Category Archives: music

Grossstadtgeflüster

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Grossstadtgeflüster [German] played an open-air concert in the Arena in Vienna.
Seen on: 16.9.2022

I saw Grossstadtgeflüster (also open-air in the Arena) a few years ago and it was a great show, so I was happy to get tickets for this show – for May 2020. We all know what happened then. It took until this month for the show to actually happen – but I’d say that the wait definitely paid off. It was an awesome concert and party, and since the whole thing happened open-air (and the rain had stopped by the time they came on stage), it was even a worry-free experience for me despite the great number of people there. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing them again sometime.

The band sitting on a picnic table in a park - two men and a woman.
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Michael Kiwanuka (Support: Lou Asril)

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Michael Kiwanuka played a show at the MetaStadt Open Air, preceded by Lou Asril. (There was third act before Asril as well, but I didn’t see it.)
Seen on: 11.7.2022

I got concert tickets for Michael Kiwanuka’s show a while ago (sometime in 2020, I think). Then the concert was pushed back, and it was announced that Kiwanuka would open for Lauryn Hill. Then Lauryn Hill canceled, and it was announced that Lou Asril would open for Kiwanuka. Since I had tickets for another Asril show that I couldn’t attend after it, too, was moved, this seemed like a particular stroke of luck for me. And I can say that it really was worth the wait for both of them.

Michael Kiwanuka looking straight at the camera with a small smile.
Michael Kiwanuka
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The Circus (1928) + Tonkünstler Orchester Niederösterreich / Timothy Brock

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The Circus
Director: Charles Chaplin
Writer: Charles Chaplin
Cast: Charles Chaplin, Al Ernest Garcia, Merna Kennedy, Harry Crocker, George Davis, Henry Bergman, Tiny Sandford, John Rand, Steve Murphy
Part of: Film and Music Cycle
With music by Charles Chaplin, played by the Tonkünstler Orchester Niederösterreich, conducted by Timothy Brock
Seen on: 19.5.2022

Plot:
After being confused for a pickpocket, the Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) takes refuge from the police in a circus where he meets the lovely Merna (Merna Kennedy), a young acrobat and the daughter of the circus proprietor (Al Ernest Garcia). The circus can always use more people and the Tramp has rather a talent for clownery – at least as long as he doesn’t try to do it on purpose. And so he signs on with the circus – the perfect opportunity to stay close to Merna.

As expected with Charlie Chaplin films, The Circus really is incredibly funny and maybe a little less melancholy than some of the other Tramp films. I had an extremely good time with it.

The film poster showing a drawing of The Tramp (Charlie Chaplin) in front of a circus tent.
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Woodkid (Support: Awir Leon)

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Woodkid played a show in the Gasometer in Vienna supported by Awir Leon.
Seen on: 23.4.2022

Having seen two live shows recently (in relatively small locations and with mask mandates in place), I threw caution into the wind a little and went to see Woodkid (a show that was originally planned to be open air and two years ago) in Vienna’s second biggest concert location. Indoor. With a recently lifted mask mandate. My friend and I wore our masks anyway, but I was surprised by how few people opted to wear masks on a voluntary basis, and I’m not keen to repeat the experience any time soon, I have to admit. But my anxiety was not so bad that I left the concert early. Or maybe the concert was so good. I mean, it was definitely really good.

Woodkid standing in a uniform that is vaguely reminiscent of an astronaut's suit, a hardhat under his arm, in front of some machinery.
Woodkid.
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Mighty Oaks (Support: Christof van der Ven)

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Mighty Oaks played a concert at the Ottakringer Brauerei in Vienna with Christof van der Ven as their support.
Seen on: 2.4.2022
[Here’s my review of the last Mighty Oaks show I saw.]

Buoyed by my recent concert experience, the first since this pandemic started, I decided to see the next show I had tickets for, too – Mighty Oaks (incidentally, they were also one of the last shows I saw before the pandemic). And it was a great concert again, despite me feeling a little crowded in that location and with that many people there.

The three white guys of the band Mighty Oaks sitting on and in front of a bench, all holding guitars.
Mighty Oaks
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Black Sea Dahu

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Black Sea Dahu are a singer-songwriter and her band from Switzerland. They played a show in the Porgy & Bess in Vienna.
Seen on: 7.3.2022

It has been almost exactly two years that I was on my last concert. And while it felt weird to get back to live shows, watching and listening to Black Sea Dahu was an excellent way to get back into the groove of things in that department.

Singer-songwriter Janine of Black Sea Dahu holding a guitar.
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7th Heaven (1927) + Vincent Peirani

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7th Heaven
Director: Frank Borzage
Writer: Benjamin Glazer, Katherine Hilliker, H.H. Caldwell
Based on: Austin Strong’s play
Cast: Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Albert Gran, David Butler, Marie Mosquini, Gladys Brockwell, Emile Chautard, Ben Bard, George E. Stone
Part of: Film and Music Cycle
With music by Vincent Peirani, performed by Vincent Peirani, Émile Parisien, Federico Casagrande, Stéphane Edouard
Seen on: 12.1.2022

Content Note: domestic violence

Plot:
Diane (Janet Gaynor) lives with her abusive sister Nana (Gladys Brockwell) in a rather destitute situation. After a plan to connect with some distant, rich relations falls through, Nana kicks Diane out and basically leaves her to die. Diane draws the attention of Chico (Charles Farrell), a young sewer worker with big plans. Chico doesn’t have time for Diane’s misery, but when he finds her about to get arrested with a group of sex workers, compassion gets the better of him. He claims that she is wife and frees her that way. But now the two do have to pretend to be married until the police comes to check on them. Bringing Diane to his apartment on the 7th floor, they settle into a routine and slowly become closer.

7th Heaven not only shows that the fake dating trope has long been a staple of the romance genre, but that it really works. With a charming cast, excellent camera work and wonderful music to accompany it, I enjoyed it immensely.

The film poster showing drawings of some of the characters in the film.
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Re-Watch: Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931) + Muthspiel / Rom / Eggner

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Tabu: A Story of the South Seas
Director: F.W. Murnau
Writer: F.W. Murnau, Robert J. Flaherty, Edgar G. Ulmer
Cast: Matahi, Anne Chevalier, Bill Bambridge, Hitu, Ah Fong, Jules, Mehao
Part of: Film and Music Cycle in the Konzerthaus
With music by Wolfgang Muthspiel, played by him, Mario Rom and Florian Eggner
Seen on: 22.5.2021
[Here’s my first review of the film, without live music.]

Content Note: white gaze / racism

Plot:
On Bora Bora, a young boy, Matahi (Matahi), and a young girl, Reri (Anne Chevalier), fall in love. But when Reri is declared the Chosen Maid, the sacred virgin of the island by their leader, an old warrior (Hito), not even the thought of love is allowed anymore. But Marahi and Reri are not willing to accept that and decide to flee.

Since this year, the Film and Music Cycle was a little difficult – of the four performances, two were canceled and I couldn’t see one – I knew that I wanted to see this final film, even though they had to change the original program and swapped in Tabu – a film that I had seen before and hadn’t particularly liked. And while it was great to be out in a theater/concert hall again, a second viewing didn’t change my mind either, especially not with that musical accompaniment.

The film poster showing a drawing of Matahi (Matahi) as he spear-fishes.
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Agnes Obel (Support: Marlène)

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Agnes Obel played a concert in Vienna with the support of Marlène.
Seen on: 4.3.2020

I didn’t know Marlène before and while I don’t think her music is bad, it wasn’t really to my liking. But Agnes Obel – who I went to the concert for – definitely was. Beautiful music, excellent performance, Obel herself is super-charming… I couldn’t ask for more!

A portrait shot of Agnes Obel in front of a black background. It is slightly out of focus.
Agnes Obel
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lilly among clouds (Support: OSKA)

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lilly among clouds played a concert in Vienna with the support of OSKA.
Seen on: 28.2.2020

lilly among clouds drifted into my Discover Weekly, and I was immediately taken with her music. So when she brought out a new album and made a tour stop in Vienna, I knew I had to be there. And her concert really didn’t disappoint – it was a great evening.

A photo of the singer with her hair tied back in front of a pink background.
lilly among clouds
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