You’re out of sight but not out of my mind…
Hamburg, my pearl. For me as a music enthusiast living in Hanover, Hamburg is a Mecca when it comes to concerts and festivals. Besides Berlin of course, what actually in general is too far away. All the better it brought me to the city at the Elbe again this time and even to a special event. The British pop band Bastille plays an exclusive mini concert on a boat right before their gig on Dockville festival (you may read the review here). Only invited guests may appear today and fortunately I’m one of them, so I set out for the jetties. The weather matches with my mood and the sun shines with 23°C in the middle of a blue summer heaven – a perfect dream. I’m more the type „be there rather early than too late“ and so I’m able to sit at the riverside, enjoy it and rub SPF50 sun lotion into my pale skin. I also already spottet the boat and recognised it as the one Bastille will probably play on by their soundman Paul Cooper who is preparing the equipment. Yes, it’s not nearly the first concert of the group I’m allowed to experience but in fact the most extraordinary one. After feeding the parking meter with no less than 10€ the first like-minded people gather at boarding bridge 10. A surprisingly huge bunch are we, considering you just got hold of the tickets by raffles. After a slight delay we finally see the two-storeyed tub sailing towards us once it has picked up its precious freight at Dockville. While the launch passes by the soundcheck of the four lads that are on board now got blown across the river. Shortly after the quick preparation singer Dan Smith, keyboarder Kyle Simmons, bass player Will Farquarson and drummer Chris >Woody< Wood enter the upper deck relaxed and a bit curious to watch the crowd edging inside the lower deck. Refreshments and snacks are handed and my company and I consort with the band’s German fan club on front line.
It doesn’t take long and the four Brits cut their way through the joyful waiting guests. They’re in a good mood today – a laugh here, a little joke there – they beam radiantly around. Probably it’s also a small highlight to them. I mean, when do you play on a boat in front of 50 people while you usually fill up big halls? Yet the first notes are played. A smooth version of „Things We Lost In The Fire“ swirls over the brown Elbe, fills the cabin and instantly I feel home. Like a blanket Mr. Smith’s warm voice cloaks me, takes me away to the realm of memories. After seeing them in four shows and at the Hurricane festival, I can hardly comprehend the intimacy of this gig. Lounge-feel-good-atmosphere is still the best description. A sing-along with old friends. And so I sway from side to side in time of music carried by the soft waves and just enjoy. The second tune of the day is a well-known new one: „Snakes“, which is already known as a live recording from various festivals. But this close and in that small space it seems almost even more beautiful. Charlie Barnes, the live musician who tours with the Brits for quite some time now, shines out particularly with a strong voice and can be appreciated confidently as an enrichment of the team. An old song is to follow, the audience must decide – as long as they want to hear „Flaws“ at least. Laughter on all sides and the cuddly amicable mood impresses me once again. That eased, that relaxed the gentlemen in front of me appear very rarely. Only the heat bothers all of us and so singer Dan has to take some fresh air on the small stairs with a view to the harbour. The waves‘ steady up and down also prevents him a little from unfolding, is uncoordinated and as he likes to say „awkward“ jumping usually his favourite thing during gigs. After a few failed attempts he obviously shelved this purpose, what probably is also a lot safer.
While „Flaws“ normally is the song Mr. Smith joins the crowd, today on our cutter it’s the new song „Lesser Of Two Evils“. Attentively accompanied by bass player Will on guitar Dan’s calm voice pours over the audience in all its facets. The song that is based on Nancy Sinatra’s „My Baby Shot Me Down“ known from Kill Bill brings goose bumps and a bit melancholy to this sunny day. A feeling that flies by quickly as their hit „Pompeii“ is played and sung along fervently by everyone around now. This small room conveys the polyphony of the song to the full extent for the first time, since you’re able to see every single member of the band is singing. Bursting with energy the hands fly over the keyboards, pluck strings and drum the catchy rhythm each one of us knows only too well. It seems it couldn’t get any wilder, my heart dances to the beat and I wish this moment would never end. Unfortunately the last song gets announced right this second. The uptempo tune „Good Grief“ provides the get-out dance and the name of the single says it all. Although the small ship sways heavily from time to time I can’t resist a dary hip movement and despite the celebratory mood sadness has arrived. So that’s already the end. Like a drowning man gasps for air I absorb every second, every pore of the protagonists before my eyes, every note, each howsoever small movement, keeping them for worse times. Cause this is a day that shall warm me when the grey of everyday life prevails. It shall bring back my smile when my heart gets heavy. It shall remind me of how beautiful it can be to just exist sometimes. Amid thunderous applause and with high express of gratitude Bastille take their leave off the stage.
Slightly drunk with joy I follow them up through the swinging sloop into the blinding sunlight. Yet it is not all over. If even massively pressed for time autographs are given, selfies are taken and I’m also able to enjoy a little jaw. Once again nestled at Dan and Kyle, once again photographically captured what my holey mind is always too willing to forget. Yet I rush overjoyed to the next stage: the Dockville. See you later, guys! In November we will meet again, definitely!
M.F.
Setlist:
Things We Lost In The Fire
Snakes
Flaws
Lesser Of Two Evils
Pompeii
Good Grief