Kristin Asbjørnsen – I’ll Meet You in the Morning Tour

What a beautiful evening! When Kristin started to sing in Jazzclub Unterfahrt/Munich, there was immediately such a wonderful atmosphere. Here voice is so intense that it duplicates the emotionality of the already soulful songs she is singing. The powerful radiation of deep feelings hit me so hard, it gave me goosebumps and almost made me cry! It seemed like the audience had a similar feeling because nobody started to clap after the first song – it felt like nobody wanted to disturb this intense atmosphere.

Kristin and her band of three mostly played songs from her new album “I’ll meet you in the morning”, including the title track, which she dedicated to today’s refugees and anyone else who had to part with loved ones and hopes to reunite with them some day. She also explained why she is doing Afro-American spirituals: Many years ago she inherited a songbook full of spirituals from singer Ruth Reese, and so she took it on herself to find her own way into them. It’s incredible how she brings them to life in her very own style. And her bandmates (drums, guitar, bass) were incredible instrumentalists – and singers, too, as they had to substitute for a choir and give her full back-up harmonies on several pieces.

I was also happy that she slipped in some of my favorite songs from her past albums, like “Trying to get home” or “Ride up in the chariot“.

When I looked around, I’m sure I was one of the youngest in the crowd. I’m always a bit sad when I see this. Don’t younger people listen to music like this? Don’t they know about it? Or is it “out of their reach” as their musical socialization went completely differently? Or is it “uncool” to listen to anything but mainstream? Oh, I’m not one of those people who demonize mainstream, not at all, I love a lot of mainstream artists and I don’t believe in any theory saying only non-mainstream music can be any good. I always look on both sides and try to find what’s speaking to my heart, no matter how big or small the artist may be. But I have to admit I enjoy quite many of these Scandinavian jazzers like Silje Nergaard, Solveig Slettahjell, Nils Landgren (check out his “Funky Abba“-CD!), Rigmor Gustafsson …

Anyway, I’m getting off-topic….

I waited for Kristin after the show to get my CD signed and, even more importantly, to thank her for the wonderful evening. I always feel the need to thank those artists I listen to for their music and to encourage them to continue. For me it’s important to tell them personally that their work is appreciated. You know, we spend so many hours listening to the music of certain artists we love, their songs bring so much joy, emotions and thoughts, they kind of accompany us through life – what more of a gift can you make someone without knowing him/her? It IS a true gift, and for gifts you usually say thank you, don’t you?! I don’t think I ever really was able to express all of this and more to any artist I ever thanked anything for, I never seem to find the right words, but I hope they still somehow understand because I guess they themselves feel like this for other artists.

Please, people, always appreciate your artists, don’t take anything for granted!

Beyoncé – The Mrs. Carter Show

Beyoncé is one of my favourite artists, and as her last show I saw was not too long ago (22nd of May, 2013), I’m gonna start with her.

As always the concert was absolutely awesome! She never fails to amaze me. I wish I had the time to see more of her shows, but this time it was only Munich for me. My friends and me had “Early Entry Tickets”. These tickets were sold by Beyoncé’s concert promoter and cost 20 dollars. If you used them together with your actual ticket, you were allowed to enter the arena before the general public, which, of course, was quite comfortable. Still I didn’t like the way they, let’s say, “ordered” the crowd. There were special places beside the main stage and inside the B-stage, which could be bought for hundreds of dollars. I really have to state here, and I bet I will do that over and over again, that I strongly disagree with this new way of marketing concerts! The best spots in the house go to those who can afford to pay the most money. Is that really what artists (should) want? Is that a signal they want to send to their fans?

In 2002, I remember, I went to a “Destiny’s child”-concert in Hamburg. My friend and me were the first in line and some time before the gates opened, a lady came up to us and asked us whether we were interested in joining the Destiny’s child-fanclub because fanclub-members would get in first plus receive a meet-and-greet or got to dance with the girls on stage. Of course we joined and it was a once in a lifetime experience to dance on stage with Bey, Kelly & Michelle in front of 10,000 people! But what I’m getting at: What a difference a few years make! Ten years ago it were the members of the fanclub – the people who loved DC’s music, who bought their albums, who followed their careers – that were in the front and rewarded with special treatments. Today it’s those that have the money. One could say this is a reflection of our society in general, but either way: I don’t like it and it kind of destroys the experience! But maybe more of that in later posts! I didn’t want this first post to get that negative, but this really bothers me!

Anyway, Beyoncé live is the bomb and I would recommend seeing one of her shows to anyone who has even a small affection for R&B and full-blown entertainment! You can expect a show that’s on top of today’s standards with an awesome live band, thrilling choreographies and visual effects. And: This girl can sing! She’s even much better live than on her recordings.

I can’t wait for her next tour!

Here are some of my pictures. To make that clear right from the beginning: All pictures I will upload are my own photos, which I have taken from the audience with a pocket camera.

Here we go…

So this is my new blog…

“All beginnings are difficult”, that’s what they say, and I guess they’re right. It’s not that easy to find the right words to make this post as solemnly as possible. But as I assume that so far there is nobody listening – well, reading – anyway, I guess, I’ll just type away.

I’ve never had a blog so I don’t really know what you usually say in first posts. But I guess it’s a good thing to start with an explanation why this blog exists in the first place.

Actually, there are two reasons. First of all, I’ve often been looking for pictures after having visited concerts or reports of a show and never seemed to find any except maybe for those taken/written by the media. Secondly, I’m also always looking for new artists to amaze me, new songs to inspire me, new music to enrich my life. So, assuming that there are others like myself, I decided to open this blog to kind of provide that service to others.

So what can you expect on this blog? I’m a regular concertgoer and I’ll post my reviews and possible pictures here. I’ve already visited many concerts over the years and I will try my best to update the blog with past shows and pictures so you will find reports and galleries from the last 15 years – some day… Of course I don’t go to concerts every other week, I’d be broke…, so I will fill this blog with some of my new discoveries or old loves in the field of music. I’ll talk about songs, lyrics, albums, artists, whatever is on my mind at the time. And we’ll see what else comes up. 😉

Some of you – those who have already read the “about”-section or know me personally – might wonder why I’m writing in English when that’s not my mother tongue. Well, because it’s a universal language and definitely the main language of popular music. I would like this blog to be open for readers from around the world and not limit it to the German-speaking-countries. I apologize now already for all the little and big mistakes I will be making – plz bear with me! Oh, and those that cannot speak English can still enjoy the pictures – or use Google Translate. 😉

My next concert, by the way, will be tomorrow. It’s only going to be a small show in a Jazzclub here in Munich called “Unterfahrt“. Kristin Asbjørnsen will be playing there. She’s a singer from Norway. I first heard about her in 2006, when her album “Wayfaring Stranger” was released. The album features mostly unknown Afro-American spirituals, interpreted by Asbjørnsen in her very own way. Her new, third album “I’ll Meet You in the Morning” has a similar approach. I’m looking forward to finally seeing her live!

So, let’s get this started! I hope you’ll have as much fun with this blog as I expect I will be having!

Thanx for listening!