Rammstein delivers a total rock show in Groningen, but remains at a distance without really transporting | review ★★★☆☆

They have hits like Germany , My Herz Brennt , Du Hast , Sun , Angel and I Will got what they came for: a total and devoid of all nuances tight and dark rock show that during the color confessing Left 2-3-4 almost a bit like Snollebollekes.

Biggest stage ever in Groningen

The singer and frontman did not say a word during the 140 minutes he and his controversial and provocative band Rammstein stood on the largest stage ever set up in Groningen. If you don’t say anything, you can’t say anything wrong. Of course it is. You let the music and lyrics speak for themselves like a work of art.

Aloof, yes, but it also has something beautiful and courageous in a time when everyone is just having fun please or walking on eggshells to be politically correct. Pop music can also be an art with expressiveness. And what is easy to condemn at first hearing turns out to contain a more nuanced or ironic message on closer inspection.

Primitive and childish, but effective

Rammstein is not the band to chat or explain the songs with subtle talk. Never been. Those who come for the fun have come to the wrong place and, on top of that, explaining to fifty thousand people what has happened in the past month is impossible. The people who have sometimes driven many hundreds of kilometers to attend this concert are not waiting for that either.

When you go for Rammstein, you want the total rock show. Over the top, shocking, with crashes, flames, smoke, fireworks and confetti cannons, the whole bunch. There’s something primitive and childish about it, but it’s effective. This time too, although it turns out to be difficult to create an experience on such a huge field, including the grandstand crowd.

Pussy, Just A Little Bitch

The show must go on. As long as Lindemann has not been convicted of the allegations of rape made by some women after concerts, it is understandable that this is the case, given the millions involved in such a production by the organizing Greenhouse Talent from Breda. You can find something about that, but it’s that simple. One is more likely to cancel than the other.

The fact that the merchandise tent still had the T-shirt with sexist print ‘Pussy, Just A Little Bitch’ hanging for 35 euros, is not very convenient to say the least. The song itself was understandably dropped from the set list after the fuss. But they were walking around, young women wearing the black shirt with pink text. And what about the enthusiasm with which the woman in the audience who showed her breasts was greeted when she was shown on a screen? Voluntarily, with a big smile on her face.

Hard and theatrical

Of course the charges and the ongoing judicial investigation in Germany cast a blemish on the performances that were supposed to be a party from the moment last September it was announced that after Guns N’ Roses and Green Day a world band would come to Groningen again. And it became a party from the opener Ram song at least if you were able to see things separately.

Rammstein did what it has been good at in Groningen for decades. Giving a rock show like no other band worldwide and has ever done in the North. Hard and theatrical, metal with dangerous dancing and marching, the grand gesture is never shunned by the Germans. It is striking how well Lindemann’s German texts could be understood. It is therefore one of the most important assets of the band.

Continuity

By the way, even when The Rolling Stones played at the same place in 1999, there was some shaking here and there far outside the city limits, but somehow it wasn’t taken as seriously as it is now. But how nice it was to just hear a band blowing at high volume. Was it 103 dB? I was certainly not at the front and I do not want to play down the risk of hearing damage, but on the side the earplugs could be put back in the jacket pocket with a feeling of peace.

It is to be hoped that all the fuss surrounding these shows – exceeding the noise standard permitted by the municipality, fireworks – does not mean that parties drop out and this means the end of major shows in the Stadspark. Just now that something has been built up and there is continuity.