Long before its release fans were pleased with new tracks from Ego:X during the spring/summer festivals. In the meantime the tenth album of DIARY OF DREAMS has hit the stores and pleases fans in four formats. Having done the regular tour in support of Ego:X in September/October DIARY OF DREAMS did a two weeks break and now come back for the final two shows. First one is the one for me and leads me to the time-honored Kulturfabrik in Krefeld, Germany.

:: pics ::

Surprisingly it is not Sharon Next who enters the stage to open the evening. Instead we are pleased to enjoy :: SLAVE REPUBLIC :: that already enthused me with their debut album Electric One. Backed by a good sound but bad lights the Berlin/Düsseldorf duo played 8 of the 10 songs from mentioned album and got supported by Lea at song Number Three, who added some splashes with her huuuu’s and haaaa’s. As it is so typical for such kind of formation stage was way to big for that duo, or their performance to lame respectively. It’s definitely not a good style of performance when one part (Alex Alice on bass) most time turns away from the audience while playing. All in all nice but innocent Synthie Pop, less spectacular but gaining some recognition from the crowd.
Setlist: The Driver, Hadron Collider, Number Three (featuring Lea), Electric, Less Of Me, Choking/Drowning, Truth Or Dare, My Maker

Was it already crowded before now everyone pushed even closer to the stage. Since I was late right from the beginning I had no chance to get even near the stage and had to take photos from afar. As the unlight went on a disaster. :: DIARY OF DREAMS :: kicked off with a minimum of equipment. No backdrop, no special micro, Adrian Hates even left his guitar back home. Back to the basics so to say. Furthermore it seemed that the frontman got bothered by a cold. His announcements were nasal and his voice quickly reached limits. Of course, DIARY OF DREAMS focused on Ego:X getting in with the introducing narration, the only one during this show. New tracks got almost frenetically welcomed although the record got ambivalent ratings. I however do not get used to it and thus Ego:X will be the first DOD record that will not find its way into my CD shelf. Anyway, between the plenty of new tracks, other ones from the previous If got filled in. Here I loved the Colors Of Grey most. As for the classics False Affection, False Creation was performed in a new and fresh version I definitely did not love at all. After hardly 80 minutes of playing time DIARY OF DREAMS left the stage…. WTF??? Ah, no panic, the band quickly returned to deliver not less than 3 encores with 2 tracks each, finishing with the inevitable Traumtänzer.
Setlist: Intro:X, Giftraum, The Wedding, Lebenslang, Grey The Blue, Reign Of Chaos, Echo In Me, Mein-Eid, False Affection, False Creation, Colors Of Grey, Son Of A Thief, Wahn!sinn?, AmoK, King Of Nowhere, Undividable, Butterfly:Dance! // The Curse, Kindrom // Menschfeind, Chemicals // Immerdar, Traumtänzer

Right after the show the band showed up at the merchandise talking to fans and signing things. Though, the KuFa emptied quickly, no disco, no music (Friday night?) and the last drink at the bar was sort of an impersonal and cold matter with a main station feel. DIARY OF DREAMS once again enthused their audience, yet it did not happen on me no mores.

story & pics © Dajana