houses. And a price list, where they offered free flats, showed us, that they are not cheap at all!
And on another sign I read, that the habitants are average over 50 years old… seems people who moved in here 30 years ago, felt comfortable and did not move away? Although I read that most of the flats were council flats.
At another place I found even garden gnomes in front of a ground floor flat…
But I think I still prefer living in my old late 19th century house in the center of Berlin!
The highest house of “Gropiusstadt”.
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Switzerland
…been to Switzerland (and south Germany) before Easter - and want to share some holiday-pictures of this place, wich, for me as a now long time Berliner, looks so terribly civilized and clean…maybe a little bit toooo clean… yes… all very cute and beautiful....
But this also is somehow comforting….
Sightseing at Switzerland’s “Swiss Light Source” (SLS)
And some “normal” sightseeing.
This dead rat was lying on the street in Freiburg
The were-rabbit! It’s here!
(but Switzerland has the best chocolate of the world)
Always fine, when they have landed again… phew!
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Music
No, not discovered something really amazing in the last weeks. Still listening to my favourites from the last big post. Ok, let’s add “Animal Collective”. And maybe, thanx Bowie, “Deerhoof” and “Tv on the Radio” - both at least interesting!
Because a lot of that “hype” stuff… well, *cough*… is a bit boring. Isn’t it? Nice Partymusic… but…
Yes, I am not yet sure, if I like the Secret Machines’s new album… it's very soft… not to say dull… but maybe it just needs time to grow on me. Like the new Flaming Lips’ album…
(thanx Bowie for the interview!)
But here’s something to look forward: I read, that there’s a new Album from Final Fantasy/Owen Pallet out soon. And will he write String arrangements for the new Bowie album or not? Rumour rumour!
www.finalfantasyeternal.com
Then waiting for the new Muse and the new Arcade Fire Album… And of course the new Bowie album. Guess it will sound like a mixture between Scott Walker’s “Tilt” and Arcade Fire’s “Funeral”. Great.
But maybe he will surprise us and record some country album. Or nothing at all. “Reality” - Bowie’s last album? No, don’t think so. Do you?
Bwahhh… time for some news. At least a picture from “The Prestige” would be fine. We are all dying of curiosity.
(but the new pictures were nice...)
Think I shall go and see the “Dresden Dolls” live soon!
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“Blend” - Music on TV!
Finally – to all the Germanz und Turkz, especially in Berlin: If you get the little Turkish Channel “TD1” on your TV… and you love good music – Watch “BLEND”! Or let your videorecorder tape it! (it’s in German language).
What a great music programme! Every day (YES! Except weekends) from 2:30 – 4:00 pm (and at night at 3:00 – 4:30 am) – 1,5 hours full of the more or less interesting “Indie”-Stuff of today, a nice, well informed presenter, live playing guests in the Studio, videos, interviews – and all in a very unpretentious sourrounding.
Ok, they are repeating a lot…but I won’t complain! That’s a music-programme we need! (Although awful “Group Tekkan” also was there…ARGH.).
Here’s a list of Bands which have been played or even featured there in the last weeks - since I discovered it one year after it started (nobody told us, there was no advertising…I found it by zapping-accident):
Broken Social Scene, Arctic Monkeys, Most Serene Republic, John Vanderslice, the Kooks, The Delays, We are Scientists, Hard-fi, Schneider TM, Blackmail, Anti Flag, Flaming Lips, The Stars, Voltaire (good German band), IamX, Death Cab for Cutie, Franz Ferdinand, Robocop Krauss (the better Franz Ferdinand), Bell Orchestre, Morrissey, Arcade Fire…the label “City Slang”… what do we need more, eh?…. And a few weeks ago they had a “Grunge”-special…remembering the early 90ties…
Will we ever see Bowie in this show….?
And this happens at a time, when there’s not one single music-programme left on any of the “normal” 30 Tv-channels anymore. They even cancelled the German version of “TOTP” (which played 90% crap and had awful presenters).
And again we can ask, what the fuck is happening with German TV? When I was young (looong ago) we had few Music programmes on the screen… seems today we just get crappy Soaps, “Telenovelas”, horrible “court”-shows (yawn!!!), SMS-games and shopping-channels and rip-off call-in-Shows. Even the so called “Music-channels” don’t play music anymore but Ringtone-ads..
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Waterhousemusic…
Last fall we had the opportunity to play some music in a new build water-reservoir, which is not yet in use. So we could get in there with our instruments and have fun!
Unfortunately it was terribly cold there..
But I like places like that…
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Intermezzo: A RANT
….money money money money money money…
Or, better, the lack of money
It SUCKS!
Money, money, money... life is getting always more expensive and wages are decreasing... so maybe especially young (ex-)middleclass-women will start to work secretly as prostitutes if they dare? And society will appreciate this. Main thing the bills are paid.
No jobs at all, shitty paid jobs without insurances, exploiting jobs, unpaid internships….etc…etc…
This generation is totally screwed.
Ok, Western Europe is still a rich country, I know I know. No one is dying of hunger here. But it is the place where I live and where I notice some very disturbing changes in the last few years – people are scared, pressure is rising.
It will be crowded under the bridges... when our middleclass parent’s heritage is used up.
Will people also here start selling their kidneys?
Sometimes I think, aren’t these great times we are living in! Isn’t it wonderful, all the freedom we have? And all the technical opportunities we have? Then I am just curious, what the future might bring… (except the new Bowie album)
But sometimes I am just scared and then I envy the older ones…because they will pass away sooner and won’t see all the crap, which is lying in front of us…
To celebrate my rant, here is the revolutionary!
www.lopy.net/depot/revolutionary.mp3
Ha! And this one’s also a great revolutionary song!
www.lopy.net/depot/h_a.mp3
Shall we fight? Or just fade away?
/-RANT END
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Web
www.wilwheaton.net
Actor Wil Wheaton (known as “Wesley Crusher” in Star Trek and from the Movie “Stand by me”) has a great website… check it out!
(although at the moment there is a “temporary blog” for the most recent stuff)
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Last but not least…blabla…
Happy Easter (late enough!)
This picture I took just around the corner from the Hauptstrasse..
Thanx b-net for my Mystery Token – seems it finally pays off….if I only could decide! But I am always the one bitten by the dogs (as the Germans use to say)…
Btw.. Bowiefun got some updates last month…
And it’s time for continuing the “notpron”-riddle... now on level 20…
Chernobyl was 20 years ago. I guess they are still selling the milk powder from then!
Was Iran’s President Ahmadinejad hired from the CIA?
Working Class Hero… what a great song that is!
Greetings to all my friends here, sorry, if I am not so much online at the moment!
Btw… it’s “Turmstrassenfest” again… it’s two times every year…in April and in September…a big party in my street from Friday till Sunday, with carrousels, tacky merchandise stuff…and crappy bands playing… but sometimes I like taking a walk there and maybe get something to eat….
Unfortunately yesterday it was raining…
But today weather was fine!
Yes - spring is coming, the winter was awfully dark and cold, something to survive.
Hello, world!
And, never wrong: Hello, Sailor!
Cutie – from the bowieparty in September…
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