Kashmir, 59:1 Munich, 12.5.2010

What if the best is yet to come...

There are some gigs you can't help but be committed to, because no matter what will happen on the technical side, no matter in what kind of mood the band will be and how talkative and friendly they are going to be on stage, and no matter which and how many songs they will play - you know you are going to love it. Kashmir are one of these bands. They couldn't do a bit wrong to dissappoint their fans.

Let me tell a little pre-story here. I almost didn't make it to the gig because of some event in the city for which most of the inner-city streets were closed, all the available parking spaces were cleared and the whole place was invaded by policemen. The 59:1 is not very conveniently situated for car owners anyway, but this made it almost impossible to get there. After a little chat with two policemen I realised I had no choice but to park in one of the overpriced parking decks of a shopping centre. Until I got there I was driving around in circles for almost an hour and when I finally reached the club, the support band already started and the club was packed full.

The support slot was filled by the new formed Tusq, a mix-up of members of multiple German bands. They warmed up the audience with a very loud power-indie and sounded positively un-German. Not afraid of another band's fans they were active and outgoing like puppies trying to win over their new owners. All in all it was a good looking performance.

With 19 years of band history on their backs, a little less hair on their heads and some new facettes in their musical style Kashmir came on stage just at the right moment before the mood in the audience shifted from excitement to impatience. With the distorted vocal song "Pallas Athena" from their new album "Trespassers" and its first single "Mouthful of Wasps" as a follow-up they started the night in the middle of many smiley faces. The band seemed to enjoy the gig right from the start and gave smiley faces back to the audience.

After another couple of songs, singer Kasper Eistrup was saying some welcoming words. One hand changing guitars, one eye winking, Kasper pronounced his amazement of Munich sending him an entire police escort for their security. You see, there is a reason this man stands in front of everything else on stage. This is one charming boy who knows how to twist you around his finger. Bassist Mads Tunebjerg was very talkative as well, but unfortunately his microphone was tuned down a bit so it was easy for Kasper to politely cut him off. Henrik Lindstrand is a somewhat undefined musician. I was never quite sure if he is the keyboarder, guitarist, or just playing around with technical toys. That man must have the musical knowledge of four! Asger Techau was sitting in the most outside position of the stage, but he still managed to make thoughtful and soft songs like "The Aftermath" sound powerful without destroying their fragile minds and flirt with someone standing behind me at the same time.

The night was a bit like flying through time. The band was switching through old and new, played songs from "Zitilites" ("Rocket Brothers"), "No Balance Palace" ("The Curse Of Being A Girl") as well as new songs ("Bewildered In The City"). Each and every one of them well recieved from the audience, which had just a tiny bit more sympathy for the older songs. I gave a long look through the crowd once (which was easy despite my height because I was standing on a platform on the left side of Asger, being like his cheerleader). People were happily absorbing all the emotion that is spread by Kashmir's songs. Nevertheless Kasper was trying to get us dancing a bit more, giving some really dangerous examples on the tiny stage. Sometimes I was really worried he could fall, but then again I'm sure someone would have caught him.

Halfway through the concert Kasper told us that it was Asger's birthday and at the next second, when they started playing the next song, they were interrupted by the audience singing "Happy Birthday". There was an embarrassing moment for me, standing only like a metre away from him, being hit by the stage light that was ment for him, and at the part were we were singing "Happy Birthday, dear Asger" - I forgot his name. I apologize for that, dear Asger! Next time I see you I'll buy you a beer.

After an hour and a half the main set was over and the guys left the stage through the crew door. But the audience did not agree to wait and started chanting for one more song the minute they put down their instruments. When the door opened again and they came back in, Kasper's cigarette wasn't even half smoked. The encore started with the wonderful "The Aftermath", and as morbid as it sounds, it was then I decided that this has to be my funeral song. The next song was "Still Boy", one of the many beauties on "Trespassers". It was the last song I heard because I had to get out and pick up my car before midnight, otherwise it would have stayed there in the parking deck until the weekend. I would have loved to stay longer and see if the band had some aftershow drinks, if only to tell them in person that they made my night very very special.

ah