Maria am Ostbahnhof, Berlin, 17th June 2005

THE FALL, Maria am Ostbahnhof, June 17

Setlist:

Theme from Sparta F.C.
Clasp Hands
Bo Doodak
Ride Away
Wrong Place, right time/I can hear the grass grow
What about us
Mountain Energei
Assume
Touch Sensitive
Pacifying joint
Blindness

--------------------------------------------------------

Encore 1:

Open the boxoctosis #2
Janet, Johnny + James

--------------------------------------------------------

Encore 2:

White Lightning


There are many ways to prepare yourself for a FALL-gig. Strowling through your collection of 5, 15 or 50 records. Listening to the latest one or your dearest one. In Berlin, the best preparation for a FALL-gig is your way to it. Drive to the former border between East- and Westberlin, pass a nightly illuminated train station and a similar fuel-stop. The famous line from 1982's "Winter" springs to mind: "I just looked round/'And my youth it was sold'."

The waiting game starts. It is shortened by a DJ playing some old Rockabilly and Country and a band called THE NOTHINGS. Their tunes are named like "I like drugs", "I am a nothing" and "R'n ruin". Not the baddest way to spend the time.

Midnight closes in - THE FALL are entering the stage. It is quite early - last year you had to wait till 2 in the morning. And then the magic starts. Whoever wrote that R'n R can only played by those under 30 was wrong. A thrilling set of mostly new songs is delivered to an enthusiastic audience. Tunes from 2003's "Country on the click" and tunes who will hopefully find their way on the forthcoming "Heads roll".

Despite of a sometimes thin sound - "Ride away", "What about us", "Mountain Energei" and "Blindness" showing a band in full force. The qualities of the current FALL-line up were often pointed out. Here they are obvious. Four youngsters backing up an old mans rage. One should especially be praised: Spencer Birtwistle. He provides the solid backbeat for a swirling stream of guitar-hooks, bass-rumble and synth-noises. The swinging version of "Wrong place, right time" would be impossible without him.

You step out in the Berlin morning and still believe in the R and R dream. THE FALL: Thank you.

Class review

Sure wish I was there.

Likewise, great review

Excellent review mate

Like it!

Very nice review, thank you.

Nice to hear that you guys liked the review. Thank you for your kind replies.

If something additional from that gig springs to my mind - I will surely tell about that later. Still being under the influence of these 90 minutes. Astonishing version of "Janet, Johnny + James", for instance. First part was played very meditative. Nearly fragile sounding. A break - what followed was "full swing". Did they do it that way at other recent concerts?

Now I'm delighting the neighbours with "Country on the click"...

Salute!

I was first time in Berlin with a friend and it was a fucking good we!
Thanks for THE FALL @ Maria!

Would it be possible, that you write the albumname behind the songs? I also hear the fall first time, and i WANT to hear more from you, but first i want hear again the songs you played in berlin.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

greets
LiGo

INTERIM has versions of:

Theme from Sparta F.C.
Clasp Hands
Wrong Place, right time
What about us
Blindness
open the boxoctosis #2


The Real New Fall Lp has:

Theme from Sparta F.C.
Mountain Energei
Open the boxoctosis #2
Janet, Johnny + James


The Marshall Suite has:

Touch Sensitive


Shiftwork has:

White Lightning


I Am Kurios, Oranj has:

Wrong Place, Right Time


These may feature on the Heads Roll Lp, due in September:

Bo Doodak
Ride Away
What about us
Assume
Pacifying joint
Blindness

As well as another newbie, played at London a few weeks back...
Now if only I could remember what it was called

The original didn't.

beware the original if you want to hear white lightning

Actually, my original CD (bought on day of release ) has White Lightning as track 11. (to be pedantic)

Special thanks to Alexei for providing the video to Fall news
Fantastic !
You must have been within spitting distance of MES !
His onstage mannerisms have been captured perfectly.

Gaz, you know u wanna remember the title

thanks for the review Mr Dice Man-looks like the group are still hot

Smart arse

I've forgot three essentials:

1) Amp-fiddling: This was done throughout the whole-gig.
2) Cymbal-splashes and tom-thunder by MES. Spencer reacted totally stoic.
3) And finally: Passing the mic to the crowd. This was done during "White Lightning".

White Lightning and High Tension Line were extra tracks on the original CD release.

Correct

Just seen the video clips on the main site. Amazing! Haven't seen MES that active for a while. Anywhere we can get hold of the full version? I'm willing to trade both my arms and legs for it.

i was also at the berlin gig so heres a few things that dice man missed (or, come to think of it, quite rightly, couldn't be bothered to mention):

during the support band some fella yelling out "open the goddamn box" to general laughter.

mark cracking a smile at the incapability of all three mike stands to, like, stand. withered triffids came to mind.

a lot of sweet sucking like mouth movement. as if he was in a state of perpetual stroke.

two best songs, both gentle amidst the noise riot: mountain energei and janet, johnny and james. had the crowd flummoxed and yet appreciative.


one last thing: i was at the fall two years back at the same venue. i dragged along an american busker who`d never heard of them. no tickets to be had, sold out, a crowd of fity at the door, total unhappiness until mark walked up and after a "hey mark" and a brief explanation, he got me and the yank in for free, leaving us to drink tequila in his honour for the rest of the evening. those in the know pass on a big thank you.