Text and Photographs by Alex Wesche
|
28/03/04 Berlin
My first gig after three years… and the only one around the corner
this year. I wondered about the venue at first, because I knew the
Knaack Club to be very small. It turned out really cool though.
There were no barriers and the stage was very low. The club was
packed and it got very hot after only a few songs. It was great to
hear all the Norfolk Coast songs live for the first time. The band
was even tighter than I remembered from the concert in Hamburg in
2001. Favourites were Tucker’s Grave, Lost Control and Mine All
Mine. Brief Encounter with Paul after the concert and I went home
soaked, exhausted but happy. |
| |
19/06/04 Gloucester
Actually I planned to spend the weekend in Liverpool with my friend,
but someone (I won’t mention names) persuaded me to take a car down
to Gloucester. First time driving on the left side of the street…
very strange! We made it to Gloucester, but got lost inside the town
and missed the support act. I went down to the front to take
pictures. My friend took a seat at the back of the hall.
Unfortunately the sound was not very good. At some points I thought
I’d leave the hall deaf and my friend heard nothing of the voice at
the back. I still enjoyed the gig very much and I was glad I went.
Anybody who ever considered spending the night inside a Corsa… think
twice! |
  |
| |
26/06/04 Munich
Long drive from Berlin to Munich with three bloody traffic jams.
Made it in time though and was greeted by the sounds of Norfolk
Coast coming from a huge circus tent. They were just finishing the
soundcheck and we went for a nice cold Weißbier in the sun. Got my
photo pass and went into the venue to listen to Fisher Z. I didn’t
like them very much, but the time passed by and at 8:30 it was time
for the Stranglers to enter the stage. Good show, great sound and
very good light… The security wanted to drag me out of the pit after
three songs, but Paul intervened from the stage which was very nice.
Thanks for that! I had a nice chat with David Buckley (who lives in
Munich) after the show. |
  |
| |
03/07/04 Düsseldorf
Met with a friend at Düsseldorf airport and went on to find the
venue which turned out easier than expected. The stage was in a huge
backyard of an old factory building. The crowd mainly consisted of
bikers. And the billing was a bit weird for the Stranglers as well…
Queensryche, Saxon? No thanks. The weather was not on our side that
day. I was soaked three times before it was time for the Stranglers.
At about 5pm they entered the stage and it was sunny for about ten
minutes. Then it poured again and very soon I was the only one left
in the photo pit. I didn’t let the rain change my good mood though
and wrapped something around my camera. Paul actually seemed to
enjoy the rain and spend more time on the catwalk instead of staying
under the roof. The setlist was shortened to about an hour. It was a
very good and funny gig. I missed Tucker’s Grave though. Arrived in
Berlin at 1am … still soaked… |
 
|
| |
16/07/04 Guildford
Arrived at noon on Stansted airport, met with friend in Richmond and
took the train to Guildford. After checking in at the hotel we made
our way to the festival area which I liked very much with all those
international food booths and the huge meadow. And thank god it was
a sunny day. We went to the main stage to see the Damned. Excellent
show and great voice. People were already getting pissed and stoned…
Made my way to the photo pit in an army of about 30 photographers…
weird. Was allowed to stay there after the third song… even weirder.
The lights were very great to take pictures though and I took the
chance to do many films… The show was only about an hour long again,
but I think it was the best for me this year. The band seemed to be
in a top mood and there was a lot of energy coming from the stage.
Very tired afterwards and there actually was a bed waiting for me..
no Corsa, no driving home at night soaked to the bones. Fantastic… |
 
|
| |
 06/08/04
Aarschot
Flight to Rotterdam on Thursday to meet with Maaike. Next day we
went to Belgium. Did they ever hear anything about traffic signs in
Belgium? Well after a few detours we made it to the festival area in
Aarschot. We had a look around the area, a short encounter with
Anthony and Eric and I made the mistake to buy a pizza... horrible.
The first band Roxane
was
cover band and not very good in my eyes. Next on stage was Anne
Clark. I always liked her music, but couldn’t really imagine it on
stage. It was a very positive surprise though. The show was
fantastic. Great musicians! At about 11:30 it was the Stranglers’
turn. As far as I remember it was a full set and the show was
excellent. The band seemed to enjoy the gig very much and again
there was a lot of energy. There was no photo pit which made taking
pictures quite a drag at times since it was rather packed at the
front. Back in Delft at 4am… yawn! |
 
|
|
So far it was a fantastic year. Looking forward
to Nice and London now. |
