August 2016 – Korindie

So, I’m back in Korea. I left Berlin, all the beer, the 20C day time temperatures, and all the cheese I can fit into my lederhosen (yes, yes, they’re from Bavaria. Just let me have this one) for a wedding in Istanbul before coming back to quite possibly the worst summer I’ve ever spent in Korea. Yes, yes, obligatory comment about how I really like Korea and there are so many good things, but fuck summer in Korea. Korean July and August, you’re dead to me. Dead.

But, I, as usual, digress, my last week in Berlin, Dörte went all out and got me into the By The Lake Festival, showcasing bands from like all over everywhere, on a small lake not that far from my apartment. Super fun. Super convenient. It was really good to hear a bunch of different stuff, but the highlight of the thing was seeing King Khan. Apparently they had a tour go south in Korea a few years back, but let me tell you, they were on point.

Whatever, I am too busy melting in the hot hot Korean sun to write more. Let me just get your foot in the door. If you think they might sound good, then click the link. Clicking is fun right?

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Selvhenter (Denmark) – Brass, Strings, Drums

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/241483901″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

The Master Musicians of Jajouka led by Bachir Attar (Morocco)

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/150357207″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

(Tracks may not play in Korea. Boo.)

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/240487833″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/137052857″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

King Khan and the Shrines (Canada/Germany)

So much good music. I’m going to go try to find some grapefruit beer. I miss Berlin.

Holy crap, it’s this time of week again. Another week down, and only one week left remaining before I leave the sweet honeyed tattooed bosom of Berlin. This city continues to amaze me, despite long term friends telling me about the ongoing downward spiral and cultural drain. But, as a club billboard informed me, “The Past is Over,” so I’ll not dwell much on that.

Berlin continues to have great music. Thanks to the help of Dörte Heilewelt I was able to see some shows I would have never knows about otherwise. Last Friday, we went to Keller, a bar/live hall in Neukölln, to see Sway Clarke for his EP release. Things started off with Shelly Phillips, with keyboards and a fun, relaxed vibe in both German and English. I can’t find her tracks online though. Boo Shelly. Get on soundcloud, or allow me to find you on soundcloud.

I really need to learn some German, but they don’t really make it easy. I mean there’s a station called Schlesisches Tor. You try saying that after a few pints of German beer. They can’t even say that after a few pints of German beer.

Right, music. Prada Meinhoff blew my mind. Dat bass yo. Dat bass. And partial nudity is always a plus. It amazes me that they only have like 300 likes. Why is that?

I’ve been listening to this song over and over. Dat bass yo.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/273830929″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

And of course, there was the man of the hour Sway Clarke with charisma and jokes for miles. We found out we were both from Canada. We high fived. It was a moment.

This is the track of his I like the most:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/266154441″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Sunday was Mauer Park again. This week wasn’t as great as last week, but still there were a few good moments. Georgie Fisher was doing some interesting Michael Jackson covers, and Noisy Pots were jamming out on some actual pots. Aside from that, not much happening.

On Wednesday, the ever-awesome Dörte told me about a free show with one of her favourite bands TÜSN. Free being my favourite work in just about any language, half of Baekma and I went to Flexbau on the Spree River to see them. So good. A+ for being different and putting on a great visual performance while actually playing good music.

You should give them a listen or check out some of their videos. They were followed by Cosby, which brought a lot of energy, more than I can say for my camera battery that completely died just before their set. Can’t even charge the thing any more. Bastard.

So, that’s the week. It’s a bit listy, but there’s a lot of shit going on. Next week, the final update from Berlin, including the By The Lake Festival and whatever else I stumble upon.

Month: August 2016

Korindie Berlin Update Week #3 (Final)

Korindie Berlin Update Week #2