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  • Bücher, schnell gelesen: Teil 1.065

    Bücher, schnell gelesen: Teil 1.065

    Christopher G. Moore - Der Untreue-Index ((Unionsverlag METRO 607, 2013)
    Christopher G. Moore – Der Untreue-Index (Unionsverlag METRO 607, 2013)

    Gelesen: 21.09. – 03.10.2014, netto 370 Seiten.

    Endlich wieder etwas von Vincent Calvino, der Privatdetektiv der Bangkok nicht wirklich sicher aber auch nicht wirklich unsicher macht. Das lustige ist, das er diesmal das Leben der Expats und Ausländer unter die Lupe nimmt und dabei eine ganz einfache Wahrheit findet: Der gemeine Farang (ฝรั่ง) läßt sein Ehefrau sausen und vergnügt sich mit den hübschen Thailänderinnen. Und das kostet ihn entweder die Ehe, den Job oder das Leben. Oder alles. Nacheinander. Aufeinmal.

    Was machen die frustrierten Ehefrauen? Flüchten sich in Beschäftigungsprogramme (Kochen) und wenn es ganz hart kommt heuern sie jemanden an der ihnen die Wahrheit beibringt. Das ist dann der Part von Vincent, der aber mal wieder zufällig in was reinstolpert (Illegaler Nachbau von Medikamenten), nicht bezahlt wird (sein Klient stirbt aus den genannten Gründen) und dann in eine ganz große Nummer grät, viel zu goß für ihn und in dem er mit seinem Gerechtigkeitssinn nur untergehen kann. Am Ende steht dann – wie ist es anderes zu erwarten – lediglich sowas wie ein dreckiger Sieg, also eigentlich nicht wirklich einer. Dicht, sehr dicht, und mit viel Feuer für das Kopfkino: Ich war noch nie in Bangkok, aber ich habe jetzt eine deutliche Vorstellung.

    Vielschichtig, authentisch und brutal. Klasse!

    Soundtrack dazu: Bangkok Alcohol

    PS: So gut das deutsche Cover auch in die UT Metro Serie passt, die englischen Versionen sind besser.

  • Another underrated band getting due review!

    Another underrated band getting due review!

    Yes indeed. The Big Boys where key to build early hardcore and most likely can claim to have introduced a screechy funk into it. Well deserved this one! I still dig the “Skinny Elvis/Fat Elvis” Retrospective on Touch and Go (thats from 1993 and that was already post-post if you see what i mean).

  • … are they washing the suits after every show?

    … are they washing the suits after every show?

    The Movement - Knust, 27.09.2014
    The Movement – Knust, 27.09.2014

    That was a busy weekend – a great party themed “Fate” on Friday, a football game to coach on Saturday afternoon (a tight 0:1 home loss) and a Movement show at the Knust on Saturday evening – i felt almost flat out, those who where at the party on Friday too and stayed until the wee of the morning looked even worse but hey…that’s what life is for! And as just experienced with a strike by Mr. and/or Mrs. Fate life can change without warning. Forever.

    The audience would have packed the Indra (where Sam normally does his shows) and within the rather spacious Knust it feld almost “empty”, a feeling (paired with the “high” stage) that on top of a slight hangover somehow negatively impacted my show experience.

    Top Buzzer (Knust, 27.09.2014)
    Top Buzzer (Knust, 27.09.2014)

    First on where Top Buzzer, a UK power-pop trio with all the annotations that a smart UK band carries: Tongue in check, party attitude and full of energy – but did they have something unique? Mhh, not quiet. I think i would not buy a record…but as an energetic party band they make sense. Bonus: stage uniform. Extra bonus: Pop Muzik cover. Bad choice: X-Ray Spex cover. Double bonus: 47 second commercial as a song. And as ever they had the burden of the empty stage and empty hall. Support stint – tough one.

    The Movement (Knust, 27.09.2014)
    The Movement (Knust, 27.09.2014)

    Next on The Movement, our upright danish comrades.  If there is one thing, than it is stage persona and stage style. Just class! Hitting Hamburg was the last leg of a long EU Tour but they did not look any tired. Perfect. Those who regularly read here know that i do love to capture the first moments of a band on stage – the “getting on and blasting into the first song”. For The Movement this was quite nice this time round, but see yourself:

     

    Under normal conditions the sound guy is able to fix this “on the fly” – have not seen such a breakdown for quite some time. But cool to see The Movement trying to continue in the hope that the mic would eventualy come back…love it!

     

     

    Neat. From there they blasted through more of the newer songs, less of the older – with quite a rough sound. For any of the earlier named reasons it felt somehow not 100% right, though they made every effort to make it a good show. I thus truely believe it was the rather big venue and stage that did somehow turn this down for me. Was it bad? Not at all – The Movement is a hard working engine that comes with a cause. Love it! Only leaves the Q: Those sweaty suits – are they being washed after every show. And the shirts too? I’d hope so!

    The Movement (Knust, 27.09,2014)
    The Movement (Knust, 27.09,2014)