Germany Tour - Day 3 - Wednesday 26th March, Shokoladen, Berlin

As my brother Chris and I sat in a cinema cafe in Mitte hours before the Shokoladen show we discussed a gallery that we'd both visited, on completely separate occasions on this visit to Berlin. Hamburger Bahnhof is a tremendous, old railway station (as the name suggests), now art gallery. Five exhibitions were taking place there on this visit and we talked briefly about what we'd seen but both of us were determined to get onto our favourite piece in the gallery. Almost in unison, we both revealed that this was a black and white Stan Douglas photograph of an old theatre in Detroit, the Michigan Theatre which was now a parking lot. All that is left of the theatre is it's highly decorative vaulted canopy but to see that hang over a car park is just surreal and extremely sad but very captivating. I suppose I was very aware of this idea, being in Berlin. I mean, we played in an old tool manufacturing factory, we visited a hospital that was now an art gallery, the gallery itself was an old train station, tonight we were to play in an old chocolate factory......the list is endless. But I don't believe this is the reason that we both chose the same piece of art. Coincidence, maybe, but then the photo was right at the end of the gallery and was so small many would have missed it.

Now, if that wasn't weird, this is weird. Last night I turned the television on late at night, just before going to bed and that very same theatre / parking lot was there, right in front of me. Only, this time it was in that Eminem film and violent things were going on in there that I didn't care to watch so I turned it off before my memory of that beautiful photograph had been tainted.

So, on to Shokoladen. We played here last time we were in Berlin and I just love this venue. A former chocolate factory in Mitte, built in 1881 it certainly looks like, and I imagine was, an old cabaret theatre. The stage is one of the most beautiful I have played on, with red velvet curtains, a piano and even a standup lamp. 

A lovely Australian girl name Sarah who has been living in Berlin for some time promoted the night. We all really like Sarah and her night 'Acoustic Moon' has a regular crowd and a nice, friendly vibe about it. Sarah once sung backing vocals with Nick Cave in the film Wings of Desire when he was living in Berlin which impressed us a great deal.

The support act that night was an American girl named Cera Impala with a beautiful folk voice, accompanied by her partner on fiddle. I enjoyed them a lot.

Those of the audience who choose to sit down (the majority, at this night) sat on raised benches, like a terrace. It's quite strange looking out from the stage to that, and in this old venue it feels as if we are in another time.  

Ursula comes down tonight and films us, from the very top bench. The audience are quiet and attentive and concentrate on every note we play. Something that we find at most gigs on the tour and surely that's how it should be. In general, people come to gigs to watch bands over here rather than just chat with their mates which has got to be a good thing. both for bands and audiences.

We play a long set - over an hour tonight and we play two encores. They were a demanding audience!

Some of the lovely audience, sat on the raised benches..... 

Sarah is most generous with drinks and we are all in extremely high spirits after the show. Everyone seems to want to talk to Chris over at the merch desk so I wander over there but miss them all and someone is talking to him about.....Falmouth. I never actually asked what that was all about and didn't wait around long enough to find out. I joined Matt and Mike who were talking to a somewhat drunken Dutchman. Not for long though, I wouldn't think..... And then over in the other corner, Mark was there, talking to a Norwegian guy who had brought his whole family along to see us.

Again, we thoroughly enjoyed the dj at Shokoladen. A fine choice of records.

l-r: spots, checks, stripes

This is our last night in Berlin and I feel very sad to be leaving, although at the same time, excited about the tour. I have this feeling about Berlin that there is something there for me. I feel so happy when I'm there. I can honestly say that it is my favourite city of those I've ever visited and I just want to keep returning, as often as I can. So, Berlin was amazing and the Deutsch Bahn awaits.

 

Chris stays in a room above Shokoladen for the night. Here he is about to retire to bed......

Stay tuned to this station for day 4..... Hannover, home of the Scorpions.

Alison x