By Ralf Kuhling
Finally, on Friday evening it was time: See you again in the Wuhlheide, the Beatsteaks back in their living room! And singer Arnim Teutoburg-Weiß seemed so inspired, as if this were about her live comeback in 2022: “It’s so nice to play again, it’s so nice that you’re all here!”
It wasn’t the premiere, the Berliners had given concerts earlier this year. But not in the Parkbühne Wuhlheide, where size and closeness to fans come together like nowhere else in the world. The band also gave their “20 Years of Beatsteaks” anniversary concerts here in 2015.
As always, the crowd on Friday was fast: dancing, singing, jumping, jeering, cheering, choirs. And with pleasure also with fiery Bengalo accompaniment. Arnim was quickly among the fans, taking one bath after the other. And demanded: “Hold your friends!” That sounded like a church day, but was simply an expression of great happiness.
Everything the Beatsteaks have in store for anthems was sung among the moving crowd: “Hand in Hand”, “Gentleman of the Year”, “Let Me In.” are always composed to the point, live to the anthem, that’s their art.
Sold out! The fans celebrate their Berlin heroes
Was there anything new? A little bit. The song “Kommando Sunshine”, suitable for live performance like everything else, was one of them. And songs from their cover EP “In The Presence Of”, which they recorded during the much too long concert break: “Monotonie” (ideal), “Eisbär” (grey zone) and of course the crazy Hildegard Knef cover “From now on we went downhill.” Rarely has a band tuned a song so rousingly to rock, Hilde in heaven must have smiled.
In the sky above the Wuhlheide, however, a nasty dark cloud kept spreading. She came, disappeared, came back, seemed to consider whether to strike. In the end she only dropped a few ridiculous drops before the concert and during it, didn’t want to disturb it any further. Beatsteaks fan, of course.
Singer Arnim Teutoburg-Weiss
A pounding rain might have resulted in many fans lying in bed with colds this weekend, as they all had to hand in their umbrellas at the entrance. Not everyone understood that.
But in the end everything stayed fine on this euphoric evening. What’s still missing for great happiness is the long-awaited new album. “Yours”, the last one, is from 2017. Get to work, and then please have a live premiere in Wuhlheide! There is no better place.
Today, Saturday, the Beatsteaks rock their living room again. Sold out. But you really don’t have to mention that anymore with these Berlin heroes.
