“Hello Hartenholm - wherever it is…” - 8.12.07
The second show takes place in Hartenholm, a village about fifty minutes drive from Hamburg. The local company Logopak, specialized in labelling machines, is establishing the Hartenholm festival. In the summer, it takes place on an airfield, in the winter in the so called “Mehrzweckhalle”, the multi purpose hall, next to the fire brigade building.
Logopak is putting some money into establishing the festival: Tickets cost an affordable 18 Euro, drinks are between 2 and 3 Euro and there’s a free shuttle service between the parking lot and the “Mehrzweckhalle”. Everyone is made to feel a VIP by friendly and helpful staff at this festival, the cloakroam is free and there’s homemade cake and the original Hartenholm Rockwurst in the food tent – bockwurst that has the shape of a guitar! Everything about this festival seems to be very well organised.
It’s a nice atmosphere. There’s none of the usual cool arrogance of big cities, people are friendly and just happy to be painting the town – or rather village – red. Many people have brought their children, everybody from this village seems to be here. In the food tent, where we spend some time chatting to old and new friends, we learn that even if Alphaville is still a big name in Germany most people we speak to are waiting to hear Bob.
Apart from Bob and Alphaville, there are also Humane from Finland and John Watts on the bill. Bob and band play between John Watts and Alphaville. Humane seem to be quite good but we prefer to stay in the food tent. We only walk over into the hall just before John Watts starts.
John Watts is the singer with Fischer-Z. Fischer-Z had their major success between 1979 and 1981 but since 1987, John has released a number of albums that give proof of his song writing skills and his very significant voice. Tonight, he seems to be having technical problems at the start of his set. In fact, he doesn’t look very comfortable on the Hartenholm stage at all! And instead of playing some of his better-known tunes to the crowd, who want to dance and sing, he sticks to very recent songs from his latest album It has to be. The only old song is Marliese but the fans wait in vain for Pretty Paracetamol, Berlin or The Worker. Personally I wait in vain for Tight Rope from the brilliant 1992 album Destination Paradise, but John doesn’t accept compromise. He plays only the new material, even though this is clearly an audience who wants to hear the hits… But maybe John is simply fed up with the old stuff.
Finally, Bob and band get onstage. “Hello Hartenholm - wherever it is!” Bob welcomes the audience when they finally start. “This must be your Reeperbahn!” Yeah, indeed. Twice a year, everyone in Hartenholm is having a big bash at their very own party spot, without having to go to Reeperbahn, the main street of Hamburg’s red light and party district.
As usual at festivals, the set list is shorter and there’s less talking between the songs. At the back of the hall, people are getting drinks from the bar and talk and laugh. In the front, the Hartenholm audience is having a ball with Bob. This is what they play: Indifference, Love or Something, A sex thing, When the night comes, Walking back to Happiness, Banana Republic, My Hippie Angel, Harvest Moon, Scream in Vain, One for me, Mudslide, Birthday Suit, Mondays, Joey’s on the street again, Mary of the Fourth Form, Rat Trap, Diamond Smiles, Return of Indifference.
Like John Watts, some of the band seem to be facing some technical problems too. Drummer Niall looks all unrelaxed and a roadie keeps crawling around the drum kit. However, the audience doesn’t seem to realize any of this and they happily dance and clap and sing along with the hits. My suggestion for next year’s festival is to dim down the lights more in the venue.
By the way – what has happened to the “Bobkatz”? The “Happy Clubsters” or “Vegetarians of Love”? For the next tour, I petition a proper new name for the band!