| Doors: 7 pm | Show: 8 pm | Tickets: 26.00 Euro + fees |

[Dajana] Ha! I knew it! After their sensational and highly successful anniversary tour in February (live review here) to celebrate 20 years of Industrial Silence, the Norwegian rockers MADRUGADA licked blood and added a second leg of their tour in fall.
And again, the NH crew is granted with a show nearby and successfully scratched on the doors of local organizers. It worked out fine, we got in :)
[BRT] Yeah! You never do wrong with a MADRUGADA show. Goose bumps included. Always! If you cannot expect new music, celebrate the old one as much as you can ;)

:: pics :: MADRUGADA ::

[Dajana] Tonight’s show was even closer as we had to head towards Dortmund (Cologne in February) to catch the Norwegian gentlemen at the :: FZW ::. The club was not officially sold but nearly, there were only a handful of tickets left at the box office. As their did on tour in February, :: MADRUGADA :: played all alone, 2 hours of pure magic. No support band, no distraction. Yay!
Well, not entirely. Seems like others acquired a taste for MADRUGADA as well. The WDR Rockpalast made itself at home to live stream the whole show with 7 cameras into the living rooms of the republic. You can do so. The 2 hours is already available on YouTube. That also meant a crowded photopit for us photographers and acrobatic movements to not be hit by the cams of authoritative and ruthlessly acting cameramen.
Well, small setback actually.

[Dajana] A bit more disappointing I found the fact that MADRUGADA played the same setlist as in February. Even shortened by one song, the beautiful Only When You're Gone. Here I would have loved a little bit more variety. On the other hand, all those, who did not attend the show in Cologne, would experience the same wow-effect we did in Cologne.
[BRT] Same tour, same theme, same setlist. Yes, they could have varied a little bit more but that’s nagging on a high level. But yes, there should be a The Nightly Disease tour in the near future, otherwise it would get boring.
[Dajana] Well, they have one year to rehearse The Nightly Disease songs as this album celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2021 ;)

[Dajana] MADRUGADA kicked off with a half hour delay. Was probably due to the live stream. As expected, they started with the debut album Industrial Silence, played in its entirety, but not in the original order of songs. Special gimmick was once more the glitter-jacket to perform Norwegian Hammerworks Corp., which was specially lighted and worked like a disco ball. I wish, I was allowed to take photos of it… *sighs*
After a short break, MADRUGADA returned onto stage and started the second part of the set with songs from all other records. The band acted much livelier as they did in Cologne, which probably was due to all the cams around. The sound was powerful and clear, the light show perfectly balanced. As for that, the air condition was in short supply. There were tropical temperatures in the crowded hall. Well, that might have been intentional though, to maximize the beer sales…
Knowing the set, I noticed much better details. That Industrial Silence consists of many ballads for example, singer Sivert Høyem even pointed out. So, the first part of the show was rather calm, which narrowed momentum and dynamics a bit, especially, since the songs ain’t jazzed up live. I think, my MADRUGADA fave album The Nightly Disease should be much livelier when played live.

[BRT] Again, it only took 10 seconds to cause goose bumps. Despite tropical temperatures, and despite an identic setlist. Only one band can do this to me. To me the songs were more dynamic and livelier played than in February, and differently arranged, even if just in nuances. There was a bit more Hammond organ here, a bit more acoustic guitars there, and the one or the other instrumental part longer. Especially likeable I found that MADRUGADA never act routined or act like aloof rock stars. The announcement were spontaneous, sometimes bumbling, sometimes hawed. Never rehearsed anyway. Just great. Those guys could be your buddies from the neighborhood.
While the regular part was rather staid, the second part with smashers such as Black Mambo, Majesty and The Kids Are On High Street was more powerful and energetic. The closer Valley Of Deception once again made me feel shivers up and down the spine. Aaahh… awesome. Please, please more of that!
Okay, now it is about time to rehearse The Nightly Disease songs and to spice up a possible set with some other classics. Sold out venues guaranteed.

[Dajana] Once again a stunning show of this unique Norwegian band. Perhaps not as magic as the first ever one to me but one that made all the fans around very happy. Mission complete :)
[BRT] Hmmm. To me the show was as magic as the one in February. And now we were even “closer” to the band as the FZW is a bit smaller. Anyway, an excellent concert evening of an excellent band! That’s it!

Band: Sivert Høyem (vox/git), Frode Jacobsen (Bass), Jon Lauvland (Drums), Pettersen Christer Knutsen (Live Keyboards & Gitarre), Cato Salsa Thomassen (Live Gitarre)

Setlist: Vocal, Belladonna, Higher, Sirens, Shine, This Old House, Strange Colour Blue, Salt, Norwegian Hammerworks Corp, Beautyproof, Quite Emotional, Terraplane, Electric // Black Mambo, Hands Up - I Love You, What's On Your Mind?, Majesty, The Kids Are On High Street, Valley Of Deception

story © BRT & Dajana • pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography