They have only officially existed since June 2023. At that time, Gwen Dolyn and Kraftklub guitarist Steffen Israel released their version of the song “Duel of the Last”; in the original by Chaos Z. The chemistry between the two was right – Chemnitz inspired the singer, who was socialized in Berlin and Darmstadt. And so the Saxony music series Kraftklub, Blond, Power Plush has recently been extended to include tears (without articles).
Just nine months later, their sold-out Berlin concert in the Berghain canteen was expanded. Another packed gig took place last Friday (March 1st) in the Badehaus Simpla on the RAW site at Warschauer Brücke.
“Mitten Ins Face” is not only the opening song, but also a kind of unofficial motto of the evening. No respite. The audience is immediately there.
Gwen Dolyn wears a black glitter bra, mini skirt and fashionable chunky boots. The woman in her mid-twenties, who demonstrated in a not entirely serious performance video what she can do with her body (for example: with her tongue in her nostril), clearly feels comfortable on stage.
Sometimes it’s quick jokes, sometimes personal anecdotes that she tells after every song. Her two cousins are also in the audience this evening: “Hello, cousins!” IRMGARD is also introduced, a kind of stuffed monster or werewolf with glowing eyes. As the evening progresses, the hairy thing wanders through the crowd. This creates closeness and confidentiality, like in daycare.
The Tears Sound is a currently popular neo-version of 1980s punk pop. “Born too old” or “It’s not what it looks like” stand for this. The Badehaus is a cozy club, but tears can also be a stadium, as we saw in the opening act for Kraftkub in the Wuhlheide in early autumn.
Due to the lack of a Bruce Springsteen-like repertoire, after around 50 minutes they switch to cover versions. The “Duel of the Last” calls for the destruction of art in order to draw attention to the destruction of the planet. After a silly announcement that it was a brand new song that was just written on the trip to “Oh so cool Berlin,” comes “Teenage Dirtbag” by Weezer.
MIA’s “Hungry Heart” will also be performed. And if you will, there is definitely a line from their singer Mieze to Gwen Dolyn. Next Generation German Wave Attack. At the end the hall goes wild when “Stures Dummes Herz” is sung in a completely over-the-top manner. One more encore and that’s it!
It fits with the tearful self-image that singer Gwen Dolyn mingles with the audience in pub civilian clothes in a black sack dress. Only the glitter on her face reminds of the stage personality from before. With her beautiful lovesick song “Drowning” she drew attention to her parallel solo career. The “Kraftklub system” has developed into a special kind of talent machine.