Fans
Megaherz live in the "Garage"
April 30, 2001 - Munich
Endlich!!!!! Almost a year has passed since my last (and FIRST!) MEGAHERZ show and I am anxiously anticipating what is about to happen in the next few hours. The 1st of May in Germany, as well as in other parts of the world, is a National Holiday. The entire Kunstpark-Ost area of München (an area of the city consisting of numerous clubs, venues, restaurants, etc.) is preparing for a HUGE area-wide PARTY (and lots of mayhem) on this evening of 30.4, ushering in this Holiday - but my heart can only think of what is about to take place in the "Garage".
The evening begins (for me this is akin to a holy experience, and perhaps the phrase, "der gottesdienst beginnt" would be more fitting...) with a surprise that I never dreamed possible. Standing in line outside of the "Garage", I see a very familiar looking man. He is about 20 people ahead in line, the lighting is quite poor..........but COULD it BE?????? His hair looks a bit different........it is not the usual spikey style I am familiar with........and then John asks if I know who that is. I almost hesitate to utter his name....thinking that by saying the word he might vanish into the night - like a ghost...but John confirms my suspicion - it is NOEL!
We enter the "Garage" and IT IS PACKED with people everywhere. I do not know what the capacity of the venue is........but it was at the MAXIMUM. And then word comes that there is a problem with the power. The MEGAHERZ equipment is "shorting-out" the power to the venue. One minute everything is working - and then the next minute NOTHING. POOF! No electricity! Comments are made that the MEGAHERZ set that night may be VERY short - which translates to: sorry, no show! ANGST!!!!! To lighten the tension, jokes start up concerning a show with "Megaherz Unplugged" or Alexx doing the entire set a cappella. MEGAHERZ were scheduled to commence at 10:00 PM but it was now apparent that this was NOT going to happen. I decided to make my way towards the front of the crowd and secure a position at the very front of the stage anyway. My fingers are crossed that the power problems will be solved..........
The Gods of Power seem to be answering my prayers tonight........as the MEGAHERZ crew outwit the demons threatening to cancel the show and at approximately 11:00 PM the show begins. Everyone (except Frank) is wearing the "Himmelfahrt" flight suits. Frank prefers to do his "own thing", and dresses in a t-shirt, underwear, and his eyes are encircled in the black make-up you see him wearing in the "Himmelfahrt" booklet pics. Apparently, both Wenz and Pohl DO NOT SWEAT, as their flight suits remain on all evening. After the first couple of songs..........Alexx has already removed the top half of his outfit and tied the sleeves around his waist. X-tian is soon to follow..............
The SET LIST:
1. Du oder ich
2. Gott sein
3. Showdown
4. Ruf mich an
5. Miststück
6. Windkind
7. Freiflug
8. Rappunzel
9. Beiss mich
10. Hurra wir Leben noch
11. Herz aus Stein
12. Falsche Götter
13. Blender
14. Himmelfahrt
15. Jordan
16. Rock me Amadeus
ENCORE (2):
17. Zu den Sternen *
18. Teufel
19. Liebestöter
20. Wer Bist Du
21. Hänschenklein
The above song listings are from the actual SET LIST taped to the stage near Alexx's microphone (a BIG thanks to John for rescuing this precious piece of paper and giving it to me). It was interesting to see that the new song, "Zu den Sternen", was originally placed as the #3 song and then scratched out with a pen. It was then placed in the Set List (written in pen) right after "Freiflug", but that too was also scratched out. It was then written in as the lead-off song in the first Encore.
Perhaps due to the space constraints of the stage..........MEGAHERZ were set up a little differently than I remember from the year before. Wenz was on the far left. Frank was set up in the back.......a little bit left of center. Alexx is front and center, as usual. The TWIN guitars are together! Pohl in slightly towards the back, and to the right of Frank. X-tian is placed a bit to the front and to the right of Pohl. It is crowded on the stage - but MEGAHERZ makes it work! I have gotten the lucky spot right in front of X-tian against the barrier bars.
The SHOW is spectacular! For a small Club the sound is not that bad. The sound would have been better IF I had not been so close........but I wanted the VISUAL this time and being within just a few feet of the band while they performed was god-like! AND MEGAHERZ ARE VERY LOUD! Halfway through the set I am thinking that perhaps it would have been a good idea to wear earplugs ;-) But I gladly sacrifice ANY temporary hearing loss........as the privilege of witnessing X-tian performing the guitar solo in "Himmelfahrt" just a few feet from me was so WORTH IT! He truly is a wonder to watch - to see his fingers fly over the strings. If I had to draw a comparison.........X-tian perhaps resembles a very young Eddie Van Halen on stage - though not so flashy (which is a GOOD thing!). And, Alexx, of course, is a GOD on the microphone! Such a charmer - so full of MACHT! Wenz looks like he is having a good time! He is the ONLY bass player I readily recall who SMILES occasionally. Frank is energetically pounding the shit out of his drums. Pohl, the new guy, is playing enthusiastically. Visually AND musically, Pohl is a good "fit" with MEGAHERZ.
Some of the Show Highlights: NOEL!!!!!!! I had tears in my eyes as I watched Noel climb over the barrier bars just to my left, Noel had trouble making it on to the stage initially........as something he grabbed onto gave way and he lost his balance and tumbled into the pit momentarily. But then he was on stage..........red guitar in hand.........just to Alexx's right-side.........just like "old" times. Noel was included on the song "Miststück". I could have DIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone looked so happy - smiles EVERYWHERE! A very special moment.........for the Band and the crowd. The image of Noel on stage with MEGAHERZ will forever be burned into my memory!
The evening was full of "guest" appearances on the stage. Matzke, (the singer from the band Twelve after Elf) who has contributed his vocals to several MEGAHERZ CD's, appeared on stage during "Rappunzel". He was also present during one other song.....forgive me but I CANNOT remember which one.......but the marathon hugging session between Alexx and Matzke that ended the song was unforgettable.
For the song "Rock me Amadeus", a singer by the name of Timo joined MEGAHERZ on stage. Timo took over the lead vocals with Alexx singing back-up. Before I forget........major PROPS to the blonde-haired guy about four people to my left - he was WORD FOR WORD with Alexx on "Wer bist du"!!!!!!!! I still cannot get those words out FAST enough - and probably never will.
The final FINAL song of the evening was, of course, "Hänschenklein". MEGAHERZ have added a bit of a surprise to the beginning of this song, since the show I saw nearly a year ago.....................
A large blue bag is brought on stage. Inside, the bag is FULL of a variety of small stuffed animals! And good GOD - some of the animals were "anatomically correct"!!!!! Alexx starts to toss the animals into the audience - what fun! Then the contents of the bag are simply dumped onto the stage and fistfulls of the animals are sent hurling into the crowd. X-tian picks up a small light brown colored "dog" and places it in the upper part of his t-shirt - the dog's head resting on the outside. An extended version of "Hänschenklein" is performed. Alexx exits the stage after his "singing" part is finished and the rest of MEGAHERZ simply jams for a while. At the very end........X-tian places his guitar on the very front edge of the stage and kneels over it. The "dog" pops out of his t-shirt and lies on the stage. As he is kneeling over his guitar, he gently runs his fingers over the strings. Very magical to watch. Several minutes pass...........he leaves the stage.........and as Frank is leaving the stage, he picks up the "dog" and tosses it into the crowd.
The entire show was nearly 2 1/2 hours! ABSOLUTE HEAVEN! It is very hard to describe the feeling - but MEGAHERZ are definitely a LIVE BAND!
I would like to make mention of some VERY special people I got a chance to be with that evening. A BIG HUGE thank you to John and his beautiful wife Ursula. A BIG HUGE hug for Fraggle for making the long journey to München and for all of her wonderful help in making sure I had a smooth journey to Berlin the next day! And to Corry: you ROCK!!!!!!! Anyone who can keep up with the bouncing in the crowd deserves major PROPS! Ingo, it was a pleasure to meet you!
And to MEGAHERZ and their excellent support crew: THANK YOU for an incredible evening - it was SURREAL! Until next year.....................see you!
* The new song performed tonight from the upcoming CD, (working title) "Zu den Sternen", is MAGNIFICENT! A very aggressive, very HEAVY guitar intro to the song before Alexx steps in. It is what I would call a CLASSIC Megaherz POWER ballad - in the category of a "Himmelfahrt"..........and as with the song "Himmelfahrt", it seems to be ANOTHER drug song (though not as obvious as with the "zwischen Leben und Tod" line in "Himmelfahrt"). We all struggle with our various "addictions" and this song may be another twist on this theme. This is a first impression - I may flip-flop on the theme once I see the full Text for the song. The refrain in the song is so very beautiful - a bit more *singing* from Alexx, I think:
"einmal zu den Sternen und wieder zurück" (one day to the stars and back again)
Anxiously awaiting the new CD!
Betsy Königsberg
5.05.01